GB2420494A

GB2420494A - Motor vehicle seat including a cushion movable from a horizontal orientation to a transversely inclined orientation

Info

Publication number: GB2420494A
Application number: GB0426145A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter George Brittle; Samuel Judah; Lee David Sutton; Alison Jane Hardwick; Stephen David Fleming; Stephen John Saunders; Douglas John Houlgreave; Jonathan Young; Vincent Leslie Shaw
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2004-11-29
Filing date: 2004-11-29
Publication date: 2006-05-31
Also published as: GB0426145D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle 5 is disclosed in which at least one seat is provided with a movable seat cushion 10L, 10R that can be moved from a horizontally orientated position to a transversely inclined position to permit an occupant 6 of the seat to rest more comfortably in a leaning position against a side rest 12,14R. The arrangement provides a more comfortable position for passenger when resting whilst the vehicle is in motion.

Description

A Motor Vehicle This invention relates to motor vehicles used to carry one

or more passengers and in particular to a seat for a motor vehicle having improved comfort.

It is well known to provide a seat for a motor vehicle in which a backrest of the seat is reclinable from a substantially upright or vertical position to a position in which the backrest is more reclined.

However, such a seat has been found to be not entirely suitable for resting while the vehicle is in motion due to several factors including the fact that passengers prefer to rest to one side. With a conventional seat there is no provision for such inclined resting and so a passenger will often rest their head upon the side window of the motor vehicle or part of the interior trim of the motor vehicle.

This is both uncomfortable for the passenger and may apply additional loadings to the lower back and neck of the passenger which is clearly undesirable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a seat for a motor vehicle that is more comfortable for a passenger to use for resting purposes particularly while the motor vehicle is in motion.

According to the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having at least one seat comprising a backrest and a seat cushion wherein at least the seat cushion is moveable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a transversely inclined orientation such that a person sat on the seat cushion will lean one of inwardly and outwardly.

The seat cushion may be pivotally mounted to part of a body structure of the motor vehicle to facilitate a tilting * * S S a * I S S SI S I I I S * S I I I S I S * I I S I I S *55 * S S S S S S * IIS III 1.5 S S movement from the substantially horizontally orientated position to the transversely inclined position.

A respective latching means may be provided to hold each seat cushion in the substantially horizontally orientated position.

A respective latching means may be provided to hold each seat cushion in the transversely inclined orientation.

A side rest may be provided on at least one side of each seat having a moveable seat cushion for use in supporting a person occupying a seat when the seat cushion is in the transversely inclined position. Preferably, the or each side rest is a moveable side rest and the side rest may be moveably attached to the backrest of the seat.

The backrest of at least one seat having a moveable seat cushion may also be moveable to a transversely inclined position.

The seat cushion and the backrest of the at least one seat may be moved as a single unit to their respective transversely inclined positions.

The or each seat cushion may be moveable about a horizontally extending axis arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

The or each seat cushion may be moveable about a horizontal axis arranged at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

There may be two seats having moveable seat cushions arranged as a row in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, each seat cushion being moveable about a respective horizontal axis arranged at an acute angle with respect to a * * . $ S S * S S S ii * * * S * * S S S S S S S e S * S S S S * S S 5 5 5 5 * * .45 015 **t S S longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle positioned on a centre line of the motor vehicle and the two horizontal axes intersect one another at a point located on the longitudinal axis.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a seat for a motor vehicle having a backrest and a seat cushion wherein at least the seat cushion is moveable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a transversely inclined orientation with respect to the motor vehicle to which the seat is fitted.

The seat cushion and the backrest may both be moveable to a transversely inclined orientation.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which:- Fig.l is a pictorial representation of a rear part of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle having two seats according to the invention of which only one of the seats is shown occupied but in which both seats are shown in inwardly leaning positions; Fig.2 is a pictorial representation similar to that shown in Fig.l but in which both of the seats are shown occupied in outwardly leaning positions; Fig.3 is an outline plan view of the seats shown in Figs 1 and 2; Fig.4 is an outline plan view similar to that shown in Fig.3 but showing an alternative embodiment according to the invention; and * . . * S * * S S S IS I S S S S * S I S S * S * S * * S I S I I III * S I S I S S * SIS *S* *SS S Fig.5 is an outline plan view similar to that shown in Figs.3 and 4 but showing a further alternative embodiment according to the invention.

With particular reference to Figs. 1 to 3 there is shown a motor vehicle 5 having a passenger compartment in which is mounted a row of seats having a common backrest 11 and two separate seat squabs or cushions bR, 1OL.

A passenger 6 is shown resting on the right hand side seat cushion 1OR and has a seat belt 20 secured to restrain them in position in the event of a sudden change of direction or deceleration.

The left hand seat cushion 1OL forms with the backrest 11 a left hand seat and is provided with left and right side rests 14L 12 both of which are slidingly supported by the backrest 11. Similarly, the right hand seat cushion bR forms with the backrest 11 a left hand seat and is provided with left and right side rests 12, 14R both of which are slidingly supported by the backrest 11.

It will be appreciated that the side rests 12, 14L, 14R could be moveably attached to the backrest lb in some other way, could be fixed in position on the backrest or could be moveably or non moveably attached to another part of the motor vehicle.

Each of the seat cushions bR, 1OL is moveable about a respective horizontally extending axis X-X (only shown for the left hand seat cushion on Fig.1) . Each of the horizontally extending axes Z-Z is arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis L-L which in this case is positioned on a centre line of the motor vehicle 5.

In this case each of the seat cushions bR, 1OL is pivotally connected to a part of the body structure of the * I * * * * I I I ** * * I S S * S * * S S I * * S * * * I S *I* * S S S * S S * * SS* III aSS 5 motor vehicle 5 by pivot means (not shown) so that each of the seat cushions 1OR, 1OL is tiltable about its respective X-X axis. However, the seat cushions 1OR, 1OL could be attached to the body structure of the motor vehicle by any other means which allows them to be moved from a substantially horizontally orientated position to a transversely inclined position.

Latching means (not shown) are provided to hold each of the seat cushions 1OR, 1OL in its respective substantially horizontally orientated and transversely inclined positions.

The term substantially horizontally orientated when referring to one of the seat cushions means that left and right hand edges of each seat cushion 1OR, 1OL are at substantially the same height relative to a floor (not shown) of the motor vehicle 5. Each seat cushion 1OR, 1OL may, even when it is said to be substantially horizontally orientated, be inclined slightly rearwardly so that a front edge of the seat cushion 1OR, 1OL is higher than a rear edge with respect to the floor of the motor vehicle 5.

The term transversely inclined when referring to one of the seat cushions means that a position on one or other of the left and right hand edges of the seat cushion 1OR, 1OL is higher than a corresponding position on the opposite edge.

In the example shown in Fig.l both of the seat cushions 1OR, 1OL are positioned so that they are inwardly facing and so in this case the left hand edge of the left hand seat cushion 10 L is higher than the right hand edge of the seat cushion 1OL and the right hand edge of the right hand seat cushion bR is higher than the left hand side.

Because of the positioning of the two seat cushions bR, 1OL a person sat on either of them will lean inwardly * * , * * S * * * * *5 S S S S S * S I S S * I S S * S a S * S I.45 * S 5 * * V S * I ItI ass *s. 5 so that they can rest comfortable against the common central side rest 12.

It will be appreciated that during normal use of the motor vehicle 5 the side rests 14R, 14L, 12 are stowed away and the seat cushions 1OR, 1OL are latched in their substantially horizontal position. However if, while the motor vehicle 5 is in motion, one of the passengers requires to sleep, then the respective seat cushion 1OR, 1OL is moved and latched in the transversely inclined position and the passenger can then rest comfortably by leaning against one of the side supports as indicated by the passenger 6 in Fig. 1.

With particular reference to Fig.2 there is shown a motor vehicle 5 which is identical to that previously described.

In Fig.2 two passengers 6, 7 are shown occupying two seats each of which has a seat cushion 1OR, 1OL which in this case is inclined transversely so that the occupant is leaning outwardly to make use of the side rest 14R, 14L on the outer edges of the common backrest 11. That is to say the right hand seated passenger 6 is leaning against the side rest 14R on the right hand end of the backrest 11 and the left hand seated passenger 7 is leaning against the side rest 14L on the left hand end of the backrest 11.

It will be appreciated that the central side rest 12 is stowed away as it is not required although this need not be the case.

Although the invention has so far been described with reference to an embodiment in which a common backrest is used for the two seat cushions 1OR, 1OL this need not be the case and each seat cushion could be provided with its own backrest. If this is the case then the backrest can also be * S S * * * * S S S IS I I S S S * S * I * S S S * * I I a * I S * S * * * I S * * *SS *SS *55 5 moveable to a transversely inclined or tilted position either as one with the seat cushion or separately. For example, in the case of a bucket type seat the whole seat could be rotated about an axis located near to the base of the seat so that it leans outwardly or inwardly.

It will be appreciated that each of the seat cushions 1OR, 1OL could be arranged to tilt only one way rather than both ways as described above.

With reference to Fig.4 there is shown a seat arrangement which in most respects the same as that previously described having a common backrest ill and two moveable seat cushions 11OR, 11OL but in which the is respective horizontal axes Z-Z about which the seat cushions llOR, 11OL move are arranged at an acute angle e with respect to a longitudinal axis L-L of the motor vehicle.

In this case the two axes Z-Z intersect one another at a point P located on a longitudinal axis L-L of the motor vehicle positioned on a centre line of the motor vehicle 5 in front of the backrest 111. In this case the arrangement of the seats is totally symmetrical about the centre line of the motor vehicle and the angle e is the same for both of the seat cushions 11OR, ilOL but this need not be the case.

By positioning the two axes Z-Z at an angle to the longitudinal axis L-L each of the seat cushions 11OR, liOL tilts in two directions when it is moved from its normal substantially horizontally orientated position.

To move the left hand seat cushion liOL from its substantially horizontally orientated position to its transversely inclined position it is rotated anti-clockwise when viewed from the front so that the left hand front and rear corners of the seat cushion 11OL rise up and the right hand front and rear corners fall but, because of the * S * * S * * . a a as S S S S S * I I * * I S I * * S I S * * * *** * S S * * I S S * 5i* II. 115 S orientation and position of the axis Z-Z, the front corner on the left hand side rises more than the rear corner on the left hand side and the rear corner on the right hand side falls more than the front corner on the right hand side.

This will cause a passenger seated on the seat cushion 11OL to lean inwardly (that is to say to the right) and also lean slightly rearwardly.

To move the right hand seat cushion 11OR from its substantially horizontally orientated position to its transversely inclined position it is rotated clockwise when viewed from the front so that the right hand front and rear corners of the seat cushion 11OL rise up and the left hand front and rear corners fall but because of the position of the axis Z-Z the front corner on the right hand side rises more than the rear corner on the right hand side and the rear corner on the left hand side falls more than the front corner on the left hand side. This will cause a passenger seated on the seat cushion 11OR to lean inwardly (that is to say to the left) and also lean slightly rearwardly.

With reference to Fig.5 two moveable seat cushions 210R, 210L are shown with a common backrest 211. The only difference between this embodiment and that previously described with reference to Fig.4 is that the point P at which the two axes Y-Y meet is positioned behind the backrest 211 whereas in the previous example it was positioned in front of the backrest 111.

The effect of this is to reverse the angles e so that in this case rotation of the seat cushions 210R, 210L from their substantially horizontal positions will cause a passenger seated on one of the seat cushions 210R, 210L after they have been transversely inclined to lean towards the outside of the motor vehicle so as to be outwardly leaning.

* * * S * * * . S S 55 * S S * S I 5 * S S S S * S * S S S S 555 * I S S * S S * * SS* .55 455 4 5 To move the left hand seat cushion 210L from its substantially horizontally orientated position to its transversely inclined position it is rotated clockwise when viewed from the front so that the left hand front and rear corners of the seat cushion 210L fall down and the right hand front and rear corners rise but, because of the orientation and position of the axis Y-Y, the rear corner on the left hand side falls more than the front corner on the left hand side and the front corner on the right hand side rises more than the rear corner on the right hand side.

This will cause a passenger seated on the seat cushion 210L to lean outwardly (that is to say to the left) and also lean slightly rearwardly.

To move the right hand seat cushion 210R from its substantially horizontally orientated position to its transversely inclined position it is rotated anti-clockwise when viewed from the front so that the left hand front and rear corners of the seat cushion 210R rise up and the right hand front and rear corners fall but, because of the orientation and position of the axis Y-Y, the front corner on the left hand side rises more than the rear corner on the left hand side and the rear corner on the right hand side falls more than the front corner on the right hand side.

This will cause a passenger seated on the seat cushion 210R to lean outwardly (that is to say to the right) and also lean slightly rearwardly.

Although not shown or described in detail it will be appreciated that each of the seats has a seat belt associated with it and that some means may be provided to guide the seat belt and in particular the shoulder strap, so that it remains correctly located when the passenger is in a leaning over resting position.

Therefore a motor vehicle according to this invention has been disclosed in which one or more passengers are able * I * * I * * I I II * I I * * * I I I * * * * I * I I I I I I III * I I I I I I * III *II III I - 10 - to adjust the seat upon which they intend to occupy or are occupying so that they can rest more comfortably. The invention is particularly suitable for accommodating children but can also be applied to assist adults to rest on long journeys. By tilting the seat cushion any misalignment or twisting of the lower back is reduced.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to one or more embodiments it is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments or alternative embodiments could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

* * * * a * . a a ** * * I S * a a I 4 a a a S * I S I * * a I..

* I I 5 * I I * * 151 *S ala S a - 11 - Claims 1. A motor vehicle having at least one seat comprising a backrest and a seat cushion wherein at least the seat cushion is moveable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a transversely inclined orientation such that a person sat on the seat cushion will lean one of inwardly and outwardly.
2. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seat cushion is pivotally mounted to part of a body structure of the motor vehicle to facilitate a tilting movement from the substantially horizontally orientated position to the transversely inclined position.
3. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 wherein a respective latching means is provided to hold each seat cushion in the substantially horizontally orientated position.
4. A Motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein a respective latching means is provided to hold each seat cushion in the transversely inclined orientation.
5. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein a side rest is provided on at least one side of each seat having a moveable seat cushion for use in supporting a person occupying a seat when the seat cushion is in the transversely inclined position.
6. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the or each side rest is a moveable side rest.
7. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the side rest is moveably attached to the backrest of the seat.

* . I I *
S * S S S IS I I S * * S a a * S S I * a. . a a I S III a. S S I S I * * SI. as. a.. I S - 12 - 8. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the backrest of at least one seat having a moveable seat cushion is also moveable to a transversely inclined position.
9. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the seat cushion and the backrest of the at least one seat are moved as a single unit to their respective transversely inclined positions.
10. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the or each seat cushion is moveable about a horizontally extending axis arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.
11. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the or each seat cushion is moveable about a horizontal axis arranged at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.
12. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 or in claim 11 in which there are two seats having moveable seat cushions arranged as a row in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, each seat cushion being moveable about a respective horizontal axis arranged at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle positioned on a centre line of the motor vehicle and the two horizontal axes intersect one another at a point located on the longitudinal axis.
13. A seat for a motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

13. A seat for a motor vehicle having a backrest and a seat cushion wherein at least the seat cushion is moveable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a transversely inclined orientation with respect to the motor vehicle to which the seat is fitted.

* I a * * * * S S S II S S S S S * I I I S I a a S

I S I S S I I III

* S S 5 I S 5 0 * II. *SS 455 a - 13 -
14. A seat as claimed in claim 13 wherein the seat cushion and the backrest are both moveable to a transversely inclined orientation.

15. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

16. A seat for a motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A motor vehicle having at least one seat comprising a backrest, a seat cushion and a separate side rest on at least one of an inward side and an outward side of the seat wherein at least the seat cushion of the seat is moveable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a transversely inclined orientation such that a person sat on the seat cushion will lean one of inwardly and outwardly so as to enable the person to rest comfortable against the side rest on that side of the seat.

2. A motor vehicle as claimed in claimed 1 wherein a respective latching means is provided to selectively hold the or each seat cushion in one of the substantially horizontal and transversely inclined orientations.

3. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 wherein the or each side rest is a moveable side rest.

4. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the side rest is moveably attached to the backrest of the seat.

5. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the or each seat cushion is pivotally mounted to part of a body structure of the motor vehicle to facilitate a tilting movement from the substantially horizontal orientation to the transversely inclined orientation.

6. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the backrest of at least one seat having a moveable seat cushion is also moveable to a transversely inclined orientation as a single unit with the moveable seat cushion.

7. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the or each seat cushion is moveable about a horizontally extending axis arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

8. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the or each seat cushion is moveable about a horizontal axis arranged at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

9. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 in which there are two seats having moveable seat cushions arranged as a row in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, each seat cushion being moveable about a respective horizontal axis arranged at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle positioned on a centre line of the motor vehicle and the two horizontal axes intersect one another at a point located on the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

10. A seat for a motor vehicle having a backrest, a seat cushion and a separate side rest on at least one of an inward side and an outward side of the seat, at least the seat cushion of the seat being moveable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a transversely inclined orientation such that a person sat on the seat cushion will lean one of inwardly and outwardly so as to enable the person to rest comfortable against the side rest on that side of the seat wherein a respective latching means is provided to selectively hold the seat cushion in one of the substantially horizontal and the transversely inclined orientations.

11. A seat as claimed in claim 9 wherein the seat cushion and the backrest are both moveable to a transversely inclined orientation as a single unit.

12. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing. -tb-