GB2523818A

GB2523818A - Support for articles within vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2523818A
Application number: GB1404027.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Butler; Ana Zadnik
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-07
Filing date: 2014-03-07
Publication date: 2015-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-07
Also published as: GB2523818B; GB201404027D0

Abstract

A vehicle seat 4 is provided with a first support 8 and a second support (12, Fig.2), each for drinks containers or other articles for ready access by passengers. The supports are accessed by folding the seat back 5 forwards. The first and second support may be provided in the upper and lower portion of the rear of the seat back of a central seat in the second row of seats 1 within the vehicle respectively. The first support being accessed by removing a cover panel 6, and the second support being accessed by pivoting a panel away from the seat back. The seat may be arranged for longitudinal movement within the vehicle, which enables both the first and second supports to be optimally positioned for ready access by passengers in both the first and second rows. In vehicles provided with a third row of seats, the second support may further be accessed by passengers seated in the third row.

Description

SUPPORT FOR ARTICLES WITHIN VEHICLES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to arrangements for supporting articles in vehicles for easy access by passengers, and has particular application for use in road vehicles.

BACKGROUND

It is known to provide retractable drinking cup holders in vehicle seats. However, with conventional arrangements, the holders within each seat can normally be accessed by only one or two of the passengers within a vehicle.

It would be desirable to provide arrangements in which articles, such as drinking cups, cans and bottles, can be readily accessed by more of the passengers, and in particular, by passengers seated within two different rows within a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a vehicle seat comprising a first support for one or more articles accessible by passengers seated in a first rcw within the vehicle, and a second support for one or more articles accessible by passengers seated in a second row within the vehicle.

The terms, "first row" and "second row" are here intended to refer simply to two different seating rows within a vehicle, which could, for example, be the front and rear rows respectively, or vice versa, or could refer to two different rows within vehicles having more than two rows.

With such an arrangement, a single seat is arranged to support articles which can be accessed by passengers seated in two different rows.

The seats within road vehicles, such as cars, typically comprise a base portion and a seat back. The first and second supports are conveniently provided within such a seat back, and the seat back is arranged to be folded forward when the seat is not in use, and it is in this forward-folded configuration that the first and second supports are intended to be used.

The first support may conveniently be provided in an upper portion of the seat back, with the second support being provided in a lower portion of the seat back. In this context, and throughout this specification, the terms, upper" and "lower" refer to the relative orientations of the supports when the seat is in its operational configuration for use as a seat, in which the seat back is substantially vertical.

Either or both of the supports are preferably arranged to be hidden from view when not in use.

The first support may thus be hidden when not in use by a movable cover portion.

In the preferred arrangement, the second support may be extended from the rear side of the seat back, preferably by pivoting the support away from the rear side of the seat back. When retracted, the support may be located within a recess defined in the rear of the seat back.

The second support may be defined within a folding-panel arrangement which enables the second support to be hidden from view when retracted. The folding-panel arrangement includes a movable panel which is connected to a preferably fixed panel forming part of the seat back via a hinge arrangement.

Although the invention is particularly intended for supporting drinks containers, such as cups, glasses, cans and bottles, it could also be used for supporting other articles, such as mobile telephones, electronic music players or computer devices.

In a preferred arrangement, at least one of the supports is configured to enhance engagement with an article when the article is positioned on the support.

This may be achieved, for example, in a support comprising a base portion and one or more side portions, by arranging for the base portion to move downwardly under the weight of an article when the article is positioned on the support, thereby allowing a greater height of the supported article to bear against the side portions. The base portion may therefore be arranged to rest on a sprung support (not shown) which enables the base portion to move downwardly, or alternatively the base portion may be made from a resilient material. One or both of the supports may be configured in this way.

The invention extends to a vehicle comprising a vehicle seat of the above type. The vehicle is preferably a car, although it will be appreciated that the invention could also be incorporated, for example, in other types of road and/or rail vehicles.

The vehicle seat is preferably arranged for longitudinal movement within the vehicle between forward and rearward positions, thereby enabling an article supported by one of the first and second supports to be more readily accessible by a passenger. Thus, a passenger seated in the row in front of the vehicle seat could more easily access an article from one of the supports when the vehicle seat is in its forward position, and a passenger seated in a row behind the vehicle seat could more easily access an article when the vehicle seat is in its rearward position.

The invention is particularly intended to be put into practice in a vehicle of the above type and which comprises front, middle and rear rows of seats, in which case the longitudinally movable seat is arranged within the middle row, such that, when in the forward position, an article supported by the first support can be accessed by a passenger in the front row, and, when in the rearward position, an article supported by the second support can be accessed by a passenger in the rear row.

In some arrangements, an article supported by the first support can be accessed by a passenger in the middle row, and simultaneously an article supported by the second support can be accessed by a passenger in the rear row, both when the movable seat is in a forward position and in a rearward position.

It is advantageous for the vehicle seat to be located in a generally central position in the lateral direction of the vehicle, such that supported articles can be accessed by passengers seated on both sides of the supports.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a row of vehicle seats including a central seal in which a first support is exposed; and Figure 2 is a rear view of the row of vehicle seats shown in Figure 1, in which a second support of the central seat is exposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1, a row 1 of three vehicle seats includes two side seats 2, 3 and a central seat 4. The central seat 4 is formed from a seat base (not shown) and a seat back 5 having a rear-facing side and a forward-facing side (relative to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle). When not required for seating a passenger, the seat back 5 of the central seat 4 can be folded forward over the seat base, and the drawing illustrates this configuration. In this configuration the rear-facing side of Ihe seat back is directed upwards to provide a generally level supporting surface within the vehicle.

A cover panel 6 is provided in the upper region of the rear-facing side of the seat back 5 just below the headrest 7, where the terms, "upper" and below" relate to the near-vertical configuration of the seat back 5, i.e. when used as a seat. When the seat back 5 is folded forward, as in the drawing, the panel 6 can be slid down the seat back 5 to reveal a first support 8 for two drinks containers.

The first support 8 comprises two substantially circular depressed base portions 9 each surrounded by a respective conical wal portion 10 for supporting the drinks containers.

The area surrounding the conical wall portions 10 may be used to support other food items, such as sandwiches. Each base portion 9 is formed from resilient material which enables the base portion 9 to move downwardly, e.g. by up to 5 mm, under the weight of the drinks container. When the drinks container is lifted from the first support 8 by a passenger, the base portion 9 returns to its normal height under the resilience of the material of the base portion 9. The resulting increased depth of the first support 8 provides an enhanced grip of the drnks container by the wall portion 10, and yet maintains the aesthetic appearance of the seat in the absence of a drinks container.

In another embodiment, each base portion 9 rests on a sprung support (not shown) which enables the base portion 9 to move downwardly, e.g. by up to 5 mm, under the weight of the drinks container. In both this embodiment and the embodiment of Figure 1, it is the first support which has either the feature that a cup holder has a base portion which is made from a resilient material or the feature that the base portion is arranged to be able to move downwardly, but in alternative embodiments these features may alternatively or in addition be incorporated in one or more cup holders of the second support 12.

The central seat 4 is further arranged to move longitudinally within the vehicle, as indicated by the arrow 11, i.e. forwards or backwards along the direction of travel of the vehicle, and this enables the first support B to be positioned optimally for access of the drinks containers by passengers seated in the side seats 2, 3. Furthermore, by moving the folded central seat 4 further forward within the vehicle, it is possible for the drinks containers to be accessed by passengers seated in a row in front of the illustrated row 1.

When the first support 8 is no longer required, the cover panel 6 may be slid back so as to cover the first support 8.

Referring to Figure 2, the same row 1 of three vehicle seats as shown in Figure 1 is illustrated in a rear view. Again, the central seat 4 is shown with the seat back 5 folded forward over the seat base.

Within the lower portion of the rear-facing side of the seat back 5 there is provided a second support 12 for drinks containers. The second support 12 is provided by a folding panel 13 which enables the second support 12 to be hidden from view when retracted.

The folding panel 13 includes the second support 12 for two drinks containers and is connected, via a hinge mechanism (not shown), to a fixed panel 14 forming part of the seat back 5. Thus, when a passenger wishes to use the second support 12, the panel 13 is pivoted away from the fixed panel 14 within the seat back 5, is indicated by the arrow 15, to reveal the second support 12.

The second support 12 is substantially identical to the first support 8 and therefore also includes both base portions 9 and conical wall portions 10, with the base portions 9 being formed from resilient material. This arrangement maintains the aesthetic appearance of the seat back 5 when the second support 12 is retracted.

As mentioned above, the central seat 4 is arranged to move longitudinally within the vehicle. This enables the second support 12 to be positioned for optimal access of the drinks containers by passengers seated in the side seats 2, 3. Furthermore, in vehicles provided with a third row of seats, it is possible, by moving the folded central seat 4 backwards, for the drinks containers to be accessed by passengers seated in the third row.

The present invention finds particular application in large vehicles provided with three rows of seats, and in particular to such vehicles in which the entire second row of seats can be moved forward to create additional space in front of the third row of seats. With such a configuration, the central seat 4 of the second row 1 can be moved backward relative to the side seats 2, 3 of the second row 1 to enable passengers seated in the third row to access drinks containers from the second support 12 provided in the back of the central seat 4 of the second row 1.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the following claims.

Further aspects of the present invention are set out in the following numbered Clauses: Clause 1. A vehicle seat comprising a first support for one or more articles accessible by passengers seated in a first row within the vehicle, and a second support for one or more articles accessible by passengers seated in a second row within the vehicle.

Clause 2. A vehicle seat according to Clause 1, wherein the first and second supports are provided within the seat back, the seat back being arranged to be folded forward when the seat is not in use in which configuration the first and second supports are operational.

Clause 3. A vehicle seat according to Clause 2, wherein the first support is provided in an upper portion of the seat back and the second support is provided in a lower portion of the seat back.

Clause 4. A vehicle seat according to Clause 3, wherein at least one of the first and second supports can be hidden from view when not in use.

Clause 5. A vehicle seat according to Clause 4, wherein the first support is arranged to by hidden by means of a movable cover portion when not in use.

Clause 6 A vehicle seat according to Clause 3, wherein the second support is arranged to be extended from the rear side of the seat-back.

Clause 7. A vehicle seat according to Clause 6, wherein the second support is arranged to be extended by pivoting the support away from rear side of the seat back.

Clause 8. A vehicle seat according to Clause 6, wherein the second support may is defined within a folding-panel arrangement which enables the second support to be hidden from view when retracted.

Clause 9. A vehicle seat according to Clause 1, wherein at least one of the first and second supports is arranged to support a drinks container.

Clause 10. A vehicle seat according to Clause 1, wherein at least one of the first and second supports is configured to enhance engagement with an article when the article is positioned an the support.

Clause 11. A vehicle seat according to Clause 10, wherein the support comprises a base portion and one or more side portions, the base portion being arranged for downward movement under the weight of an article when the article is positioned on the support.

Clause 12. A vehicle seat according to Clause 11, wherein the base portion is formed from a resilient material.

Clause 13. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the base portion comprises a sprung support.

Clause 14. A vehicle comprising a vehicle seat according to Clause 1.

Clause 15. A vehicle according to Clause 14, the vehicle seat being arranged for longitudinal movement within the vehicle between forward and rearward positions, thereby enabling an article supported by one of the first and second supports to be more readily accessible by a passenger.

Clause 16. A vehicle according to Clause 15, and comprising front, midde and rear rows of seats, the longitudinally movable seat being arranged within the middle row, such that, when n the forward position, an article supported by the first support can be accessed by a passenger in the front row, and, when in the rearward position, an article supported by the second support can be accessed by a passenger in the rear row.

Clause 17. A vehicle according to Clause 14, wherein the seat is located in a generally central position in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A vehicle seat comprising a first support for one or more articles accessible by passengers seated in a first row within the vehicle, and a second support for one or more articles accessible by passengers seated in a second row within the vehicle.
2. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second supports are provided within the seat back, the seat back being arranged to be folded forward when the seat is not in use, in which configuration the first and second supports are operational.
3. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first support is provided in an upper portion of the seat back and the second support is provided in a lower portion of the seat back.
4. A vehicle seat as claimed in clam 3, wherein at least one of the first and second supports can be hidden from view when not in use.
5. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first support is arranged to by hidden by means of a movable cover portion when not in use.
6. A vehicle seat as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the second support is arranged to be extended from the rear side of the seat-back.
7. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second support is arranged to be extended by pivoting the support away from rear side of the seat back.
8. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the second support is defined within a folding-panel arrangement which enables the second support to be hidden from view when retracted.
9. A vehicle seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second supports is arranged to support a drinks container.
10. A vehicle seat as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second supports is configured to enhance engagement with an article when the article is positioned on the support.
11. A vehicle seat as claimed in caim 10, wherein the support comprises a base portion and one or more side portions, the base portion being arranged for downward movement under the weight of an article when the article is positioned on the support.
12. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the base portion is formed from a resilient material.
13. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the base portion comprises a sprung support.
14. A vehicle comprising a vehicle seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 14, the vehicle seat being arranged for longitudinal movement within the vehicle between forward and rearward positions, thereby enabling an article supported by one of the first and second supports to be more readily accessible by a passenger.
16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15, and comprising front, middle and rear rows of seats, the longitudinally movable seat being arranged within the middle row, such that, when in the forward position, an article supported by the first support can be accessed by a passenger in the front row, and, when in the rearward position, an article supported by the second support can be accessed by a passenger in the rear row.
17. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the seat is located in a generally central position in the lateral direction of the vehicle.
18. A vehicle seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.