Vehicle seat with a partially movable backrest.

p0001The present invention is a vehicle seat with a seat and back, at least the upper part is mobile.

p0002It is common to provide the seats for motor vehicles with a seat frame. As such, the present applicant has proposed in French Patent No. 2,620,395 dated July 6, 1990 a vehicle with seats with a folding backrest including a telescopic part. When it is folded horizontally, this case has the function of a door which closes off the upper part of a passenger location. The location is weather-protected, looks and flights. In addition, the horizontal surface thus formed can be part of a wider horizontal plane across the top of the vehicle and provide a load surface.

p0003Also known seating for vehicle equipped with an integrated belt, that is to say comprising firstly a submerged roller in one seat and secondly the clips and return loop necessary for the implementation Place the belt on the passenger.

p0004To protect the passenger effectively without the action of the belt is itself dangerous, standards exist internationally, regulating the storage areas of the two lower connectors and return loop. The severity of these standards greatly reduces the flexibility of the seat of designers and interior, discouraging them to propose major innovations regarding the location of the seat belt.

p0005The seats for automobile known hitherto therefore particularly disadvantage of not jointly present both the characteristics, namely mobile file and integrated belt. This disadvantage is particularly regrettable for the vehicles of the minivan type that often include a single seat in the center of the cabin, a little behind the front seats front and rear seats. The concern for optimum safety leads a priori to bring these seats with an integrated belt and not to allow the mobility of the file. This prevents the car from the passenger to have with the backrest folded a horizontal plane can eg be office table.

p0006The present invention therefore proposes to overcome these disadvantages by providing a vehicle seat including a seat and a back, at least the upper portion is movable between a substantially vertical position to allow a passenger to sit on the seat and a substantially horizontal position wherein the upper seat is tilted forwards.

p0007According to the invention, the seat comprises a seat belt retractor which is at least partially embedded in the mobile part of the record, a return belt buckle is attached to the frame of the mobile part of the record, two attachment points of the lower belt being fastened to the frame of the seat on either side of the seat.

p0008The invention thus provides joint benefits of comfort associated with an integrated belt and a folding backrest. Furthermore, this innovation takes place in compliance with safety standards.

p0009According to an advantageous version of the invention the movable part of the backrest is hinged to the seat by means of an axis of rotation and the seat comprises a movable part of the locking device of the folder comprising firstly a rigid part fixed to the frame of the seat, a portion of this part having the shape of a disc portion whose axis said axis of rotation and which has a notch, and on the other hand a pawl articulated to the frame the movable part of the backrest and being engageable in said recess in order to immobilize the movable part of the backrest in a substantially vertical position.

p0010This way passenger safety is improved on the seat by preventing forward tilting of the movable portion of the seat in a frontal collision or sudden stop.

p0011In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat is removable. The seat is fixed to the vehicle by means of at least two releasable fastening systems disposed respectively in front and rear of the seat, fastening systems of the opening controls being connected by a strap enabling the simultaneous opening of fastening systems by action of one of the opening controls.

p0012By these means increases the ease of handling and storage of the seat, without reducing passenger safety. In fact, the seat is equipped with two fastening systems and therefore properly attached to the vehicle, and these two mounting systems can be unlocked at the same time by controlling one of them.

p0013According to another advantageous version of the invention, the lower part of the backrest being rigidly attached to the seat, the fixing system at the rear of the seat is fixed to the frame of the lower part of the backrest, in the vicinity of the mobile part of the record. In this way, the seat attachment to the passenger compartment is thus improved, one of the seat mounting systems being placed on the back thereof. This gives a good distribution of forces in case of accidents and especially in case of impact of the vehicle from the rear.

p0014According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the top of the seat has a hoop rigidly attached to the seat back and rising to a height substantially above the top of the head of the passenger seated on the seat.

p0015This hoop further enhances passenger safety because it protects it in case of complete reversal of the vehicle. In these circumstances, the passenger's head so do not just hit the ground violently.

p0016According to another advantageous version of the invention, said movable part of the backrest is telescopic so as to lengthen it. In addition, the seat comprises a device arranged so that the movable telescopic part of the file will extend automatically when this movable part is tilted substantially horizontally. In addition, in this position, the movable part of the file closes off the upper part of a passenger location. The shutter of this location is facilitated by the automatic deployment of the telescopic part of the seat back from the tilting thereof in a horizontal position.

p0017Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention given by way of example.

p0018In the accompanying drawings:<ul><li>Figure 1 shows a front view of the seat frame according to the invention, the seat attachment system to the cockpit and the attachment of the belt device;</li><li>Figure 2 is a right side view of the seat shown in Figure 1;</li><li>Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the detail D of Figure 2;</li><li>4 shows a view of the upper portion of the seat according to the invention with the telescoping part and the deployment device thereof; and</li><li>5 shows to right the seat of Figure 4, the top of the folder being folded horizontally.</li></ul>

p0019Figures 1 and 2 show the frame of the seat according to the invention. The frame is symmetrical about the transverse plane of symmetry of the seat and is fully metallic, for example steel.

p0020The lower part of the frame supports the seat and the bottom of the file. It comprises on each side a horizontal lower beam 1 rigidly connected to a double gooseneck two substantially vertical. Both left and right side members 1 are connected together at the front of the seat by a front cross member 3 and the seat back by a rear cross member 4. The member 4 also interconnects the two double goosenecks 2 which are connected at the top by an axial tube 5 forming axis of rotation of the movable upper portion of the seat back.

p0021The upper portion of the frame comprises two double uprights 6 located in the extension of the double swan necks 2, these two double uprights 6 being rotatable around the axial tube 5. The double uprights 6 are connected at the top by a tube armature 7 square section. Thereon are fixed two shackle hangers 8 which extend to the top of the seat. A hoop 9 is fixed to their end.

p0022The whole of the upper frame, namely the double uprights 6, the tube 7, the supports 8 and the hoop 9, is therefore rotatable about the axis 5 between a substantially vertical position in which it constitutes frame of the seat back to allow a passenger to sit on the seat and a substantially horizontal position in which the upper backrest is folded forward the seat.

p0023The seat belt device includes a first retractor 10 attached to a retractor support 11, itself fixed to the left double amount 6 of the upper frame of the seat. Once the seat frame has been covered with the elements, in particular foam, allowing comfortable passenger installation, the reel 10 is completely embedded in the movable part of the seatback. The device includes a second return loop 40 attached to the left end of the frame tube 7. The belt and classic belt buckle were not represented.

p0024The belt loop is housed in the conventional attachment device 12. The support device 12 that is fixed to the lower part of the double right gooseneck 2 of the lower seat frame. The fastener 12 rises to the hip of the passenger on the seat, as is well known. The lower end of the belt is connected by the attachment 13 to the lower part of the double gooseneck left.

p0025Will now be described using FIG 3, the locking device of the movable part of the file shown at the detail D of Figure 2.

p0026The upper part 41 of the double right gooseneck 2, placed in the vicinity of the axial tube 5 has the shape of a disc portion. Each element 42 and 43 of dual gooseneck 2 shows in rear upper part a notch 14. Each double column 6 is composed of two elongated plates 15, shown in phantom in Figure 3 for clarity, suitably interconnected by means not shown junctions. An axis 18 passes through the two elongated plates 15. This common axis of the two plates is situated substantially above the end of the double gooseneck 2. A pawl 16 is arranged against each elongated plate 15 and articulated in rotation around the axis 18. the two pawls are located opposite one another. Each pawl 16 includes a tip 17 arranged to be engaged in the notch 14 of the element 42, 43 of the gooseneck 2 when the mobile upper part of the seatback is upright.

p0027In this way the pawls 16 prevent rotation of the double upright 6 around the axial tube 5, that is to say, they prevent rotation of the upper part of the seat frame around the axial tube 5. Thus the moving portion of the seat can not tilt forward.

p0028To enable the forward tilting of the upper part of the seat back, it disengages the peaks 17 of the pawls 16 of the slots 14.

p00295 shows the movable part of the seat folded forwardly horizontally folder, the tips 17 being disengaged from the slots 14 of the double gooseneck 2.

p0030Of course, in another version of the invention, it is possible to provide two twin uprights 6 of the upper frame of two pawls 16 to enhance the locking of the movable part of the seatback.

p0031The seat is removably attached to the floor of the vehicle cabin. For this, two fastening systems 20 and 21 are used. The fastening system 20 is located forward of the beams 1 and the fastening system 21 is located in rear part of the dual goosenecks 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

p0032The fastening system 20 consists primarily of two vertical slots 44 downwardly formed in the lower part of the ends of the longitudinal 1. A locking pin 22 indicated by a bar connects the two ends of the beams 1 above the notch 44 supra. A tube 24 is rotatably mounted around the lock pin 22. It has at its ends two hook legs 25. When the seat is placed in the cockpit, so that the notches 44 engage on a rod lock 26 attached to the floor of the cabin, the hook tabs 25 are adapted to be engaged in the rod 26 so as to lock the latter to the bottom of the notches 44. in this way, the front part of the seat is fixed to the vehicle cabin.

p0033Similarly, the rear locking system comprises four vertical slots 46 downwardly practiced back part double swan-neck 2 and a rear locking pin 45 indicated by a bar joining the two double swan-necked 2. On this locking pin is rotatably mounted a locking tube 27 having at its ends two hook lugs 28.

p0034The cabin of the vehicle also comprises a rod 29 of which can be engaged notches 46 goosenecks 2. The hook tabs 28 are arranged to be able to fold in the rod 29 so as to prevent withdrawal of the rod 29.

p0035The notches 44 and 46 which are engaged on the locking rods 26 and 29 are vertical and oriented downwards. In this way, the installation of the seat is effected by a natural vertical motion up and down the seat.

p0036Two respective handles 30, 31 are used to maneuver the locking tubes 24 and 27. These handles are the opening controls of the fastening systems 20 and 21. The rotation of the handle 30 causes rotation of the rotation 24 and the locking tube of the hook tabs 25 thereby releasing the locking pin before 26. It is the same for the rear binding system.

p0037A strap 32 connects the two handles 30 and 31. The strap 32 is attached to the handle 30, passes under the locking tube 24 and above the front cross member 3 in the rear cross member 4, over the rear locking pin 29 and reaches the handle 31 to which it is attached. The strap is arranged to be tensioned without excess between the two handles.

p0038By this device, the action of the handle 30 causes the simultaneous maneuver of the other handle 31.

p0039unrepresented Return springs are suitably arranged to reposition the locking tubes and tabs forming hooks front and rear after release or after fastening the seat to the floor of the cabin.

p0040The safety bar 9 placed at the top of the upper part of the seat frame, that is to say at the top of the movable part of the case, extends to a substantially greater height at the top of the head the passenger in the seat. This way, in case of accidental overturning of the vehicle during a turn too sharply, for example, the passenger is not crushed against the ground by the car located above it. Indeed, the bow 9 is secured to the seat frame and, by the two fastening systems 20 and 21, integral with the vehicle chassis.

p0041If the vehicle turns, the impact of the shock and weight of the vehicle are received by the hoop 9 and the seat frame. So the passenger is not crushed under the weight of the vehicle.

p0042In Figure 4, a shell 35 is fixed in rear part of the frame of the movable portion of the seat back. This shell 35 forms the back of the seat. The shell 35 has in the upper part an extension 36 making the latter telescopic. A portion of the extension 36 is slidably movable within the shell 35 by a conventional track system.

p0043The arch 9 remains stationary. The extension 36 has recesses and ridges allowing it to slide without being obstructed by the cradle 9.

p0044An air spring 37 is disposed in the shell 35. The spring 37 is released when the movable rod 38 is extended. It is connected by its fixed end 47 to the axial tube 5. The movable rod 38 of the spring 37 is connected to the inner surface of the extension 36.

p0045An unillustrated locking device will block the air spring 37 in the compressed position. The locking device is arranged to release the action of the jack, that is to say extend the rod 38 when the movable portion of the seat back is tilted forwards horizontally. In this way, the extension 36 of the shell 35 extends automatically when moving the movable portion of the seat back in the upright position to a horizontal position.

p0046When the vehicle interior is adapted for holding individual passenger pitches, as the pitches described in the aforementioned French patent No. 2620395 dated 06/07/1990, the shell 35 extended by the extension 36 forms in position a horizontal door closing off the upper part of the passenger location. The passenger's location is so unattainable and hidden from view and weather.

p0047This filling may be naturally sealed by providing the front portion of the shell 35 of a set of suitably arranged seals.

p0048Of course, a suitable locking system can be provided for locking the upper part of the seatback in position folded on a passenger location and prohibit the raise vertically.

p0049The frame of the seat just described will of course be provided with different elements (sheet, fabric, foam, ...) to provide a comfortable seat.

p0050The seat just described has many advantages.

p0051First, it is removable. We can remove the seat to release the passenger's location, so that they will have the luggage. The fixing rods 26 and front back 29 may be arranged in duplicate in each passenger location so as to place the seat in two positions, a first position in which the passenger looks toward the front of the vehicle and a second position which the passenger looks backward.

p0052The fact that the seat is equipped with an integrated belt allows space saving and increases the freedom of movement of the passenger. It also helps to facilitate the development and extraction of the passenger seat location.

p0053Being able to close the upper part of a passenger location using the mobile upper part of the seatback folded horizontally, turns the inside of the location away from prying eyes, flights and the weather.

p0054The telescopic part of the seat back allows to have a spacious passenger location without the upper part of the seat surface gating this location is overly extended.

p0055The headquarters of the invention provides the comfort and advantages of use while maintaining passenger safety.

p0056The integrated belt prevents the passenger from being thrown forward in the event of sudden braking or a frontal impact.

p0057The mobile top locking device allows the seat back when braking wheel drive folder's efforts towards the bottom of the seat frame. In this way the mobile upper part of the seat back remains fixed even in a severe frontal impact.

p0058Both fastening systems of the seat frame to the passenger floor location provide a solid fixing the seat to the vehicle interior while enabling simplified extraction of the seat when it must be removed or returned through the simultaneous opening of the two systems share a single opening command.

p0059The arch placed in the upper part of the seat protects the passenger vehicle weight rollover thereof. Indeed, in this case, the transmission of forces including the weight of the vehicle is performed through the passenger compartment in the lower frame of the seat, the upper seat frame and finally to the hoop.

p0060Finally, the lower attachment points and the top loop back of the seat belt match the location areas permitted by international standards governing the provision of vehicles for safety devices.

p0061Of course, we can offer many of the seat modifications and improvements of the invention. the structure may in particular vary or shape of the seat frame.