Vehicle seat with a seat part which can be pivoted about a single pivot axis

Abstract

A vehicle seat comprising a seat part, an adjustable backrest part attached to the seat part, and a floor assembly supporting the seat part and arranged on a vehicle floor. The seat part is connected to the floor assembly in a pivotal manner about a first axis, and the backrest part is connected to the seat part in a pivotal manner about a second axis. The vehicle seat has a first adjusting device powered by an electric motor for pivoting the seat part relative to the floor assembly about the first axis and a second adjusting device powered by an electric motor for pivoting the backrest part relative to the seat part about the second axis.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat part; a backrest part adjustably arranged to the seat part; a floor assembly carrying the seat part, wherein the floor assembly is configured to couple the seat part to a vehicle floor, wherein the seat part is pivotally connected to the floor assembly about a first pivot axis and the backrest part is pivotally connected to the seat part about a second pivot axis, wherein the floor assembly includes side parts; a first electromotive adjusting device configured to pivot the seat part relative to the floor assembly about the first pivot axis, wherein the first electromotive adjusting device includes two first rotary fittings each spaced apart from each other along the first pivot axis and pivotally connect frame parts of the seat part to the side parts; a second electromotive adjusting device configured to pivot the backrest part relative to the seat part about the second pivot axis; and a first shaft extending along the first pivot axis and connecting each of the two first rotary fittings to one another, wherein the first shaft jointly adjusts the two first rotary fittings, wherein the first electromotive adjusting device includes two first electromotive driving devices each configured to rotate the first shaft.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the seat part is pivotable relative to the floor assembly exclusively about the first pivot axis.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein a rotary fitting of the first two rotary fittings pivotally connects a frame part of the frame parts to a side part of the side part about the first pivot axis.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the first electromotive adjusting device includes a first electromotive driving device configured to rotate the first shaft.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the second electromotive adjusting device includes a second rotary fitting, wherein the second rotary fitting pivotally connects the backrest part to a frame part of the seat part-about the second pivot axis.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the second electromotive adjusting device includes two second rotary fittings each spaced apart from one another along the second pivot axis, wherein two second rotary fittings pivotally connect the backrest part to frame parts of the seat part.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 6, further comprising a second shaft extending along the second pivot axis and connecting each of the two second rotary fittings to one another, wherein the second shaft jointly adjusts the second rotary fittings.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 7, wherein the second electromotive adjusting device includes a second electromotive driving device configured to rotate the second shaft.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising a control device configured to provide matched actuation between the first electromotive adjusting device and the second electromotive adjusting device.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising a longitudinal adjusting device arranged to the vehicle floor and coupled to the floor assembly, wherein the longitudinal adjusting device is configured to translate the floor assembly with respect to the vehicle floor.

11. A vehicle seat for use in a vehicle provided with a floor, the vehicle seat comprising: a floor assembly configured to be coupled to the floor, the floor assembly including side parts; a seat portion configured to support an occupant and pivotally connected to the floor assembly about a first pivot axis; a backrest pivotally connected to the seat portion about a second pivot axis; a first adjusting device configured to pivot the seat portion relative to the floor assembly about the first pivot axis, wherein the first adjusting device includes two first rotary fittings each spaced apart from each other along the first pivot axis and pivotally connect frame parts to the side parts; a second adjusting device configured to pivot the backrest about the second pivot axis; and a first shaft extending along the first pivot axis and connecting each of the two first rotary fittings to one another, wherein the first shaft jointly adjusts the two first rotary fittings, wherein the first electromotive adjusting device includes two first electromotive driving devices each configured to rotate the first shaft.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 11, wherein the second adjusting device includes a second rotary fitting pivotally connecting the frame part to the backrest.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 12, wherein the seat portion is configured to pivot between a use position and a stowage position, wherein when the seat portion is in the stowage position, the second rotary fitting is disposed closer to the floor than the first rotary fitting.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 13, wherein as the seat portion moves from the use position to the stowage position, the seat portion moves towards the backrest.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 14, wherein as the seat portion moves from the use position to the stowage position, the backrest moves towards the seat portion.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 11, further comprising a control device configured to provide signals to the first adjusting device and the second adjusting device so that the seat portion pivots about the first pivot axis as the backrest pivots about the second pivot axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The idea underlying the invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the Figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a view of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat, comprising a seat part pivotally connected to a floor assembly about a first pivot axis and a backrest part pivotally connected to the seat part about a second pivot axis, in a position of use;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a view of the vehicle seat in a stowage position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the vehicle seat in the position of use;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the vehicle seat in the stowage position;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view of the vehicle seat in the position of use;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side view of the vehicle seat in a comfort position;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the vehicle seat in an exit position;

(9) FIG. 8A shows a view of the vehicle seat, together with a front seat;

(10) FIG. 8B shows a view of the vehicle seat with a front seat approached to the vehicle seat; and

(11) FIG. 8C shows a view of the vehicle seat in the stowage position, with the front seat approached to the vehicle seat in a relax position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

(13) In a vehicle seat known from DE 199 60 396 C1 a seat pan is arranged on an adjusting device comprising a rocker in order to provide for a tilt adjustment in small angular steps.

(14) In a vehicle seat known from EP 0 481 292 B1 a tilt adjustment of a seat part about a pivot axis leads to a coupled tilt adjustment of a backrest.

(15) FIGS. 1 to 7 show an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat 1, which includes a seat part 10 and a backrest part 11 arranged on the seat part 10. The seat part 10 provides a seating surface for a vehicle occupant in the manner of a seat pan and is to be connected to a vehicle floor 14 via a floor assembly 12.

(16) Via a first adjusting device 15, the seat part 10 is pivotable relative to side parts 121, 122 of the floor assembly 12 about a first pivot axis 100. For this purpose, the side parts 121, 122 of the floor assembly 12 each are connected to lateral frame parts 101, 102 of the seat part 10 via a rotary fitting 151, 152 such that by actuating the rotary fittings 151, 152 the seat part 10 can be pivoted relative to the floor assembly 12 about the pivot axis 100.

(17) As shown for example in FIG. 2, the rotary fittings 151, 152 are connected to each other via a shaft 150. Via the shaft 150, in particular drive assemblies of the rotary fittings 151, 152 are coupled with each other such that by rotating the shaft 150, the drive assemblies of the rotary fittings 151, 152 are actuated synchronously and fitting parts of the rotary fittings 151, 152 thereby are jointly rotated relative to each other for pivoting the seat part 10 about the pivot axis 100.

(18) In the illustrated exemplary embodiment an electromotive driving device 153, 154 is arranged in the region of each side part 121, 122 of the floor assembly 12, which serves for electromotively driving the shaft 150 and hence the rotary fittings 151, 152. Thus, the adjusting device 15 includes two electromotive driving devices 153, 154 via which the rotary fittings 151, 152 can be driven so as to pivot the seat part 10.

(19) Due to the fact that two electromotive driving devices 153, 154 are used, which for example can each be operatively connected to the shaft 150 via a suitable transmission, the driving devices 153, 154 can each be configured with half the power (as compared to an embodiment in which only one single driving device is used for adjusting the seat part 10), which provides for using driving devices 153, 154 of comparatively small size.

(20) In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the driving devices 153, 154 are stationarily arranged on the side parts 121, 122 of the floor assembly 12 and thus are not pivoted when the seat part 10 is pivoted, but remain stationary at the side parts 121, 122 of the floor assembly 12.

(21) The backrest part 11 is mounted on the lateral frame parts 101, 102 of the seat part 10 about a pivot axis 110. For this purpose, rotary fittings 161, 162 of an adjusting device 16 on both sides of the backrest part 11 couple adapter parts 111, 112 of the backrest part 11 with the lateral frame parts 101, 102 of the seat part 10 so that by rotating the rotary fittings 161, 162, the backrest part 11 can be pivoted relative to the seat part 10.

(22) The rotary fittings 161, 162 of the adjusting device 16 are connected to each other via a shaft 160 which is guided through surface portions 113, 114 of the backrest part 11, as this is shown for example in FIG. 1.

(23) The adjusting device 16 includes an electromotive driving device 163 which is stationarily arranged on the backrest part 11 and is operatively connected with the shaft 160 via a suitable transmission so that the rotary fittings 161, 162 driven by the driving device 163 can be actuated in order to pivot the backrest part 11 relative to the seat part 10 about the pivot axis 110.

(24) This results in a kinematics in which the seat part 10 is pivotable relative to the floor assembly 12 about a first pivot axis 100 and the backrest part 11 is pivotable relative to the seat part 10 about a parallel second pivot axis 110 spaced apart from the first pivot axis 100. The floor assembly 12 here carries the seat part 10. The seat part 10 is exclusively pivotable relative to the floor assembly 12 about the first pivot axis 100, but not otherwise movable relative to the floor assembly 12. In particular, the swivel movement of the seat part 10 relative to the floor assembly 12 is not superimposed by other components of movement of the seat part 10 relative to the floor assembly 12.

(25) Driven by the adjusting devices 15, 16, the vehicle seat 1 can be pivoted between different positions. Swivel movements of the seat part 10 and the backrest part 11 may be matched to each other in that the adjusting devices 15, 16 are actuated by a common control device 17 (see FIG. 3) in order to shift the vehicle seat 1 between defined positions, for example a position of use (FIG. 3) and a stowage position (FIG. 4).

(26) In the position of use (FIG. 3) the seat part 10 extends approximately horizontally and thus provides a seating surface for a user. The backrest part 11 on the other hand is erected relative to the seat part 10 and inclined slightly backwards so that a comfortable seating position is obtained for a user.

(27) By pivoting the seat part 10 in a swivel direction S1 and by correspondingly pivoting the backrest part 11 relative to the seat part 10 in a swivel direction S2, the vehicle seat 1 can be transferred into its stowage position, as this is shown in FIG. 4. In the stowage position, the seat part 10 is approximately perpendicularly directed upwards, and the backrest part 11 is approached to the seat part 10 and extends approximately parallel to the seat part 10.

(28) Other positions also are conceivable and possible, and, as shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle seat 1 for example can be pivoted into a comfort position with an inclined seat part 10 and with a backrest part 11 inclined further to the rear with respect to the position of use (FIG. 5). Or the vehicle seat 1, as shown in FIG. 7, can be brought into an exit position in which the seat part 10 is inclined slightly forwards and the backrest part 11 approximately is in a vertical position in order to make it easier for a user to get out of the vehicle.

(29) A vehicle seat 1 as described above can be used in particular as a rear seat in the second or third row in a vehicle. An adjustment of the vehicle seat 1 in particular into its stowage position here can be matched to an adjusting movement of another vehicle seat 2, as this is shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C.

(30) The vehicle seat 1 can be arranged behind a vehicle front seat 2, which is adjustable to the rear by a comparatively large distance and in a rear position is movable into a relax position, as this is shown in FIG. 8C. To increase the space available for the vehicle front seat 2 to the rear, the vehicle seat 1 can be moved into its stowage position, as this is shown in FIG. 8C, so that the vehicle seat 1 can be folded away when the vehicle front seat 2 is shifted to the rear.

(31) Such a scenario can be expedient in particular for novel interior design concepts, in particular in connection with future autonomously operated vehicles, in order to allow a relaxed seating position for a user on a vehicle front seat 2 in a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode.

(32) As shown in FIG. 1, the floor assembly 12 carries the seat part 10 and is arranged on a vehicle floor 14. The floor assembly 12 can longitudinally shiftably be arranged on the vehicle floor 14 via a longitudinal adjusting device 13 and for this purpose be shiftably guided on guide rails 131, 132 of the longitudinal adjusting device 13 so that the longitudinal position of the vehicle seat 1 can be adapted.

(33) It is, however, also conceivable and possible to stationarily and non-shiftably fix the vehicle seat 1 to the vehicle floor 14 via the floor assembly 12.

(34) The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be realized in a completely different way.

(35) A kinematics as described here can also be used in particular for a vehicle front seat.

(36) Due to the fact that electromotive adjusting devices are provided for pivoting the seat part relative to the floor assembly on the one hand and for pivoting the backrest part relative to the seat part on the other hand, the vehicle seat is flexibly adjustable between different positions. The result in particular is a biaxial swivel kinematics in which the seat part is adjustable relative to the floor assembly by means of a pure swivel movement and pivotally carries the backrest part.

(37) The following is a list of reference numbers shown in the Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the illustrated embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(38) 1 vehicle seat 10 seat part 100 pivot axis 101, 102 frame part 11 backrest part 110 pivot axis 111, 112 adapter part 113, 114 surface portion 12 floor assembly 121, 122 side part 13 longitudinal adjusting device 131, 132 guide rail 14 vehicle floor adjusting device 150 shaft 151, 152 rotary fitting 153, 154 driving device (electric motor) 16 adjusting device 160 shaft 161, 162 rotary fitting 163 driving device (electric motor) 17 control device 2 vehicle front seat S1, S2 swivel movement

(39) While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.