Car seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising: - a main part having a passenger seating face, and - a band (12) bordering the rear of said main part and extending above said seating face, said band (12) comprising two parts (121, 122) separated by a slot (120). According to the invention, fastening means (30) are provided for fixing the two parts of the band on either side of the slot, at a distance from the main part. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle bench seat Technical field of the invention

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

[0002] It relates more specifically to a seat cushion of a motor vehicle comprising: - a main section which features an upper surface for passenger reception, and - a band that borders the rear of said main part and rises above said reception face, said band comprising two parts separated by a slot.

[0003] It also relates to a bench seat comprising such a seat and a vehicle comprising such a bench seat. State of the art

[0004] A bench seat typically comprises a frame, for example made of metal wires, and a foam padding placed on the frame and over which a cover is placed.

[0005] A three-seater bench seat architecture is known in particular, in which the seat has, at the rear of the area on which the passengers sit, a raised edge called a "band". This band forms an upward edge against which the passengers can rest the lower back.

[0006] For the passage of the safety belts, it is known to make a slit through this band, about one-third of the length of this band (between one of the side seats and the central seat of the bench).

[0007] In practice, both parts of the headband incorporate metal wires from the framework.

[0008] Since these metal wires are generally thin, it may happen that the two parts of the headband are slightly offset on either side of the slot, due to the stresses exerted by the trim and the cover on the metal wires.

[0009] To remedy this drawback, the solution generally used consists of passing several metal wires through each part of the headband in order to stiffen them. However, this solution proves to be expensive and cumbersome. Presentation of the invention

[0010] In order to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes to use an additional device to ensure that the two parts of the headband remain in line with each other.

[0011] More particularly, the invention proposes a seat as defined in the introduction, in which there are provided means for fixing the two parts of the band on either side of the slot, at a distance from the main part.

[0012] Thus, thanks to the invention, it is not necessary to stiffen the seat frame to ensure a good fit between the two parts of the headband. On the contrary, a fastening method is used that can be lighter and less expensive than metal wires.

[0013] 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 fastening means include a band which is attached to one of the two parts of the headband, and one side of which has hooks adapted to attach to the other of the two parts of the headband; - the other of the two parts of the headband includes a trim and a protective cover for the trim, at least part of which is formed from a material to which the hooks are adapted to attach; - the strip is sewn to the first of the two parts of the headband; - the fastening means are located on the top of the headband; - the seat delimiting three places, one part of the band extends to the back of one of the three places and the other part of the band extends to the back of the other two places.

[0014] The invention also proposes a motor vehicle bench seat comprising a seat as above and a backrest.

[0015] It also proposes a motor vehicle comprising two front seats and a bench seat as above, located behind the two front seats.

[0016] Finally, it proposes a method for assembling a motor vehicle as described above, in which it is planned to: - position the strip on top of the other of the two parts of the headband, and - bring the file to the top of the headband in such a way that the hooks carried by said band hook onto the other of the two parts of the headband.

[0017] Preferably then, it is planned beforehand to sew said strip onto the first of the two parts of the headband.

[0018] 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

[0019] 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.

[0020] On the attached drawings:

[0021] [Fig-1] is a schematic view of a motor vehicle bench seat conforming to the invention;

[0022] [Fig.2] is a detail view of area II of [Fig.1];

[0023] [Fig.3] is a view from another angle of area II of [Fig.1].

[0024] A motor vehicle (car, bus, truck) generally comprises a chassis and bodywork elements which together define a passenger compartment.

[0025] In [Fig.1], a bench seat 1 is shown, intended to be installed in the passenger compartment of such a motor vehicle and to be fixed to the chassis of this motor vehicle.

[0026] In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used in relation to the motor vehicle, 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.

[0027] 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 of the vehicle and the upper part designating the part of that element which is located on the roof side of the vehicle.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] As shown in [Fig.1], the bench 1 classically comprises a seat 10 and a backrest 20 equipped with a headrest (not visible in the figures).

[0031] The backrest and headrest not forming the core of the invention, they will not be described here.

[0032] The seat 10 comprises a frame, a padding attached to the frame and a cover slipped over the padding (also called a cover).

[0033] The frame is, for example, formed of metal parts such as metal wires welded together. Of course, alternatively, it could be in another form, for example in the form of a plastic shell.

[0034] This frame can be fixed to the floor of the vehicle or be mounted movably on it (for example by sliding from front to back and / or in height relative to the floor).

[0035] The lining is for example formed of a foam, typically a molded polyurethane foam.

[0036] Finally, the cover (or “headliner”) generally comprises different pieces sewn together in the desired shape to cover the trim on a major part of its sides.

[0037] The various parts of this cover could be made from the same material. However, here, several materials are used. On the visible part of the cover, pieces of fabric are used, for example, plain fabric or "plastic-coated fabric" (TEP). Other materials could, of course, be used (leather, etc.).

[0038] On the non-visible part of the cover, a so-called "non-woven" material is preferably used, of the type used for vehicle carpets. This non-woven material has in particular numerous threads which form loops on its surface.

[0039] As clearly shown in [Fig. 1], the seat 10 has a main part 11 which extends substantially horizontally and which is bordered at the rear by a rim, hereinafter referred to as a band 12.

[0040] The main part 11 forms a kind of thick wall. It has an upper face called the seating face 110 because it allows passengers to sit on it. This seating face 110 delineates at least two separate seats for two passengers. In practice, it delineates here two wide side seats PI, P2 (the trim is recessed for this purpose on the upper face), and a narrower central seat P3.

[0041] Different seams provided in this reception face 110 allow the three places PI, P2, P3 to be clearly delimited.

[0042] The band 12 extends along the entire rear edge of the main part 11 of the seat 10. It protrudes above this reception face 110. It is formed with the main part 11 in that the cover of the seat 10 is in one piece and the frame of the seat 10 is also in one piece.

[0043] In practice, the frame of the seat 10 extends not only into the main part 11 of the seat 10 but also into the band 12.

[0044] The foam padding also extends inside the band 12. It can be seen in [Fig.1] that the cover of this band is here pierced by four openings through which are placed four anchoring elements for child seats, conforming to the Isofix standard.

[0045] The band 12 is formed of two distinct parts 121, 122.

[0046] These two parts are distinct in that their covers are each attached to the cover of the main part 11 but are not attached to each other. They are therefore separated by a slot 120 in the band 12.

[0047] Each of these parts 121, 122 is in the form of a roll. Each part thus incorporates a portion of the metal wires of the seat frame 10, a portion of the seat padding 10, and a portion of the seat cover 10.

[0048] A first of these parts 121 extends to the rear of one of the side seats PI, while the second part 122 extends to the rear of the other two seats P2, P3.

[0049] This second part 122 here presents a reduction in section, so as to present two sections located respectively at the rear of the other two places P2, P3.

[0050] In summary, the band 12 forms a kind of ridge which extends transversely, at the rear of the main part 11 of the seat 10, and which is interrupted by a slot 120.

[0051] Its cover is formed on the top by pieces of non-woven material. The top is designed to be covered by the backrest 20, so it will not be visible. The cover is also formed on the back and along the lower edge by pieces made of the same material. Only its visible front surface is made of fabric.

[0052] The slot 120 extends across the entire cross-section of the band 12, that is, across its entire height and thickness (from front to back). It opens at its lower end into an opening 111 (Figures 2 and 3) provided in the main part 11 of the seat 10, between one of the side seats PI and the central seat P3. In practice, another opening 112 ([Fig. 1]) of the same type is provided on the other side of the central seat P3.

[0053] Bench seat 1 is also equipped with a set of safety belt systems (not shown).

[0054] For example, two three-point seat belt systems are provided for the two side seats PI, P2.

[0055] Such a system first comprises a strap, one end of which is fixed to one side of the seat, at the level of the seat cushion 10, and the other end of which winds into a retractor fixed to the vehicle chassis, on the same side of the seat, at the height of the headrest. It also comprises a buckle that is threaded onto the strap and has a bolt. Furthermore, it includes a bolt-locking device that notably includes a pedicle at the upper end of which is a clasp adapted to receive and lock the bolt. Here, the two clasps are respectively located in the two openings 111, 112 mentioned above.

[0056] Another seat belt system is also planned for the passenger seated in the central seat P3.

[0057] This other seat belt system could be of the two-point type (with a lap belt that attaches on either side of the occupant's pelvis). Here, it is again a three-point system, the retractor being located, for example, in the vehicle's headliner and the buckle being located in one of the two openings 111, 112.

[0058] It should be noted here that the safety belt strap associated with this central seat P3 will pass through the slot 120 of the band 12, which will also be specifically provided for this purpose.

[0059] There is a risk that the two parts 121, 122 of the band 12 are offset from each other, one being located further forward than the other on either side of the slot 120.

[0060] To avoid this, as shown in [Fig.2], there are provided fastening means 30 allowing these two parts 121, 122 to be locked in line with each other (i.e. in such a way that their front faces are placed, on either side of the slot 120, in the same alignment).

[0061] Since the two parts 121, 122 of the band 12 are attached at the bottom to the main part 11 of the seat 10, these fastening means 30 are placed at a distance from the main part 11. They are preferably located on the top of the band 12 but, alternatively, they could be placed at the rear of the band 12, preferably in the upper half.

[0062] These fastening means could take various forms. Typically, they could take the form of a snap fastener whose two components would be attached to the two parts of the headband, on either side of the slot.

[0063] However, preferably because they are easier to use, these fastening means 30 include a Velcro® system.

[0064] It is recalled that such a Velcro® system is a self-gripping fastening device comprising at least one strip 31 covered with hooks.

[0065] It could further include another band covered with loops to which these hooks could be attached. However, in this case, the non-woven material already has such loops, so it is not necessary to use this other band. Of course, alternatively, if the cover material did not have such loops, it would be possible to sew such another band onto it.

[0066] In a well-known manner, when a compressive force is exerted on them, the hooks automatically hook onto the loops, thus creating a temporary connection that can be opened and closed many times.

[0067] Here, it is planned to fix the band 31 to one of the two parts 121, 122 of the band 12, so that it can hook via its hooks to the other part.

[0068] Here, the band 31 is fixed to the second part 122 of the band 12, at the rear of the central place P3.

[0069] It could be attached there simply by its hooks. However, in the context of a vehicle assembly process, it is preferable to attach it there in a non-removable manner.

[0070] The solution used in this regard consists of sewing it by one of its ends to the cover, preferably in a pre-existing seam (i.e. in a seam provided between two pieces).

[0071] As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, this strip 31 is sewn in such a way that it extends transversely in the vehicle, and that its opposite end can hook onto the top of the first part 121 of the band 12.

[0072] We can now describe how, in the context of the assembly of the various components of a vehicle, the seat is fitted into the passenger compartment of that vehicle.

[0073] As a preliminary step, the seat 10 and the backrest 20 are manufactured in two separate pieces.

[0074] During the manufacture of the seat cover 10, care is taken to place the band 31 through a seam of this cover. It is positioned in such a way that when the cover is slipped over the upholstery, it ends up on top of the band 12.

[0075] The seat 10 is then brought into the vehicle. It is fixed to the floor in such a way that it can tilt forwards.

[0076] It is then placed in a forward tilted position (so that the reception face 110 is facing forward), so as to allow an operator to place the seat belt systems.

[0077] Once these systems are correctly positioned and fixed, the seat 10 is brought back to the normal position (so that the reception face 110 is turned upwards), taking care to pass the strap of the safety belt system associated with the central seat P3 through the slot 120 of the band 12.

[0078] At this stage, the operator will also take care to place the band 31 so that it is stretched over the slot 120, straddling the two parts 121, 122 of the strip 12. He may, if necessary, place the two parts 121, 122 of the strip in line with each other if they were ever offset, so that the band 31 can hold them in this aesthetic position.

[0079] Next, the operator can bring the backrest 20 into the passenger compartment, onto the top of the band 12 of the seat 10, attaching it, for example, to the vehicle's fenders. At this stage, the backrest will automatically exert pressure on the band 31 such that the Hooks carried by this band 31 attach to the non-woven material of the band 12, on each side of the slot 120. Thus the two parts 121, 122 of the band 12 will be held securely in line with each other.

[0080] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and represented, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with the invention.

[0081] Typically, it could be applied to a boat or airplane bench seat.

Claims

Demands

1. Seat (10) of a bench seat (1) of a motor vehicle comprising: - a main part (11) which has a passenger reception face (110), and - a band (12) which borders the rear of said main part (11) and which rises above said reception face (110), said band (12) comprising two parts (121, 122) separated by a slot (120), characterized in that it provides fastening means (30) adapted to fix the two parts (121, 122) of the band (12) on either side of the slot (120), at a distance from the main part (11).

2. Seat (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means (30) comprise a band (31) which is fixed to a first of the two parts (121, 122) of the headband (12), and one face of which has hooks adapted to hook onto the other of the two parts (121, 122) of the headband (12).

3. Seat (10) according to claim 2, wherein the other of the two parts (121, 122) of the headband (12) comprises a padding and a protective cover for the padding, at least a part (121A) of which is formed in a material to which the hooks are adapted to hook.

4. Seat (10) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the band (31) is sewn to the first of the two parts (121, 122) of the headband (12).

5. Seat (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fastening means are located on the top of the band (12).

6. Seat (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, delimiting three seats (PI, P2, P3) and wherein one of the parts (121) of the band (12) extends to the rear of one of the three seats (PI) and the other of the parts (122) of the band (12) extends to the rear of the other two seats (P2, P3).

7. Motor vehicle bench (1) comprising a seat (10) conforming to one of claims 1 to 6 and a backrest (20).

8. Motor vehicle comprising two front seats and a bench seat (1) according to claim 7, located behind the two front seats.

9. Method of assembling a motor vehicle according to claim 8 and equipped with a seat according to claims 2 and 5, wherein it is provided to: - position the band (31) on top of the other of the two parts (121, 122) of the band (12), and - bring the backrest (20) onto the top of the band (12) in such a way that the hooks carried by said band (31) hook onto the other of the two parts (121, 122) of the band (12).

10. Assembly method according to the preceding claim, wherein it is provided that said band (31) is first sewn onto the first of the two parts (121, 122) of the band (12).

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