Stackable car seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat (100) comprising: - a seat (120) which includes a seat (122) and a backrest (121), and - means for mounting the seat (120) onto a first anchoring portion of a support (110). According to the invention, the seat includes a second anchoring portion onto which mounting means for a seat (120') of the same type are adapted to be mounted. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 6

Description

Title of the invention: Stackable seat for motor vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the interior fittings of motor vehicles.

[0002] It relates more particularly to a motor vehicle seat comprising, on the one hand, an armchair which includes a seat and a backrest, and, on the other hand, means for mounting the armchair on a support, and more specifically on a first anchoring part of a support.

[0003] It also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such a seat. State of the art

[0004] It is known to integrate rails into the floors of motor vehicles, in particular minivan-type vehicles.

[0005] These rails allow seats to be mounted in the vehicle in such a way that the seats can slide back and forth along the floor, thus offering various positions. The rails are then equipped with locking mechanisms to ensure that the seats are locked in a fixed position during transport.

[0006] As explained in document FR2728860, the seats themselves can be modular, to allow them to be placed in different positions (facing forward or rearward), or even removed in order to free up the floor for loading bulky items into the vehicle.

[0007] Once removed, the seats are generally taken out of the vehicle. However, the user may sometimes wish to keep the seats inside the vehicle, particularly because they cannot leave them there or because they wish to reuse them soon.

[0008] In this event, the practice consists of storing the folded seats in a line, one behind the other, on one side of the vehicle.

[0009] However, this solution is not satisfactory in several respects.

[0010] First of all, the seats then take up a lot of space in the vehicle.

[0011] Furthermore, no longer being fixed to the vehicle floor, the seats can move this which can prove troublesome during transport (due in particular to the noise and jolts caused), or even dangerous in the event of strong deceleration or an accident, given their high weight. Presentation of the invention

[0012] In order to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes a system for storing seats one above the other.

[0013] More particularly, the invention proposes a seat as defined in the introduction, in which the chair includes a second anchoring part on which mounting means for a chair of the same type are adapted to be mounted.

[0014] Thus, thanks to the invention, the wheelchair includes not only means for mounting on the vehicle floor or on an element fixed to the floor (this floor or element being equipped for this purpose with the first anchoring part), but also means similar to this first anchoring part (called the second anchoring part). Therefore, another wheelchair can be attached to this wheelchair.

[0015] It is then possible to fix the chairs together during transport, for example one on top of the other, so as to limit their bulk and to prevent them from colliding during transport, which would cause noise.

[0016] Furthermore, it is also possible to fix one of the seats to the vehicle floor or to an element fixed to the floor, so that the other seats attached to this first seat are all held in a fixed position in the vehicle. Consequently, these seats will no longer be likely to generate noise during transport, nor to strike a person or object, particularly in the event of strong deceleration or an accident.

[0017] Other advantageous and non-limiting features of the seat according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows: - the support is formed by the floor of the motor vehicle; - the support is separate from the floor of the motor vehicle and includes means for mounting on the floor; - the mounting means being adapted to be fixed to the first anchoring part at several anchoring points, the first and second fastening parts have identical shapes at least at the anchoring points of the first anchoring part; - the second anchoring part is fixed to a frame of the chair back; - the second anchoring part is located at the back of the chair back; - the second anchoring part includes at least one rod; - the mounting means include first locking means adapted to lock onto said first anchoring part to lock the chair onto the support, and first manually operable means adapted to deactivate the first locking means to release the chair from the support; - said first anchoring part includes at least one rod and in which the first locking means include at least, on the one hand, a fixed base which defines a notch, and, on the other hand, a bolt which is mounted movable relative to the fixed base between an activated position in which it is adapted to block the rod at the bottom of the notch and a deactivated position in which it releases the rod.

[0018] The invention also proposes a motor vehicle comprising a chassis which includes a floor, and at least one seat as mentioned above, mounted on the floor.

[0019] Of course, the various features, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention

[0020] The following description with regard to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

[0021] On the attached drawings:

[0022] [Fig-1] is a schematic perspective view of the interior of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, including a seat according to the invention, illustrated in the position of use;

[0023] [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of [Fig.1], in which the seat chair is partially removed from its support;

[0024] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view of the seat support of the [Fig.1];

[0025] [Fig.4] illustrates a schematic perspective view of a lower part of the seat of the [Fig.1] and two detail views of this seat;

[0026] [Fig.5] is a schematic perspective view of the seat chair of the [Fig.1];

[0027] [Fig.6] is a schematic side view of the interior of the passenger compartment of [Fig.1], on in which two armchairs are stacked.

[0028] A motor vehicle 1 (car, bus, truck, boat, airplane...) generally comprises a chassis 10 including a floor 12 and bodywork elements 11 which together define a passenger compartment.

[0029] In [Fig.1], such a motor vehicle 1 is shown. This is a car, and more specifically a minivan (i.e. a car characterized by a monocoque body which integrates a passenger compartment, an engine compartment and a cargo space without visible demarcation, thus creating a uniform and fluid silhouette).

[0030] This vehicle includes at least two seats 100 intended to be installed in the passenger compartment and to be fixed to the floor 12 of this motor vehicle.

[0031] In practice, such a motor vehicle has several rows of seats, including at least one front row of at least two seats and one rear row of at least two seats. Here, the rear row has three identical seats, only one of which will be described. Of course, the vehicle may also accommodate other rows of seats. For example, it could have three rows of two or three seats.

[0032] In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used in relation to the motor vehicle 1, the front part of an element designating the part of that element which is located on the side of the hood of the vehicle and the rear part designating the part of that element which is located on the opposite side.

[0033] The terms "lower" (or "bottom") and "upper" (or "top") shall be used in the same way, the lower part of an element designating the part of that element which is located on the floor side 12 of the vehicle and the upper part designating the part of that element which is located on the roof side of the vehicle.

[0034] The adjective "longitudinal" shall apply to a direction or axis oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle, parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle when the steering wheel is in the neutral position.

[0035] The adjective "transverse" shall apply to a direction or axis oriented orthogonally to the longitudinal and horizontal axes when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal road.

[0036] The term “fixed” (or “blocked”) will be used to designate an assembly without any mobility between two elements.

[0037] As shown in [Fig. 1], the seat 100 conventionally comprises an armchair 120 which includes a seat 122 and a backrest 121 equipped with a headrest. Each of these seats and backrests comprises a frame and upholstery attached to the frame.

[0038] Typically, the armature can be formed by a metal frame, optionally equipped with a web of metal wires. Alternatively, it can be formed by a cradle made of plastic.

[0039] The backrest could be mounted on the seat with a tilting mechanism to allow its inclination to be adjusted and / or to be folded against the seat.

[0040] Here, the backrest 121 and the seat 122 are mounted on a common supporting structure 123. This supporting structure 123 has two sides that extend longitudinally and vertically, parallel to each other. The seat is fixed to these two sides, while the backrest 121 is mounted on these two sides in such a way that it can be completely folded against the seat 122, which will facilitate handling and storage of the chair 120.

[0041] Of course, alternatively, the armchair could have different shapes. In particular, it could delimit not just a single seat, as shown, but several seats to form a bench. This option is not preferred, however, due to the weight such a bench would represent.

[0042] This chair includes means for mounting on a support.

[0043] The support could be formed by the floor itself, so that the chair would then be intended to be mounted directly on the floor of the vehicle.

[0044] However, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the support 110 is a component of the seat 100. It is adapted to be mounted on the floor 12 of the vehicle and to support the chair 120.

[0045] This support 110 includes for this purpose first fastening means 114 for mounting the chair 120, and mounting means on the floor 12.

[0046] As for the chair 120, it includes corresponding mounting means which here comprise first locking means 129 adapted to lock onto these first fastening means 114, as well as first manual (tool-free operable) operating means 134, 144 adapted to deactivate the first locking means 129 to release the chair 120 from the support 110. Thus the chair 120 can be easily separated from its support 110.

[0047] These first means of restraint 114, locking 129 and maneuvering 134, 144 could take very diverse forms.

[0048] Preferably, their shapes will be such that it will be possible to mount the chair 120 on the support 110 in normal position (facing the road) or in reverse position (rear to the road).

[0049] We can here present the particular embodiment of the seat 100 illustrated in the figures, starting by describing the support 110.

[0050] As shown in [Fig.3], this support 110 is intended to be mounted on the floor 12 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0051] It could be envisaged that it be fixed there. In this event, it would preferably be fixed there in a removable manner, for example by means of bolts.

[0052] But preferably, the support 110 is mounted on the floor 12 so as to be longitudinally mobile and removable.

[0053] For this purpose, the floor 12 incorporates parallel rails 13. Here, these rails are formed by rectangular profiles, open at the top, and preferably made of metal. Preferably, two parallel rails 13 are provided for each seat in the rear row. In the illustrated example, three pairs of rails are therefore provided. Carpeting is installed between the rails for comfort. Each rail has internal notches.

[0054] The support 110 illustrated in [Fig. 3] then comprises a platform 112, here in the form of a flat plate, and two feet 111 fixed under the platform, parallel to each other. These two feet are fixed to each other at least by this platform 112. However, to give them better rigidity, one or two additional crossbars can be used to connect the two feet 11 together.

[0055] These two feet 111 each have in their lower part a rib adapted to slide inside one of the rails 13, second locking means adapted to lock the support 110 in the rails 13 in a fixed position, and second manual operating means (operable without tools) adapted to deactivate the second locking means to free the sliding mobility of the support 110 along the rails 13. These second operating means are preferably also provided to allow the feet 111 to be extracted from the rails 13.

[0056] In the example shown in the figures, the two feet 111 each have a parallelepiped shape elongated longitudinally and vertically, the lower face of which has the rib adapted to slide in one of the rails 13.

[0057] The second locking means (not visible in the figures) may then include notches (not shown) mounted movable on the foot 111 and adapted to hook onto the corresponding notches provided in the rail 13.

[0058] The second means of operation here comprise a lever 116 accessible to the seat occupant, which, when the seat occupant wishes to move forward or backward, allows the notches of the feet 111 to be moved away from those of the rail 13 to free the sliding movement of the support 110. At rest (in the activated state), the notches cooperate with each other and are held in this position, for example by elastic return means. These notches then move apart from each other only when the lever is operated by the occupant (in the deactivated state).

[0059] Here, as shown in [Fig.3], this lever 116 forms a rod, a central part of which is folded into a U to be accessible from the front of the seat 100, and whose two coaxial ends are housed in the two feet 111, so as to form a rocker arm.

[0060] This lever 116 could be used to extract the support 110 from the rails 13. For this purpose, the rear ends of the rails could all be opened so that, by sliding the support 110 backwards, it is possible to extract it from these rails 13.

[0061] Preferably, however, a mechanism is provided for extracting the support 110 from the rails 13 regardless of the support's position along those rails. Here, this mechanism is controlled by a strap 115 that can be pulled to retract the notches of the feet 111 in order to extract them from the rails 13.

[0062] This mechanism is described in more detail in document FR2950300

[0063] The two feet 111 are for example formed from metallic material, and are here produced by a stamping operation on a sheet of steel.

[0064] The platform 112, which connects the two feet 111, is also formed of metallic material.

[0065] In the example illustrated in [Fig.3], it has a Swiss cross shape, with four notches at its four corners.

[0066] It preferably extends horizontally and / or parallel to the floor 12.

[0067] The first means of attachment 114 carried by this platform 112 for which the chair 120 can be fixed preferably comprise at least three anchor points. Here, they even more preferably comprise four.

[0068] Here, each anchor point is formed by a section of rod 114A on which the first locking means 129 of the chair can hook and lock.

[0069] Each section 114A of rod preferably has an L-shape, to extend from one side to the other of the notch in which it is located.

[0070] In practice, the four rod sections 114A can be formed from a single piece (called the "rod") folded into a rectangular shape, and the platform 112 can be clipped over this single rod. Alternatively, the four rod sections 114A could be separate pieces and welded to the edges of the notches in the platform.

[0071] Here, this single rod is formed by a rigid rod, preferably made of metal (here, steel). This rod has, for example, a circular cross-section.

[0072] The shape of the rod is such that the platform 112 has at least one vertical plane of symmetry. Here, it has two vertical planes of symmetry that are perpendicular to each other. In this way, the first locking means 129 of the chair 120 can be attached to the rod in four positions: facing forward, facing backward, facing left, or facing right.

[0073] We can then describe in more detail the first locking means 129 which allow the chair 120 to be fixed to this rod.

[0074] They are here located projecting from the lower faces of the sides of the supporting structure 123 of the chair 120.

[0075] They could comprise four identical systems. But here, and preferably, they comprise two front strikes 140 and two rear locks 130 adapted to lock respectively onto the four rod sections 114A.

[0076] These strikes and locks have different shapes.

[0077] As shown in [Fig.4], the locks 130 each have a fixed base 131 in the shape of a clamp, which defines a notch 133 for the rod.

[0078] This notch 133 is open downwards. Thus, the locking of the chair 120 onto the support 110 is achieved by vertically aligning the locks 130 with the corresponding rod sections 114A.

[0079] Each lock 130 further comprises a bolt 132 mounted pivotally on the fixed base 131 around a transverse axis, between an activated position in which it locks the rod at the bottom of the notch and a deactivated position in which it releases the rod, here by retracting into the fixed base.

[0080] An elastic return means allows the bolt 132 to be held in the activated position. The operating means 134 accessible to the user for returning the bolt 132 to the deactivated position is in the form of a lever, preferably accessible from the rear or side of the seat.

[0081] It will be noted that the mechanism of the bolt 132 is such that it is not necessary to use this lever to lock the lock 130 on the corresponding rod section 114A.

[0082] Each strike plate 140 has a similar shape, with a fixed base 141 that defines a notch 143 and a bolt 142 that pivots relative to the fixed base 141. However, the notch 143 opens forward. Thus, locking the chair 120 onto the support 110 is achieved by tilting the chair forward and then returning it to a vertical position ([Fig. 2]). Furthermore, the operating means 144 for the bolt 142 is in the form of a lever 144 that is accessible from underneath the chair 120. This lever 144 is designed such that when the strike plate is placed on the corresponding rod section 114A, the lever bears against the platform 112, which allows the strike plate to lock onto the rod.

[0083] Thus, as shown in [Fig.2], to remove the chair 120 from its support 110, it is necessary to fold the backrest 121 onto the seat 122, to operate the bolts 132 of the rear locks 130 in order to tilt the chair 120 forward, and possibly to operate the bolts 142 of the latches 140 to completely remove the chair 120 from its support 110 (this last operation can be carried out automatically, for greater ease, if the bolt 142 is elastically returned to the deactivated position).

[0084] It is then possible to turn the chair 120 around to fix it head-to-toe on its support 110, or to place it on the floor away from its support 110, or to remove it from the vehicle.

[0085] The support 110 can then also be extracted from the rails 13 or remain in place.

[0086] According to a particularly advantageous feature of the invention, the armchair 120, which thus includes mounting means on the first anchoring part 114 of the support 110 (formed here by the rod), further includes a second anchoring part 124 on which mounting means of an armchair 120' of the same type are adapted to be mounted (see figures 5 and 6).

[0087] In other words, if the support 110 has a first anchoring part 114 for mounting the chair 120, this chair itself has a second anchoring part 124 of similar shape for mounting another chair 120' of the same type on this chair 120.

[0088] Two armchairs 120, 120' are herein described as being of the same type if, preferably, they are identical. They will also be described as being of the same type if they both include, on the one hand, mounting means adapted to be fixed to the first anchoring part 114, and, on the other hand, a second anchoring part 124 to which the mounting means of the other armchair are adapted to be fixed.

[0089] The first and second parts of the fastening 114, 124 have similar shapes. They preferably have identical shapes at least at the anchoring points (where the locks and strikes are fixed).

[0090] In this way, as shown in [Fig.6], it is possible to fix this other armchair 120' on the armchair 120, in particular when the latter is fixed to the support 110 and therefore to the floor 12.

[0091] Preferably, the second anchoring part 124 is arranged on the chair 120 so that the two chairs can be mounted one above the other in a superimposed manner.

[0092] In practice, it would be possible to fix to the back of the backrest 121 of the chair 120 a platform such as that shown in [Fig.3], the rod of which would then form the "second anchoring part".

[0093] However, here, as shown in [Fig. 5], the second anchoring part 124 simply comprises a rod 124A attached to the chair 120. It is preferably attached to the backrest 121 of this chair. Here, it is attached to the back of the backrest 121 (that is, on its rear face when the chair is in its normal operating position illustrated in [Fig. 1]).

[0094] Here, the rod 124A is formed by a single rigid rod, preferably made of metal (here, steel). This rod has, for example, a circular cross-section. This rod is folded to form a rectangle with rounded corners, identical in shape to that of the support 110. It could have a different shape, provided that the four corners of this rod have shapes identical to the rod sections 114A of the support 110.

[0095] This rod 124A is fixed to the frame of the backrest 121, for example via four spacers that extend through the backrest upholstery. It can thus, for example, be welded to these spacers and these spacers welded to the backrest frame.

[0096] As shown in [Fig. 6], when the user wishes to store the vehicle's seats 120, 120' in a compact and space-saving manner, they can proceed as follows. First, they begin by moving one of the rear row seats, positioning it in a less obstructive area (for example, against the driver's seat). They then fold the backrest 121 of the seat 120 of this seat down against the seat cushion 122. In the same way, they then fold the backrest of the other seat 120' down against the seat cushion. They then remove this other seat from its support in order to The second anchor point, 124, is attached to the back of the first seat, 120. This allows the two seats, 120 and 120', to be stacked and locked in that position. Additional seats can then be stacked if the vehicle's roof is high enough.

[0097] The armchairs 120, 120' are thus designed to be stacked when their backrests 121 are folded against their seats 122 (in the so-called "tablet" position). In this position, each backrest presents one face against a corresponding face of the seat.

[0098] At this stage, it should be noted that the rod 124A can be used to perform other functions. Typically, it can be used to attach a child seat back strap (commonly referred to by the English term "top tether").

[0099] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and represented, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with the invention.

[0100] Typically, the fastening parts located on the support and on the back of the file could be formed by latches and / or locks, in which case the mounting means would be formed by the rods.

[0101] According to another embodiment not shown in the figures, the chair could be fixed directly to the floor, for example by four screws screwed into four nuts provided in the floor. In this case, the back of the backrest would be equipped with four nuts allowing another chair of the same type to be screwed onto its back.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle seat (100) comprising: - an armchair (120) which includes a seat (122) and a backrest (121), and - mounting means (128, 129) of the armchair (120) on a first anchoring part (114) of a support (110), characterized in that the armchair (120) includes a second anchoring part (124) on which mounting means of an armchair (120') of the same type are adapted to be mounted.

2. Seat according to claim 1, wherein the support is formed by the floor of the motor vehicle.

3. Seat according to claim 1, wherein the support (110) is separate from the floor (12) of the motor vehicle (1) and includes means for mounting on the floor (12).

4. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mounting means (128, 129) are adapted to be fixed to the first anchoring part (114) at several anchoring points, the first and second anchoring parts (114, 124) have identical shapes at least at the anchoring points of the first anchoring part (114).

5. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second anchoring part (124) is fixed to a frame of the backrest (121) of the chair (120).

6. Seat according to claim 5, wherein the second anchoring part (124) is located at the rear of the backrest (121) of the chair (120).

7. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second anchoring part (124) comprises at least one rod (124A).

8. Seat (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mounting means (128, 129) comprise: - first locking means (129) adapted to lock onto said first anchoring part (114) to lock the chair (120) onto the support (110), and - first operating means (134, 144) manually operable and adapted to deactivate the first locking means (129) to release the chair (120) from the support (110).

9. Seat according to claim 8, wherein said first anchoring part (114) comprises at least one rod (114A) and wherein the first locking means (129) comprise at least, on the one hand, a fixed base (131, 141) which defines a notch (133, 143), and, on the other hand, a bolt (132, 142) which is mounted movable relative to the fixed base (131, 141) between an activated position in which it is adapted to block the rod (114A) at the bottom of the notch (133, 143) and a deactivated position in which it releases the rod (114A).

10. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a chassis (10) which includes a floor (12), characterized in that it includes at least one seat (100) conforming to any one of claims 1 to 9, mounted on the floor (12).

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