GB2413270A

GB2413270A - Vehicle seat assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2413270A
Application number: GB0408699A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart Callegari; Norman Snowdon; Tim Disney; Phil Dickens
Original assignee: Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2004-04-19
Filing date: 2004-04-19
Publication date: 2005-10-26
Also published as: GB0408699D0

Abstract

A seat assembly 10 for a vehicle comprises a seat back 22 that includes a movable seat back portion 28 which can be moved between a closed position [Figure 1] in which the seat back portion defines a part of the back rest surface, and an opened position in which the seat back portion 28 defines an armrest, wherein the seat back portion also defines a storage volume 30 for luggage. Preferably a storage vessel or container 32, or a netted bag, is detachably mounted within the storage volume 30. A closure member e.g. a hinged lid or a pair of flaps 36, may be provided to prevent access to the storage volume. In a second aspect of the invention a seat assembly is provided in which a supplementary seat section, located adjacent a seat member, can be move to a raised position adjacent the existing seat back. In the raised position the supplementary seat section provides a resting surface for the occupant of the seat [Figures 9 and 10].

Description

SEAT ASSEMBLY

FOR USE IN A VEHICLE

The invention relates to an adaptable seat assembly for use in a vehicle and, in s particular, to a seat assembly for use in an automobile vehicle. The invention also relates to a vehicle provided with such a seat assembly.

One of the concerns for vehicle designers currently is to maximise the storage space available for carrying items of luggage within the vehicle. For vehicles lo intended for family use, it is a particular requirement to maximise the storage space available in the rear of the vehicle where child passengers are usually carried and, thus, where there is a need to accommodate children's books, games and toys, for example. It is another concern of vehicle designers to provide vehicle users with the option of carrying multiple passengers in the rear of the Is vehicle, or at least to provide a versatile seating arrangement which provides the vehicle user with this option.

By way of background to the invention, it is acknowledged that it is known to provide a so-called centre-console in the front of a vehicle, where an arm rest for so the driver and/or front seat passenger doubles as a storage container. When in a closed position, a flip-up lid of the console closes a container volume for storing smaller items of luggage and defines a surface upon which the driver and/or front seat passenger can rest his or her arm. When the flip-up lid is opened, the arm rest facility disappears and the container volume can be accessed. Such console Is arrangements can be accommodated relatively easily between the front driver and passenger seats of a vehicle, but due to their bulk and volume they cannot be accommodated conveniently in the rear of family vehicles, in particular, where there is often a requirement to accommodate at least two passengers on the rear vehicle seat.

The concern to maximise storage space in the rear of the vehicle is thus not readily compatible with the desire to maximise vehicle seating space. It is one object of the present invention to provide a seat assembly which addresses this incompatibility. It is another object of the invention to provide a seat assembly which allows a vehicle passenger, and particularly a child passenger, to travel in comfort whilst sleeping.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a seat assembly suitable for use in a vehicle includes a seating member which defines a seating surface for at least one vehicle passenger, and a seat back member which defines a back rest surface for the or each vehicle passenger, the seat back member including a movable seat back section which is pivotally movable between a first, closed configuration in which the seat back section defines a part of the back rest surface, and a second, open configuration in which the movable seat back section defines an arm rest surface for the or each vehicle passenger, the movable seat back section also defining a storage volume within which luggage may be stored, in use.

The invention is particularly suitable for use in a family vehicle, as a rear seat assembly of the vehicle, as the storage volume defines a suitable volume for storing relatively small items of luggage, for example books, sweets, a personal stereo, CDs or tapes. The movable section of the seat back thus provides several different functions; an arm rest when opened, or lowered, a part of a back rest surface when closed, or raised, and a storage volume, thus providing efficient use of vehicle space.

In a preferred embodiment, the seat back member includes first and second outer s seat back sections, wherein the movable seat back section (also referred to as the movable arm rest) is a middle seat back section mounted between the outer seat back sections. In this embodiment, when the movable arm rest adopts the open configuration to define the arm rest surface, two seat positions are defined for passengers, one on either side of the movable seat back section.

Preferably, the movable seat back section includes a hollow sleeve member within which a storage vessel or container may be mounted detachably.

Detachable mounting of the container within the movable seat back section provides for convenient unloading and loading of items of luggage into the Is vehicle.

Additionally, or alternatively, the movable seat back section may be provided with a movable closure member which, when the movable seat back section is in the open configuration, is movable between a lid-closed position in which the so closure member closes a first, open end of the hollow sleeve member to define the arm rest surface and a lid-open position in which the open end of the hollow sleeve member is opened to permit access to the storage volume.

The movable seat back section has a front side located towards the front of the as vehicle when the second configuration is adopted and the closure member may be mounted, preferably through hinge means, to the movable seat back section at said front side thereof. . In this embodiment, the lid defines a suitable support surface for a visual display element, for example a DVD or computer screen, due to its being oriented to face passengers seated on the seating member.

Alternatively, the closure member may be mounted, preferably through hinge s means, to the movable seat back section at a rear side thereof.

In a further preferred embodiment, the movable seat back section may be provided with a pair of movable flaps or door-like members, said flaps being movable between flap-open and flap-closed positions and whereby, when in the lo flap-closed position, the pair of movable flaps serves to close a second, open end of the hollow sleeve member.

Furthermore, when the pair of movable flaps is in the flap-open position it may provide (I) means for supporting a head rest member when the movable seat back Is section is in the closed configuration, and (II) means for supporting the movable seat back section in the open configuration through engagement of the pair of movable flaps with the seating member.

The seat assembly may be provided with, and manufactured and sold to include, a so detachable head rest member which is mountable upon at least one of the flaps of the pair when in its open position. For this purpose, the pair of flaps may be provided with a detachable bonding material for attachment to the head rest member.

as In one particular embodiment, the seat assembly may also comprise a movable, outer seat section which is movably mounted to the seat assembly so as to be movable between a first position in which the outer seat section defines, together s with the seating member, the seating surface and a second position in which the outer seat section is raised to locate adjacent to the seat back member, thereby to define a surface against which a passenger can lean and/or rest, particularly his or her head. This particular embodiment enables a passenger to rest or sleep s comfortably whilst travelling.

The outer seat section may be pivotally mounted to the rear side of the seat assembly. For example, the outer seat section may be mounted upon a hinged mounting.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a seat assembly for use in a vehicle, the seat assembly including a seating member which defines a seating surface for at least one vehicle passenger, and at least one movable seat section which is movable between a first position in which the seat section Is defines, together with the seating member, the seating surface and a second position in which the seat section is raised to locate adjacent to the seat back member, thereby to define a surface against which a passenger can lean and/or rest, particularly his or her head.

go In a particularly preferred embodiment, a first, movable, outer seat section is movably mounted upon a left, outer side of the seating member and a second, movable, outer seat section is movably mounted upon a right, outer side of the seating member.

as In a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a seat assembly in accordance with either the first or second aspect of the invention. Preferably, the seat assembly takes the form of a rear seat assembly, and particularly in vehicles in which children may be seated in the rear vehicle seat.

For the purpose of this specification, references to the front and rear of the s vehicle shall be taken to mean, respectively, that part of the vehicle where a seat for the vehicle driver is provided and that part of the vehicle behind the vehicle driver's seat (that is, either immediately behind the driver or separated therefrom by means of an intermediate seat or other assembly).

lo The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat assembly of a first embodiment of the seat assembly of the present invention when a movable arm rest thereof is in a first, Is stowed or closed configuration, Figure 2 shows a seat support frame for the seat assembly in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the seat assembly in Figure 1, when the movable so arm rest thereof is in a second, open configuration, Figure 4 is a perspective view, similar to that shown in Figure 3, to illustrate opening of a lid of the arm rest, as Figure 5 is a perspective view of the seat assembly with the arm rest in the open configuration of Figure 4, and illustrating an arm rest storage container, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the seat assembly with the arm rest in the closed configuration of Figure 1, and adapted for use with a head rest, Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the seat s assembly with a lid of the seat assembly in first and second positions, respectively, and Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of an alternative seat assembly to that shown in Figures 1 to 8.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a seat assembly, referred to generally as 10, takes the form of a so-called 'bench seat' to be provided in the rear of an automobile vehicle. The bench-type seat assembly 10 is suitable for accommodating two passengers, at least, and is thus particularly suitable for use as a rear seat Is assembly in a family vehicle where child passengers often occupy the rear vehicle seats. A seating member of the assembly, referred to generally as 12, is mounted upon a seat support frame. The support frame is not shown in Figures 1 and 3 but is illustrated in detail in Figure 2. The seat frame 11 includes a peripheral frame 1 la carrying front-to-rear cross members 1 lb and a plurality of seat belt clasps tic.

The seating member 12 defines seating surfaces for the rear seat occupants. In the position shown in Figure 1, possible first and second seat positions are provided by means of respective first and second, adjacent seat portions 16, 18 of the 2s seating member 12. The first and second seat portions 16, 18 take the form of seat cushions, for comfort.

The seat assembly 10 includes a front or forward side lOa which is located further towards the front of the vehicle, compared with a rear side lOb of the assembly 10 which is located further towards the vehicle rear. That part of the seating member 12 towards the rear side lOb of the assembly connects, or otherwise meets, with a generally upright seat back member or seat backrest, referred to generally as 22. The seat back member 22 includes first and second, outer seat back sections, 24 and 26 respectively, each of which defines at least a part of a back rest surface for a seated passenger in a respective one of the first or second seat positions. Each of the outer seat back sections 24, 26 extends the full lo height of the seat back 22. Preferably, both of the outer seat back sections 24, 26 are in hinged or pivotal connection with the seating member 12 so as to allow them to be folded onto the seating member 12, as is commonly known in vehicles.

Is The seat back rest 22 also includes a middle seat back section having an upper section 27 in fixed connection with the seat support frame 11 and a lower section 28 which is pivotally mounted to the seat assembly 10 so as to be movable between a stowed or closed configuration (as illustrated in Figure 1) or an open configuration (as illustrated in Figure 3). When in the closed configuration of so Figure 1, the movable seat back section 28 locates between the outer seat back sections 24, 26 to either side, and beneath the upper section 27, so as to form part of a substantially flat and continuous backrest surface for passengers across the entire width of the assembly 10. When the middle seat back section 28 is moved pivotally forwards, or lowered, into the position shown in Figure 3, it is :5 displaced from between the outer seat back sections 24, 26 so as to define an armrest for passengers seated on either side thereof. For the purpose of the following description, the middle seat back section will therefore be referred to as the movable arm rest 28.

The movable arm rest 28 is preferably mounted to left- and right-side pivot s mounts which are either mounted upon the seat frame 11 or upon the first and second outer seat back sections 24, 26, respectively.

As can be seen most clearly in Figure 4, the movable arm rest 28 takes the form of a hollow sleeve member having upper and lower open ends (in the orientation lo shown) and defining an internal sleeve volume 30. The arm rest, or sleeve, 28 is provided with a closure member or lid 34, which is mounted to the arm rest 28 at the rear side thereof by means of a hinge, so as to be movable between lid-open and lid-closed positions. When in the lid-closed position (as shown in Figure 3), the internal volume 30 is covered by the lid 34 so that the lid 34 defines the arm Is rest surface for the passenger(s). When in the lid-open position (as shown in Figure 4), the internal volume 30 is exposed to allow access thereto.

Referring to Figure 5, the internal sleeve volume 30 receives a detachable storage container or vessel 32 which is receivable within the sleeve of the arm rest 28 so as to provide a suitable storage volume within which small items of luggage may be stowed (for example sweets, glasses or CDs). The container 32 takes the form of a box and is of generally rectangular section so as to fit snugly within the internal sleeve volume 30. It may be preferable, for example, to shape the storage container 32 so as to accommodate an exact number of CDs.

Support means 36 are provided for supporting the arm rest 28 in the open position. The support means take the form of a pair of foldable flaps or doors 36 which are mounted to the movable arm rest 28 in a manner akin to that of a hinged door. The flaps 36 are movable between flap-open and flap-closed positions so that they either locate within the internal sleeve volume 30 of the arm rest 28 so as to close one end thereof (flapclosed position), or can be opened out s from the internal sleeve volume 30 so as to engage with the surface of the seating member 12 (flap-opened position).

When the arm rest 28 is in its raised, closed configuration, so that it lies flush with the outer seat back sections 24, 26, the flaps 36 may be closed into the lo internal sleeve volume 30, closing the open end of the arm rest sleeve 28 (i.e. at the forward facing end thereof) so as to lie flush with the remainder of the surface of the seat back rest 22. Alternatively, as can be seen in Figure 6, with the arm rest 28 in the closed configuration, the flaps 36 can be hinged opened from the internal sleeve volume so as to stand slightly proud of the remainder of the Is surface of the seat backrest 22. In this configuration, the flaps 36 may be used to support a detachable head rest member in the form of a removable pillow-like element. For this purpose the flaps 36 may be provided with appropriate fixing means (not visible), for example a detachable bonding material such as Velcro or the like. The pillow may provide a suitable headrest for passengers seated on either the left- or right- side of the arm rest 28, and particularly child passengers of relatively short height. The flaps 36 may be hinged to the arm rest 28 by means of fabric hinges which are inexpensive and convenient to fit. Possibly, due to the flexibility of the hinges, an additional fixing means may be required to hold the flaps 36 open when it is required to mount the head rest member thereupon.

By way of further clarification, it will be appreciated that Figures 5 and 6 show the flaps 36 in the same, open position, whereby in one configuration of the arm rest 28 (Figure 5) they provide a means for supporting the arm rest 28 on the seating member 12 and in the other configuration of the arm rest 28 they project from the arm rest 28 to provide an attachment means for a head rest for the seat assembly 10.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, in an alternative embodiment the lid 34 of the movable arm rest 28 may be hinged on the front side of the arm rest, rather than on the rear side. In this configuration, the underside 36 of the lid 34 (i.e. the upper surface of the lid 34 when in its open position) defines a suitable surface lo for supporting a DVD or computer laptop (not shown), or other electronic equipment having a visual display element. When the visual display element is mounted upon the lid 34 it is oriented to face a passenger seated upon the assembly 10. The seat assembly 10 may also therefore be provided with a suitable electrical socket to enable power to be supplied to lid-mounted equipment.

In another embodiment, instead of providing a storage container 32 in the form of a box, the detachable container may take the form of a netted bag which attaches in a removable manner to the rim of the arm rest sleeve.

go As mentioned previously, it is one consideration of the invention to provide a suitable head rest for a passenger, particularly so as to allow a passenger to sleep when seated in the rear of the vehicle. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided a seat assembly as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The seat assembly 110 takes the form of a seat for a single passenger and as includes a seating member 112 and a seat back member 122. The seating member 112 is comprised of three seat sections; a middle seat section 40 upon which a passenger sits and first and second, outer seat sections 42, 44 respectively. The outer seat sections 42, 44 are mounted in a movable fashion so as to provide two different seat configurations. In Figure 9, the seat assembly 110 is shown in a first seat configuration in which each of the outer seat sections 42, 44 defines a part of the seating surface for a passenger seated upon the middle seat section 40.

s In Figure 10, the seat assembly 110 is shown in a second seat configuration in which the outer seat sections 42, 44 are raised or elevated (i.e. as indicated by arrow Z) to provide a side support means for the seated passenger. When the outer seat sections 42, 44 are raised to the position shown in Figure 10, the sections 42, 44 locate adjacent to the seat back member 122 so as to stand proud lo therefrom. In particular, in this seat configuration the underside of each section 42, 44 defines a comfortable surface against which a seated passenger can lean and/or rest his or her head. For this purpose, the outer seat sections 42, 44 are sculptured to suit the shape of a passenger's body. This enables a passenger to travel comfortably in the rear of the vehicle, for example when sleeping.

The movable outer seat sections 42, 44 are of shallower depth than the middle seat section 40 and rest upon respective left- and right-side supports 46, 48. The movable outer seat sections 42, 44 are pivotally mounted to the seat assembly 110 at its rear side l lob. Typically, for example, a suitable pivot mounting arrangement (not shown) for the movable, outer seat sections 42, 44 may be provided on a respective one of the outer supports 46, 48. The pivotal mounting arrangement is arranged such that, when the movable outer seat sections 42, 44 are raised into the position shown in Figure 10, they stand proud of the surface of the seat back member 122.

Although the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 shows a seat assembly 110 suitable for seating just a single passenger, other embodiments are envisaged in which more than one passenger may be seated. For example, the bench-style seat assembly 10 of Figures 1 to 8 may be provided with a movable outer seat section 42, 44 on either side of its seating member 12 so that a passenger seated on either the first or the second, outer seat portion 16, 18 (as shown in Figures 1 to 3, for s example) has the option of raising a movable outer seat section, e.g. 42 or 44, to define a comfortable surface to lean against.

In an alternative embodiment, hinge arrangements may be provided at the rear side 1 lob of the assembly 110 to allow the outer seat sections 42, 44 to be moved lo between their raised and lowered positions through hinged movement.

In a further alternative embodiment, only one side of the seat assembly 110 may be provided with a movable outer seat section, 42 or 44.

Is It will be appreciated that although the seat assembly 10 of the invention is particularly suitable for use in an automotive vehicle, and especially in the rear of an automotive vehicle, the seat assembly 10 may have application in other modes of transport, for example on trains and aeroplanes. The appended claims are thus not intended to limit the scope of the invention in this regard.

Claims

1. A seat assembly (10) suitable for use in a vehicle, the seat assembly (10) including: s a seating member (12) which defines a seating surface for at least one vehicle passenger, and a seat back member (22) which defines a back rest surface for the or each vehicle lo passenger, the seat back member (22) including a movable seat back section (28) which is pivotally movable between a first, closed configuration in which the seat back section (28) defines a part of the back rest surface, and a second, open configuration in which the movable seat back section (28) defines an arm rest surface for the or each vehicle passenger, the movable seat back section (28) also Is defining a storage volume (30) for luggage.

2. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat back member (22) includes first and second outer seat back sections (24, 26), the movable seat back section (28) being a middle seat back section (28) mounted JO between the outer seat back sections (24, 26).

3. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the movable seat back section (28) includes a hollow sleeve member.

Is

4. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a storage vessel or container (32) is mounted detachably within the sleeve member.

5. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a netted bag is mounted detachably within the sleeve member.

6. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the s movable seat back section (28) is provided with a movable closure member (34) which, when the movable seat back section (28) is in the open configuration, is movable between a lid-closed position in which the closure member (34) closes a first, open end of the hollow sleeve member to define the arm rest surface and a lid-open position in which the open end of the hollow sleeve member is opened lo to permit access to the storage volume (30).

7. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable seat back section (28) has a front side located towards the front of the vehicle when the second configuration is adopted and wherein the closure member (34) is Is hingedly mounted to the movable seat back section (28) at said front side thereof.

8. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable seat back section has a rear side located towards the rear of the vehicle when the second configuration is adopted and wherein the closure member (34) is hingedly JO mounted to the movable seat back section (28) at said rear side thereof.

9. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the movable seat back section (28) is provided with a pair of movable flaps (36), said flaps (36) being movable between flap-open and flapclosed positions, and whereby when in the flap-closed position the pair of movable flaps (36) serves to close a second, open end of the hollow sleeve member.

10. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 9, whereby when the pair of movable flaps (36) is in the flap-open position it provides: (I) means for supporting a head rest member when the movable seat back section s (28) is in the closed configuration, and (II) means for supporting the movable seat back section (28) in the open configuration through engagement of the pair of movable flaps (36) with the seating member (12).

11. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a detachable head rest member which is mountable upon at least one of the flaps (36) of the pair when in its open position.

is

12. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the pair of flaps (36) is provided with a detachable bonding material for attachment to the head rest member.

13. The seat assembly (110) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, further so comprising a movable, outer seat section (42, 44) which is movably mounted to the seat assembly (110) so as to be movable between a first position in which the outer seat section (42, 44) defines, together with the seating member, the seating surface, and a second position in which the outer seat section (42, 44) is raised to locate adjacent to the seat back member (122), thereby to define a surface against Is which a passenger can lean and/or rest, particularly his or her head.

14. The seat assembly (110) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the outer seat section (42, 44) is pivotally mounted to a rear side (l lob) of the seat assembly (110).

15. A seat assembly (110) for use in a vehicle, the seat assembly (110) s including: a seating member (112) which defines a seating surface for at least one vehicle passenger, and lo at least one movable seat section (42, 44) which is movable between a first position in which the seat section (42, 44) defines, together with the seating member (112), the seating surface, and a second position in which the movable seat section (42, 44) is raised to locate adjacent to the seat back member (122), thereby to define a surface against which a passenger can lean and/or rest, particularly his or her head.

16. The seat assembly (110) as claimed in claim 15, wherein a first, movable, outer seat section (42) is movably mounted upon a left, outer side of the seating member (112) and a second, movable, outer seat section (44) is movably mounted upon a right, outer side of the seating member (112).

17. A vehicle comprising a seat assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16.