Vehicle seat equipped with an adjustable seat cushion

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat provided with an adjustable seat cushion. According to the invention, the seat cushion (10) comprises a seat cushion body (20) and a front seat cushion portion (30) movably connected to the seat cushion body by means of a device (1) comprising a support (3) fixed to the seat cushion body and comprising a pair of side walls having respective slots (11a, 11b), a slider (9) fixed to the front portion of the seat cushion and comprising at least one pair of protruding pins (13a, 13b) disposed on the two opposite sides of the slider and respectively received and retained in a corresponding slot of the support, and a locking arrangement for selectively allowing or preventing movement of the slider pins along the slots of the support.

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle seat equipped with an adjustable seat cushion. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat equipped with an adjustable seat cushion.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion adjustable both in length and in inclination relative to the vehicle floor. Previous art

[0003] In order to improve the comfort of the driver and passengers during journeys, vehicle seats are generally equipped with devices allowing the position of the seat to be varied relative to the vehicle floor, as well as devices allowing the position of the parts of the seat to be varied relative to each other.

[0004] More specifically, vehicle seats are generally equipped with a sliding device allowing the seat cushion to be pushed or pulled forward or backward relative to the vehicle floor, a height adjustment device allowing the height of the seat cushion to be adjusted relative to the vehicle floor, and a tilting device allowing the inclination of the seat back relative to the seat cushion to be adjusted.

[0005] These devices can be implemented by very simple mechanisms, so that they can be supplied in almost all vehicles without necessarily involving an increase in manufacturing costs and lead times.

[0006] It is also known to equip the vehicle seat with a device allowing the position of the seat cushion to be adjusted so that the user's legs can rest against the front end of the seat cushion.

[0007] In the case of motor vehicles, such a device is particularly useful, as it provides better support for the user's knees and increases user comfort even during long journeys.

[0008] According to the prior art, these adjustment devices are generally implemented by means of two separate mechanisms: a first mechanism allowing the seating surface of the seat cushion to be increased by moving the front part of the seat cushion forward; a second mechanism allowing the front part of the seat cushion to be tilted upwards.

[0009] Thanks to the combination of these two movements, the front part of the seat cushion can be brought against the hollows of the user's knees and support them.

[0010] However, the need to provide two separate mechanisms makes the overall structure of known devices complex.

[0011] Moreover, each of these mechanisms has in itself a complex structure and a very high number of parts.

[0012] Consequently, the integration of such devices into a vehicle seat implies a considerable increase in manufacturing costs and lead times.

[0013] For this reason, while sliding or tilting devices are provided in almost all vehicle seats, such seat cushion adjustment devices can only be integrated into high-end solutions.

[0014] The main object of the invention is therefore to remedy the limitations stated above by proposing a vehicle seat equipped with a seat cushion adjustment device implemented by a mechanism having a simple structure and a limited number of parts.

[0015] In this regard, another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat equipped with a device allowing both the length and the inclination of the seat cushion to be adjusted by means of a single mechanism.

[0016] These objects and others are reached by the vehicle seat as claimed in the attached claims. Description of the invention

[0017] The vehicle seat according to the invention comprises a seat cushion which includes, in a manner known per se, a cushion body and a front part of the cushion which is movably connected to the cushion body.

[0018] More specifically, the cushion body comprises a body frame and a body foam element mounted on it, the front part of the cushion comprises a front part frame and a front part foam element mounted on it, and the front part frame is movably connected to the body frame.

[0019] According to the invention, the seat cushion adjustment device comprises

[0020] - a support fixed to the body frame and comprising a pair of side walls arranged respectively on both sides of the body frame, these side walls being provided with respective slots aligned with each other; and

[0021] - a slider fixed to the front part frame and comprising at least one pair of protruding pins arranged respectively on the two opposite sides of the slider, each pin being able to be received and retained in a corresponding slot of the support.

[0022] This device further includes a locking arrangement to selectively permit or prevent movement of the slider pins along the support slots.

[0023] This locking arrangement includes first engagement means provided on or connected to the support and second engagement means provided on or connected to the slider, the first and second engagement means being intended to cooperate with each other to prevent the movement of the slider pins along the slots of the support; this locking arrangement further includes a triggering element to bring these second engagement means out of engagement with these first engagement means, thus allowing the movement of the slider pins along the slots of the support.

[0024] The locking arrangement preferably includes means for pushing the first and second engagement means towards the engagement position, so that the triggering element must overcome the resistance of these means to bring these second engagement means out of engagement of these first engagement means.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first engagement means comprise a plurality of recesses distributed along each side wall of the support and the second engagement means comprise a pair of pegs, each of these pegs being intended to be received in a recess of a respective side wall of the support, or a rod, the opposite ends of which are intended to be received in recesses of the respective side walls of the support.

[0026] Thanks to this arrangement, namely the presence of several recesses, the slider can be locked relative to the support in several different positions. Consequently, the front part of the seat cushion can be locked relative to the seat cushion body in several different positions selectable by the user.

[0027] It follows from the above that the shape of the slots in the side walls of the support determines the path of the slider when moving relative to the support, and consequently the path of the front part of the seat cushion when moving relative to the seat cushion body.

[0028] Advantageously, by providing slots inclined upwards in the front direction, it is possible to move the front part of the seat cushion forwards (thus increasing the seating surface of the seat cushion) and at the same time to tilt it upwards, so that the two movements required for the front part of the seat cushion are carried out simultaneously by a single mechanism.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat cushion adjustment device includes means for pushing the slider towards the front ends slots in the support when the first means of engagement are released from the second means of engagement.

[0030] This arrangement makes it possible to counter the force of gravity, which tends to push the front part of the vehicle seat cushion towards the rear, i.e. towards the seat back. Brief description of the drawings

[0031] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] [Fig-1] shows a vehicle seat according to the invention;

[0033] [Fig.2] schematically shows in cross-section the seat cushion of the seat of vehicle of the [Fig.l];

[0034] [Fig.3a] shows the seat cushion adjustment device of the vehicle seat of the [Fig.l] in a first configuration;

[0035] [Fig.3b] also shows the seat cushion adjustment device of the seat vehicle of the [Fig.l] in a first configuration;

[0036] [Fig.4a] shows the seat cushion adjustment device of the vehicle seat of the [Fig.l] in a second configuration;

[0037] [Fig.4b] also shows the seat cushion adjustment device of the seat vehicle of the [Fig.l] in a second configuration;

[0038] [Fig. 5a] shows the seat cushion adjustment device of the vehicle seat of the [Fig.l] in a third configuration;

[0039] [Fig. 5b] also shows the seat cushion adjustment device of the seat vehicle of the [Fig.l] in a third configuration;

[0040] [Fig. 6a] shows the seat cushion adjustment device of the vehicle seat of the [Fig.l] in a fourth configuration;

[0041] [Fig.6b] also shows the seat cushion adjustment device of the seat vehicle of the [Fig.1] in a fourth configuration.

[0042] Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0043] In the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will be made to a motor vehicle seat, such as a front seat of a motor vehicle.

[0044] However, such an application should not be interpreted in a limiting sense, and the vehicle seat according to the invention can be used in any type of vehicle, including aircraft or ships.

[0045] [Fig. 1] shows a vehicle seat 100. This vehicle seat includes a seat cushion 10 and a seat back 40. The seat cushion 10 includes at its around a seat cushion body 20 and a front part of seat cushion 30, movably connected to the seat cushion body.

[0046] It should be noted that in the present description:

[0047] - the "front" part or the "front" end designates the furthest part / end of the seat file;

[0048] - the "rear" part or the "rear" end designates the nearest part / end of the seat file;

[0049] - "forward direction" and similar expressions indicate movement away from the seat file;

[0050] - "rearward direction" and similar expressions indicate a movement towards the rear towards the seat back;

[0051] - "upward direction" and similar indicate a movement away from the vehicle floor on which the vehicle seat is mounted;

[0052] - "downward direction" and similar indicate a movement approaching the vehicle floor on which the vehicle seat is mounted.

[0053] The structure of the seat cushion 10 is schematically illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The seat cushion body 20 comprises a body frame 22 and a body foam element (not shown) mounted on the body frame 22. Similarly, the front part of the seat cushion 30 comprises a front part frame 32 and a front part foam element 34 mounted on the front part frame 32.

[0054] The front part of the seat cushion 30 is movably connected to the seat cushion body 20 by means of a device 1 allowing adjustment of the position of this front part of the seat cushion 30 relative to this seat cushion body 20.

[0055] The structure and operation of device 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 3a, 3b - 6a, 6b.

[0056] The device 1 includes a support 3 fixed to the body frame 22 and comprising a pair of side walls 5a, 5b arranged respectively on one side and the other of this body frame and connected to each other by a connecting wall 7 arranged below this body frame 22.

[0057] This device 1 further includes a slider 9 fixed to the front part frame 32, namely to the lower surface of this front part frame.

[0058] The side walls 5a, 5b of the support 3 are provided with respective slots 1a, 11b aligned with respect to each other, and the slider 9 is provided accordingly, on each opposite side of it, with one or more protruding pins 13a, 13b (two pins on each side in the illustrated example) which are received and retained in the respective slots lia, 11b of the support 3.

[0059] As a result, the pins 13a, 13b can slide along the length of the slots 1a, 11b but cannot be separated from these slots.

[0060] The device 1 further includes a locking arrangement which can be switched from a locking position, in which the movement of the pins 13a, 13b of the slider along the slots 1a, 11b of the support is prevented, to an unlocking position, in which the movement of the pins 13a, 13b of the slider along the slots 1a, 11b of the support is permitted.

[0061] This locking arrangement includes first engagement means provided on or connected to the support.

[0062] In the embodiment shown, the first engagement means comprise, on each side wall 5a, 5b of the support, a plurality of recesses 15a, 15b provided in the upper edge of the side wall.

[0063] This plurality of recesses includes at least a first recess at the rear end of the respective slot lia, 11b and a second recess at the front end of the respective slot lia, 11b.

[0064] However, in the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, several intermediate recesses are provided on each side wall of the support between this first and second recess, these intermediate recesses being arranged along the upper edge of the respective slot.

[0065] The presence of a plurality of intermediate recesses makes it possible to lock the slider 9 in relation to the support 3 - and therefore the front part of the seat cushion in relation to the body of the seat cushion - at a corresponding number of positions between the rearmost position (corresponding to the first recess) and the frontmost position (corresponding to the second recess), which makes it possible to adapt the position of the front part of the seat cushion to the specific morphology of each user.

[0066] The locking arrangement further includes second engagement means provided on or connected to the slider 9 and designed to cooperate with the first engagement means of the support.

[0067] In the embodiment shown, the second engagement means comprise a transverse rod 17, the opposite ends of which 17a, 17b can be received in a pair of recesses 15a, 15b on the first and second lateral walls 5a, 5b, respectively, of the support.

[0068] In an alternative embodiment, the second engagement means could include separate pegs on the two opposite sides of the slider, each peg being able to be received in a recess in the respective side wall of the support.

[0069] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that in other alternative embodiments of the invention, the first engagement means could be made in the form of projections provided at the upper edge of the side walls of the support, and the second engagement means could be made in the form of seats formed to accommodate these projections.

[0070] The cross rod 17 is carried by a pair of arms 19a, 19b which are pivotally connected at pivot axes 21a, 21b to the opposite sides of the slider 9, so that the arms 19a, 19b can rotate from a locking position, in which the ends 17a, 17b of the cross rod 17 are received in a pair of recesses 15a, 15b of the support 3, to an unlocking position, in which the ends 17a, 17b of said cross rod 17 are released from the recesses 15a, 15b of this support 3, and vice versa.

[0071] Preferably, means for applying pressure are provided to apply pressure to the transverse rod 17 towards the locking position.

[0072] These means of stressing may include, for example, torsion springs 23a, 23b provided at the pivot axes 21a, 21b of the arms 19a, 19b.

[0073] To switch the transverse rod 17 to the unlocked position, the arms 19a, 19b are connected, at their ends opposite the ends carrying the transverse rod, to a triggering member 25 that can be operated by the user.

[0074] In the embodiment shown, this triggering element is in the form of a handle 25 located under the seat cushion and which can be operated manually by the user.

[0075] It is nevertheless also possible to consider a triggering device equipped with a motorized drive that can be operated by the user.

[0076] In Figures 3a, 3b, the device 1 is shown in a first configuration in which the pins 13a, 13b of the slider are at the rear end of the respective slots 11a, 11b of the support and the locking arrangement is in the locked position, the ends 17a, 17b of the transverse rod 17 being firmly received in the first recesses 15a, 15b furthest back in the side walls 5a, 5b of the support 3.

[0077] In this initial configuration, the front part of the seat cushion 30 of the seat cushion 10 is in its rearmost position relative to the seat cushion body 20.

[0078] By acting on the trigger handle 25, the user can rotate the arms 19a, 19b around the pivot axes 21a, 21b overcoming the elastic resistance of the torsion springs 23a, 23b, so that the ends 17a, 17b of the transverse rod 17 are released from the recesses 15a, 15b (see Figures 4a, 4b).

[0079] When the locking arrangement is in this unlocked position, the slider 9 is movable relative to the support 3, because the pins 13a, 13b of the slider are free to slide along the respective slots 1a, 11b of the support.

[0080] For example, the pins 13a, 13b can slide to the front end of the respective slots lia, 11b of the support (see Figures 5a, 5b).

[0081] It is evident that, alternatively, the pins 13a, 13b could slide to an intermediate position along the respective slots lia, 11b.

[0082] Once the desired adjustment position is reached, the user can release the release handle 25: under the action of the torsion springs 23a, 23b, the arms 19a, 19b are pushed towards the locking position, in which the ends 17a, 17b of the transverse rod 17 are firmly received in a new pair of recesses 15a, 15b of the side walls 5a, 5b of the support 3, namely the second most forward recesses 15a, 15b in the embodiment shown (see Figures 6a, 6b).

[0083] In this final configuration, the front part of the seat cushion 30 of the seat cushion 10 is in its most advanced position relative to the seat cushion body 20.

[0084] It is evident that the path followed by the pins 13a, 13b of the slider 9 (and consequently by the front part of the seat cushion 30 of the seat cushion 10) is determined by the shape and extension of the slots lia, 11b in the side walls of the support.

[0085] Therefore, by providing slots lia, 11b which are inclined upwards in the forward direction (i.e. going from their rear ends closer to the seat back to their front ends further from the seat back), it is possible to move the front part of the seat cushion forwards and at the same time to tilt it upwards.

[0086] In more detail, as shown in the figures, the slots 1la, 11b have a slightly curved profile, with an upward-facing concavity, which ensures a smooth forward translation and upward rotation of the front part of the seat cushion 30 relative to the seat cushion body 20.

[0087] It is evident that the weight of the device will tend to push the front part of the seat cushion 30 downwards and backwards (i.e. towards the seat back) as soon as the locking arrangement is switched to the unlocked position.

[0088] In order to help the user to move the front part of the seat cushion 30 more comfortably, the device 1 preferably includes means for pushing the slider towards the front ends of the slots 1la, 11b of the support 3.

[0089] In the embodiment shown, these thrusting means include a spring 27 which is mounted on the support 3 and is in contact with a transverse stop bar 29 fixed to or integral with the slider.

[0090] The spring 27 is fully loaded when the pins 13a, 13b of the slider are at the rear ends of the slots 1a, 11b of the support 3, while it is less loaded when the pins 13a, 13b of the slider are at the front ends of the slots 1a, 11b of the support 3.

[0091] Consequently, from the configuration illustrated in Figures 3a, 3b, when the locking arrangement is brought into the unlocking position, the spring 27 pushes forward the stop cross member 29 and the slider 9, thus promoting the forward and upward movement of the front part of the seat cushion 30.

[0092] Conversely, from the configuration illustrated in Figures 6a, 6b, when the locking arrangement is brought into the unlocking position, the resistance of the spring 27 can easily be overcome to obtain the downward and rearward movement of this front part of the seat cushion 30.

[0093] Pushing means for pushing the cursor towards the front ends of the slots 1la, 11b of the support 3 other than a spring (such as, for example, a piston or a motorized shaft) can obviously be considered by a person skilled in the art.

[0094] It follows from the above that in the vehicle seat according to the invention, the adjustment of the seat cushion is implemented by a single mechanism having a simple structure and a reduced number of parts.

[0095] Thus, the seat cushion adjustment device can be integrated into the vehicle seat without major modifications to the seat design.

[0096] Since this device can be operated manually, its introduction does not lead to a significant increase in the manufacturing costs of the vehicle seat. However, a motorized drive for the device could be considered for high-end applications.

[0097] It is also evident that the embodiment described above and shown in the figures should in no way be understood in a limiting sense, and that several variants and modifications are possible without going out of the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle seat (100), comprising a seat cushion (10) which includes a seat cushion body (20) provided with a body frame (22) and a front part of the seat cushion (30) provided with a front part frame (32), characterized in that it includes a device (1) which connects this body frame (22) to this front part frame (32) and comprises: - a support (3) fixed to this body frame (22) and comprising a pair of side walls (5a, 5b) disposed respectively on both sides of this body frame and provided with respective slots (1a, 1b) aligned with each other; - a slider (9) fixed on this front part frame (32) and comprising at least one pair of protruding pins (13a, 13b) arranged respectively on both sides of this slider, each pin of the pair or pairs being received and retained in a corresponding slot (11a, 11b) of this support;and - a locking arrangement (15a, 15b, 17a, 17b) which can be switched between a locking position, in which the movement of these pins (13a, 13b) along these slots (lia, 11b) is prevented, and an unlocking position, in which the movement of these pins (13a, 13b) along these slots (lia, 11b) is permitted.;

2. Vehicle seat (100) according to claim 1, wherein these slots (lia, 11b) are inclined upwards from their rear end to their front end.

3. Vehicle seat (100) according to claim 1, wherein these slots (lia, 11b) are curved, with a concavity oriented upwards.

4. A vehicle seat (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein this locking arrangement comprises first engagement means (15a, 15b) provided on or connected to this support (3) and second engagement means (17a, 17b) provided on or connected to this slider (9), the first and second engagement means being designed to cooperate with each other to prevent movement of the slider pins along the slots in the support when the locking arrangement is in the locked position, and wherein this arrangement The locking mechanism further includes a triggering element (25) to bring these second engagement means out of engagement with these first engagement means, thus bringing the locking arrangement to the unlocking position and allowing the movement of the slider pins along the slots of the support.

5. Vehicle seat (100) according to claim 4, wherein this locking arrangement includes excitation means (23a, 23b) for pushing these first and second engagement means towards the engagement position.

6. Vehicle seat (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein these first engagement means comprise a plurality of recesses (15a, 15b) distributed along each side wall (5a, 5b) of these supports (3) and these second engagement means comprise a pair of pegs, each peg being intended to be received in a recess of a respective side wall of this support, or a rod (17), the opposite ends of which (17a, 17b) are intended to be received in recesses of the respective side walls of the support.

7. Vehicle seat (100) according to claim 6, in which this device (1) comprises a pair of arms (19a, 19b) which are pivotally connected at pivot axes (21a, 21b) to opposite sides of this slider (9), these arms (19a, 19b) carrying at their first ends this rod (17) and being connected, at their second ends opposite these first ends, to this triggering member (25).

8. Vehicle seat (100) according to claims 5 and 7, wherein these stressing means comprise torsion springs (23a, 23b) provided at the pivot axes (21a, 21b) of these arms (19a, 19b).

9. Vehicle seat (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein this device (1) further comprises means for pushing this slider towards the front ends of these slots (1a, 11b) of the support.

10. Vehicle seat (100) according to claim 9, wherein these means for pushing this slider towards the front ends of these slots (1a, 11b) of the support comprise a spring (27) mounted on 12 this support and in contact with a transverse stop bar (29) fixed to this slider (9) or integral with it.

11. Vehicle seat (100) according to claim 4, wherein this triggering member (25) is manually operated by the user.

12. Vehicle seat (100) according to claim 4, wherein this triggering member (25) is provided with a motorized drive which can be activated by the user.

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