GB2375707A - Seat with squab moveable so that horizontal and vertical distances between squab and backrest can be reduced, in one direction, in a single action - Google Patents

Seat with squab moveable so that horizontal and vertical distances between squab and backrest can be reduced, in one direction, in a single action Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2375707A
GB2375707A GB0112520A GB0112520A GB2375707A GB 2375707 A GB2375707 A GB 2375707A GB 0112520 A GB0112520 A GB 0112520A GB 0112520 A GB0112520 A GB 0112520A GB 2375707 A GB2375707 A GB 2375707A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
seat
backrest
seat cushion
motor vehicle
edge
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB0112520A
Other versions
GB0112520D0 (en
GB2375707B (en
GB2375707A8 (en
Inventor
John Leslie Ranger
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.)
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Original Assignee
Ford Global Technologies LLC
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 Ford Global Technologies LLC filed Critical Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority to GB0112520A priority Critical patent/GB2375707B/en
Publication of GB0112520D0 publication Critical patent/GB0112520D0/en
Publication of GB2375707A publication Critical patent/GB2375707A/en
Publication of GB2375707A8 publication Critical patent/GB2375707A8/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2375707B publication Critical patent/GB2375707B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related 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
    • B60N2/58—Seat coverings
    • 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
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
    • B60N2/16—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable height-adjustable
    • B60N2/1605—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable height-adjustable characterised by the cinematic
    • B60N2/161—Rods
    • B60N2/1615—Parallelogram-like structure
    • 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
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/22—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable

Abstract

A seat, such as a vehicle seat, comprises a backrest 16 and a squab 17A, 17B moveable in a single action along a predetermined path 23A, 25A to concurrently reduce both the distance between the front edge of the squab 17A, 17B and the front of the backrest 16, and the vertical distance between the two seat parts. The mechanism may be based generally on that of a parallel linkage mechanism although the pair of bars 23, 25 may be offset or non-parallel A piece of fabric may cover the gap between the backrest 16 and squab 17A, 17B. The seat may feature in a motor vehicle, to the interior of which it may be mounted.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
An adiustable Seat for a Motor Vehicle and a Motor Vehicle including same This invention relates to seating and in particular to an adjustable seat suitable for use in a motor vehicle to accommodate passengers of differing height.
It is well known to provide additional seating for a child in a motor vehicle this can be achieved by the use of a separate child seat or by incorporating a child seat as part of the motor vehicle.
It is a problem with such prior seats that the correct relationship between an anthropometric reference point of a seated occupant and an upper mounting for a seat or safety belt is not maintained for differing occupant heights. This relationship is important if the seat belt is to operate efficiently and safely in the event of an accident.
Although this is primarily a problem for children using such a seat it is also a problem for very short adults.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a seat for a motor vehicle the seat comprising a vertical backrest having a front surface, a rear surface, a lower edge and an upper edge and a seat cushion having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front edge and a rear edge, the seat cushion being moveable relative to the backrest so as vary the distance between the front edge of the seat cushion and the front surface of the backrest and the distance between the upper surface of the seat cushion and the lower edge of the back rest wherein movement of the seat cushion relative to the backrest is arranged to follow a pre-determined path such that as the distance between the upper surface of the seat cushion and the lower edge of the backrest is reduced the distance from the front edge of the seat cushion to the front surface of the backrest is also reduced.
Preferably, a piece of fabric may be connected between the backrest and the seat cushion to conceal the gap therebetween.
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
The fabric may be attached to the backrest at or near to the juncture of the front surface of the backrest with the lower edge of the backrest.
The fabric may be attached to the seat cushion at or near to the juncture of the upper surface of the seat cushion with the rear edge of the seat cushion.
Advantageously, the fabric may be maintained in tension.
The juncture between the front surface of the backrest and the lower edge of the backrest may be curved so as to maintain the tension in the fabric when the seat cushion is moved relative to the backrest.
The seat cushion may be connected to at least one support structure, the support structure having a first member connected to the lower surface of the seat cushion and a second member for connection to part of a body structure of a motor vehicle the first and second members being connected together by two pivotable arms, the arms being positioned and dimensioned so as to cause the seat cushion to move along said predetermined path.
There may be two support structures arranged close to opposite side edges of the seat cushion.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having a body structure defining a passenger compartment and at least one seat according to the first aspect of the invention.
There may be two seats mounted in the passenger compartment for use by rearseated occupants.
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
The or each seat may have an upper seat belt mounting attached to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle at a pre-determined position above the upper edge of the backrest.
Preferably, the pre-determined path followed by the seat cushion is such that the locus of anthropometric seat reference points for occupants of differing height using the seat follows that required to maintain the correct spatial relationship with between the anthropometric seat reference point and the seat belt mounting.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :- Fig. 1 Is a schematic representation of an adjustable seat according to a first aspect of the invention showing a seat cushion in two positions; Fig. 2 Is a schematic representation of an adjustable seat according to the first aspect of the invention showing the seat cushion in a lowered position; Fig. 3 Is a schematic representation of an adjustable seat according to the first aspect of the invention showing the seat cushion in a raised position; and Fig. 4 Is a schematic representation of an adjustable seat according to the first aspect of the invention showing the seat cushion in two positions and the locus of seat reference points for occupants of differing height as the seat is adjusted between the two seat positions.
With reference to Figs. 1 to 4 there is shown a seat for a motor vehicle. The-motor vehicle has a body structure (not shown) defining a passenger compartment (not shown) in which the seat or more normally a pair of seats is mounted.
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
The seat has a backrest 16, a seat cushion 17A, 17B and a mechanism 21,22, 23,24, 25,26 to adjust the position of the seat cushion 17 A, 178 relative to the backrest 16.
The seat cushion 17A, 17B is moveable relative to the backrest 16 so as vary the distance between the front edge of the seat cushion 17A, 17B and the front surface of the backrest 16 and the distance between the upper surface of the seat cushion 17A, 17B and the lower edge of the back rest 16.
The seat back 16 has a front surface facing towards the front of the motor vehicle in which the seat is mounted, a rear surface facing in the opposite direction, a lower edge and an upper edge.
The seat cushion 17A, 17B has an upper surface upon which an occupant 11, 12 can sit, a lower surface, a front edge and a rear edge.
A piece of fabric 20 is attached to the backrest 16 at or near to the juncture of the front surface of the backrest 16 with the lower edge of the backrest 16. The fabric 20 is attached at its opposite end to the seat cushion 17A, 17B at or near to the juncture of the upper surface of the seat cushion 17A, 17B with the rear edge of the seat cushion 17A, 17B.
The fabric 20 is held in tension and the juncture between the front surface of the backrest 16 and the lower edge of the backrest 16 is curved so as to maintain the tension in the fabric 20 when the seat cushion 17A, 17B is moved relative to the backrest 16.
With particular reference to Figs. 2 and 3 the mechanism used to vary the position of the seat cushion 17A, 17B comprises two side rail members 21 attached along each side of the lower surface of the seat cushion 17A, 17B, two support members 22 connected to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle and four arms 23,25
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
pivotally connecting the side rails 21 to the support members 22 by lower and upper pivot joints 24,26. An actuator (not shown) is provided to manually or alternatively by powered means vary the inclination of one or more of the arms 23,25.
When the arms 23,25 are rotated both the height and the fore/aft position of the seat cushion 17A, 17B occurs. The location, length and positions of attachment of the arms 23,25 is such that movement of the seat cushion relative to the backrest is arranged to follow a pre-determined path so that, as the distance between the upper surface of the seat cushion 17A, 17B and the lower edge of the backrest 16 is reduced, the distance from the front edge of the seat cushion 17A, 17B to the front surface of the backrest 16 is also reduced.
With reference to Fig. 3 it can be seen how the fabric 20 is wrapped around the lower edge of the backrest 16 to maintain the tension on the fabric 20.
With particular reference to Fig. 1 the seat cushion is shown in a lowered position in which the seat cushion is indicated by the reference numeral 17A and a raised position in which the seat cushion is indicated by the reference numeral 17B.
A fully-grown adult occupant is indicated by the reference numeral 11 and a child is indicated by the reference numeral 12.
An anthropometric seat reference point for the adult 11 is indicated by the reference numeral 13 and a corresponding anthropometric seat reference point for the child 12 is indicated by the reference numeral 14.
The anthropometric reference points 13,14 correspond to the hip joint locations for seated occupants of a certain heights.
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
An upper seat belt or safety belt mounting 15 is located above the top edge of the backrest 16.
The spatial relationship between the seat belt mounting and the seat reference points is very important if the safety belt is to function correctly. If the seat reference point is located too low with respect to the seat belt mounting 15 then the seat belt can pull across the neck of the occupant rather than against the upper torso.
For each occupant there is an optimum position for the seat reference point 13,14 depending upon their height. The locus of these points is shown on Fig. 4 as a dotted line and given the reference numeral 30. The motion of the upper pivot points 26 for the two arms 23,25 is shown by the dotted lines 23A, 25A.
It can be seen that the motion of the pivot points 26 does not replicate the locus 30 but nevertheless the arrangement of the arms 23,25 ensures that the seat cushion 17 will at all times be positioned such that the seat reference point for an occupant sitting on the seat cushion always lies on or close to the locus 30. This ensures that, provided the seat is correctly adjusted for the occupant, the spatial relationship between the seat belt mounting 15 and seat reference point for the occupant is close to perfect therefore maximising the safety and comfort attributes of the seat belt.
In a typical installation the seat cushion would have a vertical displacement between upper and lower limits of 350mm and a horizontal displacement between forward and rearward limits of 250 mm.

Claims (14)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A seat for a motor vehicle the seat comprising a backrest having a front surface, a rear surface, a lower edge and an upper edge and a seat cushion having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front edge and a rear edge, the seat cushion being moveable relative to the backrest so as vary the distance between the front edge of the seat cushion and the front surface of the backrest and the distance between the upper surface of the seat cushion and the lower edge of the back rest wherein movement of the seat cushion relative to the backrest is arranged to follow a pre-determined path such that as the distance between the upper surface of the seat cushion and the lower edge of the backrest is reduced the distance from the front edge of the seat cushion to the front surface of the backrest is also reduced.
  2. 2. A seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which a piece of fabric is connected between the backrest and the seat cushion fo conceal the gap therebetween.
  3. 3. A seat as claimed in Claim 2 in which the fabric is attached to the backrest at or near to the juncture of the front surface of the backrest with the lower edge of the backrest.
  4. 4. A seat as claimed in Claim 2 or in Claim 3 in which the fabric is attached to the seat cushion at or near to the juncture of the upper surface of the seat cushion with the rear edge of the seat cushion.
  5. 5. A seat as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 in which the fabric is maintained in tension.
  6. 6. A seat assembly as claimed in Claim 5 in which the juncture between the front surface of the backrest and the lower edge of the backrest is curved so as to
    <Desc/Clms Page number 8>
    maintain the tension in the fabric when the seat cushion is moved relative to the backrest.
  7. 7. A seat as claimed in any preceding claim in which the seat cushion is connected to at least one support structure, the support structure having a first member connected to the lower surface of the seat cushion and a second member for connection to part of a body structure of a motor vehicle the first and second members being connected together by two pivotable arms, the arms being positioned and dimensioned so as to cause the seat cushion to move along said pre-determined path.
  8. 8. A seat as claimed in Claim 7 in which there are two support structures arranged close to opposite side edges of the seat cushion.
  9. 9. A motor vehicle having a body structure defining a passenger compartment and at least one seat as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 mounted in the passenger compartment.
  10. 10. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 9 in which there are two seats mounted in the passenger compartment for use by rear-seated occupants.
  11. 11. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 9 or in Claim 10 in which the or each seat has an upper seat belt mounting attached to part of the body structure of the motor vehicle at a pre-determined position above the upper edge of the backrest.
  12. 12. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 in which the pre-determined
    I path followed by the seat cushion is such that the locus of anthropometric seat reference points for occupants of differing height using the seat follows that required to maintain the correct spatial relationship with between the anthropometric seat reference point and the seat belt mounting.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 9>
  13. 13. A seat substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  14. 14. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0112520A 2001-05-23 2001-05-23 An adjustable seat for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle including same Expired - Fee Related GB2375707B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0112520A GB2375707B (en) 2001-05-23 2001-05-23 An adjustable seat for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle including same

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0112520A GB2375707B (en) 2001-05-23 2001-05-23 An adjustable seat for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle including same

Publications (4)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0112520D0 GB0112520D0 (en) 2001-07-11
GB2375707A true GB2375707A (en) 2002-11-27
GB2375707A8 GB2375707A8 (en) 2004-03-13
GB2375707B GB2375707B (en) 2004-10-13

Family

ID=9915127

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0112520A Expired - Fee Related GB2375707B (en) 2001-05-23 2001-05-23 An adjustable seat for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle including same

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2375707B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2105067A1 (en) * 2007-01-19 2009-09-30 Delta Tooling Co., Ltd. Seat structure

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1984952U (en) * 1968-02-21 1968-05-02 Robert Krause K G Zweigniederl FITTING FOR FLAPS OF FURNITURE.
US5365934A (en) * 1991-06-28 1994-11-22 Life Fitness Apparatus and method for measuring heart rate
DE4328493A1 (en) * 1993-08-25 1995-03-02 Grammer Ag Passenger seat with an integrated child seat
JPH0930300A (en) * 1995-07-19 1997-02-04 Honda Motor Co Ltd Multifunctional seat for vehicle
US5788326A (en) * 1995-07-19 1998-08-04 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Multi-functional seat for vehicle
EP1106428A1 (en) * 1999-12-07 2001-06-13 Johnson Controls GmbH Device to cover a gap between a backrest and a lower cushion of a vehicle seat

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2677588B1 (en) * 1991-06-11 1993-09-03 Faure Bertrand Automobile DEVICE FOR INCREASING A VEHICLE SEAT CUSHION COMPRISING A SECURITY LOCK.

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1984952U (en) * 1968-02-21 1968-05-02 Robert Krause K G Zweigniederl FITTING FOR FLAPS OF FURNITURE.
US5365934A (en) * 1991-06-28 1994-11-22 Life Fitness Apparatus and method for measuring heart rate
DE4328493A1 (en) * 1993-08-25 1995-03-02 Grammer Ag Passenger seat with an integrated child seat
JPH0930300A (en) * 1995-07-19 1997-02-04 Honda Motor Co Ltd Multifunctional seat for vehicle
US5788326A (en) * 1995-07-19 1998-08-04 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Multi-functional seat for vehicle
EP1106428A1 (en) * 1999-12-07 2001-06-13 Johnson Controls GmbH Device to cover a gap between a backrest and a lower cushion of a vehicle seat

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
WPI A.A.N: 1995-099223 & DE 4328493 A1 *
WPI A.A.N: 1997-160807 & JP 09030300 A *
WPI A.A.N: 2000-400937 & DE 1984952 U *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2105067A1 (en) * 2007-01-19 2009-09-30 Delta Tooling Co., Ltd. Seat structure
EP2105067A4 (en) * 2007-01-19 2010-11-10 Delta Tooling Co Ltd Seat structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0112520D0 (en) 2001-07-11
GB2375707B (en) 2004-10-13
GB2375707A8 (en) 2004-03-13

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Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
746 Register noted 'licences of right' (sect. 46/1977)

Effective date: 20070314

PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20200523