FR2916698A1 - Bench seat for e.g. minivan, has cushioned panel mounted in articulated manner on backing part around articulation and pivoted at specific degree around articulation to allow part to enter in plane when backrest is folded against base - Google Patents

Abstract

The bench seat has a backrest forming a part of a sleeping surface. The backrest is mounted in an articulated manner with respect to a base around an articulation to occupy a position in which the backrest is folded against the base and extended in a horizontal plane. A cushioned panel (5) is mounted in an articulated manner on a cushioned backing part (20) of the backrest around another articulation, and is pivoted on 180 degrees around the latter articulation to allow the part to enter in same plane when the backrest is folded against the base, where the part presents a cradle.

Description

Convertible vehicle bench in a sleeping surface

  partly by the back of the bench and a panel mounted pivoting on the backrest, and corresponding vehicle. The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to a vehicle equipped with a bench convertible sleeping. In the field of the invention, it is now common to offer vehicles, whether in the range of minivans or commercial vehicles developed, comprising: - a row of front seats at the driving position (called rank 1 ); - a rear row of seats (called rank 3); an intermediate row (called rank 2), between the front row and the rear row (called row 2).

  In the present description of the invention, the space behind the driving position is designated by the terms passenger space. The design of these vehicles tends to offer more and more modularity in the possible configurations of the passenger space. In particular, the latter may alternatively comprise: one or two seats one place; - Two-seater bench - 3-seater bench According to a now common layout, the bench of the passenger space is convertible into a bed, and more specifically convertible into a bed for two people, the longitudinal axis of the bed being that of the vehicle. Several banquette techniques are currently proposed to make them transformable. According to a first technique, the transformation of the bench operates in a manner similar to that of sofa-bed commonly referred to by the term click-clack. According to this technique, it is pivoted to the top of the seat, which causes a pivoting back of the backrest, the angle between the seat and the backrest being kept during this phase, this up to a predetermined angle of inclination beyond which the backrest can pivot relative to the seat so that the file is brought in a substantially horizontal plane while the seat is brought in a substantially horizontal plane, the assembly then forming the sleeping surface. Such a bench is handled relatively easily and quickly. However, this technique has the disadvantage of providing a rather uncomfortable sleeping surface.

  Indeed, the parts constituting the sleeping surface are the seat and the backrest. However, the seat and back are conventionally formed with different edges to improve the comfort of the person sitting. These edges are designed and positioned to promote the setting of the thighs (for the seat) and / or the setting of the lumbar (for the backrest). In addition, seat belts are usually permanently mounted on the backrest, the belt attachment systems being present at the seat. Also, when the bench is transformed into a bed, all these elements are reliefs on the sleeping surface offered, it is therefore not flat and proving in practice uncomfortable. According to another technique proposed by the prior art, the conversion of the bench into a coating is carried out as follows: - the seat is clear of a base in which it is mounted articulated in its front part; - The seat is rotated forward around the joint it has with the base on an angle of about 180, while the backrest remains fixed, providing a space between the seat and the backrest; a crutch is pivoted from the dorsal portion of the seat, about 270; the back is folded into the space left empty by the seat, so that the folder is in a substantially horizontal plane, in the extension of the seat; a quilted panel is attached in the extension of the backrest, opposite the seat, in the same plane as the backrest. Sleeping proposed by this technique is constituted by the 10 dorsal parts of the seat and back to which are added the quilted panel. These dorsal parts are made to have a flat surface, the coating surface is therefore flat overall and therefore relatively comfortable. However, this technique requires the implementation of specific joints (this with appropriate locking means) and a particular mounting of the seat (on a base), which tends to increase manufacturing costs and / or mounting the bench. In addition, the transformation kinematics of the bench seat 20 is relatively complex and at least unintuitive for the user. In general, it is noted that the benches of the prior art involve, for their transformation, many manipulations, among which we can add, in addition to those mentioned above: the retraction of the head restraints, either by returning them in the file, either by disassembling the retraction of the armrests possibly present; the storage of seat belt fastening systems. The invention particularly aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

  The surface More precisely, the object of the invention is to propose a convertible bed seat for a vehicle that offers a good comfort of use both in seating and sleeping, and which is simpler to design than the solutions of the art. prior.

  The invention also aims to provide such a bench that can be transformed by a series of intuitive operations, simple and fast. The invention also aims to provide such a bench that has a design incorporating common structural principles existing benches.

  Another object of the invention is to provide such a seat that retains the modularity of the passenger space. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a bench that is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble. These objectives, as well as others which will appear later, are achieved thanks to the invention which has for object a bench seat of a motor vehicle convertible into a sleeping surface, of the type comprising a seat and a backrest pivotally mounted relative to said seat, said backrest being intended to form a portion of said sleeping surface, characterized in that said backrest is articulated relative to said seat around a first articulation so as to occupy a position in which it is folded against said seated and extends in a substantially horizontal plane, a panel being hingedly mounted on a dorsal portion of said file about a second hinge and being intended to be pivoted about 180 around said second hinge so as to be substantially part of the same plane as said folder once said folder folded against said seat. Such a seat thus provides a great comfort in sleeping configuration, the sleeping surface being constituted in particular by: the back portion of the backrest formed so as to have a flat surface (unlike the front part of the backrest conventionally presenting edges and / or upholstery forming reliefs ensuring the comfort of the user in a sitting position); the pivoting panel also constituted so as to have a flat surface.

  In addition, a seat according to the invention proves to be inexpensively manufactured and mounted easily. Indeed, its general seat / backrest structure is that of existing conventional benches, whose basic principle is a seat and a backrest pivoting with respect to the seat, with a classic and proven structure and operation (in particular with regard to design and installation in the vehicle of the seat). In addition, as will become clearer later, such a bench can be transformed quickly, by simple operations, fast and intuitive.

  In addition, secondary operations concerning head restraints, armrests and / or seat belt attachment systems are not added to the essential processing operations. Advantageously, said second articulation extends in the vicinity of an end of said file opposite to that having said first articulation. In this way, the panel is pivoted towards the front of the vehicle, so that it can be brought into an unoccupied area or clear of the passenger space. According to a preferred embodiment, the bench comprises an extension of said sleeping surface pivotally mounted on said dorsal portion of said backrest around a third joint extending in the vicinity of an end of said backrest opposite to that in the vicinity of which extends said second articulation. Thus, all the elements intended to form the sleeping surface are grouped on the bench, at the backrest.

  The transformation is thus greatly facilitated for the user who knows then that all the elements of the transformation are grouped together. According to an advantageous solution, said extension is carried by said folder so as to provide a space in which said panel is intended to register in the folded position against said folder. In this way, the element accessible first, once the folder is folded down, is the extension. However, it is articulated relative to the folder so that it is folded towards the rear of the vehicle. Thus, when the user stands in front of the bench, he can easily proceed with the deployment of the extension, which would not be the case if the panel was to be deployed first (forward) then obliging the user to move away from the extension to the point of being able to access it only in rather uncomfortable conditions. According to a preferred solution, said dorsal portion of said backrest has a cradle on which said panel and said extension are hingedly mounted. Advantageously, said cradle has on the side of said backrest an outgrowth in which is formed at least one storage cavity. The cradle thus contributes to the ergonomics of the bench once it has been transformed into a bed. Preferably, said panel and / or said extension are removably mounted on said cradle. The panel and the extension can thus be easily dismantled, thus eliminating the space corresponding to the back of the backrest and increasing the storage space behind the bench. Preferably, said panel carries a pivotally movable base between a position folded against said panel and a position in which it forms an angle of about 90 with said panel.

  The support means on the floor of the panel are therefore directly integrated therewith, and can be set up easily and quickly by the user. Preferably, said base is hingedly mounted on the face of said panel opposite the side forming part of the sleeping surface in the deployed position from said folder. In this way, when the folder is folded against the seat, the base is directly visible and accessible to the user. The base can therefore be used as a means of gripping to proceed with the deployment of the panel from the folder, while bringing the base in support of the ground, this by a fast and intuitive handling for the user. According to a preferred solution, said seat is movable between a position of use and a position of transformation of said seat in which said seat is lowered relative to said position of use.

  In this way, the plane of the sleeping surface can be lowered, providing additional comfort to the user as to the volume available between the sleeping surface and the roof of the vehicle. In this case, the bench advantageously comprises means for connecting said seat with a floor portion of said vehicle constituted in the form of a deformable parallelogram, said seat being brought, according to another advantageous characteristic, in a position lowered by the pivoting of said backrest towards said seat. A bench thus constituted allows a kinematics formed of combined movements of the seat and the backrest, this kinematics being controlled by easy and limited manipulations. Advantageously, said dorsal portion of said backrest carries a quilted element. According to another characteristic, said panel carries a quilted element.

  The backrest and / or the panel thus quilted give the bench the property of being almost ready for use at the end of its transformation into sleeping. The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with a bench convertible into a sleeping surface, said bench being of the type comprising a seat and a backrest pivotally mounted relative to said seat, said backrest being intended to form a portion of said sleeping surface , characterized in that said backrest is articulated with respect to said seat around a first articulation so as to occupy a position in which it is folded against said seat and extends in a substantially horizontal plane, a panel being mounted articulated on a back portion of said folder about a second joint and being intended to be rotated about 180 around said second joint so as to be substantially in the same plane as said folder once said folder folded against said seat.

  According to an alternative embodiment to that of providing an articulated extension mounted on the backrest, the vehicle comprises at least one extension of said sleeping surface portion formed by said backrest and / or said panel, the vehicle preferably comprising means for maintaining said one or more extensions in the luggage cover position.

  Such an extension can be integrated functionally in the vehicle as a luggage cover, and be available at any time, without generating a specific footprint. Advantageously, said extension comprises two quilted parts foldable against each other.

  According to another characteristic, said seat is movably mounted in translation along the longitudinal axis of said vehicle along guide means fixed on a part of the floor. This preserves the possibilities of modularity of the passenger space with regard to the mobility of the seat.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which: - Figure I is a perspective view of a seat according to the invention; FIG 2 is a side view of a seat according to the invention in tablet position; - Figure 3 is a side view of a seat according to the invention, in the rolling position; - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a seat according to the invention without seat trim; FIG 5 is a perspective view of a seat according to the invention in sleeping configuration; - Figure 6 is a view of a seat according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the seating position; - Figures 7 and 8 are views of the bench shown in Figure 5, respectively according to a first phase of transformation and in the sleeping position; - Figure 9 is a partial top view of the bench shown in Figure 5 in the sleeping position. As indicated above, the principle of the invention lies in the fact of providing a convertible sleeping bench according to which the sleeping surface is obtained in particular by the dorsal part of the seat back and by a panel deployed from the back part of the file. Figure 1 illustrates a motor vehicle seat, having a rolling configuration for an occupant seated under normal conditions of use. Such a seat comprises a seat 1 (shown in Figure 1 with its trim) and a backrest 2 (shown in Figure 4 without its trim). The backrest 2 is articulated with respect to the seat 1 so as to be movable between a raised position such as that illustrated in FIG. 1 (in which it is slightly inclined rearward with respect to the vertical). and a folded position in the vicinity of the seat 1 such as that illustrated in FIG.

  The seat 1 is mounted movably on a support 11 itself carried by legs 111 intended to be slidably mounted in rails integrated in the floor of the vehicle. According to the present embodiment, the seat is coupled to the support 11 by means of rods 112 mounted articulated at each end, on the one hand on the seat 2 and on the other hand on the support 11. More specifically, there is provided a set of four rods 112 (two at the front and two at the rear of the seat) forming a deformable parallelogram between two extreme positions: a position in which the seat has a configuration of sitting for an occupant under normal conditions of use (Figures 3 and 4); the connecting rods 112 then extend in a substantially vertical position and ensure a raised position of the seat relative to the support I 1; A position in which the seat 1 is brought closer to the support 11 (therefore lower than in the previous position) such as that illustrated in FIG. 2; the connecting rods 112 then extend in a substantially horizontal position. The passage from one position to the other of the deformable parallelogram (and therefore from the high position to the lower position, or vice versa, of the seat) is caused by the pivoting of the backrest 2 relative to the seat 1. Indeed, as will be explained in more detail later, the tilting of the backrest (from its raised position) towards the seat causes, thanks to the deformable parallelogram, a slight advance combined with a lowering of 30 l 'seated.

  According to a preferred embodiment, locking means act to maintain the seat in the raised position, these locking means being coupled to the backrest so that they move to the seat release position when the folder is tilted towards the seat. In addition, means are provided to delay the release of the seat relative to the tilting of the backrest. In other words, the tilting of the backrest must reach a predetermined minimum angle from the raised position to act on the locking means and make effective release of the seat. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the locking means comprise at least one lever 3 acting on one of the connecting rods 112 of the deformable parallelogram. In practice, two levers 3 are provided, each of the 112 rear connecting rods of the seat being associated with a lever 3. The levers 3 are rotatably mounted on the support 11 between two positions: a locking position of the connecting rods 112, in which the levers extend substantially horizontally so as to constitute a stop for the rear connecting rods 112 and to block the rotation thereof, thereby preventing the deformation of the parallelogram formed by all four rods 112 (Figure 3); a lever release position 112 in which the levers 3 are spaced apart (pivoted downwards) from the rear connecting rods 112, so as to allow their rotation and, consequently, the forward displacement combined with a lowering of 25 lbs. sitting (figure 2). The actuation of the levers 3 is obtained by the tilting of the backrest 2. For this, one end (in this case the rear end) of the levers is connected to a portion of the backrest by a cable 31 associated with a spring 32 (or to any other elastically extensible means).

  Thus, from a raised position, the tilting of the backrest initially causes a stretching of the spring until reaching a limit elongation. Beyond this elongation, the continuation of the tilting causes the actuation of the cable which itself causes a rotation of the levers 3 (in the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 3), bringing the latter into a position of release of the connecting rod 112 corresponding. The characteristics of the spring (length, stiffness, etc.) are dimensioned according to the desired offset between the beginning of the tilting of the backrest and the transition to the release position of the levers 3.

  Preferably, the system is designed so that the release position of the levers 3 is triggered for a tilting of the backrest by a minimum angle of 20 from the raised position. Furthermore, the file comprises two subassemblies: a first subassembly intended to pivot on said predetermined minimum angle from which the mobility of the seat is authorized; a second subassembly 22 designed to pivot from said predetermined minimum angle to a position such as that illustrated in FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, the first subassembly comprises an arm 211 mounted articulated at its lower end on lateral uprights 4 of the bench, and hingedly coupled at its upper end to the subassembly 22, around a articulation 40. More specifically, the lower end of the arm 211 is coupled to the base of the lateral upright 4 via a rod 212 pivotally mounted on the lateral upright about an axis 41. In this way, the end of the lower arm passes, when tilting the backrest to said predetermined minimum angle from the raised position of the record, a position in front of the axis 41 such as that illustrated in Figure 3 at a position below the axis 41, this tilting movement of the backrest accompanied by the advance combined with the lowering of the seat. Meanwhile, the subassembly 22 is pivotally mounted on an upper part of the lateral uprights 4 and articulated with respect to the arm 211 so that, when the arm 211 has reached the position as that illustrated in FIG. 2, the pivoting of the subassembly 22 may be continued to bring it into a substantially horizontal position. Note that in the configuration of the bench shown in Figure 2, it forms a tablet that can be used as such. However, this configuration advantageously constitutes an intermediate step of a conversion of the bench into a coating plane, the subassembly forming a part of the coating plane. According to the principle of the invention, the conversion of the seat in bed is performed so that: - the backrest 2 of the bench is folded against the seat (the bench having a configuration such as that illustrated in Figure 2) , a back portion of the backrest forming part of the sleeping surface; a hinged panel on the dorsal portion may be deployed therefrom to form another portion of the coating surface. This is illustrated in Figure 5 which shows in perspective a seat according to the invention in sleeping configuration. As it appears, the coating surface is obtained by the assembly 25 formed by: the dorsal portion 20 of the backrest, the latter being preferably padded (and can if necessary accommodate a leveling foam 201); a padded panel 5 mounted articulated on the backrest in the upper part thereof around a hinge.

  The quilted panel carries a tubular base 51, pivotably mounted to be brought alternately in the following positions: a position folded against the panel 5, this position corresponding in particular to the seating configuration of the seat; a support position of the panel 5 in which it forms with the panel an angle of about 90 (as shown in Figure 4), the base being supported on the floor of the vehicle.

  Note that the base 51 is articulated on the face of the panel opposite to that forming part of the coating surface. In other words, when the folder is folded against the seat (the panel 5 is still in position against the folder), the base is visible and accessible to the user.

  The base can then be grasped by the user who, by pulling on the base, can simultaneously cause the movements of: pivoting of the panel 5 relative to the folder; - The rotation of the base relative to the panel 5. The panel can thus be rotated at an angle of about 180 relative to the backrest, while pivoting the base at an angle of about 90 relative to the panel, this of such so that the file is brought forward of the file and in a horizontal plane, simultaneously with the establishment of the base resting on the floor of the vehicle. Note that the floor 6 includes guide means 61 in sliding of the seat along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The sleeping surface is further obtained by the establishment of an extension. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, this extension 8 is carried by the bench itself.

  With reference to FIG. 6, a cradle 9 is mounted on the dorsal part of the backrest 2, this cradle presenting at each of its ends a hinge, one 50 for the panel 5 and the other 80 for the extension 8. Note that: - the hinge 50 of the panel 5 is provided near the upper end of the backrest 2 (when the latter is straightened in the seating position as shown in Figure 5), so as to induce a pivoting of the panel towards the front of the bench once the backrest folded against the seat; - The articulation 80 of the extension 8 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the backrest opposite to that having the hinge 50, so as to induce pivoting of the extension towards the rear of the bench. In addition, the extension 8 and / or its hinge 80 are designed to provide a space in which the panel 5 (that is to say between the back of the backrest and the extension) fits. Thus, to transform a bench into a bed according to the present embodiment, the following steps are carried out successively: the backrest 2 is folded against the seat (FIG. 2); the extension 8 is pivoted rearward as indicated by the arrow F1 indicated in FIG. 7; - The panel 5 is rotated forward (with the base as described above), as indicated by the arrow F2. A coating surface is thus obtained, such as that illustrated in FIG. 8, according to which the panel 5, the dorsal portion 20 of the backrest and the extension 8 fit substantially in the same horizontal plane. Advantageously, the panel 5 and the extension 8 are removably mounted on the cradle 9.

  Moreover, with reference to FIG. 9, the cradle 9 has, on the side of the backrest 2, an outgrowth in which one or more storage cavities 91 are formed. Preferably, this outgrowth has a shape which is inscribed locally in the contours. of the side wall90 of the vehicle. According to another conceivable embodiment, the extension of the coating surface is obtained by an extension 7 (FIG. 5) independent of the bench and intended to be positioned in the plane formed by the back portion of the backrest 2 and the panel 5 and be supported in this position by angles (or equivalent) formed in the side walls of the vehicle and by means of attachment (also in the form of angle) provided for this purpose in the lower part of the folder. This extension 7 is also provided to occupy a luggage cover position, the vehicle comprising means for maintaining the extension in the corresponding position. Advantageously, the extension consists of two panels each consisting of two skins (eg PVC) between which is an extruded foam, the two panels being connected by a flexible hinge.

  Thus, the two panels are folded against each other in the position of luggage cover, and deployed in the same plane to form the extension of the sleeping surface. Furthermore, it is noted that various conventional locking / unlocking systems (not shown) are associated with the folder to maintain it in the raised position or allow it to tilt. It is also noted that a bench according to the invention is designed so that it can be brought into a so-called wallet position (known per se), according to which, from a position as illustrated in FIG. the bench thus folded is tilted about an axis provided in the front part of the seat (the latter and the folded back then being placed substantially vertically).

Claims (19)

  Bench for a motor vehicle convertible into a sleeping surface, of the type comprising a seat (1) and a backrest (2) pivotally mounted relative to said seat (1), said backrest (2) being intended to form a part of said sleeping surface, characterized in that said backrest (2) is articulated with respect to said seat (1) around a first articulation so as to occupy a position in which it is folded against said seat (1) and s extends in a substantially horizontal plane, a panel (5) being hingedly mounted on a dorsal portion (20) of said backrest (2) around a second articulation and being intended to be pivoted about 180 around said second hinge so as to to register substantially in the same plane as said folder (2) once said folder folded against said seat (1).   2. Bench of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said second hinge extends in the vicinity of an end of said backrest (2) opposite to that having said first hinge.   3. Bench of a motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises an extension of said sleeping surface pivotally mounted on said back portion of said folder around a third joint extending in the vicinity of an end of said folder opposed to that in the vicinity of which extends said second articulation.   4. Bench of a motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that said extension is carried by said folder so as to provide a space in which said panel is intended to register in the folded position against said folder.   5. Bench of a motor vehicle according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said back portion of said folder has a cradle on which are articulated said panel and said extension.   6. Bench of a motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that said cradle has on the side of said backrest an outgrowth in which is formed at least one storage cavity.   7. Bench of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said panel and / or said extension are removably mounted on said cradle.   8. Bench of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said panel (5) carries a base (51) movable pivotally between a position folded against said panel (5) and a position in which it forms an angle of about 90 with said panel (5).   9. Bench of a motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that said base is hingedly mounted on the face of said panel opposite the side forming part of the sleeping surface in the deployed position from said folder.   10. Bench of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said seat (1) is movable between a position of use and a position of transformation of said seat in which said seat (1) is lowered relative to said position of use.   11. Bench of a motor vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises means for connecting said seat with a floor portion of said vehicle constituted as a deformable parallelogram (112).   12. Bench of a motor vehicle according to one of claims 10 and II, characterized in that said seat (1) is brought into a lowered position by pivoting said backrest (2) towards said seat (1).   13. Bench of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said dorsal portion (20) of said backrest (2) carries a padded element.   14. Bench of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said panel (5) carries a quilted element.   15. Vehicle equipped with a bench convertible into sleeping surface, said bench being of the type comprising a seat (1) and a backrest (2) pivotally mounted relative to said seat (1), said backrest (2) being intended for forming a part of said coating surface, characterized in that said backrest (2) is articulated with respect to said seat (1) around a first articulation so as to occupy a position in which it is folded against said seat (I) and extends in a substantially horizontal plane, a panel (5) being hingedly mounted on a dorsal portion (20) of said backrest (2) about a second joint and being intended to be rotated about 180 around said second articulation so as to register substantially in the same plane as said folder (2) once said folder folded against said seat (1).   16. Vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises at least one extension (7) of said sleeping surface portion formed by said backrest (2) and / or said panel (5).   17. Vehicle according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises means for maintaining said extension or extensions (7) in the luggage cover position.   18. Vehicle according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that said extension (7) comprises two padded portions foldable against each other.   19. Vehicle according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that said seat is movably mounted in translation along the longitudinal axis of said vehicle along guide means fixed on a part of the floor.