GB2139489A

GB2139489A - Seats

Info

Publication number: GB2139489A
Application number: GB08411542A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas James Cunningham; Harry Worthington Gilkes; Keith John Bishop; Paul William Turner
Original assignee: Britax PMG Ltd
Current assignee: Britax PMG Ltd
Priority date: 1983-05-13
Filing date: 1984-05-04
Publication date: 1984-11-14
Also published as: GB2139489B; GB8411542D0

Abstract

The seat portion 10 of a vehicle seat comprises a rigid frame 24 and a pair of torsion bars 34 each secured at each end to a respective one of a pair of opposite side members of the rigid frame 24, and each, apart from its ends, being angularly movable about its respective side member. A fabric cover encloses both the members of the rigid frame 24 and the torsion bars 34 which put the fabric cover under tension. In an alternative seat portion (Fig. 4), the fabric cover with enclosed frame (62) is placed on torsion bars (50). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seats This invention relates to seats and seat components. The invention has particular, but not exclusive application to seats for vehicles.

According to the invention, a seat component comprises a rigid frame, a pair of elongate members each mounted on a respective one of a pair of opposite side members of the rigid frame for angular movement about its respective side member, a fabric cover extending from said side members of the rigid frame so as to cover the elongate members, and resilient means for urging the elongate members apart from each other so as to put the fabric cover under tension.

The seat component may be supported by support means rigidly connected to the rigid frame.

Preferably the resilient means takes the form of torsion bars which also serve to support the elongate members on their respective frame members. The torsion bars may be formed integrally with their respective elongate members.

The fabric cover may have its edges clipped or otherwise secured to the side members of the frame. However, in a preferred form of the invention, the fabric covers takes the form of a sleeve enclosing both the frame and the elongate members but not actually fastened to either. In a further development, the sleeve may take the form of a bag closed at one end with the other end having an arrangement of lacing or other closure means whereby it may be closed after the frame and elongate members have been inserted.

A seat may have either or both of its seat portion and back rest formed from seat components in accordance with the invention.

When the invention is applied to a vehicle seat, the support means for the frame of the seat portion comprises conventional seat slides and may also incorporate a height adjustment mechanism. The support means for the frame of the back portion may include a recline mechanism mounted on the frame of the seat portion.

Vehicle seats in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a first form of vehicle seat; Figure 2 is a side view of the seat shown in Figure 1 with the fabric covers removed; Figure 3 is a side view, similar to Figure 2, of an alternative vehicle seat; and Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a modification to the seat shown in Figure 3.

The seat shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a seat portion 10 and a back portion 12. The seat portion 10 is supported, by means of height adjustment mechanisms 14 and 16, on seat slides 18 which are secured to the vehicle floor 20. The height adjustment mechanisms may be as described in our co-pending Patent Application No. 8224824. The back rest is mounted on the seat portion 10 by means of a seat-back recline mechanism, of conventional design, for example as described in Patent Specification No.

GB-A-1027913, and indicated generally at 22.

Referring now specifically to Figure 2, the frame of the seat portion comprises a U-shaped tubular frame member 24 having its side limbs extending along the sides of the seat and its coupling portion 26 extending across the front thereof. The frame member 24 is supported, near its front on two support legs 28 (one conected to each of the side limbs of the U-shape) which are connected to the height adjustment mechanism 1 4. A second pair of supports legs 30 support the rear end of the frame member 24 on the height adjustment mechanism 1 6. A transverse tubular member 32 interconnects the side limbs of the frame member 24 just in front of the rear support legs 30.

Each of the side limbs of the U-shaped frame member 24 carries a respective torsion bar 34, the ends of which are anchored to the frame member 24 so that, when relaxed, the spacing between the lower part of the two torsion bars is greater than the spacing between the side limbs of the frame member 24.

The seat back portion 1 2 is similarly constructed from a U-shaped tubular frame member 40, having the ends of its side limbs coupled by the seat back recline mechanism 22 to the rear ends of the side limbs of the frame member 24 of the seat portion 10, and two torsion bars 42 similar to the torsion bars 34.

Turning back to Figure 1, the frame 24 and the torsion bars 34 of the seat portion 10 are covered by a fabric bag 44 which is closed along its front and side edges and has an opening 46 along its rear edge which is closed by lacing 48. Similarly, the frame 40 of the seat back 12, and its torsion bars 42, are covered by a fabric bag 50 which is closed along its top and side edges and has an opening 52 along its bottom edge which is closed by lacing 54.

To facilitate assembly, each of the front support legs 28 is formed in two parts with the joint (not shown) between the two parts approximately level with the torsion bars 34.

Respective slots (not shown) are provided in the cover 44 in alignment with each of the support legs 32. A cover 44 is fitted with the bottom parts of the support legs remo/ed. The bottom parts of the legs 32 are then coupled to the top parts, the cover being flexed sufficiently to enable the two parts of each support leg 32 to be bolted or otherwise joined together. It is preferable for this joint to be formed in a releasable manner to facilitate replacement of the cover 44 in the event that it is damaged.

In use, the torsion bars 34 and 42 maintain tension in the fabric covers 44 and 50. The required resilience of the seat is provided primarily by these torsion bars and secondly by such resilience as there may be in the fabric. Extensive cushioning is not required and consequently a seat in accordance with the invention is relatively cool even when used in tropical or sub-tropical conditions. If required, ventilation of the air space within the seat cover may be augmented by forming part or all of the seat covers 44 and 50 of an open-weave or other perforate material.

Figure 3 illustrates a modification of the seat shown in Figures 1 and 2. Many of the components are identical and are denoted with the same reference numerals. Such components will not be described in detail. However, instead of the torsion bars 34, the seat shown in Figure 3 has torsion bars 50 projecting upwardly from the side limbs of the U-shaped frame member 24 while the back portion 12 has torsion bars 52 projecting forwardly from the limbs of the U-shaped frame member 40. As before, the torsion bars are set on their respective frame members so that, in the relaxed state, they are more widely spaced apart than the corresponding limbs of the respective Ushapes. Fabric covers (not shown) similar to the covers 44 and 50 are fitted over the seat portion 10 and the back portion 12 respectively.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification of the seat portion 10 of the seat shown in Figure 3. Instead of engaging directly with the fabric cover, the torsion bars 50 engage in a groove 60 formed in a sheet metal frame 62. The frame 62 is formed in two parts with sliding telescopic joints in the middle of the front and back respectively which can slide relative to one another under the influence of the force imparted by the torsion bars 50. A fabric cover 64 is wrapped around the frame 62 so that the latter together with the frame member 24 is outside the space enclosed by the fabric cover. Consequently, there is no need to provide slots to accommodate the support legs 28.

Claims

1. A seat component comprising a rigid frame, a pair of elongate members each mounted on a respective one of a pair of opposite side members of the rigid frame for angular movement about its respective side member, a fabric cover extending from said side members of the rigid frame so as to cover the elongate members, and resilient means for urging the elongate members apart from each other so as to put the fabric cover under tension.

2. A seat component according to claim 1, wherein the resilient means comprise torsion bars which support the elongate members on their respective frame members.

3. A seat component according to claim 2, wherein the torsion bars are formed integrally with their respective elongate members.

4. A seat component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tensioning members comprise opposite side members of a second rigid frame.

5. A seat component according to claim 4, further comprising means arranged to hold the part of the fabric cover bounded by the second frame in abutment with the inside of the first frame so as to provide a recessed area bounded by the second frame.

6. A seat component according to claim 5, wherein the first frame includes a formation arranged to hold the part of the fabric cover closest to the body of an occupant of the seat spaced apart from the part of the fabric cover forming said recessed area.

7. A seat component according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the edges of the fabric cover are secured to the tensioning members.

8. A seat component according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fabric cover comprises a sleeve enclosing both the frame and the tensioning members.

9. A seat component according to claim 8, wherein said sleeve comprises a bag closed at one end with the other end having closure means whereby it may be closed after the frame and the tensioning members have been inserted.

10. A seat having both of its seat portion and back rest formed from seat components according to any preceding claim.

11. A seat according to claim 10, wherein the support means for the frame of the back portion comprises a recline mechanism mounted on the frame of the seat portion.

12. A seat component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.