WO2001030607A1

WO2001030607A1 - A vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: WO2001030607A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/004114
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leslie Ronald Wilson
Original assignee: Leslie Ronald Wilson
Priority date: 1999-10-26
Filing date: 2000-10-25
Publication date: 2001-05-03
Also published as: AU7936300A; GB9925338D0

Abstract

A vehicle seat (1) is provided with a tray table (4) mounted on the back (2) of a seat for movement between an upright or stored position and a susbtantially horizontal operative position. The tray table (4) is formed of a housing (5) comprising two pivotally inter-connected components (12, 13). When the tray table (4) is in the operative position, the upper component (13) of the housing may be moved pivotally relative to the lower component (12) of the housing to provide access to the interior of the housing (5). The housing may contain electronic apparatus which may incorporate a key-pad and a display screen.

Description

"A VEHICLE SEAT"

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly relates to a vehicle seat for use in an aircraft or a motor vehicle such as a coach or MPV.

It has been proposed previously to provide the rear part of a vehicle seat with a "tray-table" which can be moved from an initial substantially vertical position in which the tray-table is flush with the back of the seat, to a lowered or extended position where the tray-table extends substantially horizontally and constitutes a table that may be used by a person sitting in a seat behind the seat in question. Such tray-tables are familiar in the context of aeroplanes.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved vehicle seat.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat being provide with a tray-table mounted on the back of the seat for movement between an upright or stored position, and a substantially horizontal operative condition, the tray-table presenting, in the operative position, an upper surface adapted to support items, the tray-table being formed of a housing comprising two pivotally inter-connected components, the arrangement being such that when the tray-table is in the operative position, the upper component of the housing constituting the tray-table may be moved pivotally relative to the lower component of the housing to provide access to the interior of the housing.

Preferably electronic apparatus is contained with the housing.

Conveniently the electronic apparatus comprises a key-pad and a display screen.

Advantageously the electronic apparatus incorporates a disc drive, means being provided to enable a disc to be inserted into the disc drive from the exterior of the housing.

In an alternative embodiment the housing is provided with a socket adapted to receive a plug mounted on a cable, means being provided to supply information to the electronic apparatus through the cable.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view of a vehicle seat in accordance with the invention with a tray-table in the elevated position,

FIGURE 2 is a view corresponding to the upper part of Figure 1 showing a tray-table in the lowered or horizontal position, FIGURE 3 is a side view showing the tray-table in the horizontal position but with the upper element of the tray-table pivoted upwardly,

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view from above for purposes of explanation.

Referring initially to the drawings, a vehicle seat 1, such as a seat in an aircraft is illustrated. The seat comprises a back 2 and a squab (not shown in the figures). The seat is provided with arm-rests 3.

Mounted on the rear face of the back 2 of the seat is a tray-table 4. The tray-table 4 comprises a housing 5 which will be described hereinafter in greater detail which is mounted to the back of the seat by two support arms 6, 7, which extend from either side of the housing, each support arm terminating in a pivotal connection 8, 9, between the support arm and the back of the seat.

A catch 10 is provided in alignment with the upper edge of the tray-table which may be utilised to retain the tray-table in the illustrated upright stored position as shown in Figure 1. When in the upright position at least part of the tray-table may be accommodated within a recess provided for that purpose in the back 2 of the seat so that the housing 5 of the tray-table 4 does not project substantially beyond the rear face of the back 2 of the seat 1.

By releasing the catch 10, the tray-table may be moved, as can be seen in Figure 2, from the initial vertical position, in which the tray-table is accommodated within the recess 11 which is visible in Figure 2, to a horizontal position, as shown. When in the horizontal operative position, the tray-table may be used as a table, with items of food, for example, being rested upon the horizontal upper surface of the housing 5. This upper surface of the housing 5 may be provided with convenient recesses, such as recess to locate and accommodate a cup or a glass.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the housing 5 is, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, constituted by two components, namely a base component 12 which is the component that is actually connected to the support arms 6 and 7, and an upper component or "lid" 13 which is pivotally connected to the base component 12 along the side of the base component 12 immediately adjacent the back of the seat. Thus, it is to be understood that the lid 13 may be opened to occupy the position shown in Figure 3 in which the lid 13 extends substantially upwardly to lie almost adjacent the back 2 of the seat 1 on which the tray-table is mounted.

It is thus to be appreciated that the housing 5, constituted by the two components 12, 13, constitutes a container which can be opened. The container may initially contain items such as books, magazines or toys for use by children. However, it is envisaged that the container may contain electronic apparatus, such as an electronic game apparatus of the type illustrated in Figure 4.

As can be seen from Figure 4, the base component 12 of the housing 5 is provided with a key-pad 14 and a display screen 15. The key-pad 14 may be utilised to play a "game" which is visible on the display screen 15. As can be seen from Figure 2, the base component 12 may be provided with an access slot 16 adapted to receive, for example, a floppy disc such as an 88.9 mm (3V2") floppy disc, or even a compact disc. An appropriate disc drive is located behind the slot 10. As can be seen from the diagrammatic figure of Figure 14, a socket 17 may be provided on the base component 12 of the housing, adapted to receive a plug 18 formed on a cable 19. The other end of the cable 19 may be provided with a plug 20 adapted to be received in a socket 21 formed in one arm 22 of the seat located behind the seat illustrated in Figure 1. The disc drive behind the slot 16 may be used to receive information, such as information relating to a game being played, or alternatively information may be passed through the lead 19.

Whilst, in the illustrated embodiment, the display screen is present in the base part 12 of the housing, in an alternative embodiment the display screen could be present in the lid 13 of the housing.

In the described embodiment the electronic apparatus is a game apparatus. However, the electronic apparatus may be a computer.

In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of and "comprising" means "including or consisting of.

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

CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle seat, the vehicle seat being provide with a tray-table mounted on the back of the seat for movement between an upright or stored position, and a substantially horizontal operative condition, the tray-table presenting, in the operative position, an upper surface adapted to support items, the tray-table being formed of a housing comprising two pivotally inter-connected components, the arrangement being such that when the tray-table is in the operative position, the upper component of the housing constituting the tray- table may be moved pivotally relative to the lower component of the housing to provide access to the interior of the housing.

2. A seat according to Claim 1 wherein electronic apparatus is contained with the housing.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 2 wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a key-pad and a display screen.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein the electronic apparatus incorporates a disc drive, means being provided to enable a disc to be inserted into the disc drive from the exterior of the housing.

5. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the housing is provided with a socket adapted to receive a plug mounted on a cable, means being provided to supply information to the electronic apparatus through the cable.