Seat support storage device

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage device (200) for supports (110, 110') of motor vehicle seats (1), each seat comprising, on the one hand, a seat unit including a seat cushion and a backrest, and, on the other hand, one of said supports, said support comprising an anchoring portion onto which seat mounting means can be attached and mounting means adapted for mounting on fastening means (13) of a floor (12) of the motor vehicle. According to the invention, the storage device comprises specific fastening means onto which the support mounting means are adapted for mounting, and specific fastening means adapted for attaching to the anchoring portion of the support. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 8

Description

Title of the invention: Seat support storage device Technical field of the invention

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

[0002] It applies to vehicles having seats which include an armchair (with a seat and a backrest) and an armchair support.

[0003] It relates more particularly to a storage device for supports of such motor vehicle seats.

[0004] It also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such a storage device. State of the art

[0005] It is known to integrate rails into the floors of motor vehicles, in particular minivan-type vehicles.

[0006] These rails allow seats to be mounted in a vehicle in such a way that these seats can slide back and forth along the floor, thus offering various positions.

[0007] The rails are then equipped with locking mechanisms to ensure that the seats are locked in a fixed position during transport.

[0008] As explained in document FR2728860, the seats themselves can be modular, to allow them to be placed in different positions (forward-facing or rear-facing), or even removed in order to free up the floor for loading bulky items into the vehicle.

[0009] 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.

[0010] In this event, the practice consists of storing the folded seats in single file, one behind the other, on one side of the vehicle.

[0011] This solution is, however, unsatisfactory in several respects.

[0012] First of all, the seats then take up a lot of space in the vehicle.

[0013] Furthermore, no longer being fixed to the vehicle floor, they can move which can prove troublesome during transport (due in particular to the noise produced), or even dangerous in the event of strong deceleration or an accident, given their particularly high weight. Presentation of the invention

[0014] In order to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes a system for storing parts of each seat one on top of the other.

[0015] More particularly, the invention applies to seats in two removable parts (armchair and support), the support of which includes an anchoring part on which fastening means equipping the armchair can be fixed and mounting means adapted to be mounted on means of securing a floor of the motor vehicle.

[0016] According to the invention, the storage device includes specific fastening means on which the mounting means of the support are adapted to be mounted, and specific fastening means adapted to be attached to the anchoring part of the support (by "specific" we mean carried by the storage device - and not by the support).

[0017] The invention therefore applies to the storage of the supports (and not to that of the chairs).

[0018] It consists in fact of a storage device which includes means of fastening similar to those of the floor of the vehicle so that a first seat support can be attached to it, and means of fastening similar to those of the seat so that it can be attached to a second support.

[0019] Thus, two supports can be fixed together via such a storage device which is interposed between them.

[0020] It is then possible to fix the supports together during transport, for example one above the other, so as to limit their bulk and to prevent them from colliding during transport, which would cause noise.

[0021] Furthermore, it is also possible to fix one of the supports to the vehicle floor so that the other supports attached to this first support are all held in a fixed position within the vehicle. Consequently, these supports 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.

[0022] Other advantageous and non-limiting features of the storage device according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows: - the device comprises a base, one face of which bears the said specific fastening means and the opposite face of which bears the said specific fixing means; - the means of mounting the support comprising slides, said specific fastening means comprise two rails in which the slides are adapted to engage; - the rails being shaped in such a way that the slides can slide in them, the said specific fastening means further include means for blocking the sliding of the slides in the two rails; - the anchoring part of the support comprising, at at least three anchoring points, a section of rod, said specific fixing means are adapted to be fixed on each of the sections of rod; - the anchoring part of the support comprising at least one section of rod, said specific fixing means comprise, on the one hand, a fixed base which defines a notch, and, on the other hand, a locking means adapted to block the section of rod at the bottom of the notch; - the locking mechanism includes a boss adapted to lock the rod section at the bottom of the notch by snapping it into place; - the locking means includes a bolt which is mounted movable relative to the fixed base, between an activated position in which it is adapted to block the rod section at the bottom of the notch, and a deactivated position in which it releases the rod section.

[0023] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one storage device as mentioned above, a chassis which includes a floor, and several seats each comprising, on the one hand, an armchair which includes a seat and a backrest, and, on the other hand, a support comprising an anchoring part on which means for fixing the armchair can be fixed and mounting means adapted to be mounted on means for securing the floor.

[0024] Preferably, the motor vehicle includes a number of storage devices equal to the number of seats minus one.

[0025] Of course, the various features, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] 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.

[0027] On the attached drawings:

[0028] [Fig. 1] is a schematic perspective view of the interior of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to the invention, including a seat illustrated in the position of use;

[0029] [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of [Fig.1], in which the seat chair is partially removed from its support;

[0030] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view of the seat support of the [Fig.1];

[0031] [Fig.4] illustrates a schematic perspective view of a lower part of the chair of the seat of the [Fig.1] and two detailed views of this armchair;

[0032] [Fig.5] is a schematic perspective view of a lower part of a part of the support of the seat of the [Fig.l];

[0033] [Fig.6] is a schematic perspective view of the seat support mounted on the floor of the motor vehicle of [Fig.1], and a storage device according to the invention, ready to be mounted on the support;

[0034] [Fig.7] is a schematic perspective view of the seat support mounted on the floor of the motor vehicle of [Fig.1], of the storage device of [Fig.6] mounted on the support, and of another seat support ready to be mounted on the storage device;

[0035] [Fig.8] is a schematic perspective view of a stack of supports and storage devices installed in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle in [Fig.1].

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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).

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] The term “fixed” (or “blocked”) will be used to designate an assembly without any mobility between two elements.

[0045] 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.

[0046] The backrest could be mounted on the seat, either fixed or with a tilting mechanism to allow its inclination to be adjusted.

[0047] 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 backrest 121 is mounted on these two sides in such a way that it can be completely folded against the seat 121, which will facilitate handling of the chair 120.

[0048] Of course, as an alternative, the armchair could have different shapes. In particular, it could delineate not a single seat, as shown, but several seats to form a bench. However, this alternative is not preferred given the weight that such a bench would represent.

[0049] In the context of the invention, the seat 100 comprises, in addition to this armchair 120, a support 110 which is adapted to be mounted on the floor 12 of the vehicle and on which the armchair 120 is mounted. In other words, the seat 100 is formed of two parts removable from one another.

[0050] This support 110 then includes an anchoring part 114 of the chair 120 and mounting means 117 on the floor 12.

[0051] Correspondingly, the chair 120 includes fastening means which here comprise locking means 129 adapted to lock onto these anchoring means 114, as well as manual (tool-free operable) operating means 134, 144 adapted to deactivate the locking means 129 to release the chair 120 from the support 110. Thus the chair 120 can be easily separated from its support 110.

[0052] Correspondingly, the floor 12 of the vehicle includes fastening means 13 on which the support 110 can be mounted.

[0053] These anchoring and fixing means 114 on the one hand, and these mounting means 117 and fastening means 13 on the other hand, could be in very diverse forms.

[0054] Preferably, their shapes will be such that it will be possible to mount the chair 120 on the support 110 in a normal position (facing the road) or in an inverted position (rear to the road) and that the support 110 can slide along the floor 12.

[0055] We can here present the particular embodiment of the seat 100 illustrated in the figures, starting by describing the support 110.

[0056] As shown in [Fig.3], this support 110 is therefore intended to be mounted on the fastening means 13 of the floor 12 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0057] It could be provided that it is fixed to the floor. In this event, it would be fixed there in a removable manner, for example by means of screws screwed into bolts in the floor (which bolts would then form the means of attachment).

[0058] But preferably, the support 110 is mounted on the floor 12 so as to be longitudinally mobile, biocable in fixed position, and removable.

[0059] For this purpose, the floor 12 incorporates parallel rails 13 (which rails then form the fastening means). 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.

[0060] The support 110 illustrated in [Fig. 3] comprises a platform 112, here in the form of a flat plate, and two feet 111 fixed beneath the platform, parallel to each other. These two feet are fixed to each other at least by this platform 112. However, to provide them with greater rigidity, one or two additional crossbars may be used to connect the two feet 11 together.

[0061] As shown in [Fig. 5], each of these two feet 111 has, in its lower part, mounting means 117 for use in the rails 13. These mounting means 117 comprise, firstly, a slide 117A adapted to slide freely in one of the rails 13, and whose width is adjusted for this purpose. They further comprise locking means 117B adapted to lock the support 110 in the rails 13 in a fixed position, and manual operating means (operable without tools) adapted to disengage these locking means 117B to allow the support 110 to slide freely along the rails 13. These operating means are preferably also provided to allow the feet 111 to be extracted from the rails 13.

[0062] 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 carries the slider 117A.

[0063] The locking means 117B comprise two movable notches which: - in a first position, they are adapted to hook onto the corresponding notches provided in rail 13 to lock support 110, - in a second position, are adapted to partially retract to disengage from the notches of the rails to free the translational mobility of the support 110 along the rails and - in a third position, are adapted to retract completely into the slide 117A to allow the support 110 to be extracted from the rails 13.

[0064] The means of operation include here a lever 116 (see [Fig.3]) accessible to the seat occupant and allowing, when the seat occupant wishes to move forward or backward, the notches of the feet 111 to be moved away from those of the rail 13 in the second position, to release the sliding mobility of the support 110. 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] However, preferably, another mechanism is provided for this purpose. Here, this mechanism is controlled by a strap 115 which can be pulled so as to retract the notches of the feet 111 in order to extract them from the rails.

[0067] The whole of this mechanism is described in more detail in document FR2950300.

[0068] The two feet 111 are for example formed from metallic material, and are here produced by a stamping operation on a sheet of steel.

[0069] The platform 112, which connects the two feet 111, is also formed of metallic material.

[0070] In the example illustrated in [Fig.3], it has a Swiss cross shape, with four notches at its four corners.

[0071] It preferably extends horizontally and / or parallel to the floor 12.

[0072] The anchoring part 114 carried by this platform 112 so that the chair 120 can be attached to it preferably has at least three anchoring points. Here, it even more preferably has four.

[0073] Here, each anchor point is formed by a section 114A of rod on which the fixing means 129 of the chair can hook and lock.

[0074] 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.

[0075] In practice, it can be foreseen that the four sections 114A of the rod are formed from a single piece (called a "rod") folded according to a rectangular contour, and that The platform 112 is clipped over this single rod. Alternatively, the four rod sections 114A could form separate parts and be welded to the edges of the platform's notches.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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 fastening means 129 of the chair 120 can be attached to the rod in four positions: facing forward, facing backward, facing left, or facing right.

[0078] We can then describe in more detail these fixing means 129 which allow the chair 120 to be fixed to this rod.

[0079] They are here located projecting from the lower faces of the sides of the supporting structure 123 of the chair 120.

[0080] 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.

[0081] These latches and locks have different shapes.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] Each lock 130 further includes 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.

[0085] 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.

[0086] It should 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.

[0087] 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. Furthermore, the operating means 144 for the bolt 142 is presented here as the form of a lever 144 which is accessible from the underside of the chair 120. This lever 144 is designed in such a way that when the strike plate is attached to the corresponding piece 114A of rod, the lever comes to rest against the platform 112 which allows the strike plate to lock onto the rod.

[0088] 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).

[0089] As shown in [Fig.5], it is then possible to turn the chair 120 around to fix it head-to-toe on its support 110.

[0090] It is also possible to place it at a distance from its support, on the floor, or to remove it from the vehicle.

[0091] The support 110 can then also be extracted from the rails 13 or remain in place.

[0092] The idea here is to allow the supports 110 of the seats 100 to be superimposed of the motor vehicle 1, so that, once extracted from the rails 13, they do not clutter the floor of the vehicle.

[0093] For this purpose, the invention proposes using a storage device 200 which is interposed between two supports 110 and is thus adapted to lock them relative to each other, preferably in a superimposed position (see [Fig. 8]). This device comprises: - specific fastening means 213 on which the mounting means 117 of a first support 110 as above are adapted to be mounted, and - specific fixing means 230 which are adapted to be fixed to the anchoring part 114 of a second support 110 as above.

[0094] In practice, as shown in [Fig.6], this storage device 200 comprises a tray 201.

[0095] This plate 201 could take various forms, for example in the form of a thick disc. Here, it has a flat, rectangular upper wall, and two parallel ribs projecting from the lower face of this wall, along two opposite edges of this wall.

[0096] This platform 201 has on its upper face the specific fastening means 213 (those intended to receive the slides 117A of the feet 111 of the first support 110) and on its lower face the specific fixing means 230 (those intended to attach to the rod of the second support 110).

[0097] In practice, the specific fastening means 213 are presented here in the form of two rails 213A, 213B comprising internal notches, in the manner of rails 13 integrated into the floor. These two rails 213A, 213B are located recessed in the upper face of the platform 201, at the level of the two ribs.

[0098] Thus, the cooperation of the first support 110 with the storage device 200 is done in the same way as with the rails 13 integrated into the floor 12. In other words, the rails 213A, 213B of the storage device 200 are adapted to receive the slides 117A of the feet so that they can slide in them, and they have notches which form means of blocking the sliding of the slides 117A.

[0099] Alternatively, the specific fastening means 213 could be in different forms. Typically, if the rails open at their ends on two sides of the platform 201, they could alternatively be closed at both ends and adjusted to the length of the slides 117A of the feet 111 of the support 110, so that the support cannot slide on them.

[0100] The specific fixing means 230 are adapted to be fixed to each of the rod sections 114A.

[0101] They extend here in projection from the lower faces of the ribs of the 201 plate. They could be in various forms. Typically, they could be in the form of four locks such as those carried by the chair, or of two locks and two strike plates such as those carried by the chair.

[0102] Here, for reasons of ease of use and cost, these specific fastening means 230 comprise, at each corner of the plate 201, a fixed base that defines a notch, as well as a locking means adapted to secure the rod section 114A at the bottom of the notch. In practice, this locking means comprises a boss adapted to lock the rod section 114A at the bottom of the notch by snapping it into place.

[0103] Alternatively, the snap-on boss could be omitted, but the risk would be that in the event of an accident, the support 100 could detach from the storage device 200, which could prove dangerous for the occupants of the vehicle.

[0104] The storage device 200 can then be used in the following manner.

[0105] First, all the seats 120 of the seats 100 of the rear row(s) can be removed from their supports 110.

[0106] Next, all the supports 110 can be extracted from the floor rails 13, except for one of them. This last one is then placed in a less obstructive position, for example as close as possible to the driver's seat.

[0107] As shown in [Fig.6], it is then possible to bring a first storage device onto this support 110, by clicking it onto the rod of this support 110.

[0108] As shown in [Fig.7], it is then possible to bring another support 110 onto this storage device 200, by engaging its slides 117A in the rails 213A, 213B of this storage device 200.

[0109] As shown in [Fig. 8], the operation can be repeated as many times as necessary so that all the supports 110 for the seats 100 of the vehicle are stacked in a single column. For this to work, the vehicle must have a number of storage devices 200 equal to the number of seats 100 in the rear row(s) minus one.

[0110] It should be noted that the vehicle may include a space for storing these storage devices 200 when they are not in use. Alternatively, each of these devices could be stored in a pocket provided in the back of a seat.

[0111] 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.

[0112] Typically, the storage device could be in the form of a cube having, on the lower face, means for fixing to the rod of a first support, and, on at least three other faces, means for attaching to which other supports could be fixed.

[0113] According to another variant of the invention, the fastening means could be in the form of hooks adapted to hook under the slides, in cavities provided for this purpose.

Claims

Demands

1. A storage device (200) for supports (110) for motor vehicle (1) seats (100), each seat (100) comprising, on the one hand, a seat (120) which includes a seat (122) and a backrest (121), and, on the other hand, one of said supports (110), characterized in that, said support (110) comprising an anchoring portion (114) onto which fastening means (129) for the seat (120) can be attached and mounting means (117) adapted to be mounted on fastening means (13) for a floor (12) of the motor vehicle (1), the storage device (200) comprising specific fastening means (213) onto which the mounting means (117) for the support (110) are adapted to be mounted, and specific fastening means (230) adapted to be attached to the anchoring portion (114) of the support (110).

2. Storage device (200) according to claim 1, comprising a base (201) one face of which carries said specific fastening means (213) and an opposite face of which carries said specific fixing means (230).

3. Storage device (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting means (117) of the support (110) comprising slides (117A), said specific fastening means (213) comprising two rails in which the slides (117A) are adapted to engage.

4. Storage device (200) according to claim 3, wherein the rails are shaped so that the slides (117A) can slide thereon, said specific fastening means (213) further comprise means for blocking the sliding of the slides (117A) in the two rails.

5. Storage device (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the anchoring part (114) of the support (110) comprising, at at least three anchoring points, a rod section (114A), said specific fastening means (230) are adapted to be fixed on each of the rod sections (114A).

6. A storage device (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the anchoring portion (114) of the support (110) comprises at least one rod segment (114A), said fastening means specific (230) include, on the one hand, a fixed base which defines a notch, and, on the other hand, a locking means adapted to block the rod section (114A) at the bottom of the notch.

7. Storage device (200) according to claim 6, wherein the locking means comprises a boss adapted to lock by snapping the rod section (114A) to the bottom of the notch.

8. Storage device according to claim 6, wherein the locking means comprises a bolt which is mounted movable relative to the fixed base, between an activated position in which it is adapted to block the rod section at the bottom of the notch, and a deactivated position in which it releases the rod section.

9. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a chassis (10) which includes a floor (12), several seats (100) each comprising, on the one hand, an armchair (120) which includes a seat (122) and a backrest (121), and, on the other hand, a support (110) comprising an anchoring part (114) on which fastening means (129) of the armchair (120) can be fixed and mounting means (117) adapted to be mounted on fastening means (13) of the floor (12), characterized in that it comprises at least one storage device (200) conforming to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 9 comprising a number of storage devices (200) equal to the number of seats (100) less one.