Vehicle seat comprising a backrest that can be folded down forwards

• US 7,152,923 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Panet, David, Legras, Cédric, Lardais, Emmanuel, Thevenot, Gérald, Pierrey, Jean-François, Saint Supery, Jean-Gabriel, Lelaure, Xavier, Reubeuze, Yann, Charras, Fabrice
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US10/270,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 297/378.12, 297/341, 297/378.1
• US Class Current: 297/378.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/206 to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/225 by cycloidal or planetary mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2352 with external pawls

Abstract

Vehicle seat comprising a cushion and a backrest pivoting with respect to the cushion about a horizontal pivot axis by means of an articulation between a range of erect positions of use, a folded-flat position and an intermediate folded-down position.

This seat comprises a first, a second and a third control member connecting the cushion to the backrest, one of the first, second and third control members being distinct from the other two.

Claims

1. Vehicle seat comprising:

a cushion intended to be connected to a floor of the vehicle by slide rails,

a backrest mounted to pivot with respect to the cushion about a single horizontal pivot axis between a folded-flat position in which the backrest runs roughly horizontally parallel to the cushion and a plurality of comfort position in which the backrest extends roughly vertically and allows its user to sit in the seat, this comfort position lying in a range extending angularly between a rear erect position and a forward erect position of the backrest, the backrest being roughly perpendicular to the cushion when in the forward erect position, the backrest being at an obtuse angle with respect to the cushion when in the rear erect position,

a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of the backrest about said pivot axis with respect to the cushion comprising an articulation that can be actuated between an unlocked state that allows the backrest to rotate freely with respect to the cushion about the pivot axis and a locked state in which the rotation of the backrest with respect to the cushion is blocked in one of the plurality of comfort positions, this mechanism being designed to perform the three functions consisting in;

commanding the articulation to adjust the backrest into one of the plurality of the comfort positions, by rotating the backrest about said pivot axis within said range extending between the rear erect position and the forward erect position,

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis towards the folded-flat position, and

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis into an intermediate folded-down position between one of the adjusted comfort positions and the folded-flat position, the backrest pivoting between the folded-flat position, the intermediate folded-down position, and each of the plurality of comfort positions about the single pivot connecting the backrest to the cushion, no other pivots being provided between the backrest and the cushion to allow for such movement therebetween,

at least two control members separate from one another and acting on the control mechanism so as each to activate at least one of the three aforementioned functions, and a blocking mechanism itself comprising;

a rotary member, secured to a first seat element chosen from the backrest and the cushion, and

a blocking member, actuated by a transmission member and mounted to move on a second seat element, chosen from the cushion and the backrest, different from the one to which the rotary member is secured, the blocking member being movable between, on the one hand, an active position in which it comes into contact with a first stop of the rotary member when the backrest is in the intermediate folded-down position, preventing the backrest from pivoting towards its folded-flat position and, on the other hand, a retracted position in which it no longer interferes with the first stop, the blocking member being urged elastically towards its active position.

2. Seat according to claim 1, in which the blocking member is designed to engage with the rotary member, immobilizing the backrest with respect to the cushion when the backrest is in its folded-flat position.

3. Seat according to claim 1, in which the control member activating the tipping of the backrest towards the folded-flat position and the control member activating the tipping of the backrest in the intermediate folded-down position are separate from one another.

4. Seat according to claim 1, in which the control member activating the tipping of the backrest towards the intermediate folded-down position is mounted on a location chosen between the articulation and the top of the backrest.

5. Seat according to claim 1, in which one of the control members is able to actuate a blocking mechanism situated on the other side of the seat to the articulation.

6. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a cushion intended to be connected to a floor of the vehicle by slide rails,

a backrest mounted to pivot with respect to the cushion about a single horizontal pivot axis between a folded-flat position in which the backrest runs roughly horizontally parallel to the cushion and a plurality of comfort position in which the backrest extends roughly vertically and allows its user to sit in the seat, this comfort position lying in a range extending angularly between a rear erect position and a forward erect position of the backrest,

a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of the backrest about said pivot axis with respect to the cushion comprising an articulation that can be actuated between an unlocked state that allows the backrest to rotate freely with respect to the cushion about the pivot axis and a locked state in which the rotation of the backrest with respect to the cushion is blocked in one of the plurality of comfort positions, this mechanism being designed to perform the three functions consisting in;

commanding the articulation to adjust the backrest into one of the plurality of the comfort positions, by rotating the backrest about said pivot axis within said range extending between the rear erect position and the forward erect position.

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis towards the folded-flat position, and

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis into an intermediate folded-down position between one of the adjusted comfort positions and the folded-flat position,

at least two control members separate from one another and acting on the control mechanism so as each to activate at least one of the three aforementioned functions, and

a blocking mechanism itself comprising;

a rotary member, secured to a first seat element chosen from the backrest and the cushion, and

a blocking member, actuated by a transmission member and mounted to move on a second seat element, chosen from the cushion and the backrest, different from the one to which the rotary member is secured, the blocking member being movable between, on the one hand, an active position in which it comes into contact with a first stop of the rotary member when the backrest is in the intermediate folded-down position, preventing the backrest from pivoting towards its folded-flat position and, on the other hand, a retracted position in which it no longer interferes with the first stop, the blocking member being urged elastically towards its active position in which the rotary member comprises a cam surface designed to actuate a lever, itself designed to lock or unlock the slide rails, and which is mounted to move on the backrest between an active position in which the lever unlocks the slide rails, and a passive position in which the lever allows the slide rails to be locked.

7. Seat according to claim 6, in which the lever is urged elastically towards its passive position and the cam surface is designed to move the lever into its active position when the backrest is in its intermediate folded-down position.

8. Seat according to claim 7, in which the lever is able to hold the blocking member in its active position, when the backrest is in its intermediate folded-down position.

9. Vehicle seat comprising:

a cushion intended to be connected to a floor of the vehicle by slide rails,

a backrest mounted to pivot with respect to the cushion about a single horizontal pivot axis between a folded-flat position in which the backrest runs roughly horizontally parallel to the cushion and a plurality of comfort positions in which the backrest extends roughly vertically and allows its user to sit in the seat, this comfort position lying in a range extending angularly between a rear erect position and a forward erect position of the backrest, the backrest being roughly perpendicular to the cushion when in the forward erect position, the backrest being at an obtuse angle with respect to the cushion when in the rear erect position,

a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of the backrest about said pivot axis with respect to the cushion comprising an articulation that can be actuated between an unlocked state that allows the backrest to rotate freely with respect to the cushion about the pivot axis and a locked state in which the rotation of the backrest with respect to the cushion is blocked in one of the plurality of comfort position, this mechanism being designed to perform the three functions consisting in;

commanding the articulation to adjust the backrest into one of the plurality of the comfort positions, by rotating the backrest about said pivot axis within said range extending between the rear erect position and the forward erect position,

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis towards the folded-flat position, and

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis into an intermediate folded-down position between one of the adjusted comfort positions and the folded-flat position, the backrest pivoting between the folded-flat position, the intermediate folded-down position, and each of the plurality of comfort positions about the single pivot connecting the backrest to the cushion, no other pivots being provided between the backrest and the cushion to allow for such movement therebetween,

at least two control members separate from one another and acting on the control mechanism so as each to activate at least one of the three aforementioned functions, and

a blocking mechanism itself comprising;

a rotary member, secured to a first seat element chosen from the backrest and the cushion, and

a blocking member, mounted to move on a second seat element, chosen from the cushion and the backrest, different from the one to which the rotary member is secured, the blocking member being movable between, on the one hand, an active position in which it comes into contact with a first stop of the rotary member when the backrest is in the intermediate folded-down position, preventing the backrest from pivoting towards its folded-flat position and, on the other hand, a retracted position in which it no longer interferes with the first stop, the blocking member being urged elastically towards its retracted position.

10. Seat according to claim 9, in which the blocking member is designed to engage with the rotary member, immobilizing the backrest with respect to the cushion when the backrest is in its folded-flat position.

11. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a cushion intended to be connected to a floor of the vehicle by slide rails,

a backrest mounted to pivot with respect to the cushion about a single horizontal pivot axis between a folded-flat position in which the backrest runs roughly horizontally parallel to the cushion and a plurality of comfort positions in which the backrest extends roughly vertically and allows its user to sit in the seat, this comfort position lying in a range extending angularly between a rear erect position and a forward erect position of the backrest,

a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of the backrest about said pivot axis with respect to the cushion comprising an articulation that can be actuated between an unlocked state that allows the backrest to rotate freely with respect to the cushion about the pivot axis and a locked state in which the rotation of the backrest with respect to the cushion is blocked in one of the plurality of comfort position, this mechanism being designed to perform the three functions consisting in;

commanding the articulation to adjust the backrest into one of the plurality of the comfort positions, by rotating the backrest about said pivot axis within said range extending between the rear erect position and the forward erect position,

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis towards the folded-flat position, and

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis into an intermediate folded-down position between one of the adjusted comfort positions and the folded-flat position,

at least two control members separate from one another and acting on the control mechanism so as each to activate at least one of the three aforementioned functions, and

a blocking mechanism itself comprising;

a rotary member, secured to a first seat element chosen from the backrest and the cushion, and

a blocking member, mounted to move on a second seat element, chosen from the cushion and the backrest, different from the one to which the rotary member is secured, the blocking member being movable between, on the one hand, an active position in which it comes into contact with a first stop of the rotary member when the backrest is in the intermediate folded-down position, preventing the backrest from pivoting towards its folded-flat position and, on the other hand, a retracted position in which it no longer interferes with the first stop, the blocking member being urged elastically towards its retracted position in which the rotary member comprises a cam surface designed to actuate a lever, itself designed to lock or unlock the slide rails, and which is mounted to move on the backrest between an active position in which the lever unlocks the slide rails, and a passive position in which the lever allows the slide rails to be locked.

12. Seat according to claim 11, in which the lever is urged elastically toward its active position and the cam surface is designed to move the lever into its passive position when the backrest is in an adjusted comfort position or in its folded-flat position.

13. Seat according to claim 12, in which the lever is able to hold the blocking member in its active position, when the backrest is in its intermediate folded-down position.

14. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a cushion intended to be connected to a floor of the vehicle by slide rails,

a backrest mounted to pivot with respect to the cushion about a single horizontal pivot axis between a folded-flat position in which the backrest runs roughly horizontally parallel to the cushion and a plurality of comfort positions in which the backrest extends roughly vertically and allows its user to sit in the seat, this comfort position lying in a range extending angularly between a rear erect position and a forward erect position of the backrest,

a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of the backrest about said pivot axis with respect to the cushion comprising an articulation that can be actuated between an unlocked state that allows the backrest to rotate freely with respect to the cushion about the pivot axis and a locked state in which the rotation of the backrest with respect to the cushion is blocked in one of the plurality of comfort positions, this mechanism being designed to perform the three functions consisting in;

commanding the articulation to adjust the backrest into one of the plurality of the comfort positions, by rotating the backrest about said pivot axis within said range extending between the rear erect position and the forward erect position.

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis towards the folded-flat position, and

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis into an intermediate folded-down position between one of the adjusted comfort positions and the folded-flat position,

at least two control members separate from one another and acting on the control mechanism so as each to activate at least one of the three aforementioned functions, and

a blocking mechanism itself comprising;

a rotary member, secured to a first seat element chosen from the backrest and the cushion, and

a blocking member, mounted to move on a second seat element, chosen from the cushion and the backrest, different from the one to which the rotary member is secured, the blocking member being movable between, on the one hand, an active position in which it comes into contact with a first stop of the rotary member when the backrest is in the intermediate folded-down position, preventing the backrest from pivoting towards its folded-flat position and, on the other hand, a retracted position in which it no longer interferes with the first stop, the blocking member being urged elastically towards its retracted position in which the control member activating the tipping of the backrest towards the folded-flat position and the control member activating the tipping of the backrest in the intermediate folded-down position are separate from one another.

15. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a cushion intended to be connected to a floor of the vehicle by slide rails,

a backrest mounted to pivot with respect to the cushion about a single horizontal pivot axis between a folded-flat position in which the backrest runs roughly horizontally parallel to the cushion and a plurality of comfort position in which the backrest extends roughly vertically and allows its user to sit in the seat, this comfort position lying in a range extending angularly between a rear erect position and a forward erect position of the backrest,

a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of the backrest about said pivot axis with respect to the cushion comprising an articulation that can be actuated between an unlocked state that allows the backrest to rotate freely with respect to the cushion about the pivot axis and a locked state in which the rotation of the backrest with respect to the cushion is blocked in one of the plurality of comfort position, this mechanism being designed to perform the three functions consisting in;

commanding the articulation to adjust the backrest into one of the plurality of the comfort positions, by rotating the backrest about said pivot axis within said range extending between the rear erect position and the forward erect position,

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis towards the folded-flat position, and

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis into an intermediate folded-down position between one of the adjusted comfort positions and the folded-flat position,

at least two control members separate from one another and acting on the control mechanism so as each to activate at least one of the three aforementioned functions, and

a blocking mechanism itself comprising;

a rotary member, secured to a first seat element chosen from the backrest and the cushion, and

a blocking member, mounted to move on a second seat element, chosen from the cushion and the backrest, different from the one to which the rotary member is secured, the blocking member being movable between, on the one hand, an active position in which it comes into contact with a first stop of the rotary member when the backrest is in the intermediate folded-down position, preventing the backrest from pivoting towards its folded-flat position and, on the other hand, a retracted position in which it no longer interferes with the first stop, the blocking member being urged elastically towards its retracted position in which the control member activating the tipping of the backrest towards the intermediate folded-down position is mounted on a location chosen between the articulation and the top of the backrest.

16. Vehicle seat comprising:

a cushion intended to be connected to a floor of the vehicle by slide rails,

a backrest mounted to pivot with respect to the cushion about a single horizontal pivot axis between a folded-flat position in which the backrest runs roughly horizontally parallel to the cushion and a plurality of comfort position in which the backrest extends roughly vertically and allows its user to sit in the seat, this comfort position lying in a range extending angularly between a rear erect position and a forward erect position of the backrest, the backrest being roughly perpendicular to the cushion when in the forward erect position, the backrest being at an obtuse angle with respect to the cushion when in the rear erect position,

a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of the backrest about said pivot axis with respect to the cushion comprising an articulation that can be actuated between an unlocked state that allows the backrest to rotate freely with respect to the cushion about the pivot axis and a locked state in which the rotation of the backrest with respect to the cushion is blocked in one of the plurality of comfort positions, this mechanism being designed to perform the three functions consisting in;

commanding the articulation to adjust the backrest into one of the plurality of the comfort positions, by rotating the backrest about said pivot axis within said range extending between the rear erect position and the forward erect position,

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis towards the folded-flat position, and

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis into an intermediate folded-down position between one of the adjusted comfort positions and the folded-flat position, the backrest pivoting between the folded-flat position, the intermediate folded-down position, and each of the plurality of comfort positions about the single pivot connecting the backrest to the cushion, no other pivots being provided between the backrest and the cushion to allow for such movement therebetween,

at least two control members separate from one another and acting on the control mechanism so as each to activate at least one of the three aforementioned functions, and

a blocking mechanism which pivots as one with the backrest in its pivoting about said pivot axis.

17. Seat according to claim 16, comprising a blocking member and a lever, both mounted to pivot on the backrest, the blocking member being controlled via the control member activating the tipping of the backrest in the intermediate folded-down position, between a retracted position, in which it does not interact with the lever, and an active position in which it causes the lever to rotate with the backrest when the latter pivots about said pivot axis from one of the plurality of comfort positions to the intermediate folded-down position.

18. Seat according to claim 17, in which the lever blocks the rotation of the backrest in the intermediate folded-down position when it pivots towards the folded-flat position, resting against an element secured to the cushion.

19. Seat according to claim 16, in which the blocking member is returned by first elastic means toward a retracted position in which it does not interact with the lever, and the lever is returned by second elastic means, independent of the first elastic means, to a passive position in which it does interact with the blocking member and allows the slide rails to be locked.

20. Seat according to claim 16, in which the control member activating the tipping of the backrest toward the folded-flat position and the control member activating the tipping of the backrest in the intermediate folded-down position are separate from one another.

21. Seat according to claim 16, in which the control member activating the tipping of the backrest toward the intermediate folded-down position is mounted on a location chosen between the articulation and the top of the backrest.

22. Seat according to claim 16, in which one of the control members is able to actuate a blocking mechanism situated on the other side of the seat to the articulation.

23. Seat according to claim 16, in which the control member activating the tipping of the backrest toward the folded-flat position and the control member controlling the articulation are coincident.

24. Seat according to claim 16, in which the blocking mechanism comprises a lever mounted to pivot on the backrest designed to command the locking and unlocking of the slide rails.

25. Seat according to claim 16, in which the lever comprises guide means designed so that the lever is driven toward its active position in which it causes the unlocking of the slide rails, in the rotation of the backrest from a comfort position towards the intermediate folded-down position so as to prevent the unlocking of the slide rails when the backrest is in the folded-flat position.

26. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a cushion intended to be connected to a floor of the vehicle by slide rails,

a backrest mounted to pivot with respect to the cushion about a single horizontal pivot axis between a folded-flat position in which the backrest runs roughly horizontally parallel to the cushion and a plurality of comfort positions in which the backrest extends roughly vertically and allows its user to sit in the seat, this comfort position lying in a range extending angularly between a rear erect position and a forward erect position of the backrest,

a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of the backrest about said pivot axis with respect to the cushion comprising an articulation that can be actuated between an unlocked state that allows the backrest to rotate freely with respect to the cushion about the pivot axis and a locked state in which the rotation of the backrest with respect to the cushion is blocked in one of the plurality of comfort position, this mechanism being designed to perform the three functions consisting in;

commanding the articulation to adjust the backrest into one of the plurality of the comfort positions, by rotating the backrest about said pivot axis within said range extending between the rear erect position and the forward erect position,

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis towards the folded-flat position, and

commanding a tilting of the backrest by rotating it about said pivot axis into an intermediate folded-down position between one of the adjusted comfort positions and the folded-flat position,

at least two control members separate from one another and acting on the control mechanism so as each to activate at least one of the three aforementioned functions, and

a blocking mechanism which pivots as one with the backrest in its pivoting about the pivot axis;

a blocking member and a lever, both mounted to pivot on the backrest, the blocking member being controlled by the control member activating the tipping of the backrest in the intermediate folded-down position, between a retracted position, in which it does not interact with the lever, and an active position in which it causes a lever to rotate with the backrest when the ladder pivots about the pivot access from a comfort position to the intermediate folded-down position, in which the lever, when driven by the blocking member in the pivoting of the backrest from one of the plurality of comfort position to the intermediate folded-down position, commands the unlocking of the slide rails.