EP3507137A1 - Assembly for a vehicle comprising a tray serving as a rear shelf and as a table - Google Patents

Assembly for a vehicle comprising a tray serving as a rear shelf and as a table

Info

Publication number
EP3507137A1
EP3507137A1 EP16915019.0A EP16915019A EP3507137A1 EP 3507137 A1 EP3507137 A1 EP 3507137A1 EP 16915019 A EP16915019 A EP 16915019A EP 3507137 A1 EP3507137 A1 EP 3507137A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tray
armrest
backrest
movable
rear shelf
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP16915019.0A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3507137A4 (en
Inventor
Firoz SIDDIQUI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Faurecia India Pvt Ltd
Original Assignee
Faurecia India Pvt Ltd
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
Application filed by Faurecia India Pvt Ltd filed Critical Faurecia India Pvt Ltd
Publication of EP3507137A1 publication Critical patent/EP3507137A1/en
Publication of EP3507137A4 publication Critical patent/EP3507137A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/75—Arm-rests
    • B60N2/79—Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/75—Arm-rests
    • B60N2/753—Arm-rests movable to an inoperative position
    • B60N2/757—Arm-rests movable to an inoperative position in a recess of the back-rest
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N3/00—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for
    • B60N3/001—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of tables or trays
    • B60N3/002—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of tables or trays of trays
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N3/00—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for
    • B60N3/001—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of tables or trays
    • B60N3/002—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of tables or trays of trays
    • B60N3/004—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of tables or trays of trays of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R5/00—Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like
    • B60R5/04—Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like arranged at rear of vehicle
    • B60R5/044—Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like arranged at rear of vehicle luggage covering means, e.g. parcel shelves
    • B60R5/045—Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like arranged at rear of vehicle luggage covering means, e.g. parcel shelves collapsible or transformable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/90—Details or parts not otherwise provided for
    • B60N2002/905—Details or parts not otherwise provided for the head-rest or seat used as an anchorage point, for an object not covered by groups in B60N, e.g. for a canvas
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2205/00—General mechanical or structural details
    • B60N2205/30—Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces
    • B60N2205/35—Seat, bench or back-rests being split laterally in two or more parts

Definitions

  • Assembly for a vehic le comprising a tray s erving as a rear s helf and as a table
  • the present invention relates to an assembly for a vehicle of the type comprising at least one seat, comprising a seating area and a backrest said backrest comprising a front face facing the seating area and a rear face extending opposite the front face, and at least one armrest movable between a folded position, wherein the armrest extends along the backrest, and a deployed position, wherein the armrest extends along the seating area.
  • S uch tables are for example formed by trays attached to the rear face of the front seats and movable in rotation relative to the front seats between a folded position, wherein the tray is folded against the rear face of the seat, and a deployed position, wherein the tray protrudes from the rear face of the seat in order to form a table in front of the rear passengers.
  • One of the aims of the invention is to provide a vehicle structure allowing a passenger to have a rear table, without requiring adding extra parts to the vehicle.
  • the invention relates to an assembly of the above-mentioned type, wherein the assembly further comprises at least one tray attached to the armrest by an attachment rod, said attachment rod being movable in rotation relative to the armrest and said tray being movable in rotation relative to said attachment rod, such that the tray is movable between at least two positions:
  • the tray extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest and protrudes from the rear face of the backrest, - a table position when the armrest is in the deployed position, wherein the tray extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area.
  • the invention allows using the tray forming the rear shelf as a table for the passengers.
  • the table is formed by a part which is already present in the vehicle and that there is no need to handle an extra part to be added to the vehicle. The costs related to the presence of a table can therefore be reduced.
  • the tray is movable in a folded position between the rear shelf position and the table position, the tray extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backrest and to the plane of the seating area such that the tray can move relative to the seat without interfering with the backrest when the armrest is moved between the folded position and the deployed position;
  • the tray moves between the rear shelf position and the folded position by a rotation of the tray around the attachment rod and wherein the tray moves between the folded position and the table position by a rotation of the attachment rod relative to the armrest;
  • the assembly comprises a first biasing element urging the tray towards the folded position
  • the assembly comprises a vehicle body part extending in the vicinity of the seat, the tray comprising a locking element said locking element being movable between a locked position, wherein the locking element cooperates with the vehicle body part when the tray is in the rear shelf position such that the tray is locked in the rear shelf position, and an unlocked position, wherein the locking element is disengaged from the vehicle body part such that the tray can be moved out of the rear shelf position;
  • the assembly comprises a cable attached to the locking device, said actuation device being arranged such that pulling on the cable moves the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position
  • the assembly comprises a second biasing element urging the locking element towards its locked position;
  • the assembly comprises two seats, the armrest extending between the backrests of said seats in the folded position of the armrest;
  • the assembly comprises two trays, each attached to the armrest by an attachment rod, said trays being movable between the rear shelf position, wherein one of the trays extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest and protrudes from the rear face of the backrest of one of the seats and wherein the other tray extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest and protrudes from the rear face of the backrest of the other seat, and the table position, wherein one of the trays extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area of one of the seats and wherein the other tray extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area of the other seat ;
  • - F ig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, the tray being in the rear shelf position,
  • F ig. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of F ig. 1 , the tray being in the folded position and the armrest being in the folded position,
  • F ig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of F ig. 1 , the tray being in the folded position and the armrest being in the deployed position,
  • F ig. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of F ig. 1 , the tray being in the table position,
  • F ig. 5 is a perspective view of the interior of the tray of the assembly of F ig. 1 .
  • F ig. 6 is a sectional view according to plane VI-VI of F ig. 5.
  • Yront., Year_ and side_ are defined by the conventional directions of a vehicle.
  • an assembly for a vehicle for example a motor vehicle, comprising at least a seat 1 and an armrest 2.
  • the assembly comprises two seats 1 and one armrest 2 extending between the seats 1 .
  • the seats 1 are arranged in front of a vehicle body part 6, extending in the vicinity of the seats and defining, with the seats 1 , a storage space 8.
  • an assembly forms for example the rear part of a vehicle compartment, the seats being the rear seats of the vehicle and the vehicle body part 6 for example comprising the trim panels of the C and D pillars of the vehicle, i.e. the rear left and the rear right pillars of the vehicle. It should however be understood that the assembly could be used to form another part of the vehicle compartment and could comprise only a single seat 1 or more than two seats 1 and more than one armrest 2. The following description will be made in reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, wherein the assembly comprises two seats 1 and one armrest 2.
  • E ach seat 1 comprises a seating area 10, where a passenger can seat and a backrest 12, against which the back of the seated passenger can be applied.
  • the seating areas 10 and/or the backrests 12 of the two seats can be formed by a common part for both seats, as shown in F igs. 1 to 4.
  • the backrest 12 comprises a front face 14, facing the seating area 10 and turned towards the front of the vehicle, and a rear face 16, opposite the front face 14, turned towards the rear of the vehicle.
  • the storage space 8 extends opposite the rear face 1 6 of the backrests 12 of the seats.
  • the armrest 2 comprises an upper face 18 and a lower face 20.
  • the armrest 2 comprises a first end 22, hinged to the seat 1 in the vicinity of the junction between the seating area 10 and the back rest 12, and a second end 24 opposite the first end 22.
  • the armrest 2 is therefore movable in rotation relative to the seat(s) 1 , between a folded position (F igs. 1 and 2), wherein the armrest 2 extends along the backrest 12, and a deployed position (F igs. 3 and 4), wherein the armrest 2 extends along the seating area 10.
  • the lower face 20 of the armrest 2 for example extends in the continuity of the front faces 14 of the backrests 12 of the seats 1 to form a substantially continuous surface as shown in F igs.
  • the second end 24 extends in the vicinity of the top of the backrest 12.
  • the lower face 20 is applied against the seating area 10 and the upper face 1 8 forms a rest surface for the arm(s) of the passengers) and therefore extends upwards in the vehicle compartment.
  • F urthermore, in the deployed position the second end 24 extends in the vicinity of the front end of the seating area 10.
  • the assembly according to the invention further comprises at least one tray 26 attached to the armrest 2 by an attachment rod 28.
  • the attachment rod 28 is attached to the armrest 2 by a first branch 30 inserted in the second end 24 of the armrest 2.
  • the attachment rod 28 is attached to the tray 26 by a second branch 32 inserted in an edge 34 of the tray 26, as more particularly shown in F ig. 5.
  • the first branch 30 and the second branch are for example substantially perpendicular to each other, the first branch 30 extending along a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the upper and lower faces 18 and 20 of the armrest 2.
  • the tray 26 has for example a shape adapted to cover the storage space 8 extending behind one of the seats 1 , meaning that the tray 26 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the cross-section of the storage space extending between the rear face 16 of back rest 12 and the vehicle body part 6.
  • the tray 26 has the shape of a quarter of a disc, comprising two perpendicular straight edges, one of which receiving the second branch 32 of the attachment rod 28, and an arcuate edge 36 having the shape of a quarter of circle.
  • the tray 26 is movable in rotation around the second branch 32 and the attachment rod 28 is movable in rotation relative to the armrest around an axis extending along the first branch 30 of the attachment rod 28.
  • the tray 26 is movable between a deployed position (F igs. 1 and 5) and a folded position (F igs. 2 to 4). In the deployed position, the tray extends substantially in a plane containing the second branch 32 and perpendicular to the first branch 30 of the attachment rod 28. In the folded position, the tray 26 extends substantially in a plane containing the first branch 30 and the second branch 32 of the attachment rod 28.
  • the tray 26 is urged towards its folded position by a first biasing element 37 for example formed by a spring wound around the second branch 32 of the attachment rod 28 and acting on the tray 26 to urge it towards the folded position, as more particularly visible on F igs. 5 and 6.
  • a first biasing element 37 for example formed by a spring wound around the second branch 32 of the attachment rod 28 and acting on the tray 26 to urge it towards the folded position, as more particularly visible on F igs. 5 and 6.
  • the tray 26 When the armrest 2 is in the folded position and the tray 26 is in the deployed position, as shown in F ig. 1 , the tray 26 is in a rear shelf position, wherein the tray 26 extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest 12 and protrudes from the rear face 16 of the backrest 12, in the vicinity of the top of the backrest 12. In the deployed position, the tray 26 therefore extends substantially horizontally over the part of the storage space 8 extending behind the seat 1 .
  • the edge 34 receiving the second branch 32 extends substantially in the rear-front direction of the vehicle and the other edge extends in the width direction of the vehicle along the backrest 12 of the seat 1 such that the arcuate edge 36 extends along the vehicle body part 6, as shown in F ig. 1 .
  • the tray 26 In the rear shelf position, the tray 26 therefore forms a support surface both arranged to cover the storage space 8 and to hide the content of this space and to receive small objects to be stored behind the seat 1 , while remaining accessible from the compartment of the vehicle.
  • the tray 26 comprises a locking element 38 movable relative to the tray 26 between a locked position, wherein the locking element 38 cooperates with the vehicle body part 6 to maintain the tray 26 in the rear shelf position, and an unlocked position, wherein the locking element 38 is disengaged from the vehicle body part 6 such that the tray 26 can be moved out of the rear shelf position.
  • the locking element 38 is for example formed by a pin extending inside the tray and movable in translation relative to the tray 26 between the locked position, wherein the pin protrudes out of the arcuate edge 36 of the tray 26 as shown in F ig. 6, and the unlocked position, wherein the pin is retracted inside the tray 26 and does not protrude from the arcuate edge 36.
  • the locking element 38 cooperates with a locking surface 40 provided in the vehicle body part 6 such that the cooperation between the locking element 38 and the locking surface 40 maintains the tray 26 in the rear shelf position and prevents the tray 26 from moving towards the folded position against the force exerted by the first biasing element 37 on the tray.
  • the locking element is moved to its unlocked position, the tray 26 is no longer maintained by the cooperation between the locking element 38 and the locking surface 40 and can move towards the folded position, for example thanks to the first biasing element 37.
  • the locking element 38 is urged towards its locked position by a second biasing element 42, for example formed by a spring attached, on the one hand, to the tray and, on the other hand to the locking element 38 and arranged to pull the locking element 38 towards its locked position, as more particularly shown in F ig. 6.
  • a second biasing element 42 for example formed by a spring attached, on the one hand, to the tray and, on the other hand to the locking element 38 and arranged to pull the locking element 38 towards its locked position, as more particularly shown in F ig. 6.
  • the assembly further comprises an actuation device 44 for moving the locking element 38 in its unlocked position.
  • the actuation device 44 for example comprises a cable 46 attached at one of its end to the locking element 38, as shown in F igs. 5 and 6.
  • the cable extends through the second branch 32 of attachment rod 28 and its other end comes out of the attachment rod 28, for example in the vicinity of the first branch 30, as shown in F ig. 5.
  • This other end is for example provided with a handle 46.
  • the tray 26 can be used as a rear shelf when the armrest 2 is placed in the folded position and the tray 26 is placed in the deployed position.
  • the tray 26 can also be used as a table for a passenger seating on the seat by moving the tray 26 to a table position shown in F ig. 4.
  • the user seated in the seat 1 can pull on the handle 48 to move the locking element 38 in the unlocked position.
  • the tray 26 then moves to the folded position as shown in F ig. 2, thanks to the first resilient element 37.
  • the user can then let go of the handle 48 such that the locking element 38 returns to its locked position, thanks to the second resilient element 42.
  • the tray 26 When the tray 26 is in the folded position, it is able to move between the headrests of the seats 1 when the armrest is moved to its deployed position, as shown in F ig. 3. More generally, when the tray 26 is in the folded position, the tray 26 can move without interfering with the backrest 12 when the armrest 2 moves between its folded position and its deployed position. Thanks to the first resilient element 37, the tray 26 remains in its folded position during the movement between the folded position and the deployed position of the armrest 2.
  • a rotation of the attachment rod 28 relative to the armrest 2 around the axis of rotation extending along the first branch 30 places the tray 26, still in its folded position, in a table position as shown in F ig. 4.
  • the tray 26 is substantially parallel to the seating area 10 of the seat 1 , over the legs of the passenger seated in the seat such that the tray 26 can serve as a table.
  • the user can just rotate the tray 26 and the attachment rod 28 back over the armrest 2 and move the armrest 2 in the folded position. Once the tray 26 has moved past the headrests, the tray 26 is moved towards its deployed position such that the locking element 38 comes into cooperation with the locking surface 40. The tray 26 is then in its rear shelf position.
  • the two faces of the tray 26 can be arranged and/or shaped to have a pleasant aspect and possibly to comprise particular features to fulfill their function.
  • the face that is turned upward when the tray 26 is in the table position can have a recess serving as a cup holder and the other face, that is turned upward when the tray 26 is in the rear shelf position can have a peripheral wall to retain the objects positioned on the surface formed by this face.
  • the assembly comprises two trays 26 each attached to the armrest 2 by an attachment rod 28.
  • the shape of the trays 26 is such that the storage space is completely covered by the two trays 26 when the trays are in a rear shelf position, as shown in F ig. 1 .
  • each tray 26 In the rear shelf position, the two trays 26 extend in the continuity of each other to define a continuous support surface defined by both trays.
  • each tray 26 forms a table over one of the seats 1 as shown in F ig. 4, meaning that one of the trays 26 extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area 10 of one of the seats 1 and wherein the other tray 26 extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area 10 of the other seat 1 .
  • the same handle 48 can be connected to the cables 46 of both actuation devices such that a single pull on the handle 48 moves both of the trays 26 in the folded position.
  • the assembly described above allows using the same tray(s) 26 to form both the rear shelf and the rear table in the vehicle compartment. C onsequently, the assembly does not require an additional part to form the table. The costs can therefore be reduced and the mounting of the vehicle is simplified since there is no need to use the front seats to hang a rear table thereon. The assembly can therefore be used in all the vehicles and the table is no longer proposed as an option. F urthermore, the appearance of the vehicle compartment is improved since the tray(s) 26 serve as a rear shelf when the tables are not used. C onsequently, there is no part hanging from the front seats, which has a negative impact on the appearance of the vehicle compartment.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)

Abstract

Assembly for a vehicle comprising a tray serving as a rear shelf and as a table The assembly for a vehicle comprises at least one seat (1), comprising a seating area (10) and a backrest (12), said backrest (12) comprising a front face (14) and a rear face (16), and at least one armrest (2) movable between a folded position, wherein the armrest (2) extends along the backrest (12), and a deployed position, wherein the armrest (2) extends along the seating area (10). The assembly further comprises at least one tray (26) attached to the armrest (2) by an attachment rod (28), said attachment rod (28) being movable in rotation relative to the armrest (2) and said tray (26) being movable in rotation relative to said attachment rod (28), such that the tray (26) is movable between at least two positions.

Description

Assembly for a vehic le compris ing a tray s erving as a rear s helf and as a table
The present invention relates to an assembly for a vehicle of the type comprising at least one seat, comprising a seating area and a backrest said backrest comprising a front face facing the seating area and a rear face extending opposite the front face, and at least one armrest movable between a folded position, wherein the armrest extends along the backrest, and a deployed position, wherein the armrest extends along the seating area.
In a vehicle, it is known to provide a rear shelf extending behind the rear seats of the vehicle and arranged to cover the storage compartment in order to hide the content of the storage compartment and/or in order to form a support surface for receiving objects stored behind the rear seats. S uch rear shelves are provided in almost every vehicle of a given type.
It is also known to provide tables to the rear passengers of the vehicle. S uch tables are for example formed by trays attached to the rear face of the front seats and movable in rotation relative to the front seats between a folded position, wherein the tray is folded against the rear face of the seat, and a deployed position, wherein the tray protrudes from the rear face of the seat in order to form a table in front of the rear passengers. These tables, since they are additional parts added to the vehicle, are generally provided as an option adding extra-costs to the vehicle because providing tables in the vehicle requires additional time for preparing the vehicle and handling and storing more parts.
One of the aims of the invention is to provide a vehicle structure allowing a passenger to have a rear table, without requiring adding extra parts to the vehicle.
To this end, the invention relates to an assembly of the above-mentioned type, wherein the assembly further comprises at least one tray attached to the armrest by an attachment rod, said attachment rod being movable in rotation relative to the armrest and said tray being movable in rotation relative to said attachment rod, such that the tray is movable between at least two positions:
- a rear shelf position when the armrest is in the folded position, wherein the tray extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest and protrudes from the rear face of the backrest, - a table position when the armrest is in the deployed position, wherein the tray extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area.
C onsequently, the invention allows using the tray forming the rear shelf as a table for the passengers. This means that the table is formed by a part which is already present in the vehicle and that there is no need to handle an extra part to be added to the vehicle. The costs related to the presence of a table can therefore be reduced.
According to other features of the invention, considered alone or according to any possible technical combinations:
- the tray is movable in a folded position between the rear shelf position and the table position, the tray extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backrest and to the plane of the seating area such that the tray can move relative to the seat without interfering with the backrest when the armrest is moved between the folded position and the deployed position;
- the tray moves between the rear shelf position and the folded position by a rotation of the tray around the attachment rod and wherein the tray moves between the folded position and the table position by a rotation of the attachment rod relative to the armrest;
- the assembly comprises a first biasing element urging the tray towards the folded position;
- the assembly comprises a vehicle body part extending in the vicinity of the seat, the tray comprising a locking element said locking element being movable between a locked position, wherein the locking element cooperates with the vehicle body part when the tray is in the rear shelf position such that the tray is locked in the rear shelf position, and an unlocked position, wherein the locking element is disengaged from the vehicle body part such that the tray can be moved out of the rear shelf position;
- the assembly comprises a cable attached to the locking device, said actuation device being arranged such that pulling on the cable moves the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position
- the assembly comprises a second biasing element urging the locking element towards its locked position; - the assembly comprises two seats, the armrest extending between the backrests of said seats in the folded position of the armrest;
- the assembly comprises two trays, each attached to the armrest by an attachment rod, said trays being movable between the rear shelf position, wherein one of the trays extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest and protrudes from the rear face of the backrest of one of the seats and wherein the other tray extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest and protrudes from the rear face of the backrest of the other seat, and the table position, wherein one of the trays extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area of one of the seats and wherein the other tray extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area of the other seat ;
- in the rear shelf position, the trays extend in the continuity of each other in order to define a continuous support surface defined by both trays. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, given by way of example and made in reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
- F ig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, the tray being in the rear shelf position,
- F ig. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of F ig. 1 , the tray being in the folded position and the armrest being in the folded position,
- F ig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of F ig. 1 , the tray being in the folded position and the armrest being in the deployed position,
- F ig. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of F ig. 1 , the tray being in the table position,
- F ig. 5 is a perspective view of the interior of the tray of the assembly of F ig. 1 , and
- F ig. 6 is a sectional view according to plane VI-VI of F ig. 5.
In the description, the terms Yront., Year_ and side_ are defined by the conventional directions of a vehicle.
In reference to F igs. 1 to 4, there is described an assembly for a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, comprising at least a seat 1 and an armrest 2. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the assembly comprises two seats 1 and one armrest 2 extending between the seats 1 . The seats 1 are arranged in front of a vehicle body part 6, extending in the vicinity of the seats and defining, with the seats 1 , a storage space 8.
S uch an assembly forms for example the rear part of a vehicle compartment, the seats being the rear seats of the vehicle and the vehicle body part 6 for example comprising the trim panels of the C and D pillars of the vehicle, i.e. the rear left and the rear right pillars of the vehicle. It should however be understood that the assembly could be used to form another part of the vehicle compartment and could comprise only a single seat 1 or more than two seats 1 and more than one armrest 2. The following description will be made in reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, wherein the assembly comprises two seats 1 and one armrest 2.
E ach seat 1 comprises a seating area 10, where a passenger can seat and a backrest 12, against which the back of the seated passenger can be applied. The seating areas 10 and/or the backrests 12 of the two seats can be formed by a common part for both seats, as shown in F igs. 1 to 4.
The backrest 12 comprises a front face 14, facing the seating area 10 and turned towards the front of the vehicle, and a rear face 16, opposite the front face 14, turned towards the rear of the vehicle. The storage space 8 extends opposite the rear face 1 6 of the backrests 12 of the seats.
The armrest 2 comprises an upper face 18 and a lower face 20. The armrest 2 comprises a first end 22, hinged to the seat 1 in the vicinity of the junction between the seating area 10 and the back rest 12, and a second end 24 opposite the first end 22. The armrest 2 is therefore movable in rotation relative to the seat(s) 1 , between a folded position (F igs. 1 and 2), wherein the armrest 2 extends along the backrest 12, and a deployed position (F igs. 3 and 4), wherein the armrest 2 extends along the seating area 10. In the folded position, the lower face 20 of the armrest 2 for example extends in the continuity of the front faces 14 of the backrests 12 of the seats 1 to form a substantially continuous surface as shown in F igs. 1 and 2 while the upper face 18 extends opposite the storage space 8. F urthermore, in the folded position, the second end 24 extends in the vicinity of the top of the backrest 12. In the deployed position, the lower face 20 is applied against the seating area 10 and the upper face 1 8 forms a rest surface for the arm(s) of the passengers) and therefore extends upwards in the vehicle compartment. F urthermore, in the deployed position, the second end 24 extends in the vicinity of the front end of the seating area 10.
The assembly according to the invention further comprises at least one tray 26 attached to the armrest 2 by an attachment rod 28. The attachment rod 28 is attached to the armrest 2 by a first branch 30 inserted in the second end 24 of the armrest 2. The attachment rod 28 is attached to the tray 26 by a second branch 32 inserted in an edge 34 of the tray 26, as more particularly shown in F ig. 5. The first branch 30 and the second branch are for example substantially perpendicular to each other, the first branch 30 extending along a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the upper and lower faces 18 and 20 of the armrest 2.
The tray 26 has for example a shape adapted to cover the storage space 8 extending behind one of the seats 1 , meaning that the tray 26 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the cross-section of the storage space extending between the rear face 16 of back rest 12 and the vehicle body part 6. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the tray 26 has the shape of a quarter of a disc, comprising two perpendicular straight edges, one of which receiving the second branch 32 of the attachment rod 28, and an arcuate edge 36 having the shape of a quarter of circle.
The tray 26 is movable in rotation around the second branch 32 and the attachment rod 28 is movable in rotation relative to the armrest around an axis extending along the first branch 30 of the attachment rod 28.
Around the second branch 32, the tray 26 is movable between a deployed position (F igs. 1 and 5) and a folded position (F igs. 2 to 4). In the deployed position, the tray extends substantially in a plane containing the second branch 32 and perpendicular to the first branch 30 of the attachment rod 28. In the folded position, the tray 26 extends substantially in a plane containing the first branch 30 and the second branch 32 of the attachment rod 28.
The tray 26 is urged towards its folded position by a first biasing element 37 for example formed by a spring wound around the second branch 32 of the attachment rod 28 and acting on the tray 26 to urge it towards the folded position, as more particularly visible on F igs. 5 and 6.
When the armrest 2 is in the folded position and the tray 26 is in the deployed position, as shown in F ig. 1 , the tray 26 is in a rear shelf position, wherein the tray 26 extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest 12 and protrudes from the rear face 16 of the backrest 12, in the vicinity of the top of the backrest 12. In the deployed position, the tray 26 therefore extends substantially horizontally over the part of the storage space 8 extending behind the seat 1 . The edge 34 receiving the second branch 32 extends substantially in the rear-front direction of the vehicle and the other edge extends in the width direction of the vehicle along the backrest 12 of the seat 1 such that the arcuate edge 36 extends along the vehicle body part 6, as shown in F ig. 1 . In the rear shelf position, the tray 26 therefore forms a support surface both arranged to cover the storage space 8 and to hide the content of this space and to receive small objects to be stored behind the seat 1 , while remaining accessible from the compartment of the vehicle.
As shown in F igs. 5 and 6, the tray 26 comprises a locking element 38 movable relative to the tray 26 between a locked position, wherein the locking element 38 cooperates with the vehicle body part 6 to maintain the tray 26 in the rear shelf position, and an unlocked position, wherein the locking element 38 is disengaged from the vehicle body part 6 such that the tray 26 can be moved out of the rear shelf position.
More particularly, the locking element 38 is for example formed by a pin extending inside the tray and movable in translation relative to the tray 26 between the locked position, wherein the pin protrudes out of the arcuate edge 36 of the tray 26 as shown in F ig. 6, and the unlocked position, wherein the pin is retracted inside the tray 26 and does not protrude from the arcuate edge 36. When the tray 36 is in the rear shelf position and the locking element 38 is in the locked position, the locking element 38 cooperates with a locking surface 40 provided in the vehicle body part 6 such that the cooperation between the locking element 38 and the locking surface 40 maintains the tray 26 in the rear shelf position and prevents the tray 26 from moving towards the folded position against the force exerted by the first biasing element 37 on the tray. When the locking element is moved to its unlocked position, the tray 26 is no longer maintained by the cooperation between the locking element 38 and the locking surface 40 and can move towards the folded position, for example thanks to the first biasing element 37.
The locking element 38 is urged towards its locked position by a second biasing element 42, for example formed by a spring attached, on the one hand, to the tray and, on the other hand to the locking element 38 and arranged to pull the locking element 38 towards its locked position, as more particularly shown in F ig. 6.
The assembly further comprises an actuation device 44 for moving the locking element 38 in its unlocked position. The actuation device 44 for example comprises a cable 46 attached at one of its end to the locking element 38, as shown in F igs. 5 and 6. The cable extends through the second branch 32 of attachment rod 28 and its other end comes out of the attachment rod 28, for example in the vicinity of the first branch 30, as shown in F ig. 5. This other end is for example provided with a handle 46. When a user pulls on the handle 46, the cable 46 is pulled and pulls the locking element 38 towards its unlocked position against the force of the second resilient element.
C onsequently, the tray 26 can be used as a rear shelf when the armrest 2 is placed in the folded position and the tray 26 is placed in the deployed position. The tray 26 can also be used as a table for a passenger seating on the seat by moving the tray 26 to a table position shown in F ig. 4.
To this end, when the tray 26 is in the rear shelf position, the user seated in the seat 1 can pull on the handle 48 to move the locking element 38 in the unlocked position. The tray 26 then moves to the folded position as shown in F ig. 2, thanks to the first resilient element 37. The user can then let go of the handle 48 such that the locking element 38 returns to its locked position, thanks to the second resilient element 42.
When the tray 26 is in the folded position, it is able to move between the headrests of the seats 1 when the armrest is moved to its deployed position, as shown in F ig. 3. More generally, when the tray 26 is in the folded position, the tray 26 can move without interfering with the backrest 12 when the armrest 2 moves between its folded position and its deployed position. Thanks to the first resilient element 37, the tray 26 remains in its folded position during the movement between the folded position and the deployed position of the armrest 2.
When the armrest 2 is in its deployed position, a rotation of the attachment rod 28 relative to the armrest 2 around the axis of rotation extending along the first branch 30 places the tray 26, still in its folded position, in a table position as shown in F ig. 4. In this table position, the tray 26 is substantially parallel to the seating area 10 of the seat 1 , over the legs of the passenger seated in the seat such that the tray 26 can serve as a table.
When the table is no longer needed, the user can just rotate the tray 26 and the attachment rod 28 back over the armrest 2 and move the armrest 2 in the folded position. Once the tray 26 has moved past the headrests, the tray 26 is moved towards its deployed position such that the locking element 38 comes into cooperation with the locking surface 40. The tray 26 is then in its rear shelf position.
The two faces of the tray 26 can be arranged and/or shaped to have a pleasant aspect and possibly to comprise particular features to fulfill their function. F or example, the face that is turned upward when the tray 26 is in the table position can have a recess serving as a cup holder and the other face, that is turned upward when the tray 26 is in the rear shelf position can have a peripheral wall to retain the objects positioned on the surface formed by this face.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the assembly comprises two trays 26 each attached to the armrest 2 by an attachment rod 28. The shape of the trays 26 is such that the storage space is completely covered by the two trays 26 when the trays are in a rear shelf position, as shown in F ig. 1 .
In the rear shelf position, the two trays 26 extend in the continuity of each other to define a continuous support surface defined by both trays. When the trays 26 are moved to their table position, each tray 26 forms a table over one of the seats 1 as shown in F ig. 4, meaning that one of the trays 26 extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area 10 of one of the seats 1 and wherein the other tray 26 extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area 10 of the other seat 1 .
The same handle 48 can be connected to the cables 46 of both actuation devices such that a single pull on the handle 48 moves both of the trays 26 in the folded position.
The assembly described above allows using the same tray(s) 26 to form both the rear shelf and the rear table in the vehicle compartment. C onsequently, the assembly does not require an additional part to form the table. The costs can therefore be reduced and the mounting of the vehicle is simplified since there is no need to use the front seats to hang a rear table thereon. The assembly can therefore be used in all the vehicles and the table is no longer proposed as an option. F urthermore, the appearance of the vehicle compartment is improved since the tray(s) 26 serve as a rear shelf when the tables are not used. C onsequently, there is no part hanging from the front seats, which has a negative impact on the appearance of the vehicle compartment.

Claims

C LAIMS
1 . - Assembly for a vehicle comprising at least one seat (1 ), comprising a seating area (10) and a backrest (12), said backrest (12) comprising a front face (14) facing the seating area (10) and a rear face (16) extending opposite the front face (14), and at least one armrest (2) movable between a folded position, wherein the armrest (2) extends along the backrest (12), and a deployed position, wherein the armrest (2) extends along the seating area (10), characterized in that the assembly further comprises at least one tray (26) attached to the armrest (2) by an attachment rod (28), said attachment rod (28) being movable in rotation relative to the armrest (2) and said tray (26) being movable in rotation relative to said attachment rod (28), such that the tray (26) is movable between at least two positions:
- a rear shelf position when the armrest (2) is in the folded position, wherein the tray (26) extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest (12) and protrudes from the rear face (1 6) of the backrest (12),
- a table position when the armrest (2) is in the deployed position, wherein the tray (26) extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area (10).
2. - Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the tray (26) is movable in a folded position between the rear shelf position and the table position, the tray (26) extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backrest (12) and to the plane of the seating area (10) such that the tray (26) can move relative to the seat (1 ) without interfering with the backrest (12) when the armrest (2) is moved between the folded position and the deployed position.
3. - Assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tray (26) moves between the rear shelf position and the folded position by a rotation of the tray (26) around the attachment rod (28) and wherein the tray (26) moves between the folded position and the table position by a rotation of the attachment rod (28) relative to the armrest (2).
4. - Assembly according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a first biasing element (37) urging the tray (26) towards the folded position.
5. - Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a vehicle body part (6) extending in the vicinity of the seat (1 ), the tray (26) comprising a locking element (28), said locking element (28) being movable between a locked position, wherein the locking element (28) cooperates with the vehicle body part (6) when the tray (26) is in the rear shelf position such that the tray (26) is locked in the rear shelf position, and an unlocked position, wherein the locking element (28) is disengaged from the vehicle body part (6) such that the tray (26) can be moved out of the rear shelf position.
6. - Assembly according to claim 5, further comprising an actuation device (44) comprising a cable (46) attached to the locking device (28), said actuation device (44) being arranged such that pulling on the cable (46) moves the locking element (28) from the locked position to the unlocked position.
7. - Assembly according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a second biasing element (42) urging the locking element (28) towards its locked position.
8. - Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the assembly comprises two seats (1 ), the armrest (2) extending between the backrests (12) of said seats (1 ) in the folded position of the armrest (2).
9. - Assembly according to claim 8, wherein the assembly comprises two trays (26), each attached to the armrest (2) by an attachment rod (28), said trays (26) being movable between the rear shelf position, wherein one of the trays (26) extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest (12) and protrudes from the rear face (1 6) of the backrest (12) of one of the seats (1 ) and wherein the other tray (26) extends substantially perpendicularly to the backrest (12) and protrudes from the rear face (1 6) of the backrest (12) of the other seat (1 ), and the table position, wherein one of the trays (26) extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area (10) of one of the seats (1 ) and wherein the other tray (26) extends substantially parallel to and over the seating area (10) of the other seat (1 ).
10. - Assembly according to claim 9, wherein, in the rear shelf position, the trays (26) extend in the continuity of each other in order to define a continuous support surface defined by both trays (26).
EP16915019.0A 2016-08-31 2016-08-31 Assembly for a vehicle comprising a tray serving as a rear shelf and as a table Withdrawn EP3507137A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2016/055207 WO2018042227A1 (en) 2016-08-31 2016-08-31 Assembly for a vehicle comprising a tray serving as a rear shelf and as a table

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3507137A1 true EP3507137A1 (en) 2019-07-10
EP3507137A4 EP3507137A4 (en) 2020-06-17

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EP16915019.0A Withdrawn EP3507137A4 (en) 2016-08-31 2016-08-31 Assembly for a vehicle comprising a tray serving as a rear shelf and as a table

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WO (1) WO2018042227A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6143456U (en) * 1984-08-24 1986-03-22 池田物産株式会社 Seat with armrest
JPH0736793U (en) * 1993-12-21 1995-07-11 アラコ株式会社 Vehicle armrest device
KR100192821B1 (en) * 1996-11-30 1999-06-15 양재신 Rear seat of a car
JP2000272397A (en) * 1999-01-19 2000-10-03 Toyota Auto Body Co Ltd Simple table for vehicle
DE10044414A1 (en) * 2000-09-08 2002-03-21 Daimler Chrysler Ag Fold-down table for motor vehicle seats is stored in arm rest and extracted via telescopic pull-out support arm with support panel
JP2002193043A (en) * 2000-12-26 2002-07-10 Toyota Auto Body Co Ltd Table for vehicle
JP2007253669A (en) * 2006-03-22 2007-10-04 Mazda Motor Corp Vehicle seat device
DE102009036486A1 (en) * 2009-08-07 2011-02-10 Roland Drignath Armrest and table-support combination for use in front and rear seats in motor vehicle, has front seat-table-support provided in fastener structure, and rear seat-table-support with fastening-plate provided at front seat-backrest
CN101879876B (en) * 2010-07-20 2012-07-04 浙江吉利汽车研究院有限公司 Folding table of automobile rear seat
DE102012009553A1 (en) * 2012-05-12 2012-12-06 Daimler Ag Folding table arrangement for installation between driver-side rear seat and passenger-side rear seat of motor car, has bearing unit comprising pivotal arms, and supporting device for indirectly supporting tabletops in functional position

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Publication number Publication date
WO2018042227A1 (en) 2018-03-08
EP3507137A4 (en) 2020-06-17

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