GB2565214A

GB2565214A - A one-piece seat with discrete padding for a racing vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2565214A
Application number: GB1809625.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guido Castelli Pier
Original assignee: Sabelt SpA
Current assignee: Sabelt SpA
Priority date: 2017-06-12
Filing date: 2018-06-12
Publication date: 2019-02-06
Also published as: ES1215353U; GB201809625D0; FR3067301B3; ES1215353Y; FR3067301A3

Abstract

Seat 1 for a motor vehicle comprises a monocoque structure 7 forming a seat 8 and a backrest 9 from which fastening zones with micro-hooks 2 project. Plurality of discrete upholstery elements 10 have fastening zones with micro-loops 3, integral with upholstery elements, for removably engaging the upholstery elements with micro-hook fastening zones. The fastening zones with micro hooks may be colaminated with the monocoque structure to be integral it. Preferably, the micro hook and loop fasteners can attach upholstery pads, e.g. separate foam cushion pads to a monocoque racing or sport seat. The one-piece shell seat may be made of a stiff, light material, for example carbon fibre composite, glass fiber or mixed glass and carbon fibre, or thermoplastics.

Description

Monocoque seat for racing cars with discrete upholstery elements

Technical field

The present model relates to a seat for a motor vehicle, in particular a seat with a monocoque structure, intended for racing cars in particular.

Prior art

As is known, seats with a monocoque structure are particularly prized in sports cars, for many reasons.

For example, seats of this kind have a lower total weight compared to traditional seats and allow the total weight of the car to be reduced, contributing to an overall improvement in its performance.

Moreover, seats with a monocoque structure are considered to be safer overall, as the structure forms a kind of shell in which the driver is ensconced.

More than any other aspect, however, the sports car driver values the overall stiffness of the monocoque seat, both due to the one-piece structure, and for the manner of assembly to the chassis panel of the car, which is particularly rigid. This gives the driver better perception of the movements of the car.

Currently, these seats are typically upholstered using integral seat covers.

However, such seats have some drawbacks, and in particular they often force the driver to assume an uncomfortable driving position, especially when the driver is particularly tall or short, or needs or prefers softer upholstery.

There is therefore a need to improve said seats, maintaining the advantages derived from the monocoque feature, but improving the comfort and adaptability of the seat, in relation to the characteristics of the driver's body, and his requirements.

Summary of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to produce a seat with a monocoque structure, in particular for sports cars, that satisfies the requirements of the sector and at the same time overcomes the drawbacks that have been mentioned.

The above aim and other aims and advantages are achieved with a seat with a monocoque structure provided with discrete upholstery elements, according to claim 1. The claims dependent thereon describe variant embodiments.

To summarize, a motor vehicle seat comprises a monocoque structure that forms a seat and a backrest. The seat is provided, on discrete zones of the seat and removably, with upholstery elements that make it possible to adapt the shape of the seat to the specific characteristics of the driver's body.

Brief description of the drawings

The features and advantages of a seat according to one embodiment of the present invention will become clear from the following description, given as an example, and non-limiting. Reference is made to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. lisa perspective front view of a monocoque seat;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of an upholstery element;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upholstery element in Fig. 2.

Detailed description

Referring to the appended figures, a seat with a monocoque structure, suitable for fitting in the passenger compartment or cockpit of a vehicle, in particular of a sports car or racing car, is designated 1 overall.

The seat 1 comprises a monocoque structure 7, i.e. a one-piece structure, which forms a seat and a backrest 9.

The monocoque structure 7 may be made of a stiff, light material, for example a carbon fibre composite. Alternatively, other materials may be used, for example glass fibre or mixed glass and carbon fibre, or thermoplastics.

The seat 1 comprises a plurality of discrete, removable cushions or upholstery elements 10, also called upholstery pads.

On the surface of the seat 8 and on the surface of the backrest 9, the monocoque structure has a plurality of fastening zones with micro-hooks 2 projecting from the respective surfaces. The micro-hooks of the fastening zones 2 are able to catch on micro-loops provided on fastening zones with micro-loops 3 integral with the upholstery elements (10), for the purpose of removably attaching the upholstery elements 10 to the surfaces of the backrest and of the seat, which face the driver's body when in use.

The micro-hooks of the fastening zones with micro-hooks 2 of the monocoque structure 7 are preferably colaminated with the latter, and are preferably produced simultaneously with it.

The upholstery elements 10 may be of various shapes and dimensions. They may, for example, have convex or concave edges, depending on the surface zone of the backrest or of the seat where they will be applied. With a monocoque seat that has through holes 13, one or more upholstery elements may have a central opening, to be applied corresponding to an opening in the seat.

The upholstery elements may have thicknesses differing from one another. The thickness of one and the same upholstery element may vary from thinner zones to thicker zones. For example, some upholstery elements may have a larger thickness in certain lateral zones or have a smaller thickness in a central part thereof or on a side opposite the thicker side, depending on the zone of the seat where they will be applied.

According to one embodiment, some upholstery elements 10 may have shapes and dimensions matching or corresponding to one or more of the fastening zones with microhooks 2 of the seat 8 and of the backrest 9.

The upholstery elements 10 have primarily surface extension, with a first face 10a (or inner face) facing the seat 8 or the backrest 9 when in use, and a second face 10b (or outer face) that remains exposed, and supports the driver's body.

Preferably, the upholstery elements 10 comprise a body of spongy consistency made by injection of polyurethane foam. Strips of micro-loops, intended to be applied to an upholstery element 10 to constitute the fastening zones 3, may be placed in a mould cavity before injecting the polyurethane foam that forms the body of the element and that in this way, once formed, has on its surface the micro-loops integral with the body of the upholstery element.

The upholstery elements 10 may comprise a covering 20 having one or more covering elements defined here as external or aesthetic, for example made of leather or fabric, and one or more strips or portions 30 of textile material with micro-loops that define fastening zones with micro-loops 3, attachable removably, by pulling, with the fastening zones with micro-hooks 2 of the monocoque structure 7.

The external or aesthetic covering 20 covers the upholstery elements 10 constituting entirely or at least partly their exposed face 10b, but may also cover at least part of the surface 10a of the upholstery elements intended to face the monocoque structure 7.

The external or aesthetic covering 20 may also extend over one or more lateral surfaces of the upholstery elements 10, i.e. the surfaces that connect the faces 10a and 10b. This may be preferable in the case when an upholstery element is applied at a certain distance from the adjacent upholstery element, then also leaving part of the lateral surfaces of the upholstery elements exposed to view.

The external or aesthetic covering 20 may be stapled or sewn or attached mechanically to the spongy body of each upholstery element. In one embodiment, the external or aesthetic covering 20 is applied to the spongy body of the upholstery element by one or more strips of micro-loops. The strips of micro-loops may, for this purpose, be provided on an edge of the covering 20, which has an outer face with micro-loops, i.e. facing outwards to engage with the micro-hooks of the seat, and an opposite inner face, or facing inwards, that can engage with micro-hooks integral with the spongy body of the upholstery element. For this purpose, the strips of micro-hooks may be glued or incorporated on the spongy body by injection of the latter. For example, one or more strips with micro-hooks may be put in a mould cavity before injecting the polyurethane foam that forms the body of the element, which in this way, once formed, has on its surface the micro-hooks that are to engage with the micro-loops on the edge of the covering.

The manner of using the seat 1 envisages personalized configuration of the upholstery of the seat 8 and of the backrest 9, by means of the upholstery elements 10. The upholstery elements 10 may be positioned on the fastening zones with micro-hooks 2 of the seat and/or of the backrest for the purpose of cushioning blows, increasing comfort and optimizing the extent of the possible movements of the driver relative to the seat. By using thicker or thinner upholstery elements applied on the front edge of the seat it is possible to adjust the distance of the driver's foot from the pedals, depending on his or her height.

The ease of adjusting the upholstery as a function of the particular characteristics of the driver's body, as well as the speed, simplicity and inexpensiveness of the changes to the upholstery, will be appreciated.

Preferably the fastening zones with micro-hooks 2 are spaced apart and/or distributed so as to apply the upholstery elements distanced from one another, allowing air to circulate between the driver's body and the seat. Moreover, upholstery with discrete elements that are spaced apart may lead to overall weight reduction of the seat, relative to conventional single continuous upholstery.

An aesthetic advantage connected with the presence of discrete upholstery elements is that selected zones of the monocoque structure 7 of the seat remain visible, for example showing to advantage the carbon-look of a carbon-fibre composite monocoque.

As may be appreciated, the seat with a monocoque structure according to the solution described here satisfies the sector requirements, as it is light and stiff, and overcomes the drawbacks relative to the assuming of an uncomfortable position by the driver, as it allows both height adjustment for the thighs and thus of the distance from the pedals, and better driver comfort, both for contact of the driver's body with the upholstered surface and for better aeration of the backrest.

In all the embodiments, the choice of the positioning and number of the upholstery elements or of the continuous or discontinuous character of the covering that they define is not to be regarded as limiting.

Various aspects and embodiments of the seat have been described. It is intended that each embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment. Moreover, the solution is not limited to the embodiments described, but may be varied within the scope defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Seat (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a monocoque structure (7) that forms a seat (8) and a backrest (9), a plurality of discrete upholstery elements (10), fastening zones with micro-hooks (2) projecting from the surface of the seat (8) and of the backrest (9) of the monocoque structure (7), and fastening zones with micro-loops (3), integral with the upholstery elements (10), for engaging the upholstery elements removably with the fastening zones with micro-hooks (2) of the monocoque structure (7).

2. Seat according to claim 1, wherein the monocoque structure (7) is made of composite material.

3. Seat according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein micro-hooks of the fastening zones with micro-hooks (2) are integral with the monocoque structure (7).

4. Seat according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upholstery elements (10) each comprise a body of spongy consistency covered at least partially by a covering element (20).

5. Seat according to claim 4, wherein at least one fastening zone with micro-loops (3) is presented by a strip with micro-loops (30) which is integral with a covering element (20) and is arranged on a face (10a) of the upholstery element (10) able to face towards the seat (7) when in use.

6. Seat according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening zones with micro-hooks (2) are spaced apart and/or distributed so as to apply the upholstery elements (10) distanced from one another on the seat.

7. Seat according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the upholstery elements have at least one thinner zone and one thicker zone.