ROTATING VEHICLE SEAT AND A METHOD FOR ROTATING A ROTATING VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract

A rotating vehicle seat includes a backrest attached to a seat base frame and arranged to be rotatably adjustable around a first horizontal axis, a seat base attached to the frame and arranged to be rotatably adjustable around a second horizontal axis parallel to the first horizontal axis, a gear mechanism connected to the frame arranged to rotate the frame from a forward facing position to a backward facing position, wherein the gear mechanism comprises a track, and the frame comprises a guide that is configured to engage the track, such that when the gear mechanism is actuated, the frame is translated in a xy-plane and is rotated around a first vertical axis, and wherein the backrest and the seat base, respectively, are arranged to be folded upwards during at least part of the rotation of the frame around the first vertical axis.

Claims

1. A rotating vehicle seat comprising a backrest attached to a seat base frame and arranged to be rotably adjustable around a first horizontal axis, a seat base attached to the seat base frame and arranged to be rotably adjustable around a second horizontal axis parallel to the first horizontal axis, a gear mechanism connected to the seat base frame arranged to rotate the seat base frame from a forward facing position to a backward facing position, wherein the gear mechanism comprises a track, and the seat base frame comprises a guide that is configured to engage the track, such that when the gear mechanism is actuated, the seat base frame is translated in a XY-plane, in both an X-direction and a Y-direction, and is rotated around a first vertical axis, and wherein the backrest and the seat base, respectively, are arranged to be folded upwards during at least part of the rotation of the seat base frame around the first vertical axis.

2. The rotating vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the backrest and the seat base are arranged to be folded upwards to a substantially vertical position during at least part of the rotation around the first vertical axis.

3. The rotating vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the backrest and the seat base are arranged to be folded upwards during at least part of the rotation around the first vertical axis to a position so as to be positioned within a cylindrical rotation volume along the first vertical axis with a circular cross section, the diameter of the circular cross-section being defined by the width of the seat base and/or the width of the backrest.

4. The rotating vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the gear mechanism comprises a track and the seat base comprises a guide configured to run in the track such that when the gear mechanism is actuated, the seat base frame translates in a XY-plane before, after and/or during rotation of the seat base frame around the first vertical axis.

5. The rotating vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the track comprises: a first translation track part extending in a an X-direction perpendicular to a forward direction of the vehicle seat, a second translation track part extending in a an X-direction perpendicular to a forward direction of the vehicle seat. an elliptical track part connecting the first translation track part and the second translation track part.

6. The rotating vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the gear mechanism comprises an cylinder gear mounted on the vehicle floor, a motor driving the cylinder gear and a an elongated toothed engagement part mounted on the seat base frame extending linearly in a side direction of the vehicle seat, the elongated toothed engagement part being in engagement with the cylinder gear.

7. The rotating vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the gear mechanism comprises an elliptical internal ring gear that is affixed to a vehicle body, and a cylinder gear that is affixed to the seat base frame, wherein the cylinder gear is arranged inside the elliptical internal ring gear such that rotation of the cylinder gear causes it to travel along the circumference of the elliptical internal ring gear, and the seat base frame travels along both X and Y-directions during its rotation from forward facing to backward facing, and ends in the same XY-position after having been rotated.

8. The rotating vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the gear mechanism comprises an internal semicircle gear that is affixed to a vehicle body, and a cylinder gear that is affixed to the seat base frame , wherein the cylinder gear is arranged inside the internal semicircle gear such that rotation of the cylinder gear causes it to travel along the circumference of the internal semicircle gear, and the seat base frame travels along both X and Y-directions during its rotation from forward facing to backward facing, and ends in a different XY-position after having been rotated.

9. The rotating vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat is translated in the XY-plane so that the centre of the cylindrical rotation volume is placed on the first vertical axis.

10. A method for rotating a rotating vehicle seat according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of translating the vehicle seat in the XY-plane, rotating the vehicle seat folding seat base upwards during the rotation of the seat base frame around the first vertical axis.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of folding the backrest upwards during the rotation of the seat base frame around the first vertical axis.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of translating the seat bas frame of the vehicle seat in the XY-plane is made concurrent with the step of rotating the seat base frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure where the seat base frame is attached to a cylindrical gear rotating in an elliptical internal ring gear.

[0026] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of FIG. 1 after the vehicle seat has been rotated 180 degrees.

[0027] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a gear mechanism for a vehicle seat according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the gear mechanism shown in FIG. 2A where the seat base frame has been translated and rotated about 50 degrees.

[0029] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the gear mechanism shown in FIG. 2A where the seat base frame has been rotated 180 degrees.

[0030] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure where the seat base frame is attached to a cylindrical gear rotating in a semi-elliptical internal ring gear

[0031] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the vehicle seat in FIG. 3A rotated 180 degrees.

[0032] FIGS. 4A is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure where the seat base and the back rest is in a position ready for use by a user.

[0033] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the vehicle seat in FIG. 4A where the backrest and seat base have been folded upwards.

[0034] FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the vehicle seat in FIG. 4A where the backrest and seat base have been folded upwards and the seat base frame has been rotated slightly.

[0035] FIG. 4D is a perspective view of the vehicle seat in FIG. 4A where the backrest and seat base have been folded upwards and the seat base frame has been rotated almost 180 degrees.

[0036] FIG. 4E is a perspective view of the vehicle seat in FIG. 4A where the backrest and seat base have been rotated 180 degrees and the seat base and backrest are folded down ready to be used by a user.

[0037] FIG. 4F is a perspective view of the vehicle seat in FIGS. 4A-4E showing the rotational volume used when the backrest and seat base are folded up in relation to the volume of the vehicle seat when the backrest and the seat base are folded down.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a block chart of representing the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred example embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

[0040] FIGS. 1 through 4F show the first aspect of this disclosure shows a rotating vehicle seat 1 comprising a backrest 2 attached to a seat base frame 21, 31, 41 and arranged to be rotatably adjustable around a first horizontal axis 11. The vehicle seat 1 further comprises a seat base 3 attached to the seat base frame 21, 31, 41 and arranged to be rotatably adjustable around a second horizontal axis 12 parallel to the first horizontal axis 11. A gear mechanism 20, 30, 40 is connected to the seat base frame 21 and is arranged to rotate the seat base frame 21, 31, 41 from a forward facing position to a backward facing position. The gear mechanism 20, 30, 40 comprises a track 22, 32, 42, and the seat base frame comprises a guide 23, 33, 43 that is configured to engage the track 22, 32, 42, such that when the gear mechanism is actuated, the seat base frame 21, 31, 41 is translated in a XY-plane and is rotated around a first vertical axis 13. The backrest 2 and the seat base 3, respectively, are arranged to be folded upwards during at least part of the rotation of the seat base frame 21, 31, 41 around the first vertical axis 13.

[0041] The gear mechanism 20, 30, 40 comprises a track 22, 32 and the seat base comprises a guide configured to run in the track such that when the gear mechanism 20 is actuated, the seat base frame 21, 31 translates in a XY-plane before, after and/or during rotation of the seat base frame 21, 31 around the first vertical axis 13.

[0042] With reference to FIGS. 4A-4F the backrest 2 and the seat base 3 are arranged to be folded upwards to a substantially vertical position during at least part of the rotation around the first vertical axis 13. The backrest 2 and the seat base 3 are arranged to be folded upwards during at least part of the rotation around the first vertical axis 13 to a position so as to be positioned within a cylindrical rotation volume 9 along the first vertical axis 13 with a circular cross section, the diameter of the circular cross-section being defined by the width of the seat base and/or the width of the backrest. FIG. 4F shows the gain in reduced space required when folding the seat base and backrest up as much as possible. In folded out seating position the vehicle seat use a lot more space in its facing direction.

[0043] With reference to FIGS. 2A-2C, the track 32 comprises a first translation track part 34 extending in a an X-direction perpendicular to a forward direction of the vehicle seat 1, a second translation track part 35 extending in a an X-direction perpendicular to a forward direction of the vehicle seat and an elliptical track part 36 connecting the first translation track part and the second translation track part. As shown in FIG. 4E the vehicle seat is translated in the XY-plane so that the center of the cylindrical rotation volume 9 is placed on the first vertical axis. This gear mechanism is used to rotate the backrest of the vehicle seat towards the side of the vehicle during rotation so as to move the center of rotation to the optimal position at vertical axis 13, as seen in FIG. 4F. The gear mechanism 30 comprises a cylinder gear 37 mounted on the vehicle floor. A motor is driving the cylinder gear and an elongated toothed engagement part 38 mounted on the seat base frame 31 extending linearly in a side direction of the vehicle seat. The elongated toothed engagement part 38 is in engagement with the cylinder gear 37.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B the gear mechanism 20 comprises an elliptical internal ring gear 23 that is affixed to a vehicle body, and a cylinder gear 23 that is affixed to the seat base frame 21. The cylinder gear 23 is arranged inside the elliptical internal ring gear 22 such that rotation of the cylinder gear 23 causes it to travel along the circumference of the elliptical internal ring gear 22. The seat base frame 21 travels along both X and Y-directions during its rotation from forward facing to backward facing, and ends in the same XY-position after having been rotated. This is a further solution to translate the backrest of the vehicle seat towards the side of the vehicle during rotation so as to move the center of rotation closer to the optimal position at vertical axis 13, as seen in FIG. 4F.

[0045] With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B the gear mechanism comprises an internal semicircle gear 43 that is affixed to a vehicle body, and a cylinder gear 42 that is affixed to the seat base frame 41. The cylinder gear 42 is arranged inside the internal semicircle gear 43 such that rotation of the cylinder gear 42 causes it to travel along the circumference of the internal semicircle gear 43. The seat base frame 41 travels along both X- and Y-directions during its rotation from forward facing to backward facing, and ends in a different XY-position after having been rotated. This is a still further embodiment for translating the backrest of the vehicle seat towards the side of the vehicle during rotation so as to move the center of rotation closer to the optimal position at vertical axis 13, as seen in FIG. 4F.

[0046] The second aspect of this disclosure is represented by FIG. 5 and shows a method for rotating a rotating vehicle seat according to the first aspect, the method comprising the steps of S1 translating the vehicle seat in the XY-plane, S2 rotating the vehicle seat 1, S3 folding seat base 3 upwards during the rotation of the seat base frame 21, 31, 41 around the first vertical axis 13. As previously described the translation in the horizontal XY-plane to the side of the vehicle will reduce the space required for the rotation as the vehicle seat.

[0047] The method further comprises the step of S4 folding the backrest 2 upwards during the rotation of the seat base frame 21, 31, 41 around the first vertical axis 13. The step of translating the seat bas frame 21, 31, 41 of the vehicle seat 1 in the XY-plane is made concurrent with the step of rotating the seat base frame 21, 31, 41.

[0048] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The person skilled in the art further realizes that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, further gear or cam solutions may be contemplated for achieving the translation in the horizontal plane before, after or during rotation of the seat base frame. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.