GB2340741A

GB2340741A - improvements in or relating to a vehicle seat arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2340741A
Application number: GB9818313A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michel Naert; Per Gyllenspetz; Stig Pillhall; Ulf Tolfsen
Original assignee: Volvo AB; Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Volvo AB; Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 1998-08-21
Filing date: 1998-08-21
Publication date: 2000-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-21
Also published as: GB9818313D0; GB2340741B

Abstract

A seat arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle comprises a shell supporting seat back (20, 23) and squab (21, 25) components forming two seats. A central element (2) has a forwardly extending portion (3) which engages a central rail 27. Further engagement means (9) extend laterally to engage further rails (28, 29) provided at positions adjacent the sides of the seat. The central element (2) defines an upstanding part (6) to accommodate retractor reels for safety-belts.

Description

2340741 DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A VEHICLE

SEAT ARRANGEMENT" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a vehicle seat arrangement, and more particularly relates to an arrangement for a rear seat in a vehicle.

According to this invention there is provided a seat arrangement for a motor vehicle, the seat arrangement comprising a shell supporting seat back and squab components, the shell comprising a central element and, adjacent the central element, two regions each adapted to receive respective seat back and squab components, part of the central element extending forwardly of said two regions and terminating in a foot adapted to engage a rail, further engagement means being provided at laterally spaced positions adjacent said two regions, said further engagement means being adapted to engage further rails provided at positions adjacent the sides of the seat, the central element of the seat arrangement defining an upstanding part to accommodate retractor reels for safety-belts.

Preferably means are provided to secure the said foot to the said rail at a predetermined position.

2 Conveniently said foot carries a shoe, the shoe being adapted to slidably engage a rail while being retained by the rail.

Advantageously the shoe has a top part with depending arms terminating in inwardly directed fingers adapted to engage the head of a "T"-shaped rail.

Preferably the connecting means adapted to connect the shell to the further rails each comprise means adapted to engage the rail and move axially of the rail, and toothed means carried by the seat arrangement adapted to be brought into engagement with corresponding toothed means carried by the rail in the event that the seat arrangement should tip forwardly.

The invention also relates to an arrangement as described above in combination with said rails wherein each further rail is of a substantially "C"shaped section defining an elongate mouth or slot in one side thereof, the upper lip of the elongate mouth or slot being provided with said teeth, thus comprising the toothed means carried by the track, the seat arrangement carrying a projecting shaft which extends through the slot and which carries a wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, the wheel being accommodated within the rail, the upper part of the shaft being provided with teeth comprising the toothed means carried by the seat arrangement.

Conveniently the squab is mounted to the shell by means of two pivotal links permitting movement of the squab from said lowered position to said elevated position.

3 Advantageously the pivotal links are adapted to permit the squab to move to a third position in which the rear face of the squab is substantially flush with the front face of the back of the seat.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an illustration of a shell that forms the basis for two rear seats of a vehicle, FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the shell of Figure 1 with additional seat components when mounted in position in a motor vehicle, FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the engagement of part of the shell with a central rail, FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the engagement of another part of the shell and another rail, FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating the engagement between the shell and the rail as shown in Figure 4, FIGURE 6 is an enlarged part sectional view illustrating, in greater detail, part of the connection between the shell and the rail as shown in Figures 4 and 5, FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a seat which forms part of a seat arrangement in accordance with the invention in a first position, 4 FIGURE 8 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 showing the seat in a second position, and FIGURE 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 showing the seat in a third position.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a shell (or framework) 1 for a vehicle seat is illustrated. The shell may be formed of any appropriate material, and forms the underlying structure of the seat arrangement on which various seat components are mounted to forin the seats.

The shell 1 comprises a central arcuate hollow rib 2. The rib 2 has a substantially horizontally extending lower portion 3 which terminates, at its forward end, with a foot 4. The horizontally extending portion 3 extends to a central portion 5 where the central rib curves arcuately upwardly, the rib 2 terminating with a vertically upstanding portion 6.

Located on either side of the central region 5 of the rib 2, the shell 1 defines regions 7,8 each adapted to receive components of a respective seat, M the form of a squab and a back.

Adjacent the regions 7 and 8 are laterally outwardly extending arms 9,10, each of which terminates in a connection 11,12. The connections 11, 12 will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The upper part 6 of the rib 2 is provided, on its forward face, with two slots 13,14. Within the upper part 6 of the rib 2 adjacent the slot, means are provided on which seat-belt retractors may be mounted. Seat-belts from the seat-belt retractors may emerge through the slots 13,14.

It is to be appreciated that the seat-belt retractors provided within the upper part 6 of the central rib 2 will be located substantially at shoulder height of the occupants of the seats. The location of a seatbelt retractors in this position does provide various advantages, but in the event that an accident should arise, a substantial forward force is applied to the upper part 6 of the central rib 2 and consequently, the shell 1 has been designed so that the shell will be able to withstand such forces, as will become clear from the following description.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, it can be seen that the shell 1 is again illustrated, but with the regions 7 and 8 each being associated with components forming a seat. The region 7 is provided with an element 20 forming a seat back, and an element 21 forming a seat squab, and the seat is associated with a buckle 22 adapted to receive the tongue of a seatbelt. The seat squab 21 is in a relatively low position with reference to the seat back 20, and thus this seatis in a condition to be occupied by an adult.

The recess 8 is associated with a seat back 23, and a seat squab 24, and also a buckle 26 adapted to receive a tongue on a scat-belt. The squab 25, is at a relatively high position with regard to the seat back 23, and thus the seat associated with the region 8 is in a condition to be occupied by a child.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the forward end or foot 4 of the horizontally extending portion 3 of the central rib 2 engages a track 27 which is mounted in the floor of the motor vehicle. The nature of the engagement between the foot 4 and the track 27 will be described below with reference to Figure 33.

6 As is apparent from Figure 2, the connections 11 and 12 are connected with horizontal rails 28,29, and the nature of the connection with the rails 28 and 29 will be described below in greater detail with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

Turning now to Figure 3, it can be seen that the rail 27 has a substantially "T"-shaped cross-section, with the broad head of the "T" being provided with a plurality of axially spaced apart recesses or apertures 30.

The under-surface of the foot 4 provided at the forward end of the horizontal portion 3 of the central rib 2 is provided with a shoe 3 1. The shoe 31 depends beneath the foot 4 and is provided with arms 32,33 which depend at each side of the head of the "T"-shaped section of the rail 27, and which terminate with inwardly directed fingers, such as the fingers 34 on the depending arms 33, so that the shoe 31 firmly grips the head of the "T"shaped rail, but is slidable there along.

The upper part of the shoe 31 defines an aperture 35 which, when the seat is in predetermined positions, will be aligned with an aperture or recess 30 formed in the head of the rail. A securing pin (not shown) may then be urged through the co-aligned apertures 35 and 30, thus securing the shoe 31, and consequently the entire shell 1 in position on the rail 30.

Turning now to Figures 4 to 6, it can be seen that the outwardly extending arm 10 terminates with a connection 12 which comprises a horizontally outwardly extending shaft 40, the upper surface of the shaft 40 being provided with a plurality of teeth 41, as can be seen more clearly in Figure 6.

7 The shaft 40 supports a rotatable wheel 42.

The wheel 42 is received within the rail 29. The rail 29, as can be seen more clearly from Figure 5, is a hollow track of generally "C"-shaped configuration. Thus, overall, the rail is in the form of a hollow rectangle having an open mouth or slot 43 formed in one long side wall 44 of the rectangle. The upper lip of the mouth or slot 43 is formed with serrations or teeth 45.

The rail 29 is connected securely to a part 46 of the body-work or chassis of a motor vehicle.

Whilst the connection 12 of the outwardly extending arm 10 has been described, it is to be understood that the connection 11 on the outwardly extending arm 9 is of the same form.

In ordinary use of the seat arrangement, the entire shell 1 may be slid forwardly or rearwardly along the rails. The foot 4 will slide along the rail 27 and the wheels 42, which may be positioned on an axis defining the centre of gravity of the seat arrangement, will roll within the rails 29. The seat may, if the ends of the rails are designed appropriately, be readily removable from the motor vehicle. This may be desirable if, when the seat has been removed, the vehicle provides a large load-carrying platform. It is to be appreciated that the rails 28 and 29 are effectively accommodated within the side part of the motor vehicle and do not project into this space, and the rail 27 may have the head part of the rail substantially flush with the rest of the floor of the motor vehicle. Thus, with the shell removed from the vehicle, the vehicle may have an ideal load carrying space.

8 In the event that the seat, as illustrated in Figure 2, is occupied, with a seat-belt emerging from either of the slots 13 or 14 passing around the occupant of the seat, and being connected to the appropriate buckle 22 or 26, should an accident arise involving a frontal impact of the motor vehicle, the occupant of the seat will be thrown forwardly and force will be applied to the safety-belt, that force being received at the upper part 6 of the central rib 2. The entire seat arrangement will tend to pivot forwardly about a pivot point defined by the connection between the shoe 3 1 and the rail 27. The rear part of the seat will lift slightly, thus bringing the teeth 41 provided on the upper part of the shaft 40 into engagement with the teeth or serrations 45 provided on the channel defining the track 29. Thus forward movement of the seat will be prevented.

As was mentioned with reference to Figure 2, the components of a seat mounted in one of the regions 7 or 8 of the shell may have different relative positions. Figure 7 illustrates a first position of the squab 25 of the seat in the right-hand region 8 of the shell 2. The figure illustrates the region 8 of the shell 2 showing the central arcuately curved portion 5 of the central rib 2, and also showing the lower part of the back 23 of the seat.

The squab 25 of the seat is connected to the shell 2 by means of two pivotal links. The first pivotal link 50 is a relatively long pivotal link having one end connected by means of a first pivot 51 to a forward part of the squab of the seat, and having a lower end connected by a second pivot 52 to a point on the shell located substantially beneath the central part of the squab of the seat. The second pivotal link 53 is connected by means of a third pivot 54 to the rear part of the squab of the seat, and by means of a fourth pivot 55 to a point adjacent the rear of the squab of the seat 25 in a position illustrated in Figure 7.

9 The position of the squab 25 illustrated in Figure 7 is equivalent to the position of the squab 21 of the seat present in the region 7 of the shell 1, as shown in Figure 2.

The squab 25 may be moved to an elevated position, that is to say the position of the squab 25 as shown in Figure 2. The elevated position of the squab 25 is shown in Figure 8. It can be seen that the squab has, relative to the position shown in Figure 7, been lifted and moved rearwardly. The first pivotal link 50 has pivoted upwardly about the lower second pivot 52, and the second pivot link 53 has also pivoted about the fourth pivot 55, thus elevating the rear part of the seat 25, because the second pivot link 53 is shorter than the first pivot link 50. Means are provided (not shown) to retain the squab 25 in the position shown in Figure 8. The squab is then in a position to be occupied by a child.

As can be seen in Figure 8, the squab 25 is provided with a pivotally mounted foot-rest 56 which also pivots about the first pivot 51. The footrest 56 is normally stored in a recess 57 provided in the undersurface of the squab 25 of the seat, but may be moved to the extended position as illustrated when the seat is occupied by a child.

The squab of the seat may be moved to a further position as illustrated in Figure 9. The squab is moved to this position by initially moving the squab from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 7, and then by depressing the rear part of the squab 25 so that the second pivot link 53 pivots downwardly about the fourth pivot 55. The first pivotal link 50 will pivot in a clockwise direction, as illustrated, about the lower second pivot 52. The entire squab 25 of the seat is moved to a retracted position where the under-surface of the squab of the seat is substantially flush with the front of the back 23 of the seat. The entire shell 2 may, with the squab in this position, be moved extremely close to the back of a seat in front of the seat arrangement that has been described. This will maximise the load-carrying space behind the seat arrangement that has been described.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A seat arrangement for a motor vehicle, the seat arrangement comprising a shell supporting seat back and squab components, the shell comprising a central element and, adjacent the central element, two regions each adapted to receive respective seat back and squab components, part of the central element extending forwardly of said two regions and terminating in a foot adapted to engage a rail, further engagement means being provided at laterally spaced positions adjacent said two regions, said further engagement means being adapted to engage further rails provided at positions adjacent the sides of the seat, the central element of the seat arrangement defining an upstanding part to accommodate retractor reels for safety-belts.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein means are provided to secure the said foot to the said rail at a predetermined position.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 2 wherein said foot carries a shoe, the shoe being adapted to slidably engage a rail while being retained by the rail.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein the shoe has a top part with depending arms terminating in inwardly directed fingers adapted to engage the head of a "7-shaped rail.

5. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting means adapted to connect the shell to the further rails each comprise means adapted to engage the rail and move axially of the rail, and 12 toothed means carried by the seat arrangement adapted to be brought into engagement with corresponding toothed means carried by the rail in the event that the seat arrangement should tip forwardly.

6. An arrangement according to Claim 5 in combination with said rails wherein each ffirther rail is of a substantially "C"-shaped section defining an elongate mouth or slot in one side thereof, the upper lip of the elongate mouth or slot being provided with said teeth, thus comprising the toothed means carried by the rail, the seat arrangement carrying a projecting shaft which extends through the slot and which carries a wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, the wheel being accommodated within the rail, the upper part of the shaft being provided with teeth comprising the toothed means carried by the seat arrangement.

7. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein at least one said squab is movably mounted in position, the squab being movable between at least a lowered position and an elevated position.

8. An arrangement according to Claim 7 wherein the squab is mounted to the shell by means of two pivotal links permitting movement of the squab from said lowered position to said elevated position.

9. An arrangement according to Claim 8 wherein the pivotal links are adapted to permit the squab to move to a third position in which the rear face of the squab is substantially flush with the front face of the back of the seat.

10. A vehicle seat arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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11. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.