Convertible seat structure for an automobile vehicle

• US 4,382,629 A
• Filed: 12/02/1980
• Issued: 05/10/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Societe Anonyme Automobiles Citroen, Automobiles Peugeot (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Societe Anonyme Automobiles Citroen, Automobiles Peugeot (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Froumajou, Armand
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US06/212,097
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 297/316, 297/319-322, 297/324, 297/331, 297/334, 297/336, 296/65 R, 296/66
• US Class Current: 297/322
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/22 secured to the vehicle floor

Abstract

A convertible seat structure for an automobile vehicle includes a seat pivotably connected to the vehicle by a link member and a backrest pivotably connected to the vehicle at a pivot. At least one connecting bar connects the backrest and the seat with a pivotal movement of the backrest moving the seat longitudinally with respect to the vehicle and pivotally about the pivotal connection with the link member.

Claims

1. A convertible seat structure for an automobile vehicle and movable between an opened position for receiving a passenger and a closed position and comprising a support, a seat, link means for connecting the seat to the support and for allowing the seat to be forwardly raisable relative to the support about a first transverse axis, a backrest, means for connecting the backrest to the support and for allowing the backrest to be swung over forwardly relative to the support about a second transverse axis, at least one connecting bar pivoted to the seat and to the backrest to ensure that the movements of these two elements are simultaneous, and constraining means for controlling the orientation of the seat in the course of moving the seat structure between said two positions thereof, said link means including at least one link mounted adjacent a first end of the link on the support with the link pivotable about a third transverse axis relative to the support, the first transverse axis being disposed adjacent a second end of the link opposed to said first end of the link, the seat being pivotably connected to the link at the second end of the link, the link having a substantially vertical orientation when the seat structure is in said opened position, and said constraining means being operative, in a first stage of moving the seat structure from said opened position to said closed position thereof, to constrain the seat to move initially in a substantially horizontal direction while maintaining the seat in a substantially constant orientation thereof and thereafter to constrain the seat to swing upwardly and forwardly relative to the support about said first axis.

2. A seat structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting bar is curved and has a concave side which faces generally upwardly.

3. A seat structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising abutment means for limiting the pivotal movement of the link when the seat structure is in said closed position.

4. A seat structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in said opened position of the seat structure, the pivotal connection of the at least one connecting bar to the seat is located below a line intersecting the pivotal connection of the seat to the link and the pivotal connection of the bar to the backrest, whereas, in said closed position of the seat structure, the pivotal connection of the bar to the seat is located above said line, said constraining means comprising guide means rigid with the support and cooperative with a surface on the seat to guide the seat while said pivotal connection of the at lest one connecting bar to the seat travels from below to above said line intersecting the pivotal connection of the seat to the link and the pivotal connection of the bar to the backrest.

5. A seat structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the seat has in the rear part thereof recesses for arms carrying mens for hooking safety belts, said recesses being shaped and disposed to allow the seat to move away from and leave the arms in said first stage.

6. A seat structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the seat extends vertically beneath the backrest when the seat structure is in said opened position.

7. A convertible seat structure for an automobile vehicle and movable between an opened position for receiving a passenger and a closed position and comprising:

a seat including means defining a downwardly facing surface;

link means for pivotably connecting said seat to the vehicle, said link means including at least one link member pivotably connected to the vehicle at a first pivot and pivotably connected to the seat at a second pivot, said first pivot being adjacent a first end of the link and said second pivot being adjacent a second end of the link;

a backrest pivotably connected to the vehicle;

connecting means for connecting said seat and said backrest, said connecting means both moving said seat longitudinally with respect to the vehicle and pivoting said seat about said second pivot when said backrest is pivoted with respect to the vehicle;

guide means mounted on the vehicle and guidingly engaging said surface of the seat, for guiding the seat so that the seat travels in a substantially horizontal direction while the seat maintains a substantially constant orientation during an initial part of the movement of the seat structure from said opened position of the seat structure, said guide means thereafter guiding the seat to swing upwardly and forwardly of the vehicle about said second pivot.

8. The convertible seat structure of claim 7 wherein the connecting means includes at least one connecting bar pivotably connected to the seat at a third pivot and pivotably connected to the backrest at a fourth pivot.

9. The converticle seat structure of claim 8 wherein the third pivot of the at least one connecting bar is below a line extending between the fourth pivot of the at least one connecting bar and the second pivot of the at least one link member when the seat structure is in said opened position and is above said line when the seat structure is in said closed position.

10. The convertible seat structure of claim 7, 8 or 9 wherein the seat extends vertically beneath the backrest when the seat structure is in said opened position.