Motor vehicle seat, including a removable backrest module

Abstract

Motor vehicle seat, including a removable backrest module. The motor vehicle seat (10) includes a structural frame (12), comprising an upper cross member (16), and a backrest module (18) comprising a foam block (26) and a support (28) arranged under the foam block (26) to support this foam block. It includes an upper locking element (20) carrying the support (28) and removably connected to the upper cross member (16). Figure for abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle seat, comprising a removable backrest module

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle seat, comprising a backrest module.

[0002] In some cases, it may be necessary to extract the backrest module from the seat. However, such a backrest module is usually integrated into the seat, so it is necessary to destroy certain parts of the seat to allow this extraction.

[0003] The invention aims in particular to provide a seat whose backrest module can be removed without destroying any parts of the seat.

[0004] For this purpose, the invention relates to a motor vehicle seat, comprising a structural frame, including an upper crossbar, and a backrest module comprising a foam block and a support arranged under the foam block to support this foam block, characterized in that it comprises an upper locking element carrying the support and connected to the upper crossbar in a removable manner.

[0005] The backrest module is secured in the seat by the upper element, which is snapped onto the crossbar of the seat's structural frame. According to the invention, simply disengaging the snap allows the upper element, and the rest of the module, to be removed without damaging any part of the seat.

[0006] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the seat comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0007] - The support comprises rods fitted at their upper end with a hook, each hook cooperating with a complementary notch carried by the upper element.

[0008] - The upper element comprises an elastically deformable arm configured for to engage, for example by snapping it into place, on the crossbar.

[0009] - The arm has a shoulder intended to come into contact with the cross member in locking position, and to be set back from the crossbar in the unlocking position when the arm is elastically deformed.

[0010] - The folder module also includes a rear element, connected to the element upper, the crossbar being pinched between the arm in the locked position and the rear element.

[0011] - The arm has a shoulder intended to engage on the crossbar.

[0012] - The arm includes a ramp in line with the shoulder.

[0013] - The arm includes an elongated part forming a lever arm in the extension from the ramp.

[0014] - The arm is accessible from the rear of the seat, for example through an opening planned in the rear element.

[0015] - The seat has a flexible back panel, the arm having a lever arm extending at least partially opposite the rear panel, so as to be accessible by deforming the flexible rear panel.

[0016] - The arm is connected to the upper element by an elastic hinge.

[0017] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is an exploded perspective view of part of a seat of motor vehicle according to a first example of an embodiment of the invention;

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a seat according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0020] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a view similar to [Fig.2] of a seat according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0021] Figure [Fig. 1] shows part of a seat 10 of a motor vehicle, and more particularly a backrest of this seat 10.

[0022] The seat file 10 includes a structural frame 12, intended to support the constituent elements of the file.

[0023] The structural frame 12 comprises two lateral uprights 14, and a top cross member 16 extending transversely between the two uprights 14. According to the first embodiment, the top cross member 16 has a circular cross section.

[0024] The structural frame 12 also advantageously includes at least one transverse rod 17, extending parallel to the upper cross member 16 between the side uprights 14. The transverse rod 17 is intended to receive a rear panel 25 closing the seat 10 from the rear.

[0025] The folder also includes a folder module 18, intended to be assembled with the structural frame 12.

[0026] The file module 18 includes an upper locking element 20, intended to be locked onto the structural frame 12.

[0027] The folder module 18 also includes a rear element 19, connected to the upper element 20, for example by snapping.

[0028] The upper element 20 has an arm 21 configured to engage, for example snap, onto a part of the frame 12. The arm 21 is elastically deformable to allow this engagement when the upper element 20 is inserted into the seat 10.

[0029] More specifically, the arm 21 has a shoulder 21a (visible on the [Fig.2]) intended to engage on the cross member 16 of the frame 12.

[0030] The shoulder 21a is intended to come into contact with the cross member 16 in the locking position, and to be set back from the cross member 16 in the unlocking position when the arm 21 is elastically deformed.

[0031] The shoulder 21a is adjacent to a ramp 21b of the arm 21, preferably forming an angle greater than 90° with the shoulder 21a. Thus, when the upper element 20 is inserted into the seat 10, the ramp 21b comes into contact with the cross member 16, and elastically deforms the arm 21 until it passes the angle, after which the cross member 16 is supported on the shoulder 21a.

[0032] The arm 21 is configured to apply an elastic force on the cross member 16 in the direction of the rear element 19. The cross member 16 is thus pinched between the arm 21 and the rear element 19, as can be seen in [Fig. 2]. The arm 21 is then in the locked position.

[0033] The arm 21 also includes, in the extension of the ramp 21b, an elongated part 21c forming a lever arm.

[0034] It will be noted that it is possible to disengage the arm 21 (unlock position) by pushing the lever arm 21c in a direction opposite to the cross member 16 to release the shoulder 21a from this cross member 16, and thus allow the upper element 20 of the seat to be removed, without destroying any constituent element of the seat or of the upper element 20.

[0035] For this purpose, according to the first embodiment, the lever arm 21c is, for example, accessible from the rear of the seat 10, for example through an opening 19a provided in the rear element 19. Advantageously, a cover 23 closes the opening 19a. The cover 23 may be removable, or have an opening.

[0036] According to an unrepresented variant, a strap is connected to the lever arm 21c, to allow this lever arm 21c to be actuated by pulling the strap.

[0037] The upper element 20 includes receiving tubes 22 for headrest rods 24. The receiving tubes 22 are conventional and will therefore not be described further.

[0038] The backrest module 18 includes a foam block 26 (visible in [Fig.2]) and a support member 28 (visible in [Fig.1]) intended to support this foam block 26. It should be noted that the upper element 20 is positioned between the foam block 26 and the cross member 16.

[0039] The support member 28 comprises two lateral rods 30, and transverse rods 32 extending between the two lateral rods 30 and together forming a support grid.

[0040] Each lateral rod 30 has, at its upper end, a hook 33 intended to cooperate with a complementary notch 34 provided in the upper element 20. Thus, the support member 28 is carried by the upper element 20.

[0041] The seat 10 also includes a cover 36 covering in particular the foam block 26. The rear element 19 includes hooks 19b for fixing the cover 36 for fixing this cover 36 to the rear of the seat 10.

[0042] The casing 36 has, in an upper part of the seat 10, an upper opening 38 allowing passage of the backrest module 18, and in particular of the upper element 20. The upper opening 38 is closed by a removable cover 40. The cover 40 has, in a conventional manner, openings for the headrest rods 24, opposite the receiving tubes 22.

[0043] Figure 2 shows a seat 10 according to a second embodiment. In this figure, elements analogous to those in Figure 1 are designated by identical reference numerals.

[0044] The seat 10 of the second embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment, with the exception of the panel 25 which is flexible in the second embodiment, whereas it is indifferently flexible or rigid in the first embodiment.

[0045] Thus, according to the second embodiment, the arm 21, and more particularly the lever arm 21c, is accessible by pushing on the flexible panel 25, deforming it to reach this lever arm 21c. For this purpose, the lever arm 21c is at least partially positioned opposite the flexible panel 25.

[0046] It should be noted that access to the arm 21 via the opening 19a provided in the rear element 19, as described previously for the first embodiment, is compatible with this second embodiment, so that the seat 10 can have both accesses, via the opening 19a or by deforming the flexible panel 25.

[0047] Figure 3 shows a seat 10 according to a third embodiment. In this figure, elements analogous to those in the preceding figures are designated by identical reference numerals.

[0048] The seat 10 according to the third embodiment differs mainly from those previously described in that the panel 25 is rigid. This panel 25 is then preferably removable, to allow access to the arm 21.

[0049] Alternatively, the panel 25 is not removable, but access to the arm 21 is via the opening 19a provided in the rear element 19, as described previously for the first embodiment.

[0050] In this example, while the cross member 16 has a circular section in the first embodiment, the cross member 16 of the third embodiment has a broken line section, defining in particular a shoulder 42 intended to receive the complementary shoulder 21a of the arm 21.

[0051] The arm 21 is connected to the upper element 20 by a flexible hinge 44. The arm 21 is shorter than in the first embodiment, notably lacking of a 21c lever arm. Indeed, such a 21c lever arm is not necessary when access to the arm is not achieved by deforming a deformable rear panel.

[0052] In addition, the elastic hinge 44 allows easier actuation of the arm 21, which therefore does not require a larger lever arm.

[0053] It should be noted that this embodiment is compatible with the previous ones, that is to say that an elastic hinge could be provided on the arm 21 of the first or second embodiment, with the shape of the arm 21 and the cross member 16 of the first embodiment.

[0054] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but could have additional variants without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle seat (10), comprising a structural frame (12), including an upper cross member (16), and a backrest module (18) comprising a foam block (26) and a support (28) arranged under the foam block (26) to support this foam block, characterized in that it comprises an upper locking element (20) carrying the support (28) and connected to the upper cross member (16) in a removable manner.

2. Seat (10) according to claim 1, in which the support (28) comprises rods (30) having at their upper end a hook (32), each hook (32) cooperating with a complementary notch (34) carried by the upper element (20).

3. Seat (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper element (20) has an elastically deformable arm (21) configured to engage, for example by snapping, on the cross member (16).

4. Seat (10) according to claim 3, wherein the arm (21) has a shoulder (21a) intended to come into contact with the cross member (16) in the locked position, and to be set back from the cross member (16) in the unlocked position when the arm (21) is elastically deformed.

5. Seat (10) according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the backrest module (18) also comprises a rear element (19), connected to the upper element (20), the crossbar (16) being pinched between the arm (21) in the locked position and the rear element (19).

6. Seat (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the arm (21) has a shoulder (21a) intended to engage with the cross member (16).

7. Seat (10) according to claim 6, wherein the arm (21) has a ramp (21b) in the extension of the shoulder (21a).

8. Seat (10) according to claim 7, wherein the arm (21) has an elongated part (21c) forming a lever arm in the extension of the ramp (21b).

9. Seat (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the arm (21) is accessible from the rear of the seat (10), for example through an opening (19a) provided in the rear element (19).

10. 7 Seat (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, comprising a flexible rear panel (25), the arm (21) comprising a lever arm (21c) extending at least partly opposite the rear panel (25), so as to be accessible by deforming the flexible rear panel (25).

11. Seat (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the arm (21) is connected to the upper element (20) by an elastic hinge (44).

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