GB2301279A - Vehicle seating - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle seating unit, for seating two to three persons in the rear of a passenger car, includes a centre armrest 21 connected to a movable upper backrest portion 25 carrying a head restraint 24. When the armrest is pivoted from a horizontal to a vertical position, so that three people can be seated, the upper backrest and the head restraint are also moved so as to place the head restraint in an in-use position. When the armrest is lowered, the head restraint is automatically retracted so that it does not impede the driver's rearward vision.

Description

VEHICLE SEATING The invention relates to vehicle seating and particularly to seatIng units in which an armrest can be folded from a generally horizontal position of use into a generally vertical position of use where it is incorporated in a backrest. Such a seating unit is typically provided at the rear of a passenger car as a 2/3 seat arrangement in which the armrest can be shared by two occupants seated side by side or can be folded back to allow a third person to be seated between the other two.

A problem with such a seating unit is that if a head restraint is provided it is liable to obscure the view of the driver through his interior rear view mirror or if he is looking rearward for reversing.

According to one aspect of the present invention a seating unit, particularly for vehicles, includes a first seat comprising a seat cushion, a backrest and a head restraint, the backrest comprising an armrest mounted on a seat frame for movement between a first, generally vertical, position of use in which it acts as a back support for an occupant seated on the seat cushion and a second, generally horizontal, position of use in which it acts as an armrest for an occupant in a second seat alongside the first seat and an upper backrest portion which carries the head restraint and which is operably connected to the armrest and movable by the armrest between a first, operative, position when the armrest is in the first position and a second, retracted position when the armrest is in its second position.In this way when the armrest is incorporated in a 2;3 seat arrangement as referred to above and is folded for use by just two occupants, the headrest is retracted so as nct to obscure the driver's view. If a person wishes to occupy the centre seat then the armrest has to be moved into its generally vertical position, thereby moving the head restraint into its operative position.

Preferably the upper backrest portion is guided for movement in a generally vertical direction, in which case the upper backrest portion may be carried by sliders supported by a seat frame. A link may be pivotally connected ts the armrest and to the upper backrest port ion te provide the operable connection between the armrest and the upper backrest portion. Preferably the link is cranked to provide elbow clearance.

The head restraint may be integral with the upper backrest portion.

One problem with conventional armrests in vehicle seating s that in their simplest form they rotate about a fixed pivot on a seat frame and abut the seat cushion when folded down. Hence the height of the armrest is to a large extent dependent on the thickness of the seat backrest.

However, in one embodiment of the invention, the armrest is pivotal about a lower pivot position when in the first position and an upper pivot position above the lower pilot position when in the second position and in this case the armrest is conveniently pivotal on a pivot pin which is engaged in an inverted L shaped slot in the seat frame, the pivot pin engaging the lower end of the slot when the armrest is in the first position and engaging the rearmost upper end of the slot when the armrest is in the second position. This allows a clearance between the underside of the armrest and the seat cushion when folded down for use.

The arrangement of armrest pivot described above can have general application so, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a seating unit, particularly for vehicles, includes a first seat comprising a seat cushion and a backrest, the backrest comprising an armrest mounted on a seat frame for movement between a first, generally vertical, position of use in which it acts as a back support for an occupant seated on the seat cushion and a second, generally horizontal, position of use in which it acts as an armrest for an occupant in a second seat alongside the first seat, the armrest being pivotal on a pivot pin which is engaged in an inverted L shaped slot in the seat frame, the pivot pin engaging the lower end of the slot to provide a lower pivot position when the armrest is in the first position and engaging the rearmost upper end of the slot to provide an upper pivot position when the armrest is in the second position.

Alternatively, the armrest may be pivotal on a pivot pin on a link pivoted to the seat frame, the pivot pin being in a first stop position when the armrest is in the first position and in a second stop position when the armrest is in the second position.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the subsidiary claims and the following description of the invention which is by way cf example and refers to the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger car rear seating unit showing two seats side by side and a centre armrest; Fig. 2 is a view of the seating unit shown in Fio. 1 and with the armrest folded into a generally vertical positicn to provide space for a third occupant; rig 3 is a rear perspective view of part of a seat frame of the seating unit shown in Fig. 1 together with the armrest, backrest and head restraint, the parts being in a pcsition corresponding to Fig. 1;; Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 but with the parts in the position corresponding to those in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a wire frame diagram showing the parts shown in Fig. 4 and an occupant of the seat in side elevation; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but without seat upholstery, showing a modified seat frame; Fig. 7 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, of the seat frame shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a bracket shown in Figs. 6 and 7; and Fig 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing an alternative bracket.

The seating unit shown In Figs. 1 and 2 is in the form of a bench seat for two to three people with what is usually referred to as a 60/40 split. The seating unit 11 includes a right hand (as viewed from the rear of the vehicle) seat 12 which comprises a seat cushion 13, a backrest 14 and a head restraint 15. It also includes a left hand (as viewed from the rear of the vehicle) seat 16 which comprises a seat cushion 17, a backrest 18 and a head restraint 19.

.s shown in Fig. 1 an armrest 21 extends generally horizontally between the seats 12 and 16. The armrest 21 can be folded into a generally vertical position as shown in Fig. 2 where it forms part of a backrest for an occupant of a centre seat 22, between the right and left hand seats 12 and 18. The seat cushion 23 of the centre seat 22 is formed as an extension of the seat cushion i7 of the left hand seat 16.

As described so far, the seating unit 11 is conventional. However, in accordance with the Invention the centre seat 22 has an upper backrest portion 25 which is operably connected to the armrest 21 and is movable by the armrest between a first, operative, position as shown in Fig. 2 when the armrest is in a first, generally vertical position of use in which the armrest acts as a back support for the centre seat and a second, retracted, position as shown in Fig. 1 when the armrest is in a second, generally horizontal position of use in which it acts as an armrest as shown in Fig. 1. A head restraint 24 is carried on the upper backrest portion 25 and is thus also movable with the upper backrest portion.

Pigs. 3 te 5 show that the upper backrest portion 25 includes a frame 26 having two parallel sliders 2 which are slioable in two generally channel-shaped side rails 28 attached ts a frame member 29 which forms part of the frame of the backrest 18 of the left hand seat 16. The head restraint 24 of the centre seat 22 is connected to the upper backrest portion 25 in a known manner which may include provision for adjustment of height and angle.

The armrest 21 is pivoted at 31 to a pair of brackets 32 attached to the frame member 29. Two cranked links 33 are each pivotally connected to the armrest 21 at a position forward of the pivot 31 (as viewed with the armrest down) and to the respective slider 27 at a pivot 35. In use the armrest 21 can be pivoted about pivots 31 from the generally horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to the generally vertical position shown In Figs. 2, 4 and 5, and in doing so the links 33 move the sliders 27 of the frame 26 upwards In the side rails 28 thereby moving the upper backrest portion 25 and the head restraint 24 into a position of use, as shown more particularly in Fig.

5.

When the armrest 21 is in the down position (Fig. 1), the upper backrest portion 25 substantially fills the gap between the armrest and the head restraint 24 so that there is cushioned upholstery extending across the backs of the seats.

The links 33 are cranked to allow elbow clearance for the occupants of the right and left-hand seats 12 and 16.

If required, counterbalance springs may be used to partially offset the weight of the upper backrest portion 25 and head restraint 24. These springs ma also serve as or be augmented by over-centre springs to maintain the armrest 21 at either of its two main positions.

In the modified frame shown in Figs. 6 to 8 parts which are the same as or are similar to those shown in Figs. 3 to 5 have the same reference numerical but with the addition of 100. A frame 126 for the upper backrest portion 25 has two parallel slider blocks 127 which are slidable on two tubular side rails 128 attached to a frame member 129 which itself attaches to the frame of the backrest 18 of the left hand seat 16. The head restraint 24 of the centre seat has an armature 136 connected to the upper backrest frame 126 by conventional guide bushes 137 which include provision for adjustment of height.

The armrest 21 is carried on a tubular frame 138 pivoted at pivot pins 131 to a pair of brackets 132 attached to the frame member 129. Two cranked links 133 are each pivotally connected to the armrest frame 138 at a position forward of the pivot 131 (as viewed with the armrest down) and to the respective slider block 127 at a pivot pin 135.

Each bracket 132 has a slot 139 which is an inverted L shape - a generally vertical portion 139A and a general" horizontal portion 139B extending backwards from the top of the vertical portIon 139A. When the armrest 21 is in the down position and the armrest frame 138 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the pivot pins 131 are each in an upper pivot position where they are lodaed at the rearmost end of the horizontal slot portion 139B so that the armrest is fully supported for any downward forces.When the armrest frame 138 is pivoted about the pivots 131 from the generally horizontal position shown in Fig. 6 to the generally vertical position shown in Fig. 7, the links 133 move -he slider blocks 127 upwards on the side rails 128 and move the backrest frame 126 and the head restraint armature 136 into a position of use, as previously described. However in so doing the pivot pins 13i are pulled into the vertical slot portions 139A where they fall to a lower pivot position at the lower end of each slot.

This allows the armrest 21 to occupy a lower position when stowed between the right hand and left hand backrest 14 and 18 but allows a clearance between the underside of the armrest and the seat cushion when folded down for use.

Although the head restraint 24 has been shown as mounted on the upper backrest portion 25, the head restraint may be integral with the upper backrest portion.

Fig. 9 shows a bracket 232 which is used as a pair as an alternative to the brackets 132 shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

Each bracket 232 carries a short link 241 pivoted at 242 to the bracket and has a pivot pin 231 for the armrest frame 138. As shown in full lines in Fig. 9 the pivot pin 231 is in a first stop position abutting an edge 232B of the bracket 232 to provide a lower pivot position for the armrest 21 when it is folded back into the seat back. When the armrest 21 is lowered the link 241 pivots to a second stop position at 231B as shown in dashed lines in Fig. 9 to provide an upper pivot position where the pivot 231 again abuts the edge 32B.

Other mechanisms can be used to operably connect the armrest 21 and the upper backrest portion 25, for example a crank arm on the armrest may be connected to the slider 27 through a Bowden cable. The seats 12, ;6 and 22 may be stowed in any conventional manner, either separately the right hand seat 12 on its own or the left hand and centre seats 16 and 22 as a unit) or completely so as te provide an extended load space.

Claims (11)

1. A seating unit, particularly for vehicles, and including a first seat comprising a seat cushion, a backrest and a head restraint, the backrest comprising an armrest mounted on a seat frame for movement between a first, generally vertical, position of use in which it acts as a back support for an occupant seated on the seat cushion and a second, generally horizontal, position of use in which it acts as an armrest for an occupant in a second seat alongside the first seat and an upper backrest portion which carries the head restraint and which is operably connected to the armrest and movable by the armrest between a first, operative, position when the armrest is in the first position and a second, retracted position when the armrest is in its second position.

. A seating unit according to Claim 1 wherein the upper backrest portion is guided for movement in a generally vertical direction.

3. A seating unit according to Claim 2 wherein the upper backrest portion is carried by sliders supported by a seat frame.

4. A seating unit according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein a link is pivotally connected to the armrest and to the upper backrest portion to provide the operable connection between the armrest and the upper backrest portion.

5. A seating unit according to Claim 4 wherein the link is cranked to provide elbow clearance.

6. A seating unit according to any preceding claim wherein the armrest is pivotal about a lower pivot position when in the first position and an upper pivot position above the lower pivot position when In the second position.

7. A seating unit according to Claim 6 wherein the armrest is pivotal on a pivot pin which is engaged in an inverted L shaped slot in the seat frame, the pivot pin engaging the lower end of the slot when the armrest is in the first position and engaging the rearmost upper end of the slot when the armrest is in the second position.

e. seating unit according to Claim 6 wherein the armrest is pivotal on a pivot pin on a link pivoted to the seat frame, the pivot pin being in a first stop position when the armrest is in the first position and .in a second stop position when the armrest is in the second position.

9. A seating unit according to any preceding claim wherein the head restraint is integral with the upper backrest portion.

10. A seating unit, particularly for vehicles, and including a first seat comprising a seat cushion and a backrest, the backrest comprising an armrest mounted on a seat frame for movement between a first, generally vertical, position of use in which it acts as a back support for an occupant seated on the seat cushion and a second, generally horizontal, position of use in which it acts as an armrest for an occupant in a second seat alongside the first seat, the armrest being pivotal on a pivot pin which is engaged in an inverted L shaped slot in the seat frame, the pivot pin engaging the lower end of the slot to provide a lower pivot position when the armrest is in the first position and engaging the rearmost upper end of the slot to provide an upper pivot position when the armrest Is in the second position.

11. A vehicle seating unit substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, or modified as described herein with reference to Figs. 6 to 8 or Pigs. 5 to 8 as modified by Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.