U.S. patent application number 11/393441 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-28 for modular seat assembly and method of installation thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Multina Inc.. Invention is credited to Alain Ampleman, Luc Belair, Pierre Cossette, Richard Jobidon, Sylvain Pinard, Richard Valois.
Application Number | 20060290180 11/393441 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37566462 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060290180 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Belair; Luc ; et
al. |
December 28, 2006 |
Modular seat assembly and method of installation thereof
Abstract
A modular seat assembly, comprising at least two support units
at least one backrest unit connected to the at least two support
units; and at least one seat bottom unit; wherein the seat bottom
unit connects to the at least two support units and to the backrest
unit into a locking engagement.
Inventors: |
Belair; Luc; (Drummondville,
CA) ; Cossette; Pierre; (Drummondville, CA) ;
Jobidon; Richard; (Wickham, CA) ; Ampleman;
Alain; (Drummondville, CA) ; Pinard; Sylvain;
(Sherbrooke, CA) ; Valois; Richard;
(Drummondville, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKERMAN SENTERFITT
P.O. BOX 3188
WEST PALM BEACH
FL
33402-3188
US
|
Assignee: |
Multina Inc.
Drummondville
CA
|
Family ID: |
37566462 |
Appl. No.: |
11/393441 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/232 ;
297/452.18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 11/00 20130101;
B60N 2/7011 20130101; B60N 2/015 20130101; B60N 2/68 20130101; A47C
13/005 20130101; B60N 2/682 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/232 ;
297/452.18 |
International
Class: |
A47C 15/00 20060101
A47C015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2005 |
CA |
2,510,843 |
Claims
1. A modular seat assembly, comprising: at least two support units;
at least one backrest unit connected to said at least two support
units; and at least one seat bottom unit; wherein said seat bottom
unit connects to the support units and to the backrest unit into a
locking engagement.
2. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a seat
belt beam.
3. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said support units
comprise at least one of a pedestal unit, a wall bracket unit and a
backrest connection.
4. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said support units
comprise at least a connecting slider and a seat support part.
5. The modular seat assembly of claim 4, wherein said support units
further comprise a backrest connecting tube.
6. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said backrest unit
comprises a frame provided with connecting anchors.
7. The modular seat assembly of claim 6, wherein said backrest unit
comprises a removable backrest cover securing a backrest molded
foam.
8. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said seat bottom
unit comprises a frame provided with locking members.
9. The modular seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said seat bottom
unit comprises a molded foam secured to the seat frame by a seat
cushion cover.
10. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said backrest
unit and said seat bottom unit comprise a support member located
between side arms of thereof.
11. The modular seat assembly of claim 2, wherein said seat belt
beam is one of: i) a square tube, ii) a round tube, ii) an angle,
iv) an elongated member, extending across a width of said seat
bottom unit and said backrest set unit.
12. The modular seat assembly of claim 4, wherein said support
units comprise an attaching part to one of: i) a floor surface and
ii) a wall surface.
13. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, wherein each one of said
units is one of: i) an assembly of subunits and ii) a one-piece
unit.
14. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, wherein at least two of
said units are pre-assembled together.
15. The modular seat assembly of claim 2, wherein said seat belt
beam is pre-assembled with at least one of said units.
16. The modular seat assembly of claim 1, wherein each one of said
units is made in at least of: i) composites, ii) steel, iii)
metals, iv) magnesium and v) plastics.
17. A method for installing a modular seat, comprising the steps
of: positioning at least two support units; connecting a backrest
unit to the at least two support units; engaging a seat bottom unit
in locking engagement with the at least two support units and the
backrest unit.
18. The method of claim 17, said step of positioning at least two
support units comprising positioning at least two support units
selected in the group consisting of pedestal units, wall bracket
units and backrest connections.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising positioning a seat
belt beam supported by said at least two support units, said step
of engaging a seat bottom unit comprising engaging the seat bottom
unit in locking engagement with the at least two support units, the
backrest unit and the seat belt beam.
20. The method of claim 17, said step of connecting the backrest
unit to the at least two support units comprising inserting
connecting anchors of the backrest unit into backrest connecting
tubes of each support units.
21. The method of claim 17, said step of engaging the seat bottom
unit in locking engagement with the at least two support units and
the backrest unit comprising driving a first bolt through a
perforation in a backrest connecting tube of a first one of the
support units and through a corresponding perforation in a first
connecting anchor of the backrest unit inserted in the backrest
connecting tube of the first one of the support units, and into a
first locking member of the seat bottom unit; and driving a second
bolt through a perforation in a backrest connecting tube of a
second one of the support units and through a corresponding
perforation in a second connecting anchor of the backrest unit
inserted in the backrest connecting tube of a second one of the
support units, and into a second locking member of the seat bottom
unit.
22. The method of claim 17, the seat bottom unit having locking
members with a spring fastened to an end thereof, said step
engaging the seat bottom unit in locking engagement with the at
least two support units and the backrest unit comprising inserting
the locking members of the seat bottom unit into an aperture of
connecting sliders of the supports units and through a perforation
provided in backrest connecting tubes of the support units and a
corresponding perforation provided in connecting anchors of the
backrest unit located in the backrest connecting tubes of the
support units respectively; whereby a force directed to a back of
the seat assembly pushes backwards the seat bottom unit hard enough
to compress the springs against an rear inside wall of the backrest
connecting tubes so as to engage a hooks provided under the seat
bottom unit.
23. The method of claim 17, said step engaging the seat bottom unit
in locking engagement with the at least two support units and the
backrest unit comprising inserting locking members of the seat
bottom unit into an aperture of connecting sliders of the supports
units and through a perforation provided in backrest connecting
tubes of the support units and a corresponding perforation provided
in connecting anchors of the backrest unit located in the backrest
connecting tubes of the support units; whereby a tightening action
of screws between angles and the seat bottom unit pushes ends of
the locking member of the seat bottom unit towards a rear inside
wall of the connecting anchors of the backrest unit, thereby
squeezing the connecting anchors of the backrest unit between the
seat bottom unit and the backrest connecting tubes of the support
units.
24. The method of claim 17, the seat bottom unit having locking
members with a "v"-shaped end, a rod being located across
connecting anchors of the backrest unit, said step engaging the
seat bottom unit in locking engagement with the at least two
support units and the backrest unit comprising inserting the
locking members of the seat bottom unit into an aperture of
connecting sliders of the support units and through a perforation
provided in backrest connecting tubes of the support units and a
corresponding perforation provided in the connecting anchors of the
backrest unit inserted in the backrest connecting tubes of the
support units respectively; whereby the "v"-shaped ends of the
locking members engages the rod; a tightening action between angles
and the seat bottom unit pushing the connecting anchors of the
backrest unit against a rear inside wall of the backrest connecting
tubes of the support units.
25. The method of claim 17, the seat bottom unit having locking
members with a hook-shape end, a rod being located across
connecting anchors of the backrest unit, said step engaging the
seat bottom unit in locking engagement with the at least two
support units and the backrest unit comprising i) inserting the
locking members through corresponding slots provided in a front
wall of backrest connecting tubes of the support units and in a
front wall of connecting anchors of the backrest unit, whereby the
hook of the hook-shape end of the locking members engages the rod;
ii) revolving the seat bottom unit around the rod down to a final
horizontal position thereof, whereby a surface of the locking
members comes in abutment with a rear inside wall of the connecting
anchors of the backrest unit.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising fastening a front
part of the seat bottom unit using one of a screw, a bolt, a latch,
a captive screw, a quarter-turn fastener, a hook, and a spring
clip.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the surface of the locking
members that comes in abutment with the rear inside wall of the
connecting anchors of the backrest unit is provided with teeth,
whereby, when the seat bottom unit revolves around the rod down to
its final horizontal position, the teeth grip onto the rear inside
wall of the connecting anchors of the backrest unit.
28. The method of claim 17, the seat bottom unit having locking
members with a hook-shape end, said step engaging the seat bottom
unit in locking engagement with the at least two support units and
the backrest unit comprising i) inserting the locking members at an
angle through corresponding slots provided in a front wall of
backrest connecting tubes of the support units and in a front wall
of connecting anchors of the backrest unit; ii) bringing the seat
bottom unit down to a final horizontal position thereof, whereby a
tip of the locking members contacts an inner surface of the front
wall of the connecting anchors of the backrest unit.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising fastening a front
part of the seat bottom unit by using one of a screw, a bolt, a
latch, a captive screw, a quarter-turn fastener, a hook, and a
spring clip, thereby generating a pressure at a contact surface
between the tip of the locking members and the inner surface of the
front wall of the connecting anchors of the backrest unit and
forcing the connecting anchors of the backrest unit against the
backrest connecting tubes of the support units, holding the hook
shape of the locking members against the front wall of the
connecting anchors of the backrest unit against vibration.
30. The method of claim 17, the seat bottom unit having locking
members, ends of the locking members having a teeth shape, said
step engaging the seat bottom unit in locking engagement with the
at least two support units and the backrest unit comprising
inserting the locking members of the seat bottom unit into an
aperture of connecting sliders of the supports units and through a
perforation provided in backrest connecting tubes of the support
units and a corresponding perforation provided in connecting
anchors of the backrest unit located in the backrest connecting
tubes of the support units; whereby lateral teeth of the ends of
the locking members engage apertures provided in a rear inside wall
of the connecting anchors of the backrest unit and corresponding
apertures provided in a rear inside wall of the backrest connecting
tube of the support means, a tightening action of a screw between
angles and the seat bottom unit pushes the lateral teeth inside
these apertures while a bridging part therebetween is blocked by a
surface of the rear inside wall of the connecting anchors of the
backrest unit.
31. The method of claim 17, comprising providing a backrest unit
comprising a frame made of a first tube inserted into second tubes,
the first and second tubes being of different diameters and
thicknesses, the first tube forming a shape of the backrest unit,
the tubes, at a beginning of an impact, slide one against the
other.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority on Canadian application No.
CA 2,510,843 filed on Jun. 22, 2005 and Canadian application filed
on Mar. 23, 2006 (number not yet assigned). All documents above are
herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to seats. More specifically,
the present invention is concerned with modular seat assemblies and
method of installation thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A number of seats models are known, for use in vehicles such
as school buses for example, of a variety of sizes (45 inches, 39
inches, 34 inches, 30 inches, 26 inches and 18 inches) and heights
(high backrest and low backrest) to accommodate a range of vehicle
configuration.
[0004] The present description refers to a number of documents, the
content of which is herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] More specifically, in accordance with the present invention,
there is provided a modular seat assembly, comprising at least two
support units; at least one backrest unit connected to the at least
two support units; and at least one seat bottom unit; wherein the
seat bottom unit connects to the at least two support units and to
the backrest unit into a locking engagement.
[0006] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following
non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given
by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the appended drawings:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a general view of a modular seat assembly
according to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 are perspective views of pedestal units used in the
modular seat assembly of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front view of a backrest unit in the modular
seat assembly of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a backrest cover of the backrest unit of
FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 5a is a top view of a seat bottom unit of the modular
seat assembly of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 5b illustrates a seat cover of the seat bottom unit of
FIG. 5a;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wall bracket unit of the
modular seat assembly of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrate a first attachment of the units of the
modular seat assembly of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 8 shows a second attachment of the units of a modular
seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 9 shows a third attachment of the units of a modular
seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 10 shows a fourth attachment of the units of a modular
seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 11 shows a fifth attachment of the units of the modular
seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 12 shows a sixth attachment of the units of a modular
seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 13 shows a seventh attachment of the units of a modular
seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 14 shows a eight attachment of the units of a modular
seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIGS. 15a to 15k illustrate seat assemblies according to
various modular embodiments of the present invention; and
[0024] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a support unit used in
FIGS. 15b, 15c, 15g, 15h, 15i, 15j and 15k.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The present invention is illustrated in further details by
the following non-limiting examples.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the appended drawings, a modular
seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention
comprises support units 12, a backrest unit 16 and a seat bottom
unit 14.
[0027] The modular seat assembly may comprise a seat belt beam 60,
as will be described further hereinbelow.
[0028] The support units 12 comprise at least one of a pedestal
unit 12a or 12d illustrated for example in FIG. 2, of a wall
bracket unit 12b illustrated for example in FIG. 6 and of a
backrest connection 12c illustrated for example in FIG. 16. The
support units 12 may comprise at least one of metal, plastics and
composites for example.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 2b, a pedestal unit 12d generally comprises
an attaching part 18d, a connecting slider 26d and a front leg 22.
Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2a, a pedestal unit 12a may comprise
a backrest connecting tube 20a and a seat support part 24a, in
addition to an attaching part 18a, a connecting slider 26a and a
front leg 22.
[0030] The backrest connecting tube 20a and the front leg 22 may be
round tubes or square tubes for example. The seat support part 24a
and the connecting slider 26a may be folded pieces or square or
round tubes for example.
[0031] A wall bracket unit 12b illustrated in FIG. 6 generally
comprises a backrest connecting tube 20b, an attaching part 18b, a
seat support part 24b and a connecting slider 26b.
[0032] The backrest connection 12c illustrated in FIG. 16
essentially comprises at least one backrest connecting tube 20c,
which may or may not extend all the way down to the floor, and a
connecting slider 26c. A backrest connection 12c may replace a
pedestal unit 12a or a wall bracket unit 12b to support the
backrest unit 16, as will be explained hereinbelow in relation to
FIGS. 15b, 15c, 15g, 15h, 15i, 15j and 15k for example.
[0033] A backrest unit 16 as illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a
frame 30 provided with connecting anchors 62 and 64, and a support
member 32 supporting a backrest plate 34.
[0034] A backrest cover 40 may be put on the backrest unit 16 over
a backrest molded foam supported by the support member 32. The
backrest molded foam may comprise a rear molded foam 40a and a
front molded foam 40b assembled together by the backrest cover
40.
[0035] As best seen in FIG. 4, the backrest cover 40 may be
upholstered to the backrest unit 16 by using a plastic strip
inserted in a plastic hook 41 sown on the backrest cover 40 for
example. The cover 40 may be removed without being damaged by
simply pulling on the strip.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 5a, a seat bottom unit 14 generally
comprises a frame 44 provided with locking members 50 and 51 and a
support member 46. A seat plate 48, which may take the form of a
full board, a plywood board, a net of small boards, or of a
suspension or of a rod mat as known in the art, is secured over the
tubular frame 44.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 5b, a molded foam 52 may be directly
secured to the seat frame 44, here illustrated as a channel 54, by
a seat cushion cover 53 attached to the frame 44 and to the support
member 46 for example.
[0038] The locking members 50 and 51 may be integrally formed with
the frame 44 or separate members.
[0039] The support member 32 of the backrest unit 16 and the
support member 46 of the seat bottom unit 14, located between side
arms of the frame 30 of the backrest unit 16 and side arms of the
frame 44 of the seat bottom unit 14, rigidify the frames 30 and 44
respectively.
[0040] The seat belt beam 60 is used for attaching seat belts.
Depending on the type of seat belts needed, abdominal seat belts or
three points seat belts, the seat belt beam 60 may be a square
tube, a round tube or an angle for example, made in plastic, metal
or composite for example, so as to achieve a desired resistance, as
people in the art will appreciate. The seat belt beam 60 generally
engages the connecting sliders 26a, 26b, 26c of the support means
12a, 12b, 12c--as will be described with more details
hereinafter.
[0041] FIGS. 15a-15k illustrate modular seat assemblies obtained by
assembling the support means 12, the seat bottom unit 14 and the
backrest unit 16 described hereinabove.
[0042] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 15a-15k, the seat
assembly comprises seat belt beams 60, in the form of members
extending across a width of the seat bottom unit and provided with
perforations.
[0043] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 15a-15k, the
attaching part 18a of the pedestal unit 12a is shown in the form of
a plate for illustration purposes only, since obviously other forms
are possible, as people in the art will appreciate. The attaching
part 18b of the wall bracket unit 12b is illustrated under a form
appropriate for fixation to a string course of a wall of a vehicle,
although it could be designed for attachment to a vertical
surface.
[0044] Moreover, in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 15a-15k
the frame 30 of the backrest unit 16 is shown as comprising tube
30b inserted into tubes 30, i.e. tubes of different diameters and
thicknesses assembled one inside the other, an inner tube 30b on
the inside forming the shape of the backrest unit 16, while tubes
30a on the outside are sufficiently rigid to satisfy requirements
of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 222 (49 CFR
571.222) for example. The upper end of the tubes on the outside 30a
may be welded for example, or otherwise secured to, to the tube 30b
on the inside so that, upon impact, the tubes are subjected to a
force that bends them plastically towards the front, and, as only
one end of the tubes is fastened, both tubes can, at the beginning
of the impact, slide one against the other. After a certain time
following the impact, the bending of the tubes is such that they
are no longer able to slide one against the other. At that moment,
an increase in energy is required to bend the tubes further. This
variation in energy required to bend the backrest unit allows
controlling the passenger's deceleration when hitting the backrest
during impact. By adjusting the dimension and the thickness of the
tubes, it is therefore possible to meet with the standards required
by FMVSS 222.
[0045] The frame 30 may also be formed of a single tube shaped into
the desired shape, extremities thereof playing the role of the
connecting anchors 62 and 64. However, using different tubes may be
decided in order to have distinct mechanical properties in distinct
regions of the frame 30, as people in the art will appreciate,
and/or to optimise the weight of the overall frame 30.
[0046] As people in the art will appreciate, other configurations
for the frame 30 are possible, as known in the art.
[0047] In FIG. 15a, the seat assembly comprises a pedestal unit 12a
to be fixed to the floor of a vehicle for example (not shown)
through the attaching part 18a, and a wall bracket unit 12b fixed
to the string course of a wall of the vehicle for example (not
shown) through the attaching part 18b. The pedestal unit 12a is
positioned at an extremity of the seat assembly at a position
symmetric to that of the wall bracket unit 12b. In this case, the
pedestal unit 12a comprises a backrest connecting tube 20a and a
seat support part 24a (not seen in FIG. 15a). The connecting
anchors 62 and 64 of the backrest unit 16 are received in the
backrest connecting tube 20a of the pedestal 12a and the backrest
connecting tube 20b of the wall bracket unit 12b respectively. The
seat bottom unit 14 is assembled to the seat assembly through its
locking members 50 and 51, as will be described with more details
hereinafter.
[0048] In FIG. 15b, the seat assembly comprises two seat bottom
units 14a and 14b, two backrest units 16a and 16b.
[0049] The seat assembly illustrated in FIG. 15c also comprises a
wall bracket unit 12b fixed to the string course of a wall of the
vehicle for example (not shown) through the attaching part 18b.
However, another support means used is a pedestal unit 12d (as
illustrated in detail in FIG. 2b) displaced from the extremity of
the seat assembly towards an inner position along the width of the
seat assembly, by sliding the connecting slider 26d over the seat
belt beam 60.
[0050] In FIG. 15d, the seat assembly is supported by two pedestal
units 12a positioned at extremities thereof.
[0051] In FIG. 15e, the seat assembly is supported by a first
pedestal unit located at a first extremity, a second pedestal unit
12d located at an inner position along the width of the seat
assembly as seen in FIG. 15c, and a wall bracket unit 12b at a
second extremity, while in FIG. 15f, the wall bracket unit 12b at
the second extremity is replaced by a third pedestal unit.
[0052] The seat assembly of FIG. 15g is a variation of the seat
assembly illustrated in FIG. 15b using a pedestal unit 12d located
at an inner position along the width of the seat assembly instead
of a pedestal unit located at an extremity, and FIG. 15h is a
further variation using two pedestal units at each extremity and a
backrest connection 12c with two connecting tubes. In FIGS. 15i and
15j, the seat assembly of FIG. 15b uses an extra pedestal unit
located at an inner position along the width of the seat bottom
unit. FIG. 15k shows a further variation.
[0053] In FIGS. 15b, 15c, 15g, 15h, 15i, 15j, and 15k, backrest
connections 12c are used at some positions of the connecting
anchors 62 and 64 of the frame 30 of the backrest unit 16, instead
of a pedestal unit 12a or a wall bracket unit 12b, in cases when
support to the floor or to the wall is provided at locations
different from these positions.
[0054] The different units of the seat assembly according to the
present assembly generally have functional parts. These parts may
take the form of distinct members, the corresponding unit resulting
from the assembly of each individual member, or from the assembly
of any number of these members pre-assembled together or fabricated
together as a subunit.
[0055] For example, the attaching part 18b and the seat support
part 24b of a wall bracket unit 12b may be molded as a one-piece
member.
[0056] Any of the attaching part 18a, the connecting slider 26a,
the front leg 22, the backrest connecting tube 20a and the seat
support part 24a of the pedestal unit 12a may be pre-assembled in
sub-units so that the pedestal unit 12a be made of 4 or 5 separate
sub-units. Alternatively, the pedestal unit 12a may be a one-piece
molded unit.
[0057] Moreover, the different units of the seat assembly
themselves may be pre-assembled. For example, it may contemplated
to pre-assemble a pedestal unit and a seat belt beam or a seat belt
beam and a wall bracket unit, by welding or by using a bolt for
example, or even a pedestal unit, a seat belt beam and a wall
bracket unit in the cases of seat assemblies of the type
illustrated in FIG. 15a for example, or to pre-assemble a backrest
unit and a seat bottom unit, or a pedestal unit, a seat belt beam,
a seat bottom unit and a wall bracket unit. A pre-assembly of a
seat belt beam, a seat bottom unit, a backrest unit and a wall
bracket unit may be favored for transportation purposes for
example, since such pre-assemblies are stackable in a reduced
space, the pedestal units being transported separately.
[0058] Interestingly, the units of the present invention are
standard units, which may be mass fabricated, while allowing a
flexibility of a final assembly at a controlled cost. Indeed,
basically, the support means are identical for any kind of desired
seat assemblies, considering that they include left and right wall
brackets units, left, right and symmetric (in the case of a
pedestal unit located at an inner position along the width of the
seat assembly instead of a pedestal unit located at an extremity as
illustrated hereinabove) pedestal units for example. The seat
bottom units and the backrest units, as well as the seat belt
beams, have also a basically fixed structure, although they may
vary in width (of the seat bottom unit and correspondingly of the
backrest unit) and length (of the seat belt beam).
[0059] In the context of storage and speed of delivery
optimization, it may thus be contemplated having a number of
standard units fabricated and ready so as to be ready to fabricate
specific variations of these other units that may be ordered with
different geometrical characteristics (width of the seat bottom
unit and correspondingly of the backrest unit, and length of the
seat belt beam).
[0060] The functional parts of each unit being defined, the
modularity of the present invention allows tailoring any specific
seat assembly according to target local properties, since each
different unit or sub-unit may be made in a different material,
including composites, steel, metals, magnesium, plastics etc. . . .
depending of a desired strength and resistance and other mechanical
properties for example and/or to optimise the weight of the overall
assembly, which may be a critical concern in the context of
vehicles equipment for example.
[0061] People in the art will further appreciate that the
modularity of the present invention allows having the units
fabricated in different factories, even in different parts of the
world, according to different skills required, costs involved etc.
. . .
[0062] It is to be noted that the connecting sliders 26a, 26b of
the support means, may be located above the seat support parts 24a,
24b as illustrated for example in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7-12 for
example, or bellow, which is an option selected in FIGS. 13, 14 and
15a to 15k. A lower position of the connecting sliders 26a, 26b may
allow an easier installation of the molded foam 52 and its cushion
cover on the seat bottom unit 14, as well as resulting in an
improved outline and visual appearance.
[0063] Methods for installation of a present modular seat assembly
will now be described.
[0064] Basically, a method according to a second aspect of the
present invention comprises positioning at least two support units
12 (step 100); connecting a backrest unit to the at least two
support means (step 200); and connecting a seat bottom unit to the
backrest unit and the support means (step 300).
[0065] In step 100, depending on where the seat assembly is to be
installed and on the type of seat assembly desired, as mentioned
hereinabove, one of the following may be done, for example: [0066]
a wall bracket unit 12b may be attached to a wall and a pedestal
unit 12a positioned on the floor at a distance from the wall
bracket unit 12b corresponding to the width of the seat assembly;
[0067] a first wall bracket unit 12b may be attached to a first
wall and a second wall bracket unit 12b may be attached to an
opposite wall; [0068] two pedestal units 12a may be positioned and
separated by a distance corresponding to the width of the seat
assembly (two pedestal units located at the extremities); [0069] a
first support units 12 is positioned, a seat belt beam 60 is
position in the cavity formed by the connecting slider thereof; and
a pedestal units 12a of the type located at an inner position along
the width of the seat assembly is slid over the seat belt beam 60
through the cavity formed by the connecting slider thereof; [0070]
etc. . . .
[0071] A wall bracket unit 12b may be fastened to a sidewall of the
vehicle (not shown) by a nut and bolt system through the attaching
part 18b using pre-drilled holes in the wall, for example. In the
case when a seat belt beam 60 is not pre-assembled with the wall
bracket unit 12b, an extremity of a seat belt beam 60 is inserted
into the cavity formed by the connecting slider 26b of the wall
bracket unit 12b, and secured thereto by a spring clip or a bolt
for example. At this point, a pedestal unit 12a may be already
installed in the case when the seat belt beam 60 is also
pre-assembled with pedestal unit 12a. Then the pedestal unit 12a
only needs to be secured to the floor of the vehicle, using holes
drilled in the floor of the vehicle by using the pedestal unit 12a
as a template and fastening the pedestal unit 12a using nuts and
bolts to the floor through the attaching part 18a thereof for
example.
[0072] Otherwise, in the case when the pedestal unit 12a is
not-pre-assembled with a seat belt beam 60, the pedestal unit 12a
may be slid over the seat belt beam 60 through connecting slider
26b and secured thereto by one a spring clip or a bolt for
example.
[0073] In step 200, the connecting anchors 62 and 64 of the
backrest unit 16 are inserted into the backrest connecting tubes
20a, 20b of two support units 12 separated by a distance
corresponding to a width of the backrest unit (see FIG. 15a, 15d,
15e, 15f), or in a first support means 12a or 12b and a support
means 12c respectively (see FIGS. 15b, 15c, 15g, 15h, 15i, 15j,
15k).
[0074] In step 300, a seat bottom unit 14 is then assembled and the
overall assembly locked into a rigid assembly by the locking
members 50 and 51.
[0075] The locking mechanism may take a number of forms, and may
need intervention from the back of the assembly (see for example
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7) or from the front thereof (see
for example embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 14).
[0076] In FIG. 7, For example, the locking members 50, 51 of the
seat bottom unit 14 are inserted into an aperture of the seat belt
beam 60 housed in the connecting slider 26a, 26b, which have a
corresponding aperture, and through a perforation provided in the
backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of the pedestal unit 12 and a
corresponding perforation provided in the connecting anchors 62, 64
of the backrest unit 16 located in the backrest connecting tube
20a, 20b respectively.
[0077] As best seen in FIG. 7a, a first bolt 100 is driven through
a perforation in the backrest connecting tube 20a of the pedestal
unit 12a and inserts itself into the locking member 50 of the seat
bottom unit 14. As shown in FIG. 7b, a second bolt 110 is driven
through a perforation in the backrest connecting tube 20b and
inserts itself into the locking member 51 of the seat bottom unit
14.
[0078] Alternatively, in FIG. 8, a spring 130 is fastened to the
end of the locking members 50, 51 of the seat bottom unit 14. The
locking members 50, 51 of the seat bottom unit 14 are inserted into
an aperture of the seat belt beam 60 housed in the connecting
slider 26a, 26b, which have a corresponding aperture, and through a
perforation provided in the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of
the pedestal unit 12 and a corresponding perforation provided in
the connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16 located in
the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b respectively. A force
directed to the back of the seat assembly (see arrow A) allows
pushing backwards the seat bottom unit 14 hard enough to compress
the spring 130 against an rear inside wall of the backrest
connecting tube 20a, 20b, so as to engage a hook 120 provided under
the seat bottom unit 14 within a hole in the seat support part 24a,
24b. Once the hook 120 is in place, the force may be released to
let the spring 130 releases the seat bottom unit 14 forward in
locked relationship with the seat support part 24a, 24b through the
front hook 120 (see arrow B). The pressure then provided by the
spring 130 is sufficient to maintain the locking action of the hook
120 and to avoiding vibrations of the seat bottom unit 14 and the
backrest unit 16.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 9, the spring 130 may be a stamped spring
instead of the compression spring illustrated in FIG. 8. The
stamped spring 130 may be welded or clamped to the inside wall of
the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of the support units 12 for
example.
[0080] Still alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, the locking member
50, 51 of the seat bottom unit 14 are inserted into an aperture of
the seat belt beam 60 housed in the connecting slider 26a, 26b,
which has a corresponding aperture, and through a perforation
provided in the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of the support
units 12 and a corresponding perforation provided in the connecting
anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16 located in the backrest
connecting tube 20a, 20b of the support units 12 respectively. The
tightening action of a screw 134 between an angle 135 and the seat
support part 24a, 24b, pushes the ends of the locking member 50, 51
of the seat bottom unit 14 towards the rear inside wall of the
connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16, thereby
squeezing the connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16
between the seat bottom unit and the backrest connecting tube 20a,
20b of the support means 12.
[0081] In FIG. 11, the locking members 50, 51 of the seat bottom
unit 14 have a "v"-shaped end. A rod 140 is inserted across the
connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16. The locking
member 50, 51 of the seat bottom unit 14 are inserted into an
aperture of the seat belt beam 60 housed in the connecting slider
26a, 26b with a corresponding aperture and through a perforation
provided in the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of the support
units 12 and a corresponding perforation provided in the connecting
anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16 located in the backrest
connecting tube 20a, 20b of the support units 12 respectively. The
"v" shape of the end of the locking member 50, 51 engages the rod
140. Once a screw 134 between an angle 135 and the seat support
part 24a, 24b as used in the embodiment of FIG. 10 is tightened,
the pressure pushes the connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest
unit 16 against the rear inside wall of the backrest connecting
tube 20a, 20b of the support means 12. Since the ends of the
locking member 50, 51 are pushed against the rod 140, the backrest
unit 16 is locked into place.
[0082] In FIG. 12, the end of the locking member 50, 51 have a
teeth shape. The lateral teeth engages apertures provided in the
rear inside wall of the connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest
unit 16 and corresponding apertures provided in the rear inside
wall of the in the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of the support
means 12. Once the screw 134 is tightened, the lateral teeth are
pushed inside these apertures while the bridging part there between
is blocked by the surface of the rear inside wall of the connecting
anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16, creating a pressure pushing
the connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16 against the
rear inside wall of the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of the
support means 12, thereby locking the backrest unit 16 in
place.
[0083] Still alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the connecting
sliders 26a, 26b have a lower position in relation to the seat
support part 24a, 24b. To avoid rattles, stamped springs may be
used inside the cavity formed by the connecting sliders 26a, 26b to
apply pressure on the sides of the seat belt beam 60. The end of
the locking member 50, 51 have a hook shape. As in FIG. 11, a rod
140 is inserted across the connecting anchors 62, 64 of the
backrest unit 16. The seat bottom unit 14 is assembled by inserting
the locking member 50, 51 at an angle (from above in the
illustrated configuration) through corresponding slots provided in
the front wall of the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of the
support units 12 and in the front wall of the connecting anchors
62, 64 of the backrest unit 16, so that the hook of the end of the
locking member 50, 51 engages the rod 140. The seat bottom unit 14
is then able to revolve around the rod 140 down to its final
horizontal position, in which a surface 150 of the locking member
50, 51 comes in abutment with the rear inside wall of the
connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16, thereby,
creating a pressure sufficient to hold the backrest unit 16 in
place. The seat bottom unit 14 may be further fastened to the seat
support part 24a, 24b using, for example, a screw or a bolt, a
latch, a captive screw, a quarter-turn fastener, a hook, or a
spring clip. To increase the pressure against rear inside wall of
the connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16, teeth maybe
cut on the surface 150, so that, when the seat bottom unit 14
revolves around the rod 140 down to its final horizontal position,
the teeth grip onto rear inside wall of the connecting anchors 62,
64 of the backrest unit 16, thereby further securing these elements
together.
[0084] In FIG. 14, the end of the locking member 50, 51 have a hook
shape. As in FIG. 13, the seat bottom unit 14 is assembled by
inserting the locking member 50, 51 at an angle (from above in the
illustrated configuration) through corresponding slots provided in
the front wall of the backrest connecting tube 20a, 20b of the
support units 12 and in the front wall of the connecting anchors
62, 64 of the backrest unit 16. As the seat bottom unit 14 is
brought downwards to its final horizontal position, a tip 154 of
the locking member 50, 51 contacts the front inner wall of the
connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16. When the seat
bottom unit 14 is further fastened to the seat support part 24a,
24b by the using one of a screw 152 or a bolt, a latch, a captive
screw, a quarter-turn fastener, a hook, or a spring clip, for
example, the pressure applied at a contact surface between the tip
154 of the locking member 50, 51 and the front inner wall of the
connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16 forces the
connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit against the backrest
connecting tube 20a, 20b of the support means 12, holding the hook
shape of the locking member 50, 51 against the front wall of the
connecting anchors 62, 64 of the backrest unit 16 against
vibration.
[0085] In embodiments where the connecting sliders 26a, 26b of the
support means are located bellow the seat support parts 24a, 24b,
such as in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15a to 15k for example, locking of the
seat bottom unit 14 if further achieved by engagement of a
protrusion 160 of the seat frame 44 or of the locking member 50,
51, into an aperture in the seat support parts 24a, 24b
corresponding to an aperture in the seat belt beam 60, as shown in
FIGS. 13, and 14.
* * * * *