VEHICLE SEAT AND METHOD FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF A VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract

A vehicle seat extending along a transversal axis, a vertical axis, and a longitudinal axis that comprises a seat base, a backrest pivotably connected to the seat base through a first pivot connection, and a headrest pivotably connected to the backrest through a second pivot connection, the first and second pivot connections being pivotable in opposite direction around the transversal axis of the vehicle seat and the vehicle seat being configured to reach a first position and a second position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat extending along a transversal axis, a vertical axis, and a longitudinal axis comprising: a seat base, a backrest pivotably connected to the seat base through a first pivot connection, and a headrest pivotably connected to the backrest through a second pivot connection, wherein the first and the second pivot connections are pivotable in opposite directions around the transversal axis of the vehicle seat and the vehicle seat is configured to reach two positions: a first position in which the backrest and the headrest extend along the vertical axis, and the seat base is substantially perpendicular to the backrest and the headrest, and a second position in which the backrest extends along the longitudinal axis and lies against the seat base and the headrest extends along the vertical axis and is substantially perpendicular to the backrest.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a thighrest pivotably connected to the backrest through a third connection mean, the thighrest being configured to reach two positions: a retracted position in which the thighrest is housed in the backrest, and an extended position in which the thighrest extends at least in part from a bottom portion of the backrest.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 2, wherein the thighrest extends along the transversal axis of the vehicle seat.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 2, wherein the thighrest includes a cushion.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 2, wherein the third connection mean includes a pivot connection, for example a pivot axle, or a push pull system.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the first and the second pivot connections include a gear wheels mechanism.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein both sides of the backrest have a seat shape.

8. A vehicle comprising the vehicle seat of claim 1.

9. A method for the management of the vehicle seat of claim 1, comprising: selecting a vehicle seat position chosen from: a first position in which the backrest and the headrest extend along the vertical axis, and the seat base is substantially perpendicular to the backrest and the headrest, and a second position in which the backrest extends along the longitudinal axis and lies against the seat base, and the headrest extends along the vertical axis and is substantially perpendicular to the backrest, and managing the vehicle seat to reach the selected position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle seat in the first position reaches the second position by following the following sub-steps: pivoting the first pivot connection in a first direction until the backrest lies against the seat base, and the headrest and the backrest extend along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle seat, and pivoting the second pivot connection in a second direction until the backrest extends along the longitudinal axis and lies against the seat base, and the headrest extends along the vertical axis and is substantially perpendicular to the backrest, wherein the first and the second directions are opposed around the transversal axis of the vehicle seat.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle seat in the second position reaches the first position by following the following sub-steps: pivoting the second pivot connection in a first direction until the backrest lies against the seat base, and the headrest and the backrest extend along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle seat, and pivoting the first pivot connection in a second direction until the backrest and the headrest extends along the vertical axis, and the seat base is substantially perpendicular to the backrest and the headrest, wherein the first and the second directions are opposed around the transversal axis of the vehicle seat.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: selecting a thighrest position chosen from: a retracted position in which the thighrest is housed in the backrest, and an extended position in which the thighrest extends at least in part from a bottom portion of the backrest, and managing the thighrest to reach the selected position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the thighrest in a retracted position is pulled and/or twisted to reach the extended position.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the thighrest in an extended position is pushed and/or twisted to reach the retracted position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.

[0050] In the drawings:

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle such as a truck comprising seat assembly in the first position,

[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle such as a truck comprising seat assembly in the first position, and

[0053] FIG. 3a to FIG. 3c illustrate a method for the management of a vehicle seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a vehicle 1 comprising a cab 2 including two vehicle seats 3 and a bunk 4. For example, the vehicle 1 is a road vehicle, such as a semi-trailer truck. However, the vehicle 1 can be any industrial vehicle, preferably a wheeled vehicle, such as a tractor, a dump truck, a military vehicle, a heavy-duty construction vehicle such as a loader, a bulldozer, an excavator, a compactor, a scraper or any equivalent vehicle.

[0055] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3c, the vehicle seat 3 extends along a transversal axis A.sub.T, a vertical axis A.sub.V and a longitudinal axis A.sub.L. The vehicle seat 3 comprises a seat base C that may be mounted on a pedestral C′ fixely secured on the vehicle floor. The vehicle seat 3 further comprises a backrest B pivotably connected to the seat base C through a first pivot connection 4. For example, both sides of the backrest B have a seat shape configured to receive the back of the seat occupant and match with the back of the seat occupant. The vehicle seat 3 further comprises a headrest A pivotably connected to the backrest B through a second pivot connection 5, said first 4 and second 5 pivot connections being pivotable in opposite direction around the transversal axis A.sub.T of the vehicle seat 3. The first 4 and the second 5 pivot connections may include a gear wheels mechanism.

[0056] The vehicle seat 3 is configured to reach a first position and a second position. FIGS. 1 and 3a illustrate the first position in which the backrest B and the headrest A extend along the vertical axis A.sub.V, and the seat base C is substantially perpendicular to the backrest B and the headrest A. The first position corresponds to the forward position when the vehicle seat 3 is present in the vehicle 1.

[0057] FIGS. 2 and 3c illustrate the second position in which the backrest B extends along the longitudinal axis A.sub.L and lies against the seat base C and the headrest A extends along the vertical axis A.sub.V and is substantially perpendicular to the backrest B. The second position corresponds to the rearward position when the vehicle seat 3 is present in the vehicle 1.

[0058] FIGS. 3a and 3c illustrate another embodiment wherein the vehicle seat 3 comprises a thighrest D pivotably connected to the backrest B through a third connection mean (not shown). For example, the third connection mean includes a pivot axle 7. In the present example, the pivot axle 7 is attached to the back lower end 8 of the thighrest, in the first position of the vehicle seat 3, and configured to enable outward rotation (e.g. movement of the thighrest from FIG. 3b to FIG. 3c). In another example not shown, the pivot axle may be located almost in the middle of the thighrest. In still another example not shown, the connection may comprise a push/pull system. The thighrest D can reach two positions: the retracted position in which the thighrest D is housed in the backrest B (FIG. 3a) and an extended position in which the thighrest D extends at least in part outward from a bottom portion 6 of the backrest B (FIG. 3c).

[0059] For example, the thighrest D extends along the transversal axis A.sub.T of the vehicle seat 3. In this embodiment, the thighrest D may have an elongated shape increasing the comfort of the seat occupant. For example, the thighrest D includes a cushion.

[0060] The method according to the present invention comprises a step A) in which the seat occupant selects a vehicle seat position chosen from the first and the second position. Then, in a step B), the seat occupant manages the vehicle seat 3 to reach the selected position. To this end, the vehicle seat in the first position (FIG. 3a) may reach the second position (FIG. 3c) by, in a step i, pivoting the first pivot connection 4 in a first direction until the backrest B lies against the seat base C and, the headrest A and the backrest B extend along the longitudinal axis A.sub.L of the vehicle seat 3 (FIG. 3b). Then, in step ii, the second pivot connection 5 may pivot in a second direction until the backrest B extends along the longitudinal axis A.sub.L and lies against the seat base C, and the headrest A extends along the vertical axis Av and is substantially perpendicular to the backrest B (FIG. 3c).

[0061] When the vehicle seat 3 is in the second position (FIG. 3c), the seat occupant may reach the first position (FIG. 3a) by, in a step a), pivoting the second pivot connection 5 in a first direction until the backrest B lies against the seat base c and, the headrest A and the backrest B extend along the longitudinal axis A.sub.L of the vehicle seat 3. Then, in a step b), the first pivot connection 4 may pivot in a second direction until the backrest B and the headrest A extends along the vertical axis A.sub.V, and the seat base C is substantially perpendicular to the backrest B and the headrest A.

[0062] The first and second directions may be opposed around the transversal axis A.sub.T of the vehicle seat.

[0063] Preferably, the seat occupant may in a step C) select a thighrest position chosen from the retracted and the extended position and in a step D), manages the thighrest D to reach the selected position. For example, the thighrest D in a retracted position is pulled and/or twisted to reach the extended position. For example, the thighrest D in an extended position is pushed and/or twisted to reach the retracted position. For example, the thighrest or the pivot connection may be spring loaded to assist such movement(s), for example to move the thighrest from the retracted position toward the extended position when released, e.g. moving the vehicle seat from the first position toward the second position.

[0064] The optimized vehicle seat and the method for managing such seat according to the present invention is multi-positionable between forward and rearward seating positions. Furthermore, the seat assembly is quickly and efficiently adjustable between both positions while allowing cost saving. Moreover, the vehicle seat according to the present invention is compact and may be implemented in a wide range of vehicles such as trucks.

[0065] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.