GB2552504B

GB2552504B - A vehicle having a seat forming a shelf in a staggered seating arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2552504B
Application number: GB1612915.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Krnja Filip
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2016-07-26
Filing date: 2016-07-26
Publication date: 2019-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-26
Also published as: GB2552581A; GB2552580A; GB201612915D0; GB201708371D0; DE102017113806A1; GB2552582B8; GB201708370D0; GB2552582B; GB201708373D0; CN107650748A; GB2552582A; GB2552504A; GB2552580B; GB2552581B

Description

A vehicle having a seat forming a shelf in a staggered seating arrangement

This disclosure relates to a vehicle having a seating layout comprising a first seat and a second seat, and particularly, but not exclusively, relates to reconfiguring a passenger seat of a vehicle.

Introduction

It is common for a modern vehicle to have a reconfigurable seating arrangement. For example, it is known for a vehicle, such as an urban compact vehicle, to have a staggered seating arrangement in which a passenger seat is positioned, or movable to a position, such that a space next to a driver seat may be used as a footwell for the passenger seat.

In one arrangement, a vehicle may have staggered seating in which a passenger seat is positioned sufficiently far behind a driver seat to prevent the driver from easily placing an item on the passenger seat whilst seated in the vehicle. This can be a problem, as the driver typically finds the passenger seat a convenient place to stow items, such as bags, clothing and/or electronic devices, during a journey.

Statements of Invention

According to an arrangement of the present disclosure there is provided a motor vehicle having a seating layout comprising a first seat and a second seat, the first seat and the second seat being staggered so that a footwell for the second seat is by the side of the first seat, wherein a leg rest of the second seat is movably coupled to a body portion of the vehicle and is movable to form at least a portion of a shelf extending at least partially over the footwell for the second seat.

In the context of the present disclosure, a “portion” of the second seat is understood to mean any portion of the seat that is configured to provide support for a body portion of an occupant of the seat. For example, the portion of the second seat may be a seat back of the seat, a seat base of the seat, a leg/foot rest of the seat, an armrest of the seat, a headrest of the seat, and/or any other appropriate portion of the seat.

The second seat may be movable to a position in which the shelf is positioned in line with a seat base of the first seat in a vertical direction, when extended at least partially over the footwell for the second seat. For example, the second seat may be movable to a position in which a usable surface of the shelf is positioned in line with an upper surface of a seat base of the first seat.

The second seat may be movable to a position in which the shelf is positioned in line with a seat base of the first seat in a horizontal direction, when extended at least partially over the footwell for the second seat. For example, the second seat may be movable to a position in which a front edge of the usable surface of the supporting structure is positioned in line with a front edge of the seat base of the first seat.

The leg rest may be pivotably coupled to a vehicle body portion. The leg rest may be slidably coupled to a vehicle body portion.

The second seat may comprise a seat back that is movable to form a portion of the shelf. The seat back may be pivotably coupled to the second seat. The seat back may be slidably coupled to the second seat. The seat back may be pivotably coupled to a vehicle body portion. The seat back may be slidably coupled to a vehicle body portion. A rear surface of the seat back may form a useable surface of the shelf.

The second seat may comprise one or more support members, for example one or more legs, brackets and/or clips, configured to hold up the shelf when extended over the footwell. At least one of the support members may be deployable from the portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell. For example, the second seat may be configured so that the support member deploys from the portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell as the portion of the second seat is extended over the footwell. For example, as the portion of the second seat is extended over the footwell, a supporting leg may drop down from the underside of the said portion to hold up the said portion when in an at least partially extended configuration.

The portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell for the second seat may comprise a storage compartment, such as a drawer.

The portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell may comprise a resilient portion configured to deform by an amount more than an amount by which a seating portion of the vehicle seat deforms for a given load. The seating portion may be an upper surface of the seat base and/or a front surface of the seat back. The resilient portion may be less stiff than the upper surface of the seat base, i.e. less stiff than the portion of the seat base on which an occupant sits. The resilient portion may be less stiff than front surface of the seat back, i.e. less stiff than the portion of the seat back against which an occupant leans.

The resilient portion may be configured to restrict the movement of an object placed on the resilient portion, for example by at least partially deforming around the object as a result of the object’s own weight, when the object is placed on the resilient portion. The resilient portion may comprise a first material, such as a first foam, having a lower stiffness than that of a second material, such as another foam, of a standard vehicle seat. In other words, the second seat may comprise a storage compartment, made from a softer material than the rest of the seat.

The portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell may comprise an attachment point for a child safety seat. For example, the portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell may comprise one or more ISOFIX points.

To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and repetition of text in the specification, certain features are described in relation to only one or several aspects or arrangements of the disclosure. However, it is to be understood that, where it is technically possible, features described in relation to any aspect or arrangement of the disclosure may also be used with any other aspect or arrangement of the disclosure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1A to 1C show a vehicle having a first seat and a second seat;

Figures 2A to 2C show a schematic of the operation of the second seat shown in figures 1Ato 1C;

Figures 3A to 3C show another vehicle having a first seat and a second seat;

Figures 4A to 4C show a schematic of the operation of the second seat shown in figures 3A to 3C;

Figures 5A to 5D show another vehicle having a first seat and a second seat;

Figures 6A to 6B show a schematic of the operation of the second seat shown in figures 5A to 5D;

Figures 7A to 7C show a vehicle according to the present invention having a first seat and a second seat;

Figures 8A and 8B show a schematic of the operation of the second seat shown in figures 7A to 7C; and

Figures 9A to 9C show another schematic of the operation of the second seat shown in figures 7A to 7C.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle having a seating layout with at least a first seat 101 and second seat 103 arranged in staggered formation. The vehicle may be any appropriate type of vehicle, such as a car, a van, a truck, an aircraft or a marine vessel. However, the below description uses the example of an urban compact vehicle, in which the first seat 101 is a driver seat and the second seat 103 is a passenger seat. The driver seat and the passenger seat are arranged in a staggered formation so that a footwell 105 for the passenger seat is positioned by the side of the driver seat. Such a seating layout is common in urban compact vehicles, since of the layout provides more space for both the driver and the passenger, compared to a layout where the occupants are seated side-by-side in the urban compact vehicle. However, it is understood that the first and second seats 101, 103 are not limited to being a driver seat and a passenger seat. Indeed each of the seats of the vehicle may be any type of seat appropriate for the vehicle.

One of the problems with laying out the first and second seats 101, 103 in a staggered formation is that the driver may be forced to place items on the floor 107 of the vehicle, for example in the footwell 105 for the second seat 103, since there may not be any other convenient places in the passenger compartment that are easily reached by the driver when seated in the driver seat. It is known to provide additional articles of vehicle furniture, such as tables and/or cup holders, in proximity to the driver seat to offer suitable storage for items that the driver of a vehicle may wish to stow and access during transit. However, it is desirable to reduce the number of articles of vehicle furniture within a vehicle in order to maximise the space for the occupants of the vehicle. This is especially true for the urban compact vehicle, in which space within the passenger compartment of the vehicle is already at a premium.

The present disclosure is advantageous as it provides storage space for one or more items that the driver wishes to stow and/or access during transit without the need for any additional articles of vehicle furniture. In particular, the present disclosure provides a seating layout wherein at least a portion of the second seat 103 of the seating layout is movable to form a shelf 109 that extends at least partially over the footwell 105 for the second seat 103. In other words, the second seat 103 is reconfigurable from a first configuration in which an occupant may sit in the second seat 103, to a second configuration in which the second seat 103 forms a support structure 111 that can be used to stow one or more items by the side of the driver. The support structure 111 formed by the second seat 103 may be positioned inline with a seat base of the first seat 101 in a vertical and/or horizontal direction. For example, the portion of the second seat 103 that extends over the footwell 105 may be configured to form a shelf 109 that is adjacent to and/or adjoins the seat base of the driver's seat. When the second seat 103 is in the second configuration, an occupant may be prevented from sitting in the second seat 103 since at least a portion of the second seat 103 covers the footwell 105 for the second seat 103.

In the arrangement shown in figures 1A to 1C, the second seat 103 comprises a seat base 113 and a seat back 115, which are independently movable with respect to each other. For example, the seat base 113 may be slidably coupled to a body portion 117 of the vehicle, and the seat back 115 may be pivotably coupled to another body portion 119 of the vehicle. It is understood, however, that the seat base 113 and the seat back 115 may be coupled to each other so as to form a seat assembly which may be secured to at least one body portion of the vehicle. For example, the seat assembly may comprise a frame to which each of the seat base 113 and the seat back 115 may be coupled.

In the arrangement shown in figure 1A, the seat base 113 of the second seat 103 is slidable along a guide rail, which permits the seat base 113 to slide forward to a position where it extends over the footwell 105 for the second seat 103. In this position, the seat base 113 forms a shelf 109 next to the driver of the vehicle, the shelf 109 being usable to stow one or more items during transit, as shown in figure 1C.

In order to maximise storage space behind the driver seat, the seat back 115 of the second seat 103 may be folded down into the space previously occupied by the seat base 113. In this manner, the seat back 115 may be folded into a stowed position in which a rear surface 121 of the seat back 115 is in line with a top surface 123 of the seat base 113, thereby forming a substantially flat storage space in line with the shelf 109.

Figures 2A to 2C depict schematically the operation of the second seat 103. In figure 2A, the seat base of the second seat 103 is moved forward to a position in which the seat base extends over the footwell 105. In figure 2B, the seat back of the second seat 103 is folded forwards into the space that had been previously occupied by the seat base of the second seat 103. Figure 2C shows an extended storage space that has been created by the reconfiguration of the second seat 103.

In the arrangement shown in figures 3A to 3C, the seat back 115 of the second seat 103 is foldable from a position in which an occupant is able to sit in the seat, as shown in figure 3A, to a position in which a front face 125 of the seatback 115 engages an upper face 123 of the seat base 113, as shown in figure 3B. In figure 3C, the entire second seat 103 has been moved to a forward position, in which both of the seat base 113 and the seat back 115 extend across the footwell 105, such that a rear face 121 of the seat back 115 forms the usable surface of the shelf 109. The second seat 103 may be coupled to a body portion of the vehicle in a similar manner to the arrangement shown in figures 1A to 2C. One difference between the shelf 109 formed in figure 3C and the shelf 109 formed in figure 1C is that the shelf 109 of figure 3C is vertically offset from the seat base 127 of the first seat 101. Such a configuration may be advantageous as the rear surface 121 of the seat back 115 of the second seat 103 may form an armrest 129 for the occupant of the first seat 101, since the seatback 115 is at a convenient height for a driver to rest their arm. However, the rear surface 121 of the seat back 115 of the second seat 103 may be at any appropriate height relative to the seat base 127 of the first seat 101.

In one or more arrangements, a cup holder 131 may be formed into the rear surface 121 of the seat back 115 of the second seat 103 so that the driver can readily stow a beverage container.

The vehicle may also be provided with an extending floor panel 133 configured to extend across the space in the rear vehicle that had previously been occupied by the second seat 103. In the arrangement shown in figure 3C, the load space floor 135 comprises a panel 133 that is deployable from the space behind the first seat 101 of the vehicle. When the panel 133 is in a deployed configuration, the load space floor 135 provides a continuous surface that extends up to the rear surface 121 of the seat back 115 of the second seat 103, thereby creating an extended storage space.

Figures 4A to 4C depict schematically the operation of the second seat 103 as shown in figures 3A to 3C. In figure 4A, the seat back 115 is folded forwards so that the seat back 115 is stowed on top of the seat base 113. In figure 4B, both of the seat back 115 and the seat base 113 are moved into a forward position in which the seat back 115 and the seat base 113 extend over the footwell 107. Figure 4C shows an extended storage space that has been created by the reconfiguration of the second seat 103 and the deployment of the loadspace floor panel 133.

Figures 5A to 5D show another arrangement of a vehicle seating layout, in which the second seat 103 comprises a seat base 113 that may be moved independently from the seat back 115 of the second seat 103. In the arrangement shown in figures 5A to 5D, the seat base 113 of the second seat 103 is pivotable about an axis AA extending laterally across the vehicle. For example, a lower front edge 139 of the seat base 113 of the second seat 103 may be pivotably connected to a portion 141 of the vehicle such that the seat base 113 may be moved from a first position in which an occupant may sit on the upper surface 123 of the seat base 113 to a second position in which a lower surface 143 of the seat base 113 is positioned next to the seat base 127 of the first seat 101.

In a similar manner to the arrangement shown in figures 1A to 2C, when the seat base 113 has been moved to the second position, the seat back 115 of the second seat 103 is foldable into the space that was occupied by the seat base 113 when the second seat 103 was in the first position.

In the arrangement shown in figure 5C and 5D, the lower surface 143 of the seat base forms a usable surface of the shelf 109, which is different from the arrangements shown in the previous figures.

The seat base 113 of the second seat 103 may comprise a first portion 145 and a second portion 147. For example, the first portion 145 and the second portion 147 may be arranged to form separate layers of the seat base 113. When the second seat 103 is in the first configuration in which an occupant may sit in the second seat 103, the first portion 145 of the seat base 113 may be facing upwards. When the second seat 103 is in the second configuration in which the second seat 103 forms the shelf 109, the first portion 145 of the seat base 113 may be facing downwards. In this manner, movement of the seat base 113 from the first position to the second position may cause the seat base 113 to become inverted.

The properties of each of the first portion 145 and the second portion 147 may be selected depending on their respective functions. For example, the first portion 145 of the seat base 113 may be fabricated from a different material to the second portion 147 of the seat base 113. The properties of the first portion 145 of the seat base 113 may be selected in accordance with occupant seating preferences. As such, it may be desirable to fabricate the first portion 145 of the seat base 113 from a material which the occupant would find comfortable to sit on. However, the second portion 147 of the seat base does not have such requirements. As such, the second portion 147 may be made from a different material. For example, it is desirable for an article placed on the shelf 109 to not shift around during transit of the vehicle. To help prevent the article from sliding about during transit, the second portion 147 of the seat base 113 may comprise a resilient material configured to deform under the weight of the article placed on the shelf 109. For example, the second portion 147 of the seat base 113 may comprise a less dense foam than the first portion 145 of the seat base 113. In this manner, when the article, such as a smart phone or a set of keys, is placed on the usable surface of the shelf 109, the article can sink into the shelf 109 to prevent article from sliding around during transit. It is understood, however, that the second portion 147 of the seat base may be fabricated in any appropriate manner that permits the second portion 147 to deform under the weight of an article that a driver may wish to store and/or have access to during transit.

Figures 6A and 6B depict schematically the operation of the second seat 103 as shown in figures 5A to 5D. In figure 6A, the seat base 113 is movable about the lower front edge 139 of the seat base 113. The seat base 113 may be provided with a handle, such as a tag 149, which a user may pull on in order to effect the rotation of the seat base 113 about the front edge 139. In figure 6B, the seat base 113 extends over the footwell 105 to form the shelf 109. In order to prevent the seat base 113 from moving about during transit, the second seat 103 may comprise a securing mechanism 151 configured to lock the seat base 113 in position. The securing mechanism 151 may be configured to secure the seat base 113 in position or use as a seat and/or to secure the seat base 113 in position when extended over the footwell 105. The tag 149 may form part of the securing mechanism 151. For example, the tag 149 may be configured to unlatch the securing mechanism 151, and therefore permit the second seat 103 to be reconfigured. The securing mechanism 151 may be any appropriate type of securing mechanism, for example a latch and/or a magnetic coupling.

Figures 7A to 9C show the invention as claimed and as described in the below detailed description. The remaining figures show comparative arrangements of seating layouts for a motor vehicle.

Figures 7A to 9C show a vehicle seating layout as claimed below, in which the second seat 103 comprises a leg/foot rest 153 that may be moved independently from the seat back 115 and the seat base 113 of the second seat 103. The remaining figures show comparative arrangements of seating layouts for a motor vehicle. In the arrangement shown in figures 7A to 7C, the leg/foot rest 153 of the second seat 103 is pivotable about an axis BB extending laterally across the vehicle. For example, a lower rear edge 155 of the leg/foot rest 153 may be pivotably connected to a body portion of the vehicle. The present disclosure provides for a mechanism in which the leg/foot rest 153 may be moved from its operational position as a leg/foot rest to a position in which an upper surface 157 of the leg/foot rest 153 is positioned next to the seat base of the first seat 101.

Figures 8A and 8B depict the operation of the second seat 103 as shown in figures 7A to 7C. In figure 8A, leg/foot rest 153 is in a stowed position, in which the upper surface 157 of the leg/foot rest 153 is positioned to support the legs/feet of an occupant seated in the second seat 103. In figure 8A, leg/foot rest 153 has been lifted to a deployed position where it forms a shelf 109 that extends at least partially over the footwell 105 for the second seat 103. In the arrangement shown in figures 8A and 8B, leg/foot rest 153 comprises a support member 159 configured to support the leg/foot rest 153 over the footwell 105. Ina similar manner to the arrangement shown in figures 6A and 6B, the leg/foot rest 153 has a tag 149 that an occupant may use to raise the leg/foot rest 153 to the deployed position. The tag 149 may be connected to the support member 159 so that the support member 159 is moved into a supporting position as the leg/foot rest 153 is deployed over the footwell 105. In the arrangement shown in figures 8A and 8B, the support member 159 has a first end 161 connected, e.g. pivotally connected, to the underside of the leg/foot rest 153, and a second end 163 slidably coupled to a body portion of the vehicle. It is understood, however, that the support member 153 may be any appropriate type of support member that is configured to support the leg/foot rest 153 in an extended position over the footwell 105. In one arrangement, the support member may be operationally coupled to a securing mechanism configured to lock the leg/foot rest 153 in the extended position. For example, the second end 163 of the support member 159 may be configured to engage a latch when the leg/foot rest 153 is in the extended position.

In one arrangement, the second seat may comprise an extension portion configured to extend the usable area of the shelf 109. In figures 9A to 9C, the leg/foot rest 153 comprises an extension portion 165 that is deployable, e.g. slidable, from a front face 167 of the leg/foot rest 153. The extension portion 165 may, however, be deployable from any appropriate portion of the second seat 103.

In order to provide additional support for the shelf 109, the extension portion 165 comprises a further support member 159 that is deployable from extension portion 165 once the extension portion 165 has been pulled out over the footwell 105. The further support member 159 may be a leg that can drop down from an underside of the extension portion 165 once the extension portion 165 has been pulled out. In one or more other arrangements (not shown), the extension portion 165 may be configured to attach to a body portion of the vehicle and/or the first seat 101 of the vehicle. For example, the extension portion 165 may be configured to clip onto the dashboard of a vehicle and/or onto a portion of the first seat 101 once extended over the footwell 105.

The extension portion 165 may comprise an attachment point 169 for a child safety seat, for example an ISOFIX attachment point. It is understood, however, that the attachment point 169 for the child safety seat may be provided on any appropriate portion of the second seat 103. For example, the attachment point 169 of the child safety seat may be provided on the rear face 121 of the seat back 115 of the second seat 103, and/or on the seat base 113 of the second seat 103.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to one or more examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle having a seating layout comprising a first seat and a second seat, the first seat and the second seat being staggered so that a footwell for the second seat is by the side of the first seat, wherein a leg rest of the second seat is movably coupled to a body portion of the vehicle and is movable to form at least a portion of a shelf extending at least partially over the footwell for the second seat.

2. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the shelf is positioned in line with a seat base of the first seat in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.

3. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second seat comprises a seat back that is movable to form a portion of the shelf.

4. A motor vehicle according claim 3, wherein a rear surface of the seat back forms a usable surface of the shelf.

5. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second seat comprises one or more support members configured to support the shelf when extended over the footwell.

6. A motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the support members is deployable from the portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell.

7. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell for the second seat comprises a storage compartment.

8. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell comprises a resilient portion configured to deform by an amount more than an amount by which a seating portion of the vehicle seat deforms for a given load.

9. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the portion of the second seat that extends over the footwell comprises an attachment point for a child safety seat.