GB2424857A

GB2424857A - Seat fitting for a vehicle and a support structure therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2424857A
Application number: GB0507116A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Kimberley
Original assignee: Rescroft Ltd
Current assignee: Rescroft Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-08
Filing date: 2005-04-08
Publication date: 2006-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-08
Also published as: GB0507116D0; GB2424857B

Abstract

A seat fitting (10) is specifically adapted for a vehicle and has a support structure (12) adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle and mounted thereon a seat (14) comprising a backrest part (34) and a seat part (32). The seat fitting has two modes, a "seat mode" in which a person can sit on the seat pad and a "wheelchair mode" in which it acts as a wheelchair anchorage station and a wheelchair can be anchored against it. The seat pad is pivotable between an in use position when the seat fitting is in "seat mode" and a folded position when the seat fitting is in "wheelchair mode". The support structure includes a base portion (16) adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle, and an upper portion (20, 22; 22') on which the seat is secured and which is rotatable relative to the base portion of the support structure about a vertical axis (A).

Description

I

Title: Seat Fitting for a Vehicle and a Support Structure therefor

Description of Invention

The present invention relates to a seat fitting for a vehicle, the seat fitting being of the kind which provides a seat for an ambulant passenger or a station at which a wheelchair can be secured, depending on the configuration of the fitting at the time.

There are many vehicles, generally but not exclusively motor vehicles, which are routinely used to transport ambulant passengers and wheelchair users, and which are require to provide variable numbers of seats for the former and stations for securing the wheelchairs of the latter. Such seat fittings are difficult to design as they need to provide the ambulant passengers with an adequate degree of protection should the vehicle be involved in an accident, or provide the wheelchair with secure anchorage and wheelchair user with protection, whilst also using the space within the vehicle effectively.

Vehicle seats comprise a backrest part, correctly called a squab in the field concerned, and a seat part, often referred to in the field as the cushion.

However, as the term "squab" is often used incorrectly to refer to the seat part or cushion, rather than to the backrest part, to avoid any possible confusion the terms backrest part and seat part will be used throughout this

specification.

A number of designs of seat fittings which seek to address this need are already known in the prior art. Two such fittings are described in GB 2176154 and GB 2197628, with both being quite basic and not providing very acceptable seating for an ambulant passenger. A more recent fitting of this general kind is described in WO 2004/041586, but this fitting suffers from two disadvantages. Firstly the seat is secured to the floor of the vehicle in a manner which permits it to slide laterally between locations in which it is used as a seat and in which it performs its function as a wheelchair anchorage station, but the mechanism which permits it to slide is difficult to use in practice. Secondly, the seat part has to be removed from its use position and relocated elsewhere when the fitting is used as a wheelchair anchorage station. Thirdly, in common with all other prior art the backrest part is provided at a fixed angle and this may not be suitable as an anchorage station for some wheelchairs.

Such vehicles are generally motor vehicles, such as mini-buses. However seat fittings of this kind may be used in a wide range of motor vehicles and indeed other vehicles such as, for examples, boats and trains.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved seat fitting for a vehicle of the general kind discussed above.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a seat fitting specifically adapted for a vehicle and having a support structure adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle and mounted thereon a seat comprising a backrest part and a seat part, the seat fitting having two modes a "seat mode" in which a person can sit on the seat part and a "wheelchair mode" in which it acts as a wheelchair anchorage station and a wheelchair can be anchored against it, wherein the seat part is pivotable between an in use position when the seat fitting is in "seat mode" and a folded position when the seat fitting is in "wheelchair mode", and wherein the support structure includes a base portion adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle, and an upper portion on which the seat is secured and which is rotatable relative to the base portion of the support structure about a vertical axis.

More details of the seat fitting according to the first aspect of the invention are defined in claims dependant directly or indirectly upon claim 1.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a seat fitting specifically adapted for a vehicle having a support structure adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle and mounted thereon a seat comprising a backrest part and a seat part, the backrest part being pivotable between a plurality of different use positions and the seat part being pivotable between an in use position and a folded position, wherein the support structure includes a base portion adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle, an intermediate portion rotatable relative to the base portion about a first vertical axis and a top portion on which the seat is secured and which is rotatable relative to the intermediate portion of the support structure about a second vertical axis, the first and second vertical axes being spaced apart from each other.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a support structure specifically adapted for supporting an item relative to a surface, the support structure comprising a base portion adapted for securing to the surface, an intermediate portion connected to the base portion and rotatable about a first vertical axis relative to the base portion, and a top portion connected to the intermediate portion and rotatable about a second vertical axis relative to the intermediate portion, the first and second axes being spaced apart from each other.

More details of the support structure according to the third aspect of the invention are defined in claims dependant directly or indirectly upon claim 22.

An example of a seat fitting according to the invention will now be discussed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the seat fitting in seat mode, showing the degree of pivotal movement of the seat back; Figure 2 is a front view of the seat fitting in seat mode; Figure 3 is a plan view of the seat fitting in seat mode; Figure 4 is a side view of the seat fitting in wheelchair mode; Figure 5 is a front view of the seat fitting in wheelchair mode; Figure 6 is a plan view of the seat fitting in wheelchair mode; Figure 7 is a side sectional view of the support structure of the seat fitting in seat mode (along M-M in figure 8); Figure 8 is a front sectional view of the support structure of the seat fitting in seat mode (along N-N in figure 7); Figures 9a to 9c are a plan view and two sectional views of the base portion of the support structure; Figures lOa to lOd are four sectional views of the intermediate portion of the support structure, where lOb is a view along P-P of figure lOa, lOc is a view along Q-Q in figure 1 Oa, and 1 Od is a view along R-R of figure IDa; Figures 11 a to 11 c are two sectional views and a plan view of the top portion of the support structure, where 11 b is a view along S- S of figure 11 a; Figures 12 and 13 are two partial cross-section views of a second embodiment of the support structure of the seat fitting having a single axis of rotation, where Figure 12 is a view along T-T of figure 13, and Figure 13 is a view along U-U of Figure 12.

Referring to the Figures, a seat fitting 10 of the invention will first be described in "seat mode", that is when it is arranged for use by an ambulant passenger.

The seat fitting 10 includes a support structure 12 and a seat 14 supported on it.

The support structure 12 includes a base portion 16 adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle 18 (as shown in the figures), an intermediate portion 20 and a top portion 22. The intermediate portion 20 is connected to the base portion 16 for rotational movement relative thereto about a first vertical axis A and the top portion 22 is connected to the intermediate portion 20 for rotational movement relative thereto about a second vertical axis B which is spaced apart laterally from the first axis A. The first and second axes A, B are, in this embodiment spaced apart by 100mm, but other spacings may be applicable in other circumstances.

The base portion 16 and intermediate portion 20 can be locked in desired relative positions by means of a locking mechanism. In this embodiment the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of slots 19 spaced apart around the circumference of the base of the intermediate portion 20 and a locking member 24 pivotally connected to the base portion 16, and actuated by a foot pedal 26 which engages in one of the slots to retain the intermediate portion in the desired position relative to the base portion 16. Similarly the top portion 22 can be locked in a desired position relative to the intermediate portion 20 by means of a locking mechanism comprising slots 21 spaced apart around an upper part of the intermediate portion 20. The locking mechanism is similar to that described above but in place of a foot pedal 26 there is a lever intended to be hand actuated which operates a locking member 28 pivotally connected to the top portion 22. In this example there are eight slots 19 and eight slots 21, meaning that the intermediate portion 20 can be locked in eight positions relative to the base portion 16, and that the top portion 22 can be locked in eight positions relative to the intermediate portion 20. Similar locking mechanisms may be provided with other numbers of slots at different equal or non-equal spacings around the circumference of the intermediate portion 20. In addition, other completely different forms of locking mechanism may be used as appropriate.

Mounted on the top portion 22 is the seat 14 which comprises a seat part 32 and a backrest part 34 (in the trade known as a squab). The seat part 32 is pivotable about a horizontal axis C, located forwardly of the top portion 22 of the support structure 12 (when the fitting 10 is in "seat mode"), between an in use position, (shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3), and a folded position (shown in Figures 4 and 6). The location of the horizontal axis C is such that it is offset from the second vertical axis B by 100mm, which in this embodiment is the same as the offset between the first and second vertical axes.

The backrest part 34 has a front face 34 and a back face 34 and is pivotable about a horizontal axis D, located approximately a quarter of the way up the backrest part 34, between a plurality of use positions, there being one use position for the "seat mode" and a plurality of use positions for the "wheelchair mode". The horizontal axis D is located in this embodiment such that it intersects the second vertical axis B, or very nearly so. The extremes of the pivotal movement of the backrest part 34 are illustrated in Figure 1, and in this embodiment cover a range of movement of 32 degrees.

The seat 14 is mounted on the top portion 22 of the support structure 12 with the second vertical axis B offset laterally from the centre of the seat 14. In this embodiment the second vertical axis B is located with approximately three quarters of the width of the seat 14 to one side and approximately one quarter to the other side.

A head rest 38 is provided which is attached using locating holes (not shown) provided in the top of the backrest part 34. The head rest 38 can be removed from the backrest part 34 and replaced facing the opposite way, such that it can provide support for a passenger using the seat fitting in "seat mode" or "wheelchair mode", as will become clear later.

As can best be seen in Figures 2 and 3 in "seat mode" the seat fitting 10 is located close to a wall 40 of the vehicle such that it takes up as little space as possible. In this mode the support structure 12 is oriented with the second vertical axis B to the rear of the first vertical axis A, as best seen in Figure 1 and the majority of the seat 14 outwards from the support structure 12 towards the wall 40, as best seen in Figure 3.

To convert the seat fitting 10 from "seat mode" to "wheelchair mode" (which is illustrated in figures 4, 5 and 6) the foot pedal 26 is operated to remove the locking member 24 from the slot in the base of the intermediate portion 20 and the intermediate portion 20 and seat 14 are rotated 180 degrees around the first vertical axis A. The seat 14 is then facing backwards and the majority of the seat 14 is inwards of the support structure 12 away from the wall 40, as seen in Figure 5. The second vertical axis B is now forwards of the first vertical axis A, as best seen in Figure 5. Either before or after the rotation of the seat 14, the seat part 32 is folded up into the folded position and backrest part 34 is pivoted towards the seat part 32 to provide the required angle for best contact with the wheelchair, as shown in Figure 4. The head rest 38 is pulled out of the backrest part 34 and replaced facing the opposite way.

A wheelchair is then backed against the rear 34 of the backrest part 34 (which is now facing forwards) and the wheels of the chair go either side of the seat fitting 10 and the handles of the wheelchair go either side of the backrest part 34, as shown in Figure 4. The angle of the backrest part 34 may be altered to which ever of the "wheelchair mode" use positions provides the best support for the rear of the wheelchair. The wheelchair is then secured in position by restraints (not shown) which are secured to the support structure 12 at one end and, when in use, releasably secured to the wheelchair at the other end.

There are many known forms of wheelchair restraint which may be used with the seat fitting of the invention. Generally they consist of a length of webbing attached at one end to a self recoiling mechanism, which is permanently anchored in place. The free end of the webbing can be supplied with a hook, carabena or the like for releasable attachment to the wheelchair. When the webbing is pulled out a ratchet mechanism permits it to be pulled out, but locks the webbing as soon as it is released. A manual release lever is provided to release the ratchet mechanism to enable the restraint to be detached from the wheelchair. Examples of such restraints, manufactured by Q'Straint, can be viewed at www.qstraint.com.

The wheelchair occupant uses a seat belt (not shown) which emerges from the top of the backrest part 34. The seat belts provided may take a number of forms. They may be of the normal form, that is having an upper anchorage (into which they retract when not in use, and which in this case is provided within the upper portion of the backrest part 34), a bolted lap anchorage on one side of the seat 14 and a tongue on the belt for receipt in a receiver on the other side of the seat 14. The seat belt anchorages are all on the seat 14 such that the seat belt(s) rotate with the seat 14 when it is reconfigures within the vehicle. The seat belts may be of the inertia reel type, as is normally used, or of the body lock type which are configured to restrain a passenger with little or no upper body strength. Body lock type belts are normally supplied in pairs, one to either side of the seat in order to provide in effect a full harness to retain a physically handicapped passenger in place securely.

A further variation is however particularly advantageous in the present circumstances. That is for each seat belt to have an upper anchorage as normally provided but to have two tongues provided on the belt and a receiver to each side of the seat 14 providing the lap portion in use. This configuration enables the seat belt(s) to be used on either the front face 34a of the backrest part 34 for an ambulant passenger or on the rear face 34 of the backrest part 34 to retain a physically handicapped passenger in their wheelchair. A single such seat belt may be provided but a pair, one to either side of the seat, will provide a preferable provision, particularly for use by the physically handicapped passenger in a wheelchair.

As well as being used as described above the seat fitting 10 is very adaptable, due to the two offset vertical axes of rotation A and B. For example, if it is desired to provide a "wheelchair mode" which is not spaced as far away from the wall 40 of the vehicle as that shown in Figures 5 and 6 then instead of rotating the intermediate portion 20 of the support structure 12 and seat 14 degrees relative to the base portion 16 the rotation can be less or more than 180 degrees with the seat 14 then being rotated relative to the intermediate portion 20 to bring it facing the desired way. Alternatively the seat 14 can effectively be moved forwards and backwards, and side to side to desired locations using a combination of relative positions of the intermediate portion 20 relative to the base portion 16 and the top portion 22 relative to the intermediate portion 20.

A variation of the seat fitting may be provided, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, with a support structure 12' in which the intermediate portion and top portion are formed as a single upper portion 22', such that there is a single axis of rotation A, when a less flexible seating arrangement is required in the vehicle.

The seat fitting according to the invention is suitable for use in a wide range of vehicles, particularly but not exclusively motor vehicles. Such seat fittings may also be used *in vehicles such as boats and trains.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A seat fitting specifically adapted for a vehicle and having a support structure adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle and mounted thereon a seat comprising a backrest part and a seat part, the seat fitting having two modes a "seat mode" in which a person can sit on the seat part and a "wheelchair mode" in which it acts as a wheelchair anchorage station and a wheelchair can be anchored against it, wherein the seat part is pivotable between an in use position when the seat fitting is in "seat mode" and a folded position when the seat fitting is in "wheelchair mode", and wherein the support structure includes a base portion adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle, and an upper portion on which the seat is secured and which is rotatable relative to the base portion of the support structure about a vertical axis.

2. A seat fitting according to claim 2 wherein rotation of the upper portion of the support structure relative to the vehicle floor about the vertical axis permits the upper portion of the support structure to be located in a plurality of use positions relative to the vehicle floor and to be locked in each of these use positions.

3. A seat fitting according to any one of claim I or 2 wherein the upper portion of the support structure is rotatable relative to the base portion of the support structure about the first vertical axis through 360 degrees.

4. A seat fitting according to claim I wherein the upper portion of the support structure comprises an intermediate portion rotatable relative to the base portion about a first vertical axis and a top portion on which the seat is secured and which is rotatable relative to the intermediate portion of the support structure about a second vertical axis, the first and second vertical axes being spaced apart from each other.

5. A seat fitting according to claim 4 wherein rotation of the intermediate portion of the support structure relative to the vehicle floor about the first vertical axis permits the intermediate portion of the support structure to be located in a plurality of use positions relative to the vehicle floor and to be locked in each of these use positions.

6. A seat fitting according to claim 4 or 5 wherein rotation of the top portion of the support structure and the seat relative to the intermediate portion of the support structure about the second vertical axis permits the seat to be located in a plurality of use positions relative to the intermediate portion of the support structure and to be locked in each of these use positions.

7. A seat fitting according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the intermediate portion of the support structure is rotatable relative to the base portion of the support structure about the first vertical axis through 360 degrees.

8. A seat fitting according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the top portion of the support structure is rotatable relative to the intermediate portion of the support structure about the second vertical axis through 360 degrees.

9. A seat fitting according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the seat is secured to the top portion of the support structure with the second vertical axis off set to one side of the centre of the seat.

10. A seat fitting according to claim 9 wherein the second vertical axis is located substantially mid way between the centre of the seat and a side edge of the seat.

11. A seat fitting according to any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the first and second vertical axes are offset from each other by a distance in the range to 120mm.

12. A seat fitting according to claim 11 wherein the first and second vertical axes are offset from each other by a distance of substantially 100mm.

13. A seat fitting according to anyone of the preceding claims in which the backrest part has a front face and rear face, and wherein the seat is rotated when the seat fitting is transformed between "seat mode" and "wheelchair mode" such that when the seat fitting is in "seat mode" a person sitting on the seat leans against the front face of the backrest part and when the seat fitting is in "wheelchair mode" a wheelchair anchored against it is anchored against the rear face of the backrest part.

14. A seat fitting according to claim 13 wherein both the person sitting on the seat part when the seat fitting is in "seat mode" and the person sitting in the wheelchair when the seat fitting is in "wheelchair mode" face the same direction in the vehicle.

15. A seat fitting according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein the pivotal movement of the backrest part about a horizontal axis permits adjustment in the range of 22 to 42 degrees.

16. A seat fitting according to claim 15 wherein the pivotal movement of the backrest part about a horizontal axis permits adjustment in the range of 27 to 37 degrees.

17. A seat fitting according to claim 16 wherein the pivotal movement of the backrest part about a horizontal axis permits adjustment of substantially 32 degrees.

18. A seat fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a seat belt is provided with an upper anchorage and retractor provided within the backrest part and two receivers, one on each side of the seat each for receipt of a tongue provided on the belt.

19. A seat fitting according to claim 18 wherein it includes two seat such seat belts, with one upper anchorage provided on each side of the backrest part.

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

21. A seat fitting specifically adapted for a vehicle having a support structure adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle and mounted thereon a seat comprising a backrest part and a seat part, the backrest part being pivotable between a plurality of different use positions and the seat part being pivotable between an in use position and a folded position, wherein the support structure includes a base portion adapted to be secured to the floor of the vehicle, an intermediate portion rotatable relative to the base portion about a first vertical axis and a top portion on which the seat is secured and which is rotatable relative to the intermediate portion of the support structure about a second vertical axis, the first and second vertical axes being spaced apart from each other.

22. A support structure specifically adapted for supporting an item relative to a surface, the support structure comprising a base portion adapted for securing to the surface, an intermediate portion connected to the base portion and rotatable about a first vertical axis relative to the base portion, and a top portion connected to the intermediate portion and rotatable about a second vertical axis relative to the intermediate portion, the first and second vertical axes being spaced apart from each other.

23. A support structure according to claim 22 wherein the a first locking mechanism is provided to lock the intermediate portion relative to the base portion and a second locking mechanism is provided to lock the top portion relative to the base portion.

24. A support structure according to claim 23 wherein the first locking mechanism enables the intermediate portion to be locked in a plurality of different positions relative to the base portion.

25. A support structure according to claim 23 or 24 wherein the second locking mechanism enables the top portion to be locked in a plurality of different positions relative to the intermediate portion.

26. A support structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.