GB1565033A

GB1565033A - Vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: GB1565033A
Application number: GB7244/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1977-03-02
Filing date: 1978-02-23
Publication date: 1980-04-16
Also published as: FR2382354B1; FR2382354A1; SE7802314L; IT7848247A0; IT1155855B; SE428783B

Description

(54) VEHICLE SEAT (71) We, GENERAL MOTORS COR PORATION, a Company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, in the United States of America, of Grand Boulevard, in the City of Detroit, State of Michigan, in the United States of America (Assignees of HUBERT SOKOLI) do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a vehicle seat, particularly for use in motor vehicles, which seat consists of a bench seat with a back-rest, said seat having formed therein a child's seat pivotable about an axis parallel with the transverse axis of the vehicle from a stored position into a position of use.

A rear seat in motor vehicles is already known (German Utility Model 76 12 141) whereby a part can be unfolded from the rear cushioning to act as a child's seat. Here however, the child is seated facing the direction of travel. In the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle the deceleration forces experienced by the child must be taken up solely by a safety belt attached to the child's seat.

Safety mvestigations have revealed however that arranging a child's seat within a motor vehicle so that the seat faces in the opposite direction to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle offers greater security for the child because his back and his head are supported against the upholstered back-rest of the child's seat.

It is true that this is taken into consideration in the case of another type of child's seat for automobiles which, according to German specification DOS 24 54 573, is arranged in a recess at the rear of a back-rest of the vehicle seat and can be unfolded outwards into the position of use, and folded inwards into the recess when not in use.

With this design however, the back-rest will need to be strengthened by a special shaping of the structure which will involve expensive production methods. Furthermore, such a back-rest construction requires specially reinforced mountings in order that, in the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle, the back-rest will be able to adequately absorb the deceleration forces experienced.

A vehicle seat according to the invention consists of a bench seat with a back-rest, said seat having formed therein a child's seat which is pivotable from a first position of use defining a stored position in which it forms part of the seat area of the bench seat into a second position of use, said child's seat being formed from parts of the bench seat and the back-rest thereof, which parts are integrated into the vehicle seat as normal seating area when the child's seat is in said stored position, and are pivotable to, and are lockable in, the second position of use in such a way that, in said second position of use, the back rest part forms the seating area of the child's seat, and the bench seat part forms the back rest of the child's seat.

The invention proceeds from the problem of designing a vehicle seat in such a way that a portion of the seat area can be converted rapidly and simply into a child's seat in which the child is seated in the opposite direction to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle.

The invention needs also to ensure that, when the child's seat is not in use, the vehicle seat can fulfil its normal intended purpose.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by arranging that the child's seat is formed from parts of the bench seat and of the back-rest which are integrated into the vehicle seat as a normal seating area when not in use, and are pivotable and lockable in the second position of use in such a way that the back-rest part forms the seating area of the child's seat and the bench seat part forms its back-rest. Advantageously the parts of the child's seat may form a one-piece cut-away section from the bench seat and back-rest of the vehicle seat, and the parts may be appropriately arranged in the middle of the vehicle rear seat, especially when the latter is in the form of a bench seat.

This arrangement makes it possible for a part acting as a child's seat to be swung out from the vehicle seat (particularly the rear bench seat) and from its back-rest in a rapid and simple manner, with the advantage that, with the child's back towards the direction of travel, the child is situated substantially in the middle of the vehicle. At the same time, the remaining parts of the bench seat arranged at either side of the out-swung child's seat, can be used by at least two persons and in this way adequate company for the child whilst travelling may be provided.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, two pairs of guide-arms may be laterally articulated to the bench seat part, with their free ends pivotally mounted on the vehicle floor. Since the bench seat part is appropriately a one-piece connection with the seat back-rest part, both parts can be swung out to provide a child's seat in the central plane of the vehicle with the aid of the pairs of guide-arms, the operation requiring only a few manipulations. Appropriately, with their ends opposite from the floor mountings, the guide-arm pairs may hingedly engage with a metallic seat shell which encloses the bench seat part at the floor-side.

Advantageously, the outwardly tiltable child's seat may also be lockably and releasably held by means of a spring-loaded arresting catch which is articulated to the vehicle floor or to a part fixed to the seat frame and which, in the swung-out position of use of the child's seat, grips round an arresting pin on the seat.

The appended claims define the scope of the invention claimed. The invention and how it may be performed are hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle bench seat according to the present invention having a part convertible into a child's seat; and Figure 2 is a section along line II-II in Figure 1.

Reference numeral 10 designates a bench seat (shown partially only) and 11 denotes its back-rest, which in a passenger car, for example, would be arranged behind the driver's seat as well as the front passenger's seat and would be secured to the vehicle floor 12. The bench seat 10 and back-rest 11 are provided with a cut-away section 14 which is located approximately symmetrical to the plane 13 extending through the mid-sections of the vehicle seat 10 and back-rest 11, in which cut-away section there is placed a one-piece bench-seat and back-rest part 15 which can be swung out to form a child's seat and will in fact be referred to hereinafter as a child's seat. The child's seat 15 consists of a solid foam plastics part which is formed in one piece from seat and back-rest cushioning and is secured in a metallic seat shell 16. The child's seat 15 is formed from a bench seat part 10' and a back-rest part 11' having a length extending approximately two-thirds of the height of the back-rest 11. In its initial position, i.e. when it is not being used as a child's seat, it is completely integrated into the bench seat 10 and back-rest 11 and forms a flush-surfaced component part of same.

Two pairs of guide-arms are articulated at both sides of the seat shell, on the one hand to the vehicle floor at 17, 18 and on the other hand to the seat shell 16 at 19, 20, to form a twin linkage system. Such a twin linkage system makes is possible to swing the child's seat 15 from its initial position into its position of use, which is shown in Figure 2 in dash-dot lines and is designated by 15', in which position the pairs of guide-arms then assume the position 21' (also indicated in dash-dot lines). This movement of the pairs of guide arms is indicated by a movement in the direction of the arrow. In this position of use, the child's seat 15' is positioned facing opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle (arrow 22) and is securely held there by means of an arresting pin 23 (23'), which is arranged in a recess at the front face of the seating area of the child's seat and is automatically engaged from behind by a spring-loaded arresting catch 24 pivotally mounted on the vehicle floor when the child's seat is moved to the position of use. Alternatively, if desired, the spring-loaded arresting catch could be pivotally mounted on a part fixed to the vehicle seat frame. The former back-rest part 11' has now become the seating area 11" and the former bench seat part 10' has become the back-rest 10" of the child's seat 15'.

Unlocking, in order to swing back the child's seat into its initial position, is brought about by manual movement of the arresting lever 24 by its handle 24' in the direction of arrow 25. The swinging movement of the child's seat 15 (15') may be brought about by a loop of tape 26 which extends forwards from the back-rest 10' of the child's seat and serves as a handle. At the same time, in the initial location of the child's seat, i.e. in its position of integration within the vehicle seat 10, 11 this loop 26 can be suspended on a hook 27 arranged on the bench seat 10 in order to secure the child's seat in this initial or normal position. Instead of a hook, of course, it is possible to provide any other releasable connection, for example a pressbutton connection. At either side of the seat shell 16 there is an arresting buffer 28 secured to the vehicle floor. The two guide-arms connected to the back-rest part 11' rest on these buffers 28 in the position of use of the child's seat to support the child's seat 15'.

A safety belt arrangement 29 (shown partially only) designed specially as a seat belt of the braces type, serves to complete the child's seat and is anchored laterally on the seat shell. It will be understood of course that a foldable arm rest could be arranged on the seat back-rest 11, usually in the central area of the back-rest 11' of this child's seat.

Moreover, this invention is not restricted to the rear bench seat as for example in a passenger car; indeed it could also be applied to front seats when these are of bench-seat type.

Finally, in accordance with the features of the invention, an individual seat, e.g. the front passenger's seat may be arranged swivellable about an axis parallel with the transverse axis of the vehicle in the same way as the child's seat, so that by a pivotable movement of the seat through an angle of between say 70" and 90 , depending on the configuration of the upholstery, the normal back-rest becomes the seating area and the seating area becomes the back-rest which is facing opposite to the normal direction of travel. The front seat passenger would then sit contrary to the direction of travel and could then converse with the back-rest passengers without having to twist round or turn his head round as in the normal arrangement for the front passenger seat.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vehicle seat, comprising a bench seat with a back-rest, said seat having formed therein a child's seat which is pivotable from a first position of use defining a stored position in which it forms part of the seat cover of the bench seat second position of use, said child's seat being formed from parts of the bench seat and the back-rest thereof, which parts are integrated into the vehicle seat as a normal seating area when the child's seat is in said stored position, and are pivotable to and are lockable in, the second position of use in such a way that, in said second position of use, the back-rest part forms the seating area of the child's seat, and the bench seat part forms the back-rest of the child's seat.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, in which the parts of the child's seat are located in an aperture formed by removing a section cut-out from both the bench seat and the back-rest of the vehicle seat.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, in which the parts of the child's seat are installed in the middle of the rear seat.

4. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the parts of the child's seat are formed in one piece from a foamed plastics material.

5. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the back-rest part forming, in said position of use, the seating area of the child's seat has a length extending approximately to two thirds of the height of the back-rest.

6. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the child's seat is supported by two pairs of guide arms each guide arm being pivotally connected at one end to the bench seat part of the child's seat and pivotally mountable at the other end to a vehicle floor.

7. A vehicle seat according to claim 6, in which each guide arm is pivotally connected at said one end to a metallic seat shell which encloses the bench seat part of the child's seat.

8. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the child's seat is lockably and releasably held in said second potision of use by means of a spring-loaded arresting catch which is pivotally mounted either on the vehicle floor or to a part fixed to a frame for the vehicle seat, and which is engageable with an arresting pin on the child's seat in said second position of use.

9. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the bench seat part of the child's seat is provided with a loop handle.

10. A vehicle seat according to claim 9, in which the handle is releasably engageable with the seat to retain the child's seat.

11. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which stop buffers are securable to the vehicle floor at both sides of the bench seat part, each buffer supporting one of the arms of each pair of guide-arms when the child's seat is in the second position of use.

12. A vehicle seat according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the child's seat is provided with a safety belt arrangement.

13. A vehicle seat having installed therein a child's seat substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. these buffers 28 in the position of use of the child's seat to support the child's seat 15'. A safety belt arrangement 29 (shown partially only) designed specially as a seat belt of the braces type, serves to complete the child's seat and is anchored laterally on the seat shell. It will be understood of course that a foldable arm rest could be arranged on the seat back-rest 11, usually in the central area of the back-rest 11' of this child's seat. Moreover, this invention is not restricted to the rear bench seat as for example in a passenger car; indeed it could also be applied to front seats when these are of bench-seat type. Finally, in accordance with the features of the invention, an individual seat, e.g. the front passenger's seat may be arranged swivellable about an axis parallel with the transverse axis of the vehicle in the same way as the child's seat, so that by a pivotable movement of the seat through an angle of between say 70" and 90 , depending on the configuration of the upholstery, the normal back-rest becomes the seating area and the seating area becomes the back-rest which is facing opposite to the normal direction of travel. The front seat passenger would then sit contrary to the direction of travel and could then converse with the back-rest passengers without having to twist round or turn his head round as in the normal arrangement for the front passenger seat. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A vehicle seat, comprising a bench seat with a back-rest, said seat having formed therein a child's seat which is pivotable from a first position of use defining a stored position in which it forms part of the seat cover of the bench seat second position of use, said child's seat being formed from parts of the bench seat and the back-rest thereof, which parts are integrated into the vehicle seat as a normal seating area when the child's seat is in said stored position, and are pivotable to and are lockable in, the second position of use in such a way that, in said second position of use, the back-rest part forms the seating area of the child's seat, and the bench seat part forms the back-rest of the child's seat.