WO2018149914A1 - A vehicle seat attachment arrangement - Google Patents

A vehicle seat attachment arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018149914A1
WO2018149914A1 PCT/EP2018/053773 EP2018053773W WO2018149914A1 WO 2018149914 A1 WO2018149914 A1 WO 2018149914A1 EP 2018053773 W EP2018053773 W EP 2018053773W WO 2018149914 A1 WO2018149914 A1 WO 2018149914A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
seat
attachment
vehicle
locking
vehicle seat
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2018/053773
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Johan ELOVSSON
Alexander JANSSON
Alexander Jansson SVETS
Original Assignee
Quick Seat Release Sweden Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from SE1750144A external-priority patent/SE541407C2/en
Application filed by Quick Seat Release Sweden Ab filed Critical Quick Seat Release Sweden Ab
Priority to EP18705896.1A priority Critical patent/EP3582998A1/en
Publication of WO2018149914A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018149914A1/en

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60NSEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/005Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60NSEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/005Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats
    • B60N2/015Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
    • B60N2/01508Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis using quick release attachments
    • B60N2/01516Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis using quick release attachments with locking mechanisms
    • B60N2/0155Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis using quick release attachments with locking mechanisms with the locking mechanism on the vehicle floor or rail

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vehicle seat attachment arrangement, comprising a seat support base arranged for attachment to a foot well of a vehicle, at least one fitting and a locking mechanism releasably fixating said seat in the vehicle.
  • any term referring to direction or location, such as upwards or horizontal etc. relates to the invented vehicle seat attachment arrangement in the position when it is mounted to the foot well of the vehicle standing on its wheels horizontally.
  • Vehicle safety devices can generally be classified as passive, active safety or post crash safety devices. Active safety devices are aimed at collision avoidance, and include safety devices and systems such as anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, traction control and head-up displays.
  • Passive safety devices are aimed at reducing the effects of a vehicle collision, and include crumple zones, air bags, safety belt tensioners, collapsible steering columns and the like. These devices help protect the occupants of a vehicle during an accident.
  • Post accident safety devices are aimed at injury mitigation, and include devices that isolate a vehicle's power supply, activate hazard lights, notify emergency services of the incident and the like. In a significant number of severe motor vehicle accidents occupants become trapped within a damaged vehicle. Often, the occupants cannot be extricated by emergency personnel without the assistance of specialized vehicle extrication equipment.
  • Vehicle extrication equipment such as hydraulic rams, cutters and spreaders (such as the so- called Jaws of Life), are generally very expensive and are typically carried only by fire engines and specialized accident units which are not always a primary response to accidents.
  • extrication techniques may be used in order to give paramedics and emergency personnel better access to the occupants to treat the occupants and remove them without obstruction which could further exacerbate injury.
  • the emergency personnel that are first to arrive on the accident scene are generally unable to assist the occupants until the vehicle extrication equipment arrives, and the resultant delays can result in further occupant injury or even death.
  • Most vehicle safety specifications measure only the extent of active and passive safety devices, which are effective only until immediately after the accident.
  • a vehicle seat support including a carrier frame on which front forks and rear forks are designed to work respectively with fastening rods that are integral with the floor of the vehicle and wherein the vehicle seat support also includes a releasable fitting arrangement between the seat and the vehicle seat support.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks related to prior art in this field and thus provide an attachment arrangement that is safe, simple and reliable and which is easily compatible with various types of seats, which is achieved in that a vehicle seat attachment device as defined in claim 1.
  • the crucial aspect i.e. the connection allowing reliable and easy detachment of the seat, is arranged between the seat and the seat support base in a manner to provide for safety and flexibly when arranging a seat to be detachable from the foot well.
  • seat fittings comprising upwardly extending U-shaped passages for the seat attachment member SB there are many advantages to be gained. Firstly, it provides a retaining passage for the seat attachment member SB that may safely handle forces coming both via a frontal impact and also forces coming via an impact from behind. Furthermore, a vehicle is normally designed with a relatively voluminous inner space (the passenger area), in a direction transversally in relation to the floor, i.e.
  • the seat may easily be removed without any hinder from other parts of the vehicle.
  • each fitting on a side wall member extending upwards, preferably vertically, from the base plate is advantageous with respect to the arrangement of the locking mechanism between the seat and the seat attachment arrangement. Detaching the seat from the seat attachment arrangement is also easier if the locking mechanism through the side wall member(s) is raised up from the support base, and detaching is performed transversally to the floor, i.e. normally upwards.
  • the seat attachment arrangement is provided with two such side wall members and the width of the support base is adjustable such that the distance between the side wall members is adjustable.
  • the adjustable width extends in the direction perpendicular to the driving direction of the vehicle.
  • the arrangement includes at least four attachment devices arranged at different locations of the support base, which different locations preferably are located at the corners of a substantially horizontal rectangle.
  • the attachment of the seat to the seat attachment arrangement at four different locations provides a very secure and robust fixation that preferably is symmetrical in the two horizontal directions.
  • the preferred location at corners of a rectangle provides an adaption to the common arrangement of the attachment members on a seat.
  • the number of side wall members is at least two and the number of fittings is at least four, and each side wall member is provided with at least two of the fittings at a distance between each other.
  • the locking mechanism includes a release device and at least one locking lever, which locking lever is arranged to be movable between a locking state at which the locking lever locks an attachment member in the fitting and an unlocking state at which said attachment member is unlocked and free to be dispatched from the fitting, whereby the release device is arranged to move the locking lever from the locking state to the unlocking state.
  • a release device To control the unlocking of the seat to the seat attachment arrangement by means of a release device provides for a simple unlocking and thereby assures a quick and safe rescuing action.
  • each side wall member is provided with two fittings, and one single release device is arranged to simultaneously act on two different locking levers related to a respective one of the fittings.
  • the release device includes a rotatable member, and each locking lever is by a wire or string connected to the rotatable member, whereby the wire or string is attached to the rotatable member at a distance from its axis.
  • connection may be through one or more intermediate elements.
  • the locking lever is indirectly connected to the wire or string via a release lever.
  • an intermediate release member facilitates to assure a secure locking at the unlocking state and to assure an effective release at actuation.
  • a blocking mechanism is arranged to cooperate with the release device such that when the release device has been activated and the unlocking state is obtained, the blocking device maintains the unlocking state. This prevents the risk for the release device to unintentionally return to the locking state during detachment of the seat.
  • the release device includes a rotatable member and the blocking mechanism is a locking pin device entering a radial recess in the rotatable member,
  • Fig. 1 is a view from above of a seat attachment arrangement according to the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a front view of the arrangement of fig. 1,
  • Fig. 2A shows a cross sectional side view of the arrangement together with a prefen-ed seat bolt fitting according to the invention and with the seat
  • Fig. 2B shows a cross sectional view of a preferred seat bolt fitting according to the invention
  • Fig. 2C shows a sectional front view of the arrangement together with a preferred seat bolt fitting according to the invention
  • Fig. 3 is a side view of the arrangement of fig. 1.
  • Fig. 4 is a side view similar to that of fig. 3 but with a side wall removed.
  • Fig. 5 is an enlargement of a detail in fig. 4.
  • Fig. 6 is a section along line VI- VI of fig. 5.
  • the solution according to the invention is based on using a support base 1 for releasably attach a seat (not shown) in a vehicle.
  • the support base 1 forms a bottom part of the concept that rigidly and precisely facilitates arranging side wall members 2 on each side of the support base 1, for attachment of seat bolts/rods SB (see fig 4, which shows the lock mechanism 4 in an open state in the left hand side, and in a locked state in the right hand side, and therefore in the right hand side indicates a locked seat bolt SB).
  • the side wall members 2 are symmetrically arranged in relation to a longitudinal centre line C through the support base 1, which longitudinal direction normally will be parallel with the longitudinal extension of the vehicle.
  • Each one of the side wall members 2 presents seat fittings 20 in the form of U-shaped upwardly open passages (see Fig. 2C). These passages are intended to form a fixation for rod formed attachment members 8 (see Fig. 2 A, e.g. a protruding part of a seat bolt SB, in itself ) attached to the seat S for attaching the vehicle seat S within the vehicle, e.g. the intended attachment device for conventional attachment of the vehicle seat within a vehicle.
  • a car seat S is delivered with an integrated seat nut SN fixed to the lower part of the seat S, and an adapted seat bolt SB.
  • a normal standard size for that seat nut SN is M8.
  • the attachment members 8 are arranged to provide more flexibility, compared to a mere use of the seat bolt SB only. As shown in Figs 2A-2C this is achieved by arranging a seat bolt fitting SBF, 80, 81, 82, 83 around, and by means of, each seat bolt SB as schematically indicated in Fig 2A, attached at the side of the seat S by means of each seat bolt SB. As shown in Fig 2B, the SBF 80, 81, 82, 83 has a through hole 80 for housing of the seat bolt SB, a central tubular portion 81 and two flange portions 82, 83.
  • the through hole 80 has an inner diameter Di that is slightly larger than the outer diameter DSB of the seat bolt SB, to enable passage of the seat bolt SB, which according to some well-known standards for car seats S normally is about 8 mm.
  • the outer diameter Do of the tubular portion 81 is substantially larger (preferably at least 20%) than the outer diameter DSB of the seat bolt SB.
  • Both flange portions 82, 83 have a maximum diametric measure Dd that substantially (preferably at least by 50%) exceeds the outer diameter Do.
  • One of the flange portions 82 preferably also is arranged with a countersink 84 to enable the head of the seat bolt SB to be housed therein.
  • the SBF 80, 81, 82, 83 there is arranged an extra reliable attachment of a seat S within the seat fittings 20 of the support base 1, since the seat bolt fittings arrange for a reliably fixed, sidewise protruding (from the seat S) tubular portion 81 that fits into the seat fittings 20 and also provide for a larger diameter Do than the diameter DSB of the seat bolt SB. Thanks to the larger diameter Do better strength and /or functionality may be achieved in interaction with a locking mechanism 4.
  • the same seat fittings 20, i.e. having the same dimensions, may be used for a variety of seats S with different kind of seat bolts SB, since the outer diameter Do of the attachment member SB may then be adapted to the size of the seat fittings 20 and locking mechanism therein.
  • this provides the advantage that seats S with different kind of widths may be used and exchanged quickly within one and the same support base 1.
  • the preferred first seat may have seat bolt fittings that look basically as shown in Fig. 2A, whereas a second seat (not shown) with a smaller width may be arranged with longer seat bolts SB and SBF adapted to that extra length and thereby facilitate quick exchange of the two different seats without any need of adjusting the distance of the seat support base 1.
  • a further advantage of having the seat bolts attached as mentioned above, wherein further the seat bolts SB protrude outwardly at the sides of the seat is that this provides an extra safety measure, in that if the locking mechanism 4 (or just one locking mechanism) of the support base 1 would fail you may always easily unscrew the seat bolt (e.g. by insex key-fitting 88) to thereby detach the seat from the support base 1.
  • the side wall members 2 At each one of the side wall members 2 there are arranged locking arrangement 4.
  • the wall members 2 comprise two vertical side walls 14, 31 providing a space 5 in between, wherein the levers for the locking mechanism 4 are safely housed. Plate members 50, 51 are arranged at the sides and the top to protect and provide fittings and abutments. This provides an advantage since it eliminates the possibility of objects entering into the locking mechanism causing possible obstructions. Also, these side walls 14, 31 will provide reliable guidance of the levers.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a mechanism for facilitating the possibility to easily adapt to different seat sizes.
  • the base plate 1 has two separate main parts 10, each having a side wall member 2 at its lateral side.
  • the main parts are connected by two connection plates 11, one adjacent the front end of the base plate 1 and one adjacent its rear end as can be seen in fig. 1.
  • Each connection plate 11 overlaps the two main parts 10. In the overlapping regions each main part has a pair of circular holes 12 at the front end and the rear end.
  • Each connection plate 11 has two pairs of laterally extending slots 13, whereby each hole in the main parts 10 aligns with one of the slots 15.
  • the connection plates 11 are fixed to the main parts 10 by bolts.
  • the slots 13 allow to vary the lateral position of the main parts when attaching the bolts.
  • Fig 1 illustrates the base plate 1 when the main parts 10 are in their outermost positions.
  • the attachment of the plate 1 to a vehicle may be achieved by any one of the three holes 32, 33 arranged adjacent each corner. These holes are positioned to fit to attachment members 6 arranged in the vehicle where the seat is to be positioned.
  • transversal metal tubes 6 are arranged for attachment of a seat, i.e. one front tube and one back tube.
  • the pair of holes 32 may be used for an attachment device 7 in the form of a U-clamp 7 to thereby attach the support structure 1 to the vehicle.
  • the centre holes 33 are preferably used, and a bolt and nut fixation.
  • a releasable but really strong attachment to the vehicle is used that enables pretension of the attachment device 7, e.g. a threaded bolt and nut attachment.
  • Fig. 4 depicts the locking arrangement more in detail.
  • the left half of the figure illustrates the unlocked state and the right half illustrates the locked state. It is to understand that in reality either both sides are unlocked as in the left side or locked as in the right side.
  • the locking arrangement 4 includes, in connection with each seat fitting 20, a locking member 41, that in a locked state will fixate the rod member SB belonging to the seat and thereby fixedly attach the seat within the vehicle.
  • Locking member 41 is preferably pivotal around a pivot point 41B and urged in an opening direction by means of spring 41 A.
  • a release member 42 that also preferably is pivotal around a pivot point 42B and which may fixedly position the locking member 41 in a locked position.
  • a release device 40 may when activated release the release member 42.
  • the release device 40 is preferably formed by a rotatable manoeuvring member connected to a wire 43, which when rotated will pull the wire 43 to release the release member 42.
  • the rotatable member 40 is rotatably arranged by means of cylindrical
  • the periphery 40H of the rotatable member 40 interacts with a locking pin device 7, comprising a pin device 70 which by means of being urged by a spring 71 will enter into a locking recess 40C once the manoeuvring member 40 is moved to an open state.
  • the rotatable manoeuvring member 40 is arranged with a plurality of holes 40B for interaction with a tool (not shown).
  • the rotatable member 40 is actuated, preferably by means of a special tool, and rotated until the locking pin 70 clicks into locking recess 40C, whereby the wire 43 pulls the retaining lever 42, the retaining edge 42C of release lever 42 will release the locking lever 41 and the spring 41 A will urge the locking lever 41 to be positioned in an open position thereby releasing two rod members SB, i.e. at both seat fittings 20, at one side 2. In exactly the same manner also the other side will be released by the same kind of manoeuvre.
  • the wire 43 is resilient to safe guard that the wire 43 is not pulled apart when activating rotatable member 40, e.g. if any repositioning has occurred in connection with an accident, which may cause a need of a larger distance between the wire ends than the nominal need.
  • the spring coefficient K43 of the wire 43 is larger than the spring coefficient K42 of the spring 42 A for the release lever 42.
  • the outer side wall 14 of the side wall member can be seen.
  • the orifice 15 provides for the arrangement of a pivot axis corresponding to the pivot point 41B of the locking lever 41.
  • the orifice 16 provides for the arrangement of the pivot axis corresponding to the pivot point 42B of the release lever 42.
  • Orifices 21 and 22 provide bolt holes for clamping the side walls 14 and 31 together with the intermediate side plates 50 and top plate 51, respectively.
  • each release lever 42 occurs against the force of a pressure spring 42 A housed in a recess in the top plate 51.
  • the locking lever 41 is by a compression spring 41 A in a recess 50 A in the side plate 50 urged to rotate around the pivot point 41B, in the left part clockwise and in the right part counter-clockwise.
  • the spring force urges the abutment surface 41D to follow the movement of the retaining edge 42C.
  • a rear surface 41E of the locking lever 41 comes into contact with a stop surface 51 A of the top plate 51 whereby the unlocking movement of the locking lever ends.
  • the jaw portion 41C of the locking lever 41 is by the described movements moved from the state illustrated in the right side, where the rod member SB is securely hold in the jaw portion 41 C, to the position in the left side, where the rod member is free to be moved out of the jaw portion 41C and the U-shaped seat fittings 20.
  • Fig 5 illustrates how the locking recess 40C in the rotatable member 40 is located at an angular portion 40D, 40E of the periphery having a decreased radius, that is smaller than the radius of the outer periphery 40G. This provides for a secure locking of the rotatable member 40 in the released position.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates the rotatable member 40 in a section through its axis. It has a hub portion 40G with an axial through hole 40F for a through passage 23, and a radial flange 40H is arranged circumferentially. Through holes 40A in the flange 40H may be used to attach the wires 43, which through holes 40 A preferably are arranged asymmetrically, enabling use of the same design of the two release levers to achieve the same pivoting movement when rotating rotatable member 40.
  • the base plate may be made in one piece, that other equivalent locking members may be used, e.g. linearly moving, to achieve the locking and unlocking function, that the activation of the rotatable member 40 may also be achieved by non-manually operated (e.g. remotely controlled) actuators, e.g. electrical motor, that the invention may also be used in larger vehicles (e.g. buses), etc.
  • non-manually operated actuators e.g. electrical motor
  • the U-shaped passage, forming the seat fitting 20 may have a central axis that deviates from the vertical, since the basic function provided by a U-shaped open passage is also provided when said axis is angled.
  • the basic advantage of the invention may also be achieved with seat attachment members that protrude inwardly, e.g. by means of having a bar extending underneath the seat.
  • an unlocking member 40 on one of the sides when using the design of the latter kind.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat attachment arrangement. It comprises a seat support base (1) arranged for attachment to a foot well of a vehicle. Fittings and locking mechanisms (4) releasably fixate the seat in the vehicle. According to the invention, each fitting is arranged to house an attachment members of the seat. The seat support base (1) is arranged with attachment means (32, 33) for attachment of the seat support base (1) to the foot well. Upon activation of the locking mechanism (4) the seat is detached from the seat support base (1).

Description

A VEHICLE SEAT ATTACHMENT ARRANGEMENT
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat attachment arrangement, comprising a seat support base arranged for attachment to a foot well of a vehicle, at least one fitting and a locking mechanism releasably fixating said seat in the vehicle.
In the present application any term referring to direction or location, such as upwards or horizontal etc., relates to the invented vehicle seat attachment arrangement in the position when it is mounted to the foot well of the vehicle standing on its wheels horizontally.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Vehicle safety devices can generally be classified as passive, active safety or post crash safety devices. Active safety devices are aimed at collision avoidance, and include safety devices and systems such as anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, traction control and head-up displays.
Passive safety devices are aimed at reducing the effects of a vehicle collision, and include crumple zones, air bags, safety belt tensioners, collapsible steering columns and the like. These devices help protect the occupants of a vehicle during an accident. Post accident safety devices are aimed at injury mitigation, and include devices that isolate a vehicle's power supply, activate hazard lights, notify emergency services of the incident and the like. In a significant number of severe motor vehicle accidents occupants become trapped within a damaged vehicle. Often, the occupants cannot be extricated by emergency personnel without the assistance of specialized vehicle extrication equipment. Vehicle extrication equipment, such as hydraulic rams, cutters and spreaders (such as the so- called Jaws of Life), are generally very expensive and are typically carried only by fire engines and specialized accident units which are not always a primary response to accidents. In addition, even where vehicle occupants are not trapped within a damaged vehicle, extrication techniques may be used in order to give paramedics and emergency personnel better access to the occupants to treat the occupants and remove them without obstruction which could further exacerbate injury. In many motor vehicle accidents, the emergency personnel that are first to arrive on the accident scene are generally unable to assist the occupants until the vehicle extrication equipment arrives, and the resultant delays can result in further occupant injury or even death. Most vehicle safety specifications measure only the extent of active and passive safety devices, which are effective only until immediately after the accident.
There have been recent attempts by manufacturers of motor vehicles to provide safety systems that extend beyond the scope of active and passive safety devices. For example, systems that unlock doors, turn on interior lighting, shut off fuel supply, disconnect the battery terminal from the alternator or automatically notify a response center in the event of an accident are known. These systems, however, do not provide sufficient means for enabling the occupants of badly damaged vehicles to be extricated or accessed without the use of specialized vehicle extrication equipment. Significant damage is generally caused to a vehicle during occupant extrication. Very often components of the vehicle which were not damaged during the accident become damaged beyond repair as a result of the extrication. Such damage often results in a vehicle being completely written off whereas it may otherwise still have been viable were it not necessary to use extrication equipment. This problem is especially significant in relation to racing cars, e.g. rally cars, where a lot of very costly
materials/details are used.
From US2010019546 there is known a solution for facilitating obtaining access to occupants of a vehicle in an emergency by means of a vehicle pillar having release means for detaching the pillar from the body of the vehicle, thus facilitating access to the vehicle and, consequently, to occupants of said vehicle. Further, it suggests the use of quick release mechanism for release of car seats to facilitate lifting the seat and passenger out of the vehicle. However, this solution is rather complex in its design and would be costly due to the fact of the need of a specifically designed plate member for different seats, which are attached to the seat, and adapted interacting release means fixedly attached to the chassis of the vehicle, which probably explains why it has not yet appeared on the market.
From US 5443239 there is known a vehicle seat support including a carrier frame on which front forks and rear forks are designed to work respectively with fastening rods that are integral with the floor of the vehicle and wherein the vehicle seat support also includes a releasable fitting arrangement between the seat and the vehicle seat support. There are several disadvantages from both handling and safety perspectives with that solution, e.g. that it does not provide sufficient strength in relation to impacts from behind and that it may be difficult to release the seat due insufficient space.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks related to prior art in this field and thus provide an attachment arrangement that is safe, simple and reliable and which is easily compatible with various types of seats, which is achieved in that a vehicle seat attachment device as defined in claim 1.
Since the seat is detachable from the seat support base, the latter remains in place after detachment of the seat. This means that the attachment of the seat support base to the foot well can be made in an uncomplicated and cost effective way. The crucial aspect, i.e. the connection allowing reliable and easy detachment of the seat, is arranged between the seat and the seat support base in a manner to provide for safety and flexibly when arranging a seat to be detachable from the foot well.
Thanks to providing seat fittings comprising upwardly extending U-shaped passages for the seat attachment member SB there are many advantages to be gained. Firstly, it provides a retaining passage for the seat attachment member SB that may safely handle forces coming both via a frontal impact and also forces coming via an impact from behind. Furthermore, a vehicle is normally designed with a relatively voluminous inner space (the passenger area), in a direction transversally in relation to the floor, i.e.
upwardly when the vehicle is positioned with the wheels on the ground and thanks to having a U-shape that is open upwardly, the seat may easily be removed without any hinder from other parts of the vehicle. In this regard, it is especially beneficial that no side way movements are needed, since in connection with an impact parts (that may hinder movement of the seat) of the vehicle may be moved sideways, but rarely into the space above the seat.
To arrange each fitting on a side wall member extending upwards, preferably vertically, from the base plate is advantageous with respect to the arrangement of the locking mechanism between the seat and the seat attachment arrangement. Detaching the seat from the seat attachment arrangement is also easier if the locking mechanism through the side wall member(s) is raised up from the support base, and detaching is performed transversally to the floor, i.e. normally upwards. According to a further preferred embodiment, the seat attachment arrangement is provided with two such side wall members and the width of the support base is adjustable such that the distance between the side wall members is adjustable.
This adjustment possibility enables a convenient adaption to seats of various types, in particular with regards to different distances between attachment members on the seat. Normally the adjustable width extends in the direction perpendicular to the driving direction of the vehicle.
According to a further preferred embodiment the arrangement includes at least four attachment devices arranged at different locations of the support base, which different locations preferably are located at the corners of a substantially horizontal rectangle.
The attachment of the seat to the seat attachment arrangement at four different locations provides a very secure and robust fixation that preferably is symmetrical in the two horizontal directions. The preferred location at corners of a rectangle provides an adaption to the common arrangement of the attachment members on a seat.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the number of side wall members is at least two and the number of fittings is at least four, and each side wall member is provided with at least two of the fittings at a distance between each other.
This further contributes to attain the detachable connection to be safe, reliable and easy to detach.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a release device and at least one locking lever, which locking lever is arranged to be movable between a locking state at which the locking lever locks an attachment member in the fitting and an unlocking state at which said attachment member is unlocked and free to be dispatched from the fitting, whereby the release device is arranged to move the locking lever from the locking state to the unlocking state.
To control the unlocking of the seat to the seat attachment arrangement by means of a release device provides for a simple unlocking and thereby assures a quick and safe rescuing action.
According to a further preferred embodiment, each side wall member is provided with two fittings, and one single release device is arranged to simultaneously act on two different locking levers related to a respective one of the fittings.
This further contributes to a quick and safe release. According to a further preferred embodiment, the release device includes a rotatable member, and each locking lever is by a wire or string connected to the rotatable member, whereby the wire or string is attached to the rotatable member at a distance from its axis.
This results in a particularly uncomplicated maneuver for releasing the seat since only a turning of the rotatable member is necessary for that. It is to be understood that the connection may be through one or more intermediate elements.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the locking lever is indirectly connected to the wire or string via a release lever.
The use of an intermediate release member facilitates to assure a secure locking at the unlocking state and to assure an effective release at actuation.
According to a further preferred embodiment, a blocking mechanism is arranged to cooperate with the release device such that when the release device has been activated and the unlocking state is obtained, the blocking device maintains the unlocking state. This prevents the risk for the release device to unintentionally return to the locking state during detachment of the seat.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the release device includes a rotatable member and the blocking mechanism is a locking pin device entering a radial recess in the rotatable member,
This represents a solution that combines to have a very simple mechanism with a high degree of security.
The above preferred embodiments are set out in the dependent claims. It is to be understood that further prefen-ed embodiments may be constituted by any possible combination of features of the above preferred embodiments and with features of the example described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a view from above of a seat attachment arrangement according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the arrangement of fig. 1,
Fig. 2A shows a cross sectional side view of the arrangement together with a prefen-ed seat bolt fitting according to the invention and with the seat, Fig. 2B shows a cross sectional view of a preferred seat bolt fitting according to the invention,
Fig. 2C shows a sectional front view of the arrangement together with a preferred seat bolt fitting according to the invention,
Fig. 3 is a side view of the arrangement of fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side view similar to that of fig. 3 but with a side wall removed.
Fig. 5 is an enlargement of a detail in fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a section along line VI- VI of fig. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE
With reference to figs. 1 and 2, the solution according to the invention is based on using a support base 1 for releasably attach a seat (not shown) in a vehicle. The support base 1 forms a bottom part of the concept that rigidly and precisely facilitates arranging side wall members 2 on each side of the support base 1, for attachment of seat bolts/rods SB (see fig 4, which shows the lock mechanism 4 in an open state in the left hand side, and in a locked state in the right hand side, and therefore in the right hand side indicates a locked seat bolt SB). The side wall members 2 are symmetrically arranged in relation to a longitudinal centre line C through the support base 1, which longitudinal direction normally will be parallel with the longitudinal extension of the vehicle.
Each one of the side wall members 2 presents seat fittings 20 in the form of U-shaped upwardly open passages (see Fig. 2C). These passages are intended to form a fixation for rod formed attachment members 8 (see Fig. 2 A, e.g. a protruding part of a seat bolt SB, in itself ) attached to the seat S for attaching the vehicle seat S within the vehicle, e.g. the intended attachment device for conventional attachment of the vehicle seat within a vehicle. Normally, a car seat S is delivered with an integrated seat nut SN fixed to the lower part of the seat S, and an adapted seat bolt SB. A normal standard size for that seat nut SN is M8.
In a preferred embodiment, the attachment members 8 are arranged to provide more flexibility, compared to a mere use of the seat bolt SB only. As shown in Figs 2A-2C this is achieved by arranging a seat bolt fitting SBF, 80, 81, 82, 83 around, and by means of, each seat bolt SB as schematically indicated in Fig 2A, attached at the side of the seat S by means of each seat bolt SB. As shown in Fig 2B, the SBF 80, 81, 82, 83 has a through hole 80 for housing of the seat bolt SB, a central tubular portion 81 and two flange portions 82, 83. The through hole 80 has an inner diameter Di that is slightly larger than the outer diameter DSB of the seat bolt SB, to enable passage of the seat bolt SB, which according to some well-known standards for car seats S normally is about 8 mm. The outer diameter Do of the tubular portion 81 is substantially larger (preferably at least 20%) than the outer diameter DSB of the seat bolt SB. Both flange portions 82, 83 have a maximum diametric measure Dd that substantially (preferably at least by 50%) exceeds the outer diameter Do. One of the flange portions 82 preferably also is arranged with a countersink 84 to enable the head of the seat bolt SB to be housed therein. Thanks to the SBF 80, 81, 82, 83 there is arranged an extra reliable attachment of a seat S within the seat fittings 20 of the support base 1, since the seat bolt fittings arrange for a reliably fixed, sidewise protruding (from the seat S) tubular portion 81 that fits into the seat fittings 20 and also provide for a larger diameter Do than the diameter DSB of the seat bolt SB. Thanks to the larger diameter Do better strength and /or functionality may be achieved in interaction with a locking mechanism 4.
Thanks to the preferred embodiment according to the invention wherein there is made use of a SBF 80, 81, 82, 83 the same seat fittings 20, i.e. having the same dimensions, may be used for a variety of seats S with different kind of seat bolts SB, since the outer diameter Do of the attachment member SB may then be adapted to the size of the seat fittings 20 and locking mechanism therein. Furthermore, this provides the advantage that seats S with different kind of widths may be used and exchanged quickly within one and the same support base 1. For example, the preferred first seat may have seat bolt fittings that look basically as shown in Fig. 2A, whereas a second seat (not shown) with a smaller width may be arranged with longer seat bolts SB and SBF adapted to that extra length and thereby facilitate quick exchange of the two different seats without any need of adjusting the distance of the seat support base 1.
A further advantage of having the seat bolts attached as mentioned above, wherein further the seat bolts SB protrude outwardly at the sides of the seat is that this provides an extra safety measure, in that if the locking mechanism 4 (or just one locking mechanism) of the support base 1 would fail you may always easily unscrew the seat bolt (e.g. by insex key-fitting 88) to thereby detach the seat from the support base 1. At each one of the side wall members 2 there are arranged locking arrangement 4. In a preferred embodiment, the wall members 2 comprise two vertical side walls 14, 31 providing a space 5 in between, wherein the levers for the locking mechanism 4 are safely housed. Plate members 50, 51 are arranged at the sides and the top to protect and provide fittings and abutments. This provides an advantage since it eliminates the possibility of objects entering into the locking mechanism causing possible obstructions. Also, these side walls 14, 31 will provide reliable guidance of the levers.
Adjustment mechanism features 11, 12, 13 are provided, Fig. 2 illustrates a mechanism for facilitating the possibility to easily adapt to different seat sizes. The base plate 1 has two separate main parts 10, each having a side wall member 2 at its lateral side. The main parts are connected by two connection plates 11, one adjacent the front end of the base plate 1 and one adjacent its rear end as can be seen in fig. 1. Each connection plate 11 overlaps the two main parts 10. In the overlapping regions each main part has a pair of circular holes 12 at the front end and the rear end. Each connection plate 11 has two pairs of laterally extending slots 13, whereby each hole in the main parts 10 aligns with one of the slots 15. The connection plates 11 are fixed to the main parts 10 by bolts. The slots 13 allow to vary the lateral position of the main parts when attaching the bolts. Fig 1 illustrates the base plate 1 when the main parts 10 are in their outermost positions.
The attachment of the plate 1 to a vehicle may be achieved by any one of the three holes 32, 33 arranged adjacent each corner. These holes are positioned to fit to attachment members 6 arranged in the vehicle where the seat is to be positioned. In regard to cars within racing, e.g. rally cars, there exists a kind of standard where transversal metal tubes 6 are arranged for attachment of a seat, i.e. one front tube and one back tube.
Normally the standard measure between these tubes would be 295mm. If circular tubes 6 are used the pair of holes 32 may be used for an attachment device 7 in the form of a U-clamp 7 to thereby attach the support structure 1 to the vehicle. If rectangular tubes instead the centre holes 33 are preferably used, and a bolt and nut fixation. Preferably, as indicated, a releasable but really strong attachment to the vehicle is used that enables pretension of the attachment device 7, e.g. a threaded bolt and nut attachment.
Fig. 4 depicts the locking arrangement more in detail. The left half of the figure illustrates the unlocked state and the right half illustrates the locked state. It is to understand that in reality either both sides are unlocked as in the left side or locked as in the right side. The locking arrangement 4 includes, in connection with each seat fitting 20, a locking member 41, that in a locked state will fixate the rod member SB belonging to the seat and thereby fixedly attach the seat within the vehicle. Locking member 41 is preferably pivotal around a pivot point 41B and urged in an opening direction by means of spring 41 A. Further there is a release member 42 that also preferably is pivotal around a pivot point 42B and which may fixedly position the locking member 41 in a locked position. A release device 40 may when activated release the release member 42. The release device 40 is preferably formed by a rotatable manoeuvring member connected to a wire 43, which when rotated will pull the wire 43 to release the release member 42.
The rotatable member 40 is rotatably arranged by means of cylindrical
surfaces/shoulders 40G that centre the rotatable member 40 in adapted holes 19, 29 in the side walls 2. The periphery 40H of the rotatable member 40 interacts with a locking pin device 7, comprising a pin device 70 which by means of being urged by a spring 71 will enter into a locking recess 40C once the manoeuvring member 40 is moved to an open state. The rotatable manoeuvring member 40 is arranged with a plurality of holes 40B for interaction with a tool (not shown).
Accordingly, once the seat has been fixated into the seat fittings 20 and the locking mechanism 4 has been locked the seat will be safely and securely fixated within the vehicle. Upon desire to quickly release the seat the rotatable member 40 is actuated, preferably by means of a special tool, and rotated until the locking pin 70 clicks into locking recess 40C, whereby the wire 43 pulls the retaining lever 42, the retaining edge 42C of release lever 42 will release the locking lever 41 and the spring 41 A will urge the locking lever 41 to be positioned in an open position thereby releasing two rod members SB, i.e. at both seat fittings 20, at one side 2. In exactly the same manner also the other side will be released by the same kind of manoeuvre. According to a preferred embodiment the wire 43 is resilient to safe guard that the wire 43 is not pulled apart when activating rotatable member 40, e.g. if any repositioning has occurred in connection with an accident, which may cause a need of a larger distance between the wire ends than the nominal need. Preferably, the spring coefficient K43 of the wire 43 is larger than the spring coefficient K42 of the spring 42 A for the release lever 42.
In fig. 3 the outer side wall 14 of the side wall member can be seen. The orifice 15 provides for the arrangement of a pivot axis corresponding to the pivot point 41B of the locking lever 41. The orifice 16 provides for the arrangement of the pivot axis corresponding to the pivot point 42B of the release lever 42. Orifices 21 and 22 provide bolt holes for clamping the side walls 14 and 31 together with the intermediate side plates 50 and top plate 51, respectively. During the release procedure from the locked state as in the right of fig. 4, the right wire 43 pulls the right release lever 42 to rotate clockwise around the pivot point 42B and the left wire pulls the left release lever 42 to rotate counter- clockwise around its pivot point 42B. At the locked state the retaining edge 42C of the release lever 42 contacts an abutment surface 41 D of the locking lever 41. Upon the clockwise rotation of the right release lever, the retaining edge 42C of the release lever 42 moves to the right allowing the abutment surface 41D to follow this movement and at the end of the movement loose contact with the release lever 42 and end up in a depression 5 OB in the side plate 50. The rotation of each release lever 42 occurs against the force of a pressure spring 42 A housed in a recess in the top plate 51. The locking lever 41 is by a compression spring 41 A in a recess 50 A in the side plate 50 urged to rotate around the pivot point 41B, in the left part clockwise and in the right part counter-clockwise. The spring force urges the abutment surface 41D to follow the movement of the retaining edge 42C. Thereby a rear surface 41E of the locking lever 41 comes into contact with a stop surface 51 A of the top plate 51 whereby the unlocking movement of the locking lever ends. The jaw portion 41C of the locking lever 41 is by the described movements moved from the state illustrated in the right side, where the rod member SB is securely hold in the jaw portion 41 C, to the position in the left side, where the rod member is free to be moved out of the jaw portion 41C and the U-shaped seat fittings 20.
Fig 5, illustrates how the locking recess 40C in the rotatable member 40 is located at an angular portion 40D, 40E of the periphery having a decreased radius, that is smaller than the radius of the outer periphery 40G. This provides for a secure locking of the rotatable member 40 in the released position.
Fig. 6 illustrates the rotatable member 40 in a section through its axis. It has a hub portion 40G with an axial through hole 40F for a through passage 23, and a radial flange 40H is arranged circumferentially. Through holes 40A in the flange 40H may be used to attach the wires 43, which through holes 40 A preferably are arranged asymmetrically, enabling use of the same design of the two release levers to achieve the same pivoting movement when rotating rotatable member 40.
The scope of the present invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described above, but it can be varied with the scope of the claims. As examples may be mentioned, that the base plate may be made in one piece, that other equivalent locking members may be used, e.g. linearly moving, to achieve the locking and unlocking function, that the activation of the rotatable member 40 may also be achieved by non-manually operated (e.g. remotely controlled) actuators, e.g. electrical motor, that the invention may also be used in larger vehicles (e.g. buses), etc.
For the skilled person, it is evident that the U-shaped passage, forming the seat fitting 20 may have a central axis that deviates from the vertical, since the basic function provided by a U-shaped open passage is also provided when said axis is angled.
Moreover, it is evident for the skilled person that the basic advantage of the invention may also be achieved with seat attachment members that protrude inwardly, e.g. by means of having a bar extending underneath the seat. Moreover, it is evident for the skilled person that it may be easily achieved to arrange for having merely one unlocking member 40 to release the locking mechanism, by means of connecting the two rotatable members 40 by an appropriate device, e.g. tube, such that rotation by any of the rotatable members 40 on one side will release on both sides. Moreover, it is of course possible to merely have an unlocking member 40 on one of the sides when using the design of the latter kind.

Claims

A vehicle seat attachment arrangement, comprising a seat support base (1) arranged for attachment to a foot well of a vehicle, at least one seat fitting (20) and a locking mechanism (4) releasably fixating said seat (S) in the vehicle wherein said seat fitting (20) is arranged to house an attachment member (SB) of said seat (S) and that said seat support base (1) is arranged with attachment means (32, 33) for attachment of the seat support base (1) to the foot well, wherein upon activation of said locking mechanism (4) the seat (S) is detached from said seat support base (1) and wherein two side wall members (2) are attached to the support base (1), which side wall members (2) project upwardly from the support base (1), and wherein each side wall (2) member is provided with at least one of said seat fittings (20), characterized in that each one of said side wall members (2) present said seat fittings (20) in the form of U-shaped upwardly open passages (20).
A vehicle seat attachment according to claim 1, wherein said seat (S) is arranged with at least two attachment members (SB) at each side of the seat, preferably extending outwardly from the side of the seat (S).
A vehicle seat attachment arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the width of the support base (1) is adjustable such that the distance between said side wall members (2) is adjustable.
A vehicle seat attachment arrangement according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the attachment means (32, 33) includes at least four attachment devices arranged at different locations of the support base, which different locations preferably are located at the corners of a substantially horizontal rectangle.
A vehicle seat attachment arrangement, according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the number of seat fittings (20) is at least four, and where each side wall member (2) is provided with at least two of said seat fittings (20) at a distance between each other.
6. A vehicle seat attachment arrangement according to any one of claims 1-5,
wherein the locking mechanism includes a release device (40) and at least one locking lever (41), which locking lever (41) is arranged to be movable between a locking state at which the locking lever (41) locks a respective attachment member (SB) in said seat fitting (20) and an unlocking state at which said attachment member (SB) is unlocked and free to be dispatched from said seat fitting (20), whereby the release mechanism (40) is arranged to move the locking lever(41) from said locking state to said unlocking state and wherein said locking mechanism (4) includes a release member (42) that may fixedly position the locking member (41) in said locked position, wherein preferably said locking member (41) and said release member (42) are in the form of pivotal levers.
7. A vehicle seat attachment aiTangement according to any preceding claim,
wherein each side wall member (2) is provided with two of said seat fittings (20) and wherein one single release device (40) is arranged to simultaneously act on two different locking levers (41) related to a respective one of said seat fittings (20).
8. A vehicle seat attachment arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the release device (40) includes a rotatable member, and each locking lever (41) is by a wire or string (43), preferably resilient, connected to the rotatable member, whereby the wire or string (43) is attached to the rotatable member at a distance from its axis.
9. A vehicle seat attachment aiTangement according to claim 8, wherein the locking lever (41) is indirectly connected to the wire or string via a release lever (42).
10. A vehicle seat attachment arrangement according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein a blocking mechanism is arranged to cooperate with the release device (40) such that when the release device (40) has been activated and the unlocking state is obtained, the blocking device maintains the unlocking state.
11. A vehicle seat attachment arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the
release device (40) includes a rotatable member and the blocking mechanism is a locking pin device (7) entering a radial recess (40C) in the rotatable member. 12. A vehicle seat attachment aiTangement according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said release device (40) includes a rotatable member (40) that is rotatably arranged by means of cylindrical shoulders (40G) that centre the rotatable member (40) in adapted holes (19, 29) in the side walls 2.
13. A vehicle seat attachment arrangement according to any one of claims 2-12, wherein each side wall member (2) has two parallel walls (14, 31) at a distance between them, and wherein the locking mechanism (4) is located between the walls (14, 31), and wherein plate members (50, 51) are arranged between the walls (13, 31).
14. A seat bolt fitting for a vehicle seat attachment aiTangement according to any one of claims 2-13, wherein said seat bolt fitting (8) has a through hole (80) arranged to house a seat bolt (SB) arranged at each side of the seat, a central tubular portion (81) and at least one, preferably two, flange portion (82, 83) and wherein the outer diameter (Do) of said tubular portion (81) is arranged to fit into the seat fitting (20) of said vehicle seat attachment arrangement.
15. A vehicle seat comprising a vehicle seat attachment arrangement according to any one of claims 2-13 and a seat bolt fitting according to claim 14.
PCT/EP2018/053773 2017-02-15 2018-02-15 A vehicle seat attachment arrangement WO2018149914A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18705896.1A EP3582998A1 (en) 2017-02-15 2018-02-15 A vehicle seat attachment arrangement

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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SE1750144-6 2017-02-15
SE1750144A SE541407C2 (en) 2017-02-15 2017-02-15 A vehicle seat attachment arrangement
SE1751411-8 2017-11-15
SE1751411 2017-11-15

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3899151A (en) * 1974-11-13 1975-08-12 Gen Motors Corp Vehicle seat attachment device
US5443239A (en) 1993-04-27 1995-08-22 Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault Seat support for a motor vehicle
EP2108541A1 (en) * 2007-01-31 2009-10-14 Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha Automobile seat stowage structure
US20100019546A1 (en) 2006-10-05 2010-01-28 Craig Anthony Stephens Means for accessing a vehicle in an emergency

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3899151A (en) * 1974-11-13 1975-08-12 Gen Motors Corp Vehicle seat attachment device
US5443239A (en) 1993-04-27 1995-08-22 Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault Seat support for a motor vehicle
US20100019546A1 (en) 2006-10-05 2010-01-28 Craig Anthony Stephens Means for accessing a vehicle in an emergency
EP2108541A1 (en) * 2007-01-31 2009-10-14 Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha Automobile seat stowage structure

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