FR3070333A1 - MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT INTEGRATING A SUPPORT DEVICE FOR A MOBILE TERMINAL - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle seat comprising a backrest (10) and a support device (30) for a mobile terminal (60) comprising a panel (50) mounted to slide vertically on said backrest (10) between a low position and a high position; characterized in that said sliding panel (50) comprises fixing means (54) for removably attaching said mobile terminal (60) against its rear face opposite said backrest (10), said support device (30) further comprising magnetic means (53,45) interacting between said backrest (10) and said sliding panel (50) so as to generate a magnetic attraction force capable of maintaining said panel (50) in any position between said low position and said high position.

Description

Title of invention

Motor vehicle seat incorporating a support device for a mobile terminal

Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to support devices for mobile terminals and more particularly those intended to be mounted or integrated in a motor vehicle.

Invention background

In recent years, the use of mobile electronic terminals such as smartphones, touch pads and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) has become more widespread.

This type of electronic device, much more compact and light than a traditional laptop, has excellent ergonomics and an intuitive interface that make it the ideal tool for browsing the Internet, viewing photos or videos, reading books, or even consulting e-mails.

Today, these mobile terminals are increasingly used in motor vehicles, in particular to pass the time in a pleasant way to children seated in the rear of the vehicle during long journeys.

Most often, the mobile terminal is simply placed on the user's knees, which forces the user to constantly tilt his head down and can eventually lead to back or neck pain.

In addition, this mobile terminal can easily fall to the floor and deteriorate in the event, for example, of a sudden deceleration of the vehicle caused by sustained braking.

In order to overcome these drawbacks, we have seen the appearance in recent years of support devices for such mobile terminals intended to be mounted on the rear seats of motor vehicles.

Thus, the German patent application DE102011075621, describes such a support device which comprises a clamping member able to cooperate with the two guide rods of a seat headrest in order to ensure the fixing of this device on the seat, as well as a support element capable of receiving the mobile terminal and which is mounted articulated in rotation on the clamping member so as to allow the inclination of this mobile terminal to be adjusted.

This type of device distorts the overall harmony of the passenger compartment and has the disadvantages of being a source of vibration and of considerably limiting the adjustment stroke of the headrest on which it is fixed, which harms the comfort of the passenger occupying the corresponding seat.

In addition, this type of external support device not subject to regulatory safety standards in the automotive field can be dangerous in the event of an accident.

American application US 2016/0280376 discloses a support device for such a mobile electronic terminal which comprises:

- a housing provided in the upper part of the seat back shell;

- An upper panel mounted to slide vertically on the backrest between a low retracted position in which it is housed in the housing, and a high position where it projects above this housing; and

- a lower panel pivotally mounted on the shell of the backrest between a folded position in which it is pressed against the housing, and a deployed position where it projects at the rear of the shell while tilting downwards.

The upper and lower panels further comprise respectively an upper lip and a lower lip able to bear respectively against the upper edge and the lower edge of the mobile terminal so as to maintain it in a position of use.

Elastic return means also permanently urge the upper panel towards its lowered retracted position.

Such a device ensures good maintenance of the mobile terminal behind the back of a vehicle seat.

However, this type of device does not offer any latitude in positioning the mobile terminal in height, which significantly harms the comfort of use of the user.

Subject and summary of the invention

The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

To this end, it provides a motor vehicle seat comprising a backrest as well as a support device for a mobile terminal comprising a panel mounted to slide vertically on said backrest between a low position and a high position;

characterized in that said sliding panel comprises fixing means making it possible to fix therein in a removable manner a said mobile terminal against its rear face opposite to said folder, said support device further comprising magnetic means interacting between said folder and said sliding panel so as to generate a magnetic attraction force capable of ensuring the maintenance of said panel in any position between said low position and said high position.

The support device that comprises the seat according to the invention thus makes it possible to offer the user great freedom of positioning in height of the mobile terminal making it possible to significantly improve the comfort of use.

In addition, due to the absence of complex mechanical elements, this support device does not generate a significant additional cost for the seat, which makes it possible to extend its field of use to models of medium range vehicles, or even entry vehicles. range.

According to preferred characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in combination:

- Said magnetic means comprise a first magnetic coating covering at least partially the front face of said panel facing towards said folder, as well as a second magnetic coating affixed against a wall integral with the rear of said folder and interacting magnetically with said first magnetic coating;

- Said seat comprises a headrest surmounting said backrest, said support device further comprising a third magnetic coating covering at least partially the rear face of said headrest and capable of interacting magnetically with said first coating when said panel comes to occupy said high position or a position close to the latter, so as to hold the upper part of said panel against said headrest;

- Said means for fixing the mobile terminal comprise a magnetic coating covering at least partially the rear face of said panel facing away from said interacting magnetically with another coating on the rear of said mobile terminal;

for fixing the terminal to the rear face of said turned panel adapted to cooperate via a complementary backrest member and suitable for affixed magnetic

- Said means a base fixed against the opposite of said folder and movable "quarter turn";

- Said a base fixed opposite to said back and complementary mobile fixed comprises with a means against type mechanism fixed to said terminal terminal fixing member the rear face of said turned panel capable of cooperating by snap-fastening with said mobile terminal;

- Said support device comprises an upper casing of said backrest and defining a movable housing include

one in the internal housing, part accessible via an access opening provided on the top of the latter being arranged so that said panel is fully retracted inside said housing in said low position and that it projects almost entirely above this housing in said high position;

- The dimensions of said housing are predetermined so that the latter can also house a said mobile terminal fixed to said panel when the latter comes to occupy said low position;

- Said panel comprises two gripping members each secured to the lower part of a respective lateral edge of this panel and projecting transversely on either side of said housing through a respective slot extending vertically along a corresponding side wall of this housing; and or

- Said support device also includes a USB type power supply socket provided on the rear face of said file and intended to allow recharging of said mobile terminal.

Brief description of the drawings

The description of the invention will now be continued with the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a sectional view along a vertical longitudinal plane of the upper part of a vehicle seat according to the invention incorporating a support device for a mobile terminal whose sliding panel occupies its position in which it is retracted in the housing ; ;

- Figure 2 shows a view similar to Figure 1 but in which the sliding panel occupies its high position; and

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper part of the seat according to the invention, the sliding panel occupies its high position.

Detailed description of an embodiment

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle seat 1 according to the invention comprises a backrest 10 and a headrest 20 surmounting said backrest 10 and slidably mounted on the latter by means of two metal rods 21 parallel to each other and slidably inserted into two tubular guide sleeves secured to the frame of the backrest 10 (the latter not being visible in the figures).

By convention and in the remainder of this description, the terms “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “longitudinal” and “transverse” will be defined relative to the mounting position of seat 1 in the vehicle interior.

According to the invention, the seat 1 also comprises a support device 30 for a mobile terminal 60.

This support device 30 comprises a housing 40 of substantially parallelepiped shape formed in the upper part of the backrest 10 and defining an internal housing 41 accessible via an access opening 42 provided on the upper wall of this housing 40.

The support device 30 also comprises a rectangular panel 50 mounted to slide vertically on the backrest 10 by means of two lateral guide rails not shown in the figures and formed along the internal faces of the two side walls of the housing 40.

The sliding panel 50 is thus able to be moved between a low storage position in which it is entirely retracted in the housing 41 of the housing 40 and a high end-of-travel position where it projects almost entirely above this housing 40 .

The sliding of the panel 50 is carried out manually via two T-shaped lateral gripping handles 51, 52 each secured to the lower part of a respective lateral edge of this panel 50 and projecting transversely on either side of the housing 40 through a respective slot 43, 44 extending vertically along a corresponding side wall of this housing 40 (Figure 3).

The support device 30 comprises magnetic means interacting between the backrest 10 and the panel 50 so as to generate a magnetic attraction force capable of ensuring the maintenance of this panel 50 in any position between the low retracted position and the high position deployed.

These magnetic means in this case comprise a first magnetic coating 53 covering at least partially the front face of the panel 50 facing the backrest 10, as well as a second magnetic coating 45 covering at least partially the internal face of the front wall of the housing. 40 and interacting magnetically with the first magnetic coating 53.

It will be noted that when the panel 50 occupies its low storage position, the magnetic means 53, 45 make it possible to prevent this panel 50 from being able to jump due to the tremors of the road to which the vehicle is subjected.

The support device 30 further comprises a third magnetic coating 22 covering at least partially the rear face of the headrest 20 and capable of interacting magnetically with the magnetic coating 53 of the panel 50 when the latter comes to occupy its upper end position. stroke or a position close to the latter, so as to hold the upper part of the panel 50 against the headrest 20 and prevent the latter from tilting backwards in the event of sudden deceleration of the vehicle due to its positioning cantilevered from the housing 40.

Preferably, the first coating 53 is of the magnetic type while the second and third coatings 45, 22 are of the ferromagnetic type.

The device 30 also comprises fixing means making it possible to removably fix therein a mobile terminal 60 against its rear face facing away from the backrest 10.

These fixing means, preferably also of magnetic type, consist for example of a magnetic coating 54 covering the rear face of this panel 50 and capable of interacting magnetically with another magnetic coating 61 affixed to the rear of this mobile terminal 60.

The coating 54 is advantageously of the magnetic type so that the latter can interact magnetically with any ferromagnetic coating integral with the mobile terminal.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the dimensions (and in particular the width) of the housing 41 of the housing 40 are predetermined so that the latter can also house the mobile terminal 60 fixed to the panel 50 when the latter comes to occupy its low position of storage.

This housing 41 will thus preferably have a width of between 250 and 350 mm, a height of between 200 and 250 mm and a thickness greater than that of the panel with a value of between 15 and 25 mm, so as to be able to accommodate shelves. 10 inch diagonal large format touchscreen.

According to variant embodiments not shown, the front face of the panel facing the backrest is covered with a ferromagnetic coating while the internal face of the front wall of the housing and the rear face of the headrest are each covered with a magnetic coating.

According to other alternative embodiments not shown, the removable fixing means are of the mechanical type.

The latter are for example constituted by a base fixed against the rear face of the sliding panel and able to cooperate by snap-fastening or via a “quarter-turn” type mechanism with an additional member fixed to the mobile terminal.

According to still other alternative embodiments not shown:

- The support device also includes a USB type power supply socket provided on the rear face of the backrest and intended to allow recharging of the mobile terminal; and or

- The panel gripping means are of different type.

One can also consider removing the housing capable of housing the sliding panel in the low position so that the latter remains permanently visible regardless of its position. In this case, the second magnetic coating 45 is then affixed directly against the rear face of the backrest.

Such an embodiment thus allows children and small people seated at the back of the seat to be able to use their mobile terminal in the best conditions by positioning it at eye level. In return, it does not protect the mobile terminal from external shocks and attacks when the latter is fixed to the sliding panel.

Finally, it should be remembered that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but that it encompasses any variant within the reach of the skilled person.

Claims (10)

1. Motor vehicle seat comprising a backrest (10) and a support device (30) for a mobile terminal (60) comprising a panel (50) mounted to slide vertically on said backrest (10) between a low position and a position high; characterized in that said sliding panel (50) comprises fixing means (54) making it possible to removably fix therein a said mobile terminal (60) against its rear face opposite to said backrest (10), said support device (30) further comprising magnetic means (53, 45) interacting between said backrest (10) and said sliding panel (50) so as to generate a magnetic attraction force capable of maintaining said panel (50) in any position between said low position and said high position. 2. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that said magnetic means comprise a first magnetic coating (53) covering at least partially the front face of said panel (50) facing towards said backrest (10), as well as a second magnetic coating (45) affixed against a wall integral with the rear of said backrest (10) and interacting magnetically with said first magnetic coating (53). 3. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a headrest (20) surmounting said backrest (10), said support device (30) further comprising a third magnetic coating (22) covering at at least partially the rear face of said headrest (20) and capable of interacting magnetically with said first covering (53) when said panel (50) comes to occupy said high position or a position close to the latter, so as to maintain the upper part said panel (50) against said headrest (20). 4. Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said means for fixing the mobile terminal (60) comprise a magnetic coating (54) covering at least partially the rear face of said panel (50) turned opposite said folder (10) and able to interact magnetically with another magnetic coating (61) affixed to the rear of said mobile terminal (60). 5. Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said means for fixing the mobile terminal comprise a base fixed against the rear face of said panel facing away from said backrest and able to cooperate via a “quarter turn” type mechanism with a complementary member fixed to said mobile terminal. 6. Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said means for fixing the mobile terminal comprise a base fixed against the rear face of said panel facing away from said backrest and able to cooperate by snap-fastening with a complementary member fixed to said mobile terminal. 7. Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said support device (30) comprises a housing (40) formed in the upper part of said backrest (10) and defining an internal housing (41) accessible via an access opening (42) provided on the top of this housing (40), the latter being arranged so that said panel (50) is fully retracted inside said housing (41) in said low position and that it projects almost entirely above this housing (40) in said high position. 8. Motor vehicle seat according to claim 7, characterized in that the dimensions of said housing (41) are predetermined so that the latter can also house a said mobile terminal (60) fixed to said panel (50) when the latter comes to occupy said lower position. 9. Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said panel (50) comprises two gripping members (51, 52) each secured to the lower part of a respective lateral edge of this panel (50) and projecting transversely from either side of said housing (40) through a respective slot (43, 44) extending vertically along a corresponding side wall of this housing (40). 10. Motor vehicle seat according to one of claims 5 1 to 9, characterized in that said support device also comprises a power supply socket of the USB type provided on the rear face of said backrest and intended to allow recharging of said mobile terminal.