Protective device for retractable vehicle seat.

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device (1) designed to equip a retractable seat (2) of a motor vehicle, the device (1) comprising at least one protective panel (9), each designed to be movable relative to a partition (4) of the vehicle to which the retractable seat (2) is fixed, between a deployed position and a folded position, each panel (9) having a first face (10) designed to extend opposite the partition (4) in its folded position and, in its deployed position, to extend between a side wall of the vehicle and a passenger seated on the seat (2), each panel (9) being designed to provide protection for the passenger seated on the seat (2) in the event of a side impact to which the vehicle is subjected, the first face (10) being designed to cushion the impact of the passenger on the device (1) and to mitigate the impact of the passenger on the side wall. (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Protective device for retractable seat of motor vehicle.

[0001] The technical field relates to protective devices for retractable seats, retractable seats including such a device, partitions equipped with such a seat and motor vehicles having such a partition.

[0002] Car manufacturers offer vehicles adapted to all uses. With the rise of e-commerce, the market for vans specializing in parcel delivery is constantly growing. It is therefore important, in order to meet the demands of this growing market, to offer vans optimized to facilitate the work of delivery drivers.

[0003] Such a van is generally equipped with a partition separating the driver's compartment from a cargo compartment, where the cargo, including packages, is stored. This partition is generally sized to protect the driver and passengers in the driver's compartment from the risk of cargo being thrown forward in the event of a collision.

[0004] Some delivery vans, the most optimized currently available, are designed to allow for a delivery route with either a van driver accompanied by a delivery person or a driver alone, who also makes the deliveries. The delivery person then sits on a seat located behind the dashboard. Removing the seat allows the driver to get in and out of the vehicle from the sidewalk, passing in front of the delivery person's seat. However, in this type of vehicle, the seat fixed to the floor of the passenger compartment creates a significant obstruction for the driver's access, which could still cause the driver to trip when getting in or out of the driver's compartment.

[0005] Furthermore, car manufacturers pay particular attention to the safety of their vehicle passengers. In terms of road safety, the behavior of motor vehicles is regulated and tested using standardized test procedures. The requirements for the results of these tests are constantly increasing and becoming more difficult to meet, forcing car manufacturers to innovate continuously. Standardized procedures are, for example, described by the international organization Euro NCAP.

[0006] One of these procedures consists in particular of a simulation of impacts against a rigid pole striking the vehicle on the side, called a side impact against a pole or simply a side impact. In a side impact, the deformations undergone by the Vehicles are specifically designed to minimize the intrusion of the pole into the protected space around the passengers.

[0007] In this context, most solutions allowing a passenger to sit next to the driver in a delivery vehicle do not offer as high a level of safety as for a passenger with a conventional seat.

[0008] Also, there is a need to provide a solution to allow a delivery person, accompanying a driver of a delivery vehicle, to sit safely while allowing the use of the delivery vehicle with a driver making the delivery alone.

[0009] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a protective device enabling the formation of a new retractable seat offering an increased level of safety for its passenger in the event of a side impact.

[0010] To this end, the present invention relates to a protective device designed to equip a retractable seat of a motor vehicle, the device comprising at least one protective panel, each designed to be mounted movably relative to a partition of the vehicle on which the retractable seat is fixed, between a deployed position and a folded position, each panel having a first face designed to extend in relation to the partition in its folded position and, in its deployed position, to extend between a side wall of the vehicle and a passenger seated on the seat, each panel being designed to form protection for the passenger seated on the seat in the event of a side impact suffered by the vehicle, the first face being designed to cushion the impact of the passenger on the device and to mitigate the impact of the passenger on the side wall.

[0011] The invention also relates to a retractable seat for a motor vehicle comprising a seat designed to be movably mounted on a partition of the vehicle, between a seating position allowing a passenger to sit on the seat and a retracted position, freeing up a passage for the passenger, the seat further comprising a protection device according to the invention.

[0012] The invention further relates to a partition designed to equip a utility vehicle and to separate a passenger compartment from a cargo compartment of the vehicle, the partition comprising at least one seat according to the invention fixed to the partition, each protective device being articulated with respect to the partition so that, in its folded position, it extends in relation to the partition, and, in its deployed position, it extends between a passenger seated on the seat and a side wall of the vehicle.

[0013] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one partition according to the invention.

[0014] Thus, the protective device according to the invention makes it possible to offer a retractable seat according to the invention. The retractable seat allows the vehicle according to the invention to maintain the possibility of operating a delivery route with a single driver, the retractable seat freeing up a passage, or with a driver accompanied by a delivery person who then benefits from the retractable seat. The latter then offers an increased level of safety to its passenger, compared to a conventional seat, thanks to the presence of a safety device. Indeed, in the event of a side impact, the passenger seated on the retractable seat according to the invention is protected by the device according to the invention. In particular, in the event of a side impact sustained by the vehicle, the passenger impacts the first face of the protective device instead of the side panel, since the first face is designed to cushion the impact on the passenger, thus mitigating the risk of injury to the passenger.

[0015] According to one embodiment, each panel has a second face opposite the first face and designed to extend, in its deployed position, opposite or in support of the side wall, the side wall being a lateral pillar of the vehicle equipped with the seat.

[0016] According to one possibility, the protective device includes padding designed to cushion the impact of the passenger against the first face during a side impact, in particular a foam with a density between 40 g / L and 60 g / L.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the device, a panel has a notch designed to allow the passage of the seat belt from the side wall to the passenger when the panel is in its deployed position.

[0018] According to one possibility of the protective device, each panel is designed to pivot around an axis corresponding to a vertical axis of the vehicle when the device is mounted on the seat itself mounted on the vehicle.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the retractable seat, the protective device has at least one extension designed to cover at least part of the seat, when the device is in its folded position and the seat is in its retracted position, to prevent the seat from moving in the absence of movement of the protective device.

[0020] According to one possibility of the partition, it includes a housing designed to accommodate the seat back and / or at least part of the seat protection device in its folded position.

[0021] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig.1] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of a partition according to the invention in which the seat is in the retracted position and the protective device is in its folded position;

[0023] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of the partition of [Fig.1], in in which the seat cushion is in the retracted position and the protective device is in its deployed position;

[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of the partition of [Fig.1], in in which the seat is in the seated position and the protective device is in its deployed position;

[0025] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a side view of the partition of [Fig.2], showing the protective device accommodating a seat belt;

[0026] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] represents a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the partition of the [Fig.l];

[0027] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the partition of the [Fig.l];

[0028] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0029] A protective device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed to equip a retractable seat 2 according to the invention, also illustrated in the figures, of a motor vehicle 3. The seat 2 and the device 1 are designed to be movably mounted on a partition 4 separating, for example, a passenger compartment 5 of the vehicle 3 from a cargo compartment 6, illustrated in Figures 4 to 6.

[0030] As illustrated in the figures, the retractable seat 2 has a seat 7 movablely mounted on the partition 4 of the vehicle 3, between a seating position, allowing a passenger (not shown) to sit on the seat 7, and a retracted position, freeing up a passage for the passenger, particularly in the passenger compartment 5. The seat 2 has, for example, a backrest 8 fixed to the partition 4. In the example illustrated in the figures, the retracted position of the seat 7 corresponds to a position in which the seat 7 extends against the partition 4, while in the seating position, the seat 7 extends along a plane corresponding to a horizontal plane of the vehicle 3.

[0031] In a known manner, the tilting of the seat 7 of the seat 2 involves, for example, an automatic locking system using an indexing pin, coupled to a spring activated by a slope. Such a system allows the seat 7 to be locked in the seated position. In such a system, releasing the indexing pin by manually pulling it unlocks the seat 7 in order to return it to the folded position.

[0032] The device 1 comprises at least one protective panel 9, illustrated in the figures, each designed to be mounted movably relative to the partition 4 of the vehicle 3 to which the retractable seat 2 is fixed. In the example illustrated in the figures, Device 1 comprises a single protective panel 9. Each protective panel 9 is movable between an extended position, illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, and a folded position, illustrated in Figures 1, 5 and 6. Each panel 9 has a first face 10 designed to extend opposite the partition 4 in its folded position and, in its extended position, to extend between a side wall 11 of the vehicle 3 and the passenger seated in seat 2. In the example illustrated in the figures, the side wall 11 is a side pillar 12 of the vehicle 3. In the example illustrated in the figures, the panel 9 is rotated a quarter turn between its folded and extended positions.

[0033] Each panel 9 is designed to provide protection for the passenger seated in the seat 2 in the event of a side impact suffered by the vehicle 3. The first face 10 is designed to cushion the impact of the passenger on the device 1 and to mitigate the impact of the passenger on the side wall 11. Each panel 9 also has a second face 13, opposite the first face 10, designed to extend, in its deployed position, opposite or in contact with the side wall 11. Each panel 9 has a substantially parallelepiped shape, the first face 10 of which extends along a plane corresponding substantially to a vertical plane of the vehicle 3.

[0034] In order to move from its folded to its deployed position, each panel 9 is designed to pivot about an axis A, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, corresponding to a vertical axis of the vehicle 3 when the device 1 is mounted on the seat 2, itself mounted on the vehicle 3. Advantageously, the protective device 1 includes elastic return means, not shown, designed to return each protective panel 9 to its folded position when the seat 7 of the seat 2 is in its retracted position. Such elastic return means include, for example, at least one spring.

[0035] The protective device 1 according to the invention advantageously comprises padding designed to cushion the impact of the passenger against the first face 10 during a side impact, in particular a foam with a density of between 40 g / L and 60 g / L. By way of comparison, the seat 7 has a polypropylene padding foam with a density of between 60 g / L and 80 g / L.

[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, particularly [Fig. 4], the protective device 1 has a panel 9 with a notch 14 designed to allow the passage of the seat belt 15 from the side wall 11 to the passenger when the panel 9 is in its deployed position. The notch 14 is particularly useful when the panel 9 covers a seat belt guide 15 fixed to the side wall 11.

[0037] As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the partition 4 has a housing 16 designed to accommodate the file 8 and / or at least part of the protective device 1 of the seat 2 in its folded position. Thus, in the first embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 5], panel 9 protrudes partially from housing 16 when the latter is in its folded position. In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 6], panel 9, in its folded position, is entirely contained within housing 16, thereby limiting the overall size of the passenger compartment 5. Advantageously, housing 16 is also sized to accommodate the seat 7 in its retracted position.

[0038] Finally, advantageously, the protective device 1 includes an extension 17, illustrated in [Fig. 2], designed to at least partially cover the seat 7 of the seat 2 when the protective device 1 is in its folded position and when the seat 7 is in its retracted position, to prevent the seat 7 from moving if the protective device 1 is not moved. The extension 17 is, for example, a tab projecting from the panel 9 and extending in the vertical plane of the vehicle 3. Alternatively, when the panel 9 is in its folded position, the extension 17 is formed from a portion of the first face 10 which is dimensioned to at least partially cover the seat 7 in its retracted position. Thus, the tilting of the seat 7 from its retracted position to its seating position is impossible without the deployment of the protective device 1 to its deployed position.

[0039] Thus, the protective device 1 makes it possible to offer a retractable seat 2 providing a higher level of protection compared to a conventional retractable seat. The retractable seat 2 allows the vehicle 3 to maintain the possibility of operating a delivery route with a single driver, the retractable seat 2 freeing up a passage, or with a driver accompanied by a delivery person, who then benefits from the retractable seat 2. The latter then offers a higher level of safety to its passenger, compared to a conventional seat, thanks to the presence of a safety device 1. Indeed, in the event of a side impact, the passenger seated on the retractable seat 2 is protected by the device 1. In particular, in the event of a side impact sustained by the vehicle 3, the passenger impacts the first face 10 of the protective device 1 instead of the side panel 11. The first face 10 is designed to cushion the impact on the passenger, thus mitigating the risk of injury to the passenger.

[0040] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the protection device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Protective device (1) designed to equip a retractable seat (2) of a motor vehicle (3), the device (1) comprising at least one protective panel (9), each designed to be mounted movable relative to a bulkhead (4) of the vehicle (3) on which the retractable seat (2) is fixed, between a deployed position and a folded position, each panel (9) having a first face (10) designed to extend opposite the bulkhead (4) in its folded position and, in its deployed position, to extend between a side wall (11) of the vehicle (3) and a passenger seated on the seat (2), each panel (9) being designed to form protection for the passenger seated on the seat (2) in the event of a side impact sustained by the vehicle (3), the first face (10) being designed to cushion the impact of the passenger on the device (1) and to mitigate the impact of the passenger on the side wall (11).

2. Protective device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each panel (9) has a second face (13) opposite the first face (10) and designed to extend, in its deployed position, opposite or in support of the side wall (11), the side wall (11) being a side pillar (12) of the vehicle (3) equipped with the seat (2).

3. Protective device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises padding designed to cushion the impact of the passenger against the first face (10) during a side impact, in particular a foam with a density between 40 g / L and 60 g / T

4. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a panel (9) has a notch (14) designed to allow the passage of the safety belt (15) from the side wall (11) to the passenger when the panel (9) is in its deployed position.

5. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each panel (9) is designed to pivot about an axis (A) corresponding to a vertical axis of the vehicle (3) when the device (1) is mounted on the seat (2) itself mounted on the vehicle (3).

6. Retractable seat (2) for a motor vehicle (3) comprising a seat (7) designed to be movably mounted on a partition (4) of the vehicle (3), between a seating position allowing a passenger to sit on the seat (7) and a retracted position, freeing a passage for the passenger, the seat (2) further comprising a protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Retractable seat (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the protective device (1) has at least one extension (17) designed to cover at least part of the seat (7) of the seat (2), when the device (1) is in its folded position and the seat (7) is in its retracted position, to prevent the seat (7) from moving in the absence of movement of the protective device (1).

8. Partition (4) designed to equip a utility vehicle (3) and to separate a passenger compartment (5) from a cargo compartment (6) of the vehicle, the partition (4) comprising at least one seat (2) according to claim 6 or 7 fixed to the partition (4), each protective device (1) being articulated with respect to the partition (4) so ​​that, in its folded position, it extends in relation to the partition (4), and, in its deployed position, it extends between a passenger seated on the seat (7) of the seat (2) and a side wall (11) of the vehicle (3).

9. Partition (4) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a housing (16) designed to accommodate the backrest (8) of the seat (2) and / or at least part of the device (1) protecting the seat (2) in its folded position.

10. Motor vehicle (3) having at least one partition (4) according to claim 8 or 9.

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