Further details of the invention can be seen from the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a seat arrangement for a vehicle with two seat rows and with the second seat row in the normal position;
FIG. 2 shows the seat arrangement from FIG. 1 with the central seat displaced forward;
FIG. 3 shows the seat arrangement from FIG. 1 with the central seat displaced rearward and the outer seats displaced forward;
FIG. 4 shows the seat arrangement from FIG. 1 with the central seat displaced rearward and the outer seats displaced inward;
FIG. 5 shows the seat arrangement from FIG. 1 with the central seat displaced rearward and the outer seats rotated inward;
FIG. 6 shows a seat arrangement for a vehicle with a front seat row in the normal position;
FIG. 7 shows the seat arrangement from FIG. 6 with the central seat displaced rearward;
FIG. 8 shows the seat arrangement from FIG. 6 with the central seat displaced rearward and rotated toward the driver and with the outer seat rotated toward the driver;
FIGS. 9
a-c show perspective views of the displacement of the seat row from FIG. 4; and
FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a vehicle floor for a seat arrangement according to FIG. 4.
FIG. 1 represents a seat arrangement for a vehicle 1 having two seat rows, the front seat row comprising the driver's seat 2 and the front-passenger seat 3 and the second seat row comprising the central seat 4 and the two outer seats 5. The seats of the second seat row are situated in the normal position, i.e. they are not displaced or rotated relative to one another and are arranged in a line.
In FIG. 2, the central seat 4 from FIG. 1 is displaced forward, represented by the displacement arrow 6. The central seat 4a is now situated between the driver's seat 2 and front-passenger seat 3, albeit offset to the rear. Such a seat arrangement is suitable if, for example, a small child is being carried in a child seat on the central seat 4a. Both the driver and front passenger then have convenient access to the child, even during the journey, without having to undo their seatbelts or even leave their seats 2, 3.
In FIG. 3, the central seat 4b is displaced slightly rearward by comparison with FIG. 1, denoted by the displacement arrow 7. The two outer seats 5b are displaced slightly forward, denoted by the displacement arrows 8. Although each of the three seats is displaced by only a small amount, the gain in comfort is at once considerable since the three seats are now no longer situated in a row. The luggage space 9 for its part is not restricted by the displacement, since the loss in space behind the central seat 4b is compensated by the gain in space behind the two outer seats 5b.
In FIG. 4, the central seat 4c is displaced a long way rearward with respect to FIG. 1, denoted by the displacement arrow 10. The two outer seats 5c are displaced inward, denoted by the displacement arrows 11. In this seat arrangement, the passenger in the central seat 4c enjoys a large freedom of movement, since there is no other passenger situated to the right and left at his level. The passengers in the two outer seats 5c are given greater shoulder room with respect to the vehicle side wall 12 by virtue of the inward displacement, as a result of which their feeling of comfort is likewise greatly increased, especially since there is no third passenger sitting between them.
In FIG. 5, analogously to FIG. 4, the central seat 4d is displaced a long way rearward, denoted by the displacement arrow 13, and the two outer seats 5d are displaced inward, denoted by the displacement arrows 14. In addition, the outer seats 5d are both rotated inward, denoted by the rotation arrows 15, with the result that the passengers in the seats 5d assume a sitting position directed into the cabin. All three passengers in this seat row are thus given the feeling of comfort already described in FIG. 4, but with the additional effect that the three passengers in the seat row can see one another better without having to move awkwardly about in the seat. Furthermore, the rotation of the outer seats 5d increases the perceived distance between the passengers in these seats and the vehicle side wall 12. This leads overall to a further increase in the feeling of comfort, especially since communication between the three passengers is facilitated.
FIG. 6 shows a seat arrangement for a vehicle having a front seat row according to the invention, the driver's seat 16 and the outer front-passenger seat 17 constituting the two outer seats, whereas the central front-passenger seat 18 constitutes the central seat. All the seats are shown in the normal position, i.e. they are arranged in a row. The driver's seat 16 and the outer front-passenger seat 17 can conventionally be displaced in the longitudinal direction. In this case, however, the central front-passenger seat 18 is also designed separately from the two outer seats 16, 17, i.e. the front passengers do not sit on a bench seat, and the central front-passenger seat 18 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction independently of the outer seats 16, 17. FIG. 6 shows only the front seat row in a vehicle 1. It is of course possible here to equip vehicles with only the inventive front seat row arrangement and provide a different seat arrangement or no seats at all in the rear vehicle region. However, the front seat row may also be combined with further inventive seat rows in the rear vehicle region.
FIG. 7 shows the seat arrangement from FIG. 6 with the central front-passenger seat 18a displaced rearward, denoted by the displacement arrow 19. While the central front passenger assumes a rear seat position, there is substantially greater shoulder room for the driver and also for the two front passengers, thereby increasing the feeling of comfort.
FIG. 8, analogously to FIG. 7, shows the seat arrangement with the central front-passenger seat 18b displaced rearward, denoted by the displacement arrow 20. In addition, the central front-passenger seat 18b is rotated through a small angle and the outer front-passenger seat 17b is rotated through a somewhat greater angle in the direction of the driver, denoted by the rotation arrows 21 and 22, respectively. The rotated seat positions of the front-passenger seats 17b and 18b allow better communication between the driver and front passengers while at the same time providing an increased feeling of comfort owing to the greater shoulder room.
FIGS. 9
a-c are perspective views showing the displacement of the seat row from FIG. 4, with FIG. 9a representing the starting position according to FIG. 1, FIG. 9b the position with the central seat 4c pushed back, and FIG. 9c the end position with the two outer seats 5c displaced inward. The two front seats are not represented, the central console 23 arranged between these two seats being represented schematically.
Also represented schematically is the vehicle floor 24, the latter forming a front, lower level 25 and a rear, higher level 26. Part of the front, lower level 25 comprises the foot space 27 for the passengers in the seat row. The rear, higher level 26 essentially forms the luggage space. To ensure that the central passenger also has sufficient foot space 28 available in the rear seat position, the vehicle floor 24 is lowered between the outer seats 5 so as to achieve approximately the height of the front, lower level 25. However, this is to be understood only on a purely schematic basis; of course, the foot space 28 may be structurally or functionally constrained to have a height which deviates from that of the front level 25.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a vehicle floor 24 for a seat arrangement according to FIG. 4. Here, the foot space 27 of the seat row forms a front, lower level, and the luggage space 26 forms a rear, higher level. The vehicle floor 24 in the foot space 28 for the pushed-back central seat has approximately the height of the vehicle floor 24 in the foot space 27 of the seat row. The vehicle floor 29 below the outer seats has a height which is above the height of the vehicle floor 24 in the foot space 28 of the central seat. A connecting wall 30 connects the vehicle floor 24 in the foot space 28 of the central seat to the vehicle floor 29 below the outer seats. The vehicle floor 31 is slightly lowered behind the foot space 28 with respect to the luggage space 26, at least in the region of the central seat in the rear seat position, in order to create space for the rearwardly displaced central seat.
A seat rail 32 for the central seat is mounted on the connecting wall 30. The seat rail 32 here extends into the lowered region 31 below the central seat. An identical seat rail is situated symmetrically with respect to the central level of the vehicle on the other side of the foot space 28. The two seat rails provide a wide support for the central seat, with the support being very rigid and favorable in terms of strength on account of the seat rails being firmly mounted on the predominantly vertical connecting wall 30. Furthermore, the predominantly vertical arrangement means that the seat rails do not interfere with the sitting comfort of the central passenger in the rear seat position.
Further seat rails 33 disposed transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle are mounted on the vehicle floor 29 and the outer seats. An outer seat 5 (not shown here) is supported in said rails, allowing the inward displacement of the outer seat as described in FIG. 4 and FIG. 9c.
Patent Application
20080001424
