TRANSVERSE PASSENGER RESTRAINT DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE SEAT BACKREST

Abstract

A restraint device (MD) is fitted to the backrest (DB) of a bench seat (BV) in a vehicle (V) comprising right (P1) and left (P2) sections separated by a central section (P3). This restraint device (MD) includes a restraint element (ME) rotationally coupled to the central section (P3) so that it can be rotated into a rest position in which it is housed within the central section (P3), or into a restraint position in which it is at least partially positioned in front of the central section (P3) in order to restrain, along a transverse direction of the vehicle (V), a passenger leaning against the right (P1) or left (P2) section in the event of an impact to the vehicle (V) on a longitudinal side perpendicular to this transverse direction. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: TRANSVERSE PASSENGER RESTRAINT DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE SEAT BACKREST Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to bench seats intended for use in vehicles, and more specifically to the transverse restraint of passengers seated on such bench seats. Prior art

[0002] Some vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include at least one bench seat defining at least two seats, right and left, on which passengers can be installed, possibly after fixing a child seat or a booster seat.

[0003] When the vehicle is subjected to an impact on its right (respectively left) longitudinal side, perpendicular to its transverse direction, it frequently happens that the passenger seated on the left (respectively right), possibly in a booster seat, tilts to the right (respectively left) because their seat belt (adapted to restraint along the longitudinal direction) cannot sufficiently restrain them transversely. Such a tilt can cause bodily injury to the left (respectively right) passenger. This injury can be even more serious when a child seat is installed on the right (respectively left) side of the bench seat because the head and / or right (respectively left) shoulder of the left (respectively right) passenger can strike the rigid shell of this child seat.

[0004] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0005] In particular, it proposes for this purpose a support device intended to equip a backrest forming part of a vehicle bench seat and comprising right and left parts separated by a central part.

[0006] This restraint device is characterized by the fact that it includes a restraint element designed to be rotationally coupled to the central part of the backrest so as to be placed by rotation in a rest position in which it is housed in this central part or a rest position in which it is at least partly placed in front of this central part in order to restrain, in a transverse direction of the vehicle, a passenger leaning against the right or left side in the event of a collision suffered by the vehicle on a longitudinal side perpendicular to this transverse direction.

[0007] Thanks to the invention, in the event of a left (respectively right) side impact, the passenger, leaning against the right (respectively left) part of the seat back, is now prevented by the adjacent (deployed) support element from tipping to the left (respectively the right), and therefore does not risk suffering bodily injury related to tipping.

[0008] The holding device according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0009] - its retaining element may include a damping material;

[0010] - in a first embodiment, its retaining element may comprise a end mounted for rotation on a predefined angular sector around an axis which is designed to be parallel to the transverse direction;

[0011] - in this first embodiment the end of the retaining element can be a lower extremity;

[0012] - in a second embodiment, its retaining element may be specific to be driven in rotation on a predefined angular sector around an axis which is specifically parallel to a direction of inclination of the backrest relative to a floor of the vehicle;

[0013] - it may include a drive mechanism designed to be fixedly attached to the file and to cause a rotational movement of the retaining element between the rest and retaining positions;

[0014] - in the presence of the last option, the drive mechanism can be clean to cause the rotational movement from the rest position to the holding position in the event of receiving an order generated by vehicle equipment during the impact.

[0015] The invention also proposes a bench seat suitable for equipping a vehicle and comprising a backrest having right and left parts separated by a central part and at least one restraint device of the type presented above.

[0016] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one bench seat of the type presented above. Brief description of the figures

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a slightly perspective view from the side previously, an example of a vehicle bench seat including two examples of a resting positioning device according to the invention,

[0019] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane, a left part of the bench seat of [Fig.1] with a first example of an embodiment of a retaining device according to the invention having its retaining element placed in its rest position,

[0020] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane, the left part of the bench in Figures 1 and 2 with the first example of an embodiment of the retaining device having its retaining element placed in its retaining position,

[0021] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the bench seat of figures 1 to 3 with the first example of embodiment of the retaining device having its retaining element placed in its retaining position,

[0022] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane, a left part of the bench seat of [Fig.1] with a second example of an embodiment of a retaining device according to the invention having its retaining element placed in its rest position,

[0023] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane, the left part of the bench in Figures 1 and 5 with the second example of the embodiment of the retaining device having its retaining element placed in its retaining position,

[0024] [Fig.7] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the bench seat of Figures 1, 5 and 6 with the second embodiment of the retaining device having its retaining element placed in its retaining position, and

[0025] [Fig.8] schematically illustrates, in a top view, the lever of the second embodiment of the retaining device enabling the retaining element to be rotated. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] The invention aims in particular to provide a restraint device DM intended to equip a backrest DB forming part of a bench seat BV of a vehicle V, and allowing transverse restraint of a passenger seated on this bench seat BV in the event of a collision suffered by the vehicle V on a longitudinal side perpendicular to its transverse direction Y.

[0027] In what follows, vehicle V is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be of the automobile type. For example, it is a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any vehicle (land or sea (or river)) comprising a passenger compartment in which at least one bench seat can be installed in a transverse position, capable of accommodating at least two passengers, one on the right and one on the left.

[0028] In figures 1 to 8, direction X is the longitudinal direction of vehicle V, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, direction Y is the transverse direction of vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and direction Z is the vertical direction of vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y.

[0029] Figures 1, 4 and 7 schematically illustrate an example of a BV bench seat of a vehicle V (here a car) comprising two examples of a DM restraint device according to the invention, associated respectively with the right and left parts of the BV bench seat.

[0030] As illustrated, this bench seat BV comprises a seat AB, fixedly attached to the vehicle V, for example to a floor PV (possibly indirectly), and a backrest DB, possibly rotatably mounted on the seat AB. It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, Figures 1, 4, and 7, the bench seat BV is installed in a rear section of the vehicle V's passenger compartment. However, this is not mandatory. Indeed, the bench seat BV could be installed in a front or intermediate section of the vehicle V's passenger compartment. Furthermore, the vehicle V could include several (at least two) bench seats BV, particularly when it has at least three rows of seats.

[0031] The DB folder comprises right part PI and left part P2 separated by a central part P3. It will be understood that the right part PI is that which is located in the vicinity of the right side door (or door) (not illustrated), and the left part P2 is that which is located in the vicinity of the left side door (or door) (not illustrated).

[0032] The (each) DM holding device, according to the invention, comprises a holding element EM which is adapted to be coupled in rotation to the central part P3 so as to be placed by rotation in a rest position (illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5) or a holding position (illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7).

[0033] In the holding (or deployed) position, the holding element EM is at least partly placed in front of the central part P3 in order to hold, along the transverse direction of the vehicle V, a passenger who is leaning against the right part PI or left part P2 (located next to him) in the event of a collision suffered by the vehicle V on a longitudinal side perpendicular to the transverse direction Y.

[0034] It will be understood that when the vehicle V is subjected to an impact on its left longitudinal side, the passenger leaning against the right side PI of the seat back DB experiences a force that tends to tip them to the left, but this tipping is prevented by the adjacent restraint element EM (of the right restraint device DM), placed in its restraint position (as illustrated in Figures 4 and 8). Similarly, when the vehicle V is subjected to an impact on its right longitudinal side, the passenger leaning against the left part P2 of the DB backrest is subjected to a force which tends to make it tip to the right, but this tipping is prevented by the adjacent EM retaining element (of the right DM retaining device), placed in its retaining position.

[0035] In the rest (or stowed) position, the EM retaining element is housed in the central part P3, and therefore does not protrude. This means that it does not contribute to the transverse restraint of the passenger located next to it (on the right or left).

[0036] Thus, in the event of a left (respectively right) side impact, a passenger, leaning against the right side PI (respectively left P2) of the DB backrest, is prevented by the adjacent (deployed) restraint element EM from tipping to the left (respectively the right), and therefore does not risk suffering bodily injury related to tipping, including when a child seat SE is installed in the left (respectively right) part of the BV bench seat (as in the non-limiting example illustrated).

[0037] For example, the retaining element EM may include a damping material to cushion the impact on the passenger. This damping material may optionally be fixedly attached to a rigid support suitable for rotation and may optionally be covered with a coating (possibly synthetic). However, in an alternative embodiment, the retaining element EM may be made entirely of the damping material, provided that it is relatively rigid.

[0038] At least two embodiments of the (of each) DM retention device can be envisaged.

[0039] In a first embodiment illustrated non-limitingly in figures 2 to 4, the retaining element EM may include an end EE which is mounted for rotation, on a predefined angular sector, around an axis which is parallel to the transverse direction Y. It should be noted that this axis may be virtual or material (and possibly subdivided into at least two parts cooperating respectively with small hollow cylinders CC, transverse and fixedly attached to the central part P3 of the backrest DB).

[0040] For example, the predefined angular sector can be between 15° and 30°. Larger values ​​of the angular sector can be considered, but they must not allow the passenger to even partially pass between the central part P3 and the restraint element EM, as this could injure him (or not sufficiently prevent lateral tipping).

[0041] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 to 4, the end EE of the retaining element EM, mounted for rotation, can be the lower end of the latter (EM). But in an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) it could be the upper end of the retaining element EM.

[0042] In a second embodiment illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 5 to 7, the retaining element EM can be adapted to be driven in rotation, on a predefined angular sector, around an axis which is adapted to be parallel to the direction of inclination of the backrest DB with respect to the floor PV of the vehicle V. It should be noted that this axis can be virtual or physical (and possibly subdivided into at least two parts cooperating respectively with small hollow cylinders, parallel to the direction of inclination and fixedly attached to the backrest DB). It should also be noted that this axis can optionally be offset at the end of coupling levers (or parts) L to which the retaining element EM is fixedly attached, in order to cooperate with small hollow cylinders or hinges CH fixedly attached to the right part PI or left part P2 of the backrest DB, behind its trim, as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 8].This arrangement makes the axle invisible because it is housed inside the aforementioned trim.

[0043] For example, the predefined angular sector can be between 75° and 90°. Thus, in the example illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 6 and 7, the predefined angular sector is equal to 90°, but other values ​​can be considered.

[0044] It should be noted that the retaining element EM can be manually rotated by a vehicle user V when a passenger is seated on the right or left side of the bench seat BV located next to them. In this case, it is preferable to provide a means of immobilizing the retaining element EM in its fixed position to prevent it from changing position during driving or during a side impact. This immobilizing means could, for example, be a rod that is manually inserted by the user into defined holes in a hinge CH and the axle or one of the small hollow cylinders, or a coupling lever (or part) L. This rod could, for example, be removably attached to a coupling lever (or part) L or to the central part P3 behind the retaining element EM.

[0045] However, in one embodiment, the retaining element EM can be rotated automatically by an associated drive mechanism forming part of the retaining device DM. This drive mechanism is designed to be fixedly attached to the backrest DB and to cause the retaining element EM to rotate between its rest position and its retaining position. For this purpose, it comprises at least one electric motor driving, for example, a toothed wheel engaging a rack or another toothed wheel coupled to the retaining element EM.

[0046] It should be noted that this drive mechanism can be adapted to cause the rotational displacement of the retaining element EM from its rest position to its retaining position in the event of receiving a command generated by equipment of the vehicle V (such as, for example, a computer) during the lateral impact suffered by this vehicle V. Alternatively, the drive mechanism can be controlled by a control device operated by a user of the vehicle V or by selection by this user of an option from a menu displayed on a screen of the vehicle V (such as its central instrument cluster) during (or after) the installation of a passenger on the right or left side of the BV bench seat which is located next to the relevant EM restraint element.

[0047] It should also be noted that the DM restraint device(s) is / are compatible with the presence of a central armrest on the BV bench seat.

Claims

Demands

1. Restraint device (DM) for a backrest (DB) of a bench seat (BV) of a vehicle (V) comprising right (PI) and left (P2) parts separated by a central part (P3), characterized in that it comprises a restraint element (EM) adapted to be rotationally coupled to said central part (P3) so as to be placed by rotation in a rest position in which it is housed in said central part (P3) or a restraint position in which it is at least partly placed in front of said central part (P3) in order to restrain, in a transverse direction of said vehicle (V), a passenger leaning against said right (PI) or left (P2) part in the event of a collision suffered by said vehicle (V) on a longitudinal side perpendicular to said transverse direction.

2. Retaining device according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining element (RE) comprises a damping material.

3. Retaining device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said retaining element (EM) comprises an end (EE) mounted for rotation on a predefined angular sector around an axis proper to be parallel to said transverse direction.

4. Retaining device according to claim 3, characterized in that said end (EE) is a lower end.

5. Retaining device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said retaining element (EM) is adapted to be driven in rotation on a predefined angular sector around an axis adapted to be parallel to a direction of inclination of said backrest (DB) relative to a floor of said vehicle (V).

6. A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a drive mechanism adapted to be fixedly attached to said backrest (DB) and to cause a rotational movement of said support element (EM) between said rest position and support position.

7. Holding device according to claim 6, characterized in that said drive mechanism is capable of causing said displacement by rotation from said rest position to said holding position in the event of receiving an order generated by an equipment of said vehicle (V) during said impact.

8. Bench seat (BV) suitable for equipping a vehicle (V) and comprising a backrest (DB) having right (PI) and left (P2) parts separated by a central part (P3), characterized in that said backrest (DB) comprises at least one restraint device (DM) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one bench seat (BV) according to claim 8

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

Images