Automobile seat including a foldable back comprising a member defining a tablet, and automobile with such seat

p0001The present invention relates to a motor vehicle seat whose backrest can be folded on the seat to form a tablet.

p0002The document <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE4343242"><text>DE 4343242</text></patcit> discloses a tablet, fixed on a retractable support, disposed adjacent a motor vehicle seat. When the carrier is lowered, the tablet, which is articulated in rotation on a side of the support, about an axis perpendicular thereto, can expand and be brought in front of the seat in order to allow its use by a user sitting on the seat. The support may comprise two tablets, each articulated to one side of the support, so as to be used by users sitting on seats situated side by side. This type of device is very cumbersome since it is necessary to provide the place to set the tablet holder between the seats.

p0003Furthermore, it is known to use the rear folding files of certain motor vehicle seats as tablet. This type of seat includes a seat, fixed to the floor of the vehicle, and a file, which can be folded on the seat and the rear face has a top member which, when the backrest is folded on the seat form a flat surface substantially parallel to the vehicle floor, which can make tablet office. This type of tablet is however not very ergonomic because the work surface remains available and reduced remote user sitting on a seat disposed adjacent the folded seat. The document<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US6702375B"><text>US 6702375</text></patcit>Which is considered state of the art closest, shows such a seat.

p0004An object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle seat of the type comprising a seat and a backrest, foldable onto the seat, the rear face has a top member which is readily usable by a user sitting at the coast seat when the backrest is folded on the seat.

p0005This object is achieved by means of a motor vehicle seat, comprising a seat, a foldable onto the seat, which has a rear face, at least partially covered with a shelf member and which can be brought into a position substantially horizontal, when the backrest is folded on the seat. According to the invention, the top member comprises a rotary plate, pivotally mounted on the rear face of the backrest about a first axis, substantially perpendicular to the rear face, so as to be brought into a position in which a portion of the rotary plate projects laterally beyond the rear face of the backrest. This tablet portion laterally projecting it an increase of the surface of the rear face of the seat used as a tablet. Moreover, its lateral position makes it easily accessible to a seated user next to the seat of the present invention.

p0006According to a first embodiment, the case has a longitudinal axis and a portion forming a head restraint and the first axis of rotation of the turntable is positioned at the level of the head rest portion. The turntable is thus pivoted at the front portion of the seat cushion, when the backrest is folded over the seat.

p0007According to a second embodiment, the case has a first edge connected to said seat and a longitudinal axis, and the first axis of rotation of the turntable intersects the longitudinal axis near the first edge of the folder. When the backrest is folded onto the seat cushion, the rotating plate is pivotally mounted at the rear of the seat, thereby advantageously be able to easily bring the table to the user.

p0008The tablet-forming element may comprise a storage housing, accessible from the rear face of the backrest and disposed at least partially beneath the turntable. This property can be used for storage, for example, a laptop that will then be used on the turntable when the backrest is folded on the seat.

p0009This housing may be arranged to be accessed by rotation of the turntable about the first axis of rotation.

p0010A portion of the turntable may also be pivotally mounted about a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to the rear face so as to be raised above top member so as to allow access to said housing storage.

p0011In a particular embodiment, the record includes a frame, the top member includes a frame, rigid, which is attached to the frame of the dossier, which supports the turntable.

p0012The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a row of at least two seats. According to the invention, at least one seat is a seat according to the invention.

p0013The row of seats may comprise at least three seats and the seat according to the invention can then be disposed between two seats.

p0014According to the invention, the row of seats is a row of seats or a rear seat row. Thus, the seat according to the invention can be used in front of a vehicle comprising a row of one or two seats situated next to the driver's seat.

p0015The present invention, its characteristics and its various advantages shall be better understood on reading the following description of two embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which :<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> represents a perspective view of the rear of a first embodiment of the seat of the invention, when the latter is in the unfolded position;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention, the folder is folded on the seat and the rotary plate being pivoted to a side of the backrest</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref> shows a top view of a second embodiment of the seat of the invention, the case being folded on the seat and the turntable being rotated from one side of the record;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> represents a perspective view of part of the folder according to an embodiment variant of the second embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">5</figref> represents the backrest portion shown in <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref>The turntable being pivoted to release accommodation.</li></ul>

p0016Referring to <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> which describes a first embodiment of the invention, the seat of the invention comprises a back 1 and a seat 2, fixed on the floor of a motor vehicle and which is substantially perpendicular to the folder 1, when the latter is in its unfolded position, as shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>. The case 1 is connected to the seat 2 at one edge 3. The case 1 also includes a headrest portion 4, which extends vertically record 1, when it is in its extended position. The back side of the case 1, which is the only face visible<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>Corresponds to the face of the backrest does not come in contact with the back of a user sitting on the seat 2. The back face is opposite to the front face of the folder 1 which comes into contact with the back of a user seated on the seat 2. the back face includes a substantially planar member 6 tablet which completely covers and forms a rigid, substantially flat and continuous, which extends from the first edge 3 of the file 1, which is the junction between the seat 2 and the case 1, and the free edge portion 7 of the headrest 4. the folder 1 with a portion headrest 4, it is longer than a standard folder, the 'top member 6 completely covering the back of the folder 1 (portion headrest included), the tablet forming area is greatly increased relative to a seat that has no built-in headrest to the seat. Moreover, this large surface area allows use of a large turntable.

p0017As shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref>A turntable 8 is mounted on the folder 6 of the top member 1. The turntable 8 is rotatably articulated about an axis X, perpendicular to the plane of the rear face (ie at the top member 6) . In the first embodiment here shown, the axis of rotation X of the turntable 8 is arranged close to the free edge 7 of the head rest portion 4. The portion of the top member 6, located near the first edge 3 of the folder 1 has recesses 9, for example, support for a beverage can or a glass.

p0018Referring to <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>When the file 1 is folded on the seat 2, the back of the folder 1 covered the top member 6 becomes a shelf or work surface, arranged between the two seats 10 and 11, located on either ' side of the seat according to the invention, and oriented in the same way as the latter. The turntable 8 may be rotated either to the driver, as is the case in<figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>Or to the passenger, by rotation about the axis X. The position of the axis X of rotation, which is in this embodiment placed on the longitudinal axis Z of the folder 1, allows to obtain a symmetric movement of either side of the folder 1, ensuring both sides, the same extra work space. The size of the turntable 8 and that of the rear face 6 of the folder 1 allow, by rotation of the turntable 8, to exceed a portion thereof beyond the rear face and laterally thereto, which creates an additional work surface, located very near a user sitting on a seat attached to the seat of the invention, and ideally oriented.

p0019According to another embodiment not shown, the axis of rotation X is located outside the longitudinal axis Z of the folder, creating an asymmetrical movement of the tray, to improve a user's working ergonomics sitting on the side where the movement is most important, to the detriment of a user sitting on the opposite side.

p0020The elements of the second embodiment, shown in <figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 3 to</figref> 6, which are in common with the elements of the aforementioned first embodiment are referenced identically.

p0021In the second embodiment shown in <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref>, The axis of rotation X of the turntable 8 is disposed on the longitudinal axis Z of the file 1, but to the first edge 3 of the folder 1, that is to say opposite to the position of the rotation axis X in the first embodiment. This position also allows a large movement of the turntable 8. In<figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref>The turntable 8 is rotated towards the passenger seated côté.du seat of the invention, which is folded. As in the first embodiment, the pivoting of the turntable about the axis X creates an additional tablet portion, close to the passenger and which is easily usable.

p0022Thus, as shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">figures 2</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0002">3</figref>The two embodiments of the invention allow ease of use, for example, a laptop 20, placed on the turntable 8, by bringing the latter users sit on the seats 10 and 11 adjoining and also allowing its orientation by pivoting the turntable 8 about the axis X.

p0023The <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> shows in more detail an embodiment of part of the corresponding folder in the second embodiment of the invention. The shelf member 6 comprises a frame 13 which covers the frame of the application 1 (not shown) and therefore forms the rear panel. The frame 13 is a rigid shell that forms a cavity or storage housing 14, visible in the figure is inserted into the thickness of the back cushion 1. The open face of the storage housing 14 is covered by the turntable 8, when the latter is disposed along the longitudinal axis Z of the backrest 1, as shown in<figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref>. In contrast to the axis of rotation X of the turntable 8, there is a portion 15 which is fixed and which includes storage cavities 9. The turntable 8 thus serves as a lid to the storage housing 14.

p0024As shown in <figref idrefs="f0002">5</figref>, It is possible to identify the storage housing 14 by pivoting the turntable 8 about its axis of rotation X.

p0025The storage housing 14 is only accessible by swiveling turntable 8.

p0026The frame 13 described with reference to <figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 4 and 5</figref> can be adapted to the first embodiment, the fixed shelf portion is then disposed near the first edge 3 of the backrest 1.