FR2463697A1 - VEHICLE COMPRISING A BODY WITH TWO SIDEWALLS AND A FLOOR, AND AT LEAST ONE SEAT PLACE BETWEEN THE REGIONS WITH REGARD TO TWO SIDEWALLS - Google Patents

Abstract

REAR SEAT CONSISTS OF A CANVAS STRETCHED BETWEEN TWO METAL TUBES PLACED ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE VEHICLE AND CAPABLE OF CLOSING AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS. THE SEAT CONSISTS OF A CANVAS 76 SUPPORTED BY TWO TUBES 20, 22 AND IT IS TENSIONED BY A ROD 86 AND DEVICES 90. THE TUBES MOUNT ONE INTO THE FRAMES 30, 32, THE OTHER IN THE FRAMES 54, 56. THESE FRAMES ARE FIXED TO THE SIDE WALLS OF THE VEHICLE.

Description

The present invention relates to

  carrying a body with two side walls and a floor, and

  least one seat placed between the zones opposite the two side walls.

  ral. The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle of the type indicated above, wherein said seat is extremely simple and functional, is economical to manufacture and more is

of varied use.

  To achieve this object, the invention provides a vehicle of the type indicated above, whose seat is characterized in that it comprises: a rigid support structure constituted by a

  upper tube extending transversely to the longitudinal axis

  tudinal of the vehicle, a lower tube parallel to said upper tube and substantially of equal length, and a first and second

  pair of mounts attached to the body of the vehicle and respectively supporting

  the upper and lower tubes at their ends, the

  first pair of frames being placed at a greater height

  above the floor of the vehicle than the second pair of frames, and being offset therefrom in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a flexible support structure constituted by a flexible cloth extending between the tubes and carried by them, the fabric having a length greater than the distance between the two tubes and a width substantially corresponding to the length of the two

tubes.

  a rod extending transversely relative to

  the vehicle and attached to the flexible fabric in an irre-

  between its extremities; and a tensioning means connected to the floor of the vehicle body and acting on at least one region of said rod between its ends, so as to force this flexible web to take a V-shaped configuration, with an inclined branch forming the backrest of the seat and a substantially horizontal branch called

  hereinafter basis of the seat as opposed to the file.

  In one embodiment of the invention, each of the tubes constituting the rigid support structure of the seat has a

  length substantially equal to the distance between the two walls -

  side of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the two

  tures supporting each tube are placed in opposition on the side walls. In another embodiment of the invention, each of the two tubes constituting the rigid support structure of the seat has a length substantially equal to half the distance between the two side walls of the vehicle body. In this case, one of the

  mounts associated with each tube is carried by one of the side walls

  while the other mount associated with the tube is carried by an intermediate support fixed to the floor of the vehicle body in a

  position between the two side walls.

  Preferably, in the two embodiments mentioned above, the ends of each tube are mounted removably

in their respective walls.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  tion will be better understood. reading the following description

  of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

  FIG. 1 represents in perspective and in

  part of a motor vehicle equipped with a seat according to a

  first embodiment of the invention, said seat being disposed in a first use position; - Figure 2 shows a section on an enlarged scale along line II-II of Figure 1, a second and a third position of use of the seat being shown in broken lines; - Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the seat of Figures 1 and 2; - Figure.4 represents a view similar to that

  of Figure 2, showing the seat in a fourth position of use.

  lisation; FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show three perspective views, on an enlarged scale, showing respectively a first, a second and a third pair of frames for the

seat of Figures 1 to 4.

2463d97

  FIG. 8 represents a broken view in pers-

  pective showing on an enlarged scale two details of Figure 3; FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing on an enlarged scale another detail of FIG. 3; - Figure 10 shows a view similar to that of Figure 1, but showing a pair of seats according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 11 represents a section on an enlarged scale along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10;

  - Figure 12 shows a rear view in elevation

  in the direction of the arrows XII of Figure 11; and FIGS. 13 and 14 represent longitudinal sections, on an enlarged scale, according to lines XIII-XIII

and XIV-XIV of Figure 11.

  FIG. 1 shows part of the rear region of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, this rear region being delimited by the two side walls 10 and 12, a rear wall 14 and the floor 16 of the body of the vehicle to

  engine. A seat 18, which is supported between the two side walls

  10 and 12, extends across the entire width of the compartment

  passengers transversely to the longitudinal axis.

  dinal of the vehicle. The seat 18 comprises a rigid support structure attached to the side walls 10 and 12, and a flexible support structure

carried by the rigid structure.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the rigid structure of the seat 18 is constituted by an upper metal tube 20

  and a lower metal tube 22 extending both transverse

  in relation to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle and having

  a length corresponding to the distance between the walls 10 and 12.

  Each end portion of the upper tube 20 is engaged in a respective cylindrical sleeve 24 of plastic material (shown in detail in Figure 8) which is provided with an annular collar 26 at a distance from the corresponding end of the tube 20. This end of the tube 20 of the side of the wall 12 is also provided with a mushroom-shaped cap 28 which has a diameter slightly less than

  that of the tube 20 and protrudes towards the outside of the vehicle.

in the axis of the tube 20.

  The two opposite end portions of the upper tube

  20 are releasably engaged in frames 30 and 32.

  These are attached respectively to the walls 10 and 12 and

  kill a first pair of mounts.

  Mounts 30 and 32 (which are shown in detail in Figure 5) are preferably both made of

  plastic material. The frame 30 is constituted by a pair of ele-

  cylindrical cups 34 carried side by side by a plate 36. The cylindrical wall of each of the cup-shaped elements 34 has an axially extending tab 38 which is radially flexible of the element 34. When attached to the side wall 10, the mount 30 abuts against the inner face of the wall 10 by the rear face of the support plate 36 and is secured in position by means of a not shown screw which passes through a hole 30 in the plate 36 and enters a corresponding threaded hole in the wall 10. The two elements 34 are adjusted in the space between the inner and outer faces

of the wall 10.

  The mount 32 is constituted by a plate

  port 42 having a shape generally similar to that of the support plate 36 of the frame 30 and is provided with a pair of side-by-side slots 44. Each notch 44 is cut to receive and retain the head of the cap 28 Each notch 44 may be lined on the side by means of a guide opening 46 which is

  tilted up towards the front end of the vehicle.

  The opening 46 opens in a cage 48. The bottom of the cage 48 is provided with a hole 50 through which a screw can be inserted to fix the mount 32 to the inner face of the wall 12. Each cage 48 is sized to allow the head of the plug 28 associated with the tube 20 to penetrate axially into the cage where it can move

  in the opening 46 for penetration into the notch 44.

  The other end of the tube 20 is designed to be axially

  in the corresponding element 34 of the frame 30.

  The lower tube 22 is identical to the upper tube

  20 and has at each end another sleeve 24.

  The end of the lower tube 22 opposite the wall 12 is provided with

  as the upper tube 20, a plug 52 in the form of a mushroom.

  The ends of the lower tube 22 can detachably engage in the mounts 54 and 56. These constitute a second pair of mounts and are respectively attached to the side walls 10 and 12 in positions which, relative to those of the

  frames 30 and 32 of the first pair, are shifted longitudinally-

  towards the front of the vehicle and are closer to the floor 16. These mounts 54 and 56, which are preferably made of metal,

  are shown in detail in FIG. 6. Mount 54 is con-

  formed by a support plate 58 and an associated portion 60 in

  two notches in the form of cylindrical holes are

  one-eyed driques 62 placed side by side. When it is fixed to the.

  wall 10, the mount 54 abuts by the rear face of the plate 58

  against the inner face of the wall 10, and is fixed in position

  by means of unrepresented screws passing through

  holes 64 in the plate 58 and penetrate into threaded holes cor-

Respondents of the wall 10.

  The mount 56 consists of a support plate 66 having a lower portion 68 in which are made two notches 70 open upwards and which are offset to accommodate and retain the head of the plug 52 in the form of a mushroom, associated with the lower tube 22 Each notch 70 is provided with a guide opening 72 inclined upward towards the rear of the vehicle, this opening 72 serving to guide the introduction of the head 52 into the corresponding notch 70. When it is fixed at the wall 12 of the vehicle, the mount 56 abuts by the rear face of the plate 66 against the inner face of this wall 12 and is fixed in position by means of not shown screws which pass through holes 74 of the plate 66 and enter the holes

  corresponding threads from the wall 12. As mentioned above,

  above, the head of the plug 52 associated with the lower tube 22 penetrates into one or the other of the notches 70 of the mount 56, while the opposite end of the tube 22 penetrates axially into the blind hole

corresponding 62 of the frame 54.

  The upper tube 20 and the lower tube 22 carry

  together the flexible support structure of the seat 18. This structure

  flexible section is constituted by a flexible fabric 76 which has a greater length than the distance between the two tubes 20 and 22,

  and a width substantially corresponding to the length of the two tubes.

  The flexible fabric 76 is composed of an inner layer 78 made of

  soft tissue with a soft cover 80 surrounding the inner layer

  78. Along its sides extending transversely

  port to the vehicle, the. cover 80 is provided with two tubular portions

  In addition, on the lower side of the fabric 76, the cover 80 is provided with an intermediate tubular portion 84 into which a rod 86 has been inserted. extends parallel to the tubes 20 and 22 and has a length substantially equal to the width of the fabric 76. The rod 86 is provided at its ends with a pair of projecting plugs 88 provided with an enlarged head which abuts against the

  end edge of the tubular portion 84.

  The rod 86 is associated with two tension devices 90 each acting on the rod 86 midway between its center and each of its ends. Each of the devices 90 (see FIGS. 3 and 9) comprises an L-shaped manual control lever 92 and a first

  and a second U-shaped member 94 and 96 pivoted by their ends.

  the farthest from their arms on one end of the lever 92 in. view of the articulation about the respective transverse axes separated from one another. The free end 98 of the first element 94

  U-shaped is provided with a hook engaging around the rod 86.

  The free end 100 of the second fork 96 selectively engages either of the pairs of hook protrusions 102 that are attached to the floor 16 and are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis. longitudinal axis of the vehicle. When the lever 92 is in the raised position, the end 100 of the element 96 can be hooked or unhooked from the projections 102; when the end 100 is engaged in the desired projection 102, the lever 92 can be lowered with a click to a horizontal position to lock the device 90 in a use configuration in which the rod 86 is pulled back and forth. the bottom. When the devices 90 are engaged in their configuration of use, the fabric 76 takes a V-shaped conformation having an inclined upper branch and a substantially horizontal lower branch, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in solid lines. The choice of the protrusion 102 to engage in the portion 100 is made according to those of the notches side by side used among the two pairs of frames 30,

  32, 54, 56 for supporting the upper and lower tubes 20 and 22.

  By proper use of projections 102 and mounting notches, seat 18 can be positioned within

  two positions separated longitudinally.

  The seat 18 can be easily disassembled and removed from the vehicle passenger compartment by first detaching the tensioners 90 from the floor 16 and then extracting the tubes 20 and 22 from their respective walls. For this last operation, we first start by clearing the plugs 28 and 52 of their respective notches 32 and 56, and then we remove the opposite ends of the two tubes 20 and 22 of their frames 30.

and 54.

  If it is desired to lower the seat back 18 to form a berth in association with the front seat of the vehicle,

  it suffices to disengage the ends of the upper tube 20 from the

  30 and 32 and press the seat back 18 on the rear wall 14 of the vehicle body. This configuration of the seat 18

  is shown in broken lines in FIG.

  In addition to the two pairs of frames already mentioned,

  a third pair of frames 104 and 106 is attached to the side walls.

  10 and 12 of the vehicle at a height relative to the floor 16 intermediate between those of the first and second pairs, and in a position along the vehicle which substantially corresponds to that of the frames 54 and 56. The frames 104 and 106 are preferably made of plastic material and have a shape represented in

detail in Figure 7.

  The mount 104 is constituted by a body 108 in the form of a cup whose bottom has a conical coaxial pin 110. When it is fixed to the side wall 10, the body 108 abuts against the inner face of the wall 10 by the rear face from its bottom and it is fixed in position by means of unrepresented screws which pass through a pair of holes 112 made in the bottom of the body 108

  and penetrate the corresponding threaded holes in the wall 10.

  Mount 106 is constituted by a circular plate

  114, the lower half of which is part of a substantially semi-cylindrical body 116 in which an upwardly open notch 118 has been made and provided with a guide opening 120. When attached to the side wall 12, the mount 106 abuts against this wall by the rear face of plate 114 and is secured in position by means of screws (not shown) which extend through holes 122 formed on plate 14 and penetrate into

  corresponding threaded holes in the wall 12.

  The frames 104 and 106 may be used to support the ends of the lower tube 22 or the upper tube. 20

  in order to force the seat 18 to assume the configurations

  respectively by the dotted line in Figure 2 and by the solid line in Figure 4. The first configuration is

  performed by releasing and unhooking the two

  90 and then inserting the ends of the lower tube 22 in the mounts 104 and 106. In this configuration, the lower leg of the seat 18 is inclined with a steep slope and the seat 18 can be used advantageously for the support and transport of delicate objects, or else it can be used as a cradle

for the transport of a child.

  The configuration shown as a solid line on

  FIG. 4 is made by loosening and unhooking the devices

  90, by folding together what was previously the lower sides of the upper and lower legs of the seat, and then introducing the ends of the upper tube 20 into the mounts 104 and 106. In this configuration, the seat 18

  constitutes a barrier between the front and rear ends of the

  passenger compartment of the vehicle. This barrier prevents the load in the back of the compartment from sliding towards

  forward and hit the front seats if the vehicle brakes abruptly

cally.

  The second embodiment (shown in FIGS. 10 to 14) differs from the first in that the upper tube 20 and the lower tube 22 each have a length equal to half the distance between the two walls 10 and 12. , the seat of the second embodiment has a width equal to half the width of the passenger compartment and Figure II represents -two seats of

  this kind 18a and 18b placed side by side.

  If we consider the seat 18a, the tubes 20 and 22 of this seat are supported on the side wall 10 of the vehicle at their opposite ends to the plugs 28 and 52 in the frames 30 and 54, the latter being identical to those previously described for the first realization. The opposite ends of the two tubes and 22 (that is, the ends provided with plugs 28 and 52)

  are supported respectively by a mount 32 and by a

  56, similar to those described above, carried by an intermediate support 130 fixed to the floor 16 of the vehicle between the

  two sidewalls 10 and 12. The seat structure 18a is entirely

  similar to that of seat 18 previously described, except that rod 90 is subjected to a single tensioning device 90 placed in

  an intermediate position between the ends of the rod 86.

  As shown in detail in FIGS. 11 to 14, the intermediate support 130 is constituted by an L-shaped tubular structure, having a horizontal branch 132 directed along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a branch 134 inclined upwards. towards the rear of the vehicle. The horizontal leg 132 is permanently attached to two support members 136 which are removably attached by screws 138 to the floor 16 of the vehicle. More

  136, the horizontal branch 132 is provided at its end with

  the upper end of a portion 140 which extends upwards and rigidly supports at its upper end a head 142. It carries the mount 56 and is connected to the lower end of the inclined branch 134 of the intermediate support 130 by means of a tube 144 which extends parallel to the branch 132. The end

  upper branch 134 rigidly supports a head 146 semi-

  head 142, which includes the mount 32. As shown in detail in FIG. 13, the mount 32 is part of the head 146 and

  likewise the mount 56 is part of the head 142.

  In addition to the mounts 32 and 56 of the seat 18a, the head 146 and the head 142 are also provided with mounts 30 and 54 for the seat 18b, these mounts 30 and 54 being directed towards the side wall 12 and being substantially similar in shape and to those previously described. The tubes 20 and 22 of the seat 18b are thus supported at their inner ends by 7! the intermediate support 130, while the opposite ends of the tubes 20 and 22 are respectively supported by the mounts 32 and 56 removably attached to the wall 12 and identical in shape to that previously described. The remainder of the seat structure 18b is identical to that previously described for the seat 18a. In comparison with the realization described at the beginning,

  the arrangement of Figures 10 to 14 has the advantage of allowing the demon-

  or folding one of the two seats 18a, 18b, while the other seat is held in its position of use. As for the seat 18, the seat 18a or 18b can be easily disassembled by releasing and unhooking the corresponding tension device 90, and then removing the tubes 20 and 22 from their frames. When it is desired to remove the two seats 18a, 18b of the passenger compartment, it is obviously necessary to disassemble the two seats 18a and 18b as described above; when the seats 18a and 18b have been removed, the intermediate support 130 can be unscrewed from the floor 16

  and removed from the passenger compartment.

  Of course various modifications can be

  provided by those skilled in the art to the devices or processes which come

  to be described solely as non-limitative examples

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (19)

R E V E N D I C AT IO N S   l. Vehicle having a body with two side walls   and a floor, and at least one seat placed between the regions facing the two side walls, characterized in that said seat (18), (18a), (18b) comprises - a rigid support structure constituted by a   upper tube extending transversely to the longitudinal axis   tudinal of the vehicle, a lower tube parallel to said upper tube and substantially of equal length, and a first and second   pair of mounts attached to the body of the vehicle and respectively supporting   the upper tube and the lower tube at their ends, the   first pair of frames being placed at a greater height   above the floor of the vehicle that the second pair of mounts and being offset therefrom in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; - A flexible support structure consists of a flexible web extending between the tubes and carried by them, the fabric having a greater length than the distance between the two tubes and a width substantially corresponding to the length of the two tubes. a rod extending transversely relative to   the vehicle is attached to the flexible fabric in an intermediate position.   between its extremities; and a tensioning means connected to the floor of the vehicle body and acting on at least one region of said rod between its ends, so as to force said flexible web to take a V-shaped configuration, with an inclined branch forming the backrest of the seat and a substantially horizontal branch called   base of the seat as opposed to the file.   2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the two tubes (20, 22) constituting the rigid support structure of the seat (18) has a length substantially equal to the distance between the two side walls (10, 12) of the body of the vehicle, the   two frames of each pair (30, 32, 54, 56) being worn   by one of the two sidewalls (10, 12).   Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that   that each of the two tubes (20, 22) constituting the structure   rigid seat port (18a), (18b) has a substantially equal length -   at half the distance between the two side walls (10, 12) of the body of the vehicle, a mount of each pair (30, 32; 54, 56) being carried by one of the two side walls (10, 12) and the other mount of each pair (30, 32; 54, 56) being carried by an intermediate support (130) fixed to the floor (16) of the vehicle body in   an intermediate position between the two side walls (10, 12).   4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1   & 3, characterized in that the ends of each of the two tubes (20, 22) are supported by the corresponding pairs of frames   (30, 32, 54, 56) in a removable manner.   5. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that one end of each tube (20, 22) is provided with a mushroom head (28, 52), - a mount of each pair (30, 32). 54, 56) being provided with a notch (54, 70) open upwards   containing the mushroom-shaped head (28, 52) of the corresponding tube   (20, 22), and the other mount of each pair containing a blind hole-shaped notch (34, 62) in which is engaged   the other end of the tube (20, 22).   Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that for the first pair of mounts (30, 32), the mount (32) with the upwardly open notch (44) has a guide opening (46). through which the head (28) can be inserted into the notch (44), the opening (46) extending towards the   from said notch (44) towards the front of the vehicle body   the corresponding mount (56) of the second pair being   with a guide opening (72) for its notch (70) opening upwards, the guide opening (72) being inclined   upward towards the rear of the vehicle body.   Vehicle according to any one of the claims   or 6, characterized in that, in order to allow the seat (18, 18a,   18b) of the vehicle to be raised in two different positions separated   in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, each frame (30, 32, 54, 56) is provided with two substantially identical notches (34, 44, 62, 70) arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and in that the tensioning device (90) is adapted to be connected to the floor (16) of the vehicle body in one of two positions   spaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.   8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 4   to 7, characterized in that the frames of the first pair (30, 32) are made of plastic material.   9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 4   to 8, characterized in that the mounts of the second pair (54, 56) are made of metal.   10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 2   or 4 to 9, characterized in that the mounts (30, 32; 54; 56) are removably attached in the side walls (10, 12) of the   body of the vehicle by means of screws which penetrate into   corresponding dice of the side walls (10, 12).   Vehicle according to any of claims 2   and 4 to 10, characterized in that a third pair of mounts (104, 106) is attached to the side walls (10, 12) of the vehicle body at   a height above the floor (16) between that of the   first and second pairs (30, 32; 54, 56), said third pair of mounts (104, 106 being adapted to releasably support one of the two tubes (20, 22) allowing the seat (18) to be placed in one of the other two configurations, the other configuration corresponding to the position of the lower tube (22) in the third mount (104, 106) and having the shape of a V   open up, and the other configuration corresponding to the posi-   of the upper tube (20) in the third frames (104,   106), which provides a barrier-like form.   Vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that one of the mounts (104) of the pair of mounts (104, 106) is provided with a notch in the form of a blind hole (108). another mount (106) of the third pair being provided with a notch (118) open up.   Vehicle according to any one of the claims   11 or 12, characterized in that the mounts of the third pair   (104, 106) are of plastic material.   Vehicle according to one of the claims   11 to 13, characterized in that the mounts of the third pair (104, 106) are attached to the side walls (10, 12) of the body of the   vehicle in a removable manner by means of screws that penetrate -   in the corresponding threaded holes of the side walls (10, 12).   15. Vehicle according to any one of claims 3,   or 4 to 7, characterized in that the intermediate support (130) is constituted by a substantially L-shaped tubular structure,   comprising a horizontal support branch (132) which extends parallel   parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and an inclined support branch (134) which extends upwards towards the rear of the vehicle; the end farthest from said leg (132) being provided with a head (142) carrying a mount (56) of the second pair of mounts, and the end farthest from the inclined leg (134) being provided a head (146) carrying a mount (32) of said first pair of frames.   16. Vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that the two vehicle seats (18a, 18b) are placed side by side in the body of the vehicle, each seat (18a, 18b) having a shape according to claim 3, with the ends of their tubes (20, 22) mounted in a common intermediate support (130), the head (142) furthest from the support branch (132) of the intermediate support (150) carrying two opposed mounts of the respective second pairs of mounts ( 54, 56) and the furthest head (146) of the support limb (134) carrying two mounts   opposing first pairs of frames (30, 32).   17. - Vehicle according to any one of the claims   15 or 16, characterized in that the mounts (30, 32, 54, 56) carried by the or each of the side walls (10, 12) of the vehicle body are removably fixed in position by means of screws which penetrate   in the corresponding threaded holes in the walls (10, 12), the   tures (30, 32, 54, 56) carried by the intermediate support (130) part of it ..   Vehicle according to one of the claims   17, characterized in that the intermediate support (130) is removably attached to the floor (16) of the vehicle body   by means of screws (138) which penetrate the corresponding threaded holes of said bottom (16).   Vehicle according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the flexible fabric (76) constituting the flexible support structure of the seat (18) or seats (18a, 18b)   comprises an inner layer of soft material (78) and a cover   outer cover (80) surrounding the inner layer (78), said cover (80) being provided with three tubular portions (82, 84) through which the upper tube (20), the lower tube (22) and the rod (86), each tubular portion (82, 84) extending substantially across the entire width of the flexible fabric (76).