GB2251183A

GB2251183A - A seat for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2251183A
Application number: GB9127585A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Smith; Klaus Dieter Bertram
Original assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH and Co; MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH and Co; MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1990-12-27
Filing date: 1991-12-24
Publication date: 1992-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-24
Also published as: GB9127585D0; GB2251183B; GB9028083D0

Abstract

A seat (11) for a vehicle includes securing means (15) releasably to secure at least part (12) of the seat to a body structure (13) of the vehicle and occupation prevention means in the form of a lever (28) displaceable by part (16) of the body structure when the seat is secured thereto to prevent occupation of the seat whenever the seat is not secured to the body structure, by preventing unfolding of a backrest (18) to an in-use position. <IMAGE>

Description

A SEAT FOR A VEHICLE This invention relates to seats for vehicles, and in particular to vehicle seats in which at least part of the seat is releasably secured to a body structure of the vehicle.

For example it may be required to remove a seat altogether from a small bus or people carrier in order to carry goods or luggage. In estate cars and hatchback vehicles it may be desired to fold a rear seat from a position of use to a stowed position in which the seat is pivoted forward about an axis adjacent a front edge of the seat cushion.

Mechanism to secure such seats and parts thereof to the vehicle body structure do not always form a secure connection unless carefully checked and adjusted. It is possible therefore for the seat to be occupied by a passenger whilst the seat is not securely attached to the body structure of the vehicle. This can be uncomfortable, if the seat is not located in its correct position, and can be dangerous, particularly if a structure of the seat incorporates a seat belt anchorage which depends for its security upon being securely connected to the body structure through the structure of the seat.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat for a vehicle, the seat including a seat base, a support, retention means for securing the seat base to the support in a secured position, the retention means including releasable securing means which, in a released state, allows the seat base to be moved out of the secured position away from the support and which, in a locked state, prevents such movement, and occupation prevention means for preventing occupation of the seat except when the seat base is secured to the support and the releasable securing means is in the locked state According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising a seat base, a support, retention means for securing the seat base to the support in a secured position, the retention means including releasable securing means which, in a released state, allows the seat base to be moved out of the secured position away from the support and which, in a locked state, prevents such movement, and occupation prevention means for preventing occupation of the seat except when the seat base is secured to the support and the releasable securing means is in the locked state, the occupation prevention means being movable between a first position in which it prevents the occupation of the seat and a second position in which occupation of the seat is permitted, the releasable securing means including a locking member for locking or releasing the seat base and which is co-operable with a catch member fast with the support, baulking means for preventing substantial movement of the occupation prevention means away from its first position except when the seat base is in its secured position, the baulking means including a baulk member co-operable with the catch member, and a blocking member operatively connected to the occupation prevention means and which is co-operable with both the locking member and the baulk member so that except where the seat base is in its secured position, the blocking member prevents movement of the locking member into a catch release position and the blocking member co-operates with the baulk member to prevent movement of the occupation prevention means from its first to its second position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising a seat base, a support, retention means for securing the seat base to the support in a secured position, the retention means including releasable securing means which, in a released state, allows the seat base to be moved out of the secured position away from the support and which, in a locked state, prevents such movement, and occupation prevention means for preventing occupation of the seat except when the seat base is secured to the support and the releasable securing means is in the locked state, the occupation prevention means being movable between a first position in which it prevents the occupation of the seat and a second position in which occupation of the seat is permitted, the releasable securing means including a locking member for locking or releasing the seat base and which is co-operable with a catch member fast with the support, baulking means for preventing movement of the occupation prevention means away from its first position except when the seat base is in its secured position, the baulking means including a baulk member co-operable with the catch member, and a blocking member operatively connected to the occupation preventing means and which is co-operable with both the locking member and the baulk member so that except where the seat base is in its secured position, the blocking member prevents movement of the locking member into a catch release position and prevents movement of the baulk member by the catch member into a non-baulking position.

With an arrangement as in the first, second or third aspect of the invention, return movement of the seat base from a non-secured position into its secured position is prevented unless the occupation prevention means is positioned to prevent occupation of the seat. Therefore the seat cannot be occupied until the seat base is properly secured in position on the vehicle body structure. Moreover, the use of a blocking member in the second and third aspects which co-operates with both the locking and baulk members provides a simple and most reliable arrangement for preventing movement of the locking member into its release position and movement of the baulking member from a non-baulking position to prevent movement of the occupation prevention means from its first position to its second position.

Preferably the locking member includes an arm which is engageable with the blocking member to prevent movement of the locking member into its release position except where the seat base is in its secured position. The locking member may. have a latch formation thereon engageable with the catch member in the locking position. The latch formation may be provided or formed on a further arm of the latching member. Preferably, the locking member is pivotally mounted on the seat base. The locking member may be spring loaded or otherwise biased towards its locking position. A tension spring can be provided for that purpose which may extend between part of said locking member and a part of said seat base.

The baulk member also may have an arm engageable with the blocking member to prevent movement of the occupation prevention means from its first to its second position except where the seat base is in its secured position. Preferably the arm of the baulk member and the arm of the locking member are engageable with different surface sections of said blocking member when the seat base is in a nonsecured position. The baulk member may have a further arm co-operable with said catch member.

Preferably, the baulk member is pivotally mounted on the seat base. The baulk member may be spring loaded or otherwise biased towards it baulk position. A tension spring can be provided for that purpose which may extend between part of said locking member and a part of said seat base.

The blocking member may conveniently take the form of a plate which is, for example, pivotally mounted on the seat base. The plate may be quadrant plate or substantially quadrant shaped. Preferably respective portions of the locking member and baulk member are engageable with edge sections of the plate when the seat base is in its non-secured position. One said edge-section is preferably curved and the other substantially flat. In such a case the locking member may be engageable with the curved surface and the baulk member with the flat surface. The plate may be fast with the said occupation prevention means.

In one embodiment a handle is provided for moving the locking member into its release position so that the seat can be moved when desired out of the secured position.

In a different embodiment the locking member is operatively connected to the occupation prevention means such that the movement of the occupation prevention means into the first position moves the locking member into its release position. This is a particularly useful arrangement as the locking member is automatically operated by movement of the occupation prevention means. In such a case, the locking member may be connected to the occupation prevention means through a lost motion linkage. The lost motion linkage may be a link member having one pivotal connection to the blocking member and another pivotal connection to the locking member. One of the pivotal connections may be a pin and slot connection.

In either embodiment, the occupation prevention means may comprise an obstruction such as a seat backrest, an armrest or other movable member.

A seat 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 elevation of a seat according to the invention, the seat being shown with a seat base resting on a support in a secured position and with a backrest in a normal, in-use, position; Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the seat of Figure 1 with the backrest in a folded position and with releasable securing means in a released state; Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to Figure 2 showing the releasable securing means preventing movement of the backrest from the folded position; Figure 4 is a side elevation showing components of the releasable securing means in the position corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with the components in the position corresponding to Figure 2; figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with the components in the position corresponding to Figure 3; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a modification; Figure 8 is a schematic view similar to Figure 5 showing the modification of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a schematic view similar to Figure 6 showing the modification of Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a seat 11 for a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, comprises a seat base 12 mounted on a support 13. As shown, the support 13 is an integral part of the body of the motor vehicle, but it may comprise a separate structure which is adjustable for position, eg in the fore-and-aft direction for adjustment of leg room or about a vertical axis to facilitate exit from the vehicle or to face in the opposite direction.

Retention means for securing the seat to the support is provided by a pair of hinges 14 and by releasable securing means 15. The releasable securing means 15 comprises an inverted U-shaped staple 16 which acts as a catch member and is secured to the support 13 and a hinge mechanism 17 which supports a backrest 18 on the seat base 12.

The hinge mechanism 17 includes a base plate 19 fast with the seat base 12 and a backrest hinge 21 pivoted on the base plate by a backrest pivot pin 22. The base plate 19 has a slot 23 to receive the staple 16 and a threaded bush 24 for mounting a seat belt buckle 25.

A further pivot pin 26 provides a common pivot axis A for a locking member 27, more conveniently referred to as a locking lever, and a baulk member 28, more conveniently referred to as a baulk lever.

The locking lever 27 has one arm 29 on which a hookshaped latch formation 31 is provided to engage the staple 16 and an inclined edge 32 whose purpose will be described later. Another arm 29A, similar to arm 29, lies on the other side of the base plate 19 and is carried on pivot pin 26 such that the arms 29 and 29A and the pivot pin are constrained to rotate as one unit. Arm 29A is integral with a further arm 33 which carries a rivetted stud 34 which projects away from the base plate 19. A hole 35 in the base plate 19 provides clearance for the rivetted head of the stud 34.

The locking lever 27 also includes yet another arm 36 which, apart from a cranked portion 37 for carrying a handle 38, has a profile similar to an arm 39 of the baulk lever 28. A pair of rivetted stop pins 41 and 42 are fastened to the base plate 19 and carry a bridge piece 43. A tension spring 44 is linked to the rivetted stud 34 to stop pin .42 and spring loads the locking lever 27 in the clockwise direction (as seen in the drawings) so that (as shown in Figure 4) the cranked portion 37 abuts stop pin 42.

Another arm 45 of the baulk lever 28 has an inclined edge 46 for cooperation with the staple 16 and a notch 47 to engage another tension spring 48 which is hooked into a hole 49 in the bridge piece 43 and spring loads the baulk lever anticlockwise (as seen in the drawings).

The backrest hinge 21 is integral with a quadrant plate 51 and with a bent-over bracket 52 to which the backrest 18 is secured. The bracket 52 has a lower edge 53 which, as seen in Figure 4, abuts the base plate 19 when the backrest is in its normal in-use position as shown in Figure 1.

The quadrant plate 51 has an arcuate edge surface 54 at a constant radius from the axis of the backrest pivot pin 22 and a tangential abutment edge surface 55. The quadrant plate 51, by means of the arcuate surface 54, acts as a blocking member which, when the backrest is in its normal position as described above, prevents movement of the locking lever 27 anticlockwise against the bias of tension spring 44.

This is the secured position of the seat base 12, the releasable securing means 15 being in a locked state to prevent movement of the seat base away from its support 13.

The backrest 18 is normally secured in the upright position by a conventional backrest latch (not shown) which connects a frame member of a backrest at a substantial radius from the backrest pivot pin 22 to an adjacent body part of the vehicle.

When the backrest latch is released and the backrest 18 is moved forward so as to partially overlie the seat base 12, as seen in Figure 2, a vehicle user can move the handle 38 upwards to move the locking lever 27 anticlockwise so that the latch formation is moved out of the path of the staple 16, thereby putting the releasable securing means into a released state. The seat base 12 can then be moved out of the secured position by lifting it at the rear end away from the support 13, the front end pivoting on the hinges 14.

Releasing the locking lever 27 causes it to spring back to the position shown in Figure 3 and Figure 6 where movement of the backrest 18 back towards the upright in-use position brings the quadrant plate 51 into a position where the arcuate surface 54 prevents further anticlockwise movement of the locking lever against tension spring 44. The inclined edge 32 on arm 29 of the locking lever 27 now prevents return movement of the seat base into the secured position by blocking entry of the staple 16 into the slot 23.

When the backrest 18 is in the position shown in Figure 3 and the hinge mechanism 17 is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 6, entry of the staple 16 into the slot 23 is also prevented by inclined edge 46 of the baulk lever 28. Once the backrest 18 has moved the arcuate surface 54 on the quadrant plate 51 clear of the end of arm 39, the baulk lever 28 moves anticlockwise under the bias of tension spring 48 into a baulk position in which the arm 39 contacts stop pin 41 and the abutment surface 55 on the quadrant plate 51 prevents clockwise return movement of the baulk lever.

To reposition the seat base 12 into the secured position, the backrest 18 is moved fully forward, as shown in Figure 2, bringing the quadrant plate 51 clear of the locking lever 27 and the baulk lever 28.

When the seat base 12 is brought down, the staple 16 enters the slot 23, engages inclined edge 46 and pushes the baulk lever 28 clockwise against the load of tension spring 48. At the same time the staple 16 pushes on the locking lever 27 at the inclined edge 32 and moves the locking lever anticlockwise against the load of spring 44 until it springs back to bring the latch formation 31 into engagement with the staple.

If the vehicle user attempts to return the backrest 18 into the upright position before the staple is engaged by the latch formation 31 and the seat base 12 is locked in its secured position, the abutment surface 55 on the quadrant plate 51 will engage arm 39 of the baulk lever 28 to prevent any such movement beyond the minimal amount illustrated by Figures 3 and 6.

It can thus be seen that the seat base 12 can be unlocked from its secured position and returned to it only when the seat backrest is in the folded position where it overlies the seat base. In this position it acts as an obstruction to prevent occupation of the seat and provides a visual and tactile warning to the potential occupant. This is particularly important where the seat base acts as a seat belt anchorage since the releasable securing means 15 then acts as part of the seat belt restrain mechanism.

To provide the required strength, the releasable securing means 15 preferably comprises two staples 16 and two hinge mechanisms 17, one on each side of the seat. The locking levers 27 are linked by a cross shaft. However, it may be possible to dispense with the baulk lever 28 on one side since its main purpose is to prevent return movement of the backrest into the upright position unless and until the staple 16 is fully engaged in slot 33. This is a particularly desirable feature if the seat base 12 encounters an obstruction such as a item of luggage which prevents locking.

In the modification shown in Figures 7 to 9, the same reference numerals as used in Figures 1 to 6 are used to denote the same or similar parts but with the addition of 100.

In the place of the handle 38 and the cranked portion 37 of arm 36 of the locking lever 127, there is a link member 161 which provides an operative connection between the backrest 118 and the locking lever 127. At one end of the link member 161 there is one pivotal connection to the quadrant plate 151 comprising a pivot pin 162 carried on the quadrant plate and a clearance hole in the link member.

At the other end of the link member 161 there is another pivotal connection to the locking lever 127 comprising a pivot pin 163 on the locking lever and a slot 164 in the link member.

In use, the operation of the backrest 118 from the upright position, when the parts are shown as Figure 7, results initially in idle movement of the link member 161 relative to pivot pin 163, this movement being accommodated by the slot 162. As the backrest 118 moves towards the folded position, the pivot pin 163 reaches the end of the slot and the locking lever 127 is moved into the position shown in Figure 8.

Thus the link member 161 comprises part of a lostmotion linkage connecting the quadrant plate 151 to the locking lever 127 such that movement of the backrest 118 into folded position moves the locking lever into the release position.

Other parts of the hinge mechanism 117 are substantially the same in construction and operations as those described in relation to the hinge mechanism 17 shown in Figures 1 to 6. The backrest hinge 121 carries the backrest 118 on bushes 165 and 166, the lower bush 166 acting as a stop to abut the base plate 119 when the backrest is in the upright position corresponding to Figure 7.

The tension spring 148 which biases the baulk lever 128 towards the staple 116 is connected to the link member 161. This helps to prevent the link lever rattling when the parts are in the Figure 7 position.

Whilst the invention has been particularly described in relation to the seatback acting as occupation prevention means, other means are envisaged for preventing occupation of the seat except when the seat base is secured to the releasable securing means is in the locked state. For example, an armrest may be arranged to pivot about a substantially vertical axis and swing out over the seat base to prevent occupation. Alternatively a U-shaped or L-shaped arm may be arranged to pivot about substantially the same axis as provided by pivot pin 22. It can thus be moved from a normal position in which it lies upright with the backrest but is received into the backrest where appropriate for occupant comfort to an obstruction position where it overlies the seat base and prevents occupation. Such an arrangement is appropriate if the backrest is fixed or only adjustable over a limited range.

Instead of using a backrest latch which connects a frame member of the backrest to the vehicle body to hold the backrest in the upright position, a backrest latch may be incorporated in the hinge mechanism 17 or 117. The quadrant plate 51 or 151 may be separate from the hinge mechanism which may incorporate an adjustment for backrest rake.

Other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, particularly pivotal components may be replaced with components guided by reciprocal linear movement but which have the same general function.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising a seat base, a support, retention means for securing the seat base to the support in a secured position, the retention means including releasable securing means which, in a released state, allows the seat base to be moved out of the secured position away from the support and which, in a locked state, prevents such movement, and occupation prevention means for preventing occupation of the seat except when the seat base is secured to the support and the releasable securing means is in the locked state, the occupation prevention means being movable between a first position in which it prevents the occupation of the seat and a second position in which occupation of the seat is permitted, the releasable securing means including a locking member for locking or releasing the seat base and which is co-operable with a catch member fast with the support, baulking means for preventing substantial movement of the occupation prevention means away from its first position except when the seat base is in its secured position, the baulking means including a baulk member co-operable with the catch member, and a blocking member operatively connected to the occupation prevention means and which is co-operable with both the locking member and the baulk member so that except where the seat base is in its secured position, the blocking member prevents movement of the locking member into a catch release position and the blocking member cooperates with the baulk member to prevent movement of the occupation prevention means from its first to its second position.

2. A seat according to Claim 1 in which the locking member includes an arm which is engageable with the blocking member to prevent movement of the locking member into its release position except where the seat base is in its secured position.

3. A seat according to Claim 2 in which the locking member has a latch formation thereon engageable with the catch member in the locking position.

4. A seat according to Claim 3 in which the latch formation is on a further arm of the locking member.

5. A seat according to any preceding Claim in which the locking member is pivotally mounted on the seat base.

6. A seat according to any preceding Claim in which the locking member is spring loaded towards its locking position.

7. A seat according to Claim 6 in which a spring for providing the spring load extends between part of said locking member and a part of said seat base.

8. A seat according to any preceding Claim in which the baulk member has an arm which is engageable with the blocking member to prevent movement of the occupation prevention means from its first to its second position except where the seat base is in its secured position.

9. A seat according to Claim 8 when appendant to Claim 2 in which the arm of the baulk member and the arm of the locking member are engageable with different surface sections of said blocking member when the seat base is in a non-secured position.

10. A seat according to Claim 8 or 9 in which the baulk member has a further arm co-operable with said catch member.

11. A seat according to any preceding Claim in which the baulk member is pivotally mounted on the seat base.

12. A seat according to any preceding Claim in which the baulk member is spring located towards its baulk position.

13. A seat according to Claim 12 in which a spring for providing the spring load extends between part of said locking member and a part of said seat base.

14. A seat according to any preceding Claim in which the blocking member comprises a plate pivotal on the seat base.

15. A seat according to Claim 14 in which the plate is a quadrant plate.

16. A seat according to Claim 14 or 15 in which respective portions of the locking member and baulk member are engageable with edge sections of the plate when the seat base is in its non-secured position.

17. A seat according to Claim 14, 15 or 16 in which the plate is fast with the occupation prevention means.

18. A seat according to any preceding Claim in which a handle is provided for moving the locking member into its release position so that the seat can be moved when desired out of the secured position.

19. A seat according to any of Claims 1 to 17 in which the locking member is operatively connected to the occupation prevention means such that the movement of the occupation prevention means into the first position moves the locking member into its release position.

20. A seat according to Claim 19 in which the locking member is connected to the occupation prevention means through a lost-motion linkage.

21. A seat according to Claim 20 in which the lost-motion linkage comprises a link member having one pivotal connection to the blocking member and another pivotal connection to the locking member, one of the pivotal connections comprising a pin and slot connection.

22. A seat according to any preceding Claim in which the occupation prevention means is an obstruction pivotally supported by the seat base.

23. A seat according to Claim 22 in which the obstruction comprises a seat backrest.

24. A seat according to Claim 22 in which the obstruction comprises an armrest.

25. A seat constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to Figs.1 to 6 or Figs.7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings