Abstract:
A rear seat assembly for a vehicle is disclosed in which the seat cushions and the seat backs may be positioned on top of one another from a flat usage position into a non-usage position. Folding the seat cushions on top of one another and, folding the seat backs on top of one another takes place in order to form the loading space in the region of the back seat arrangement. The seat cushions and the seat backs, respectively, are stowed in a compact manner in the region of the passenger car and provides sufficient space for forming the loading space in the region of the back seat arrangement.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 202013011386.3 filed Dec. 19, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a back seat arrangement of a passenger car, and more particularly to a back seat arrangement that is used in a small car. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Back seat arrangements for passenger cars are known that have seats arranged adjacent to one another and that each have a seat part and a backrest. In small cars, the space available can indeed be restricted in such a manner that only minimal loading space is available in the rear region of the vehicle. By folding the back seat arrangement, the loading space can be extended into the region of the back seat arrangement. 
         [0004]    From DE 10 2007 052 529 A1, a back seat arrangement for a passenger car is known. The back seat arrangement has three seats which are arranged next to one another and which each have a seat part and a backrest. In order to increase a loading space, for example, the respective backrest can be folded forwards onto the seat part so that the load can be placed onto the backrest. For increasing the loading space in the lateral regions which adjoin the middle seat it is further provided to fold the seat part of the respective outer seat against the backrest and to rotate this arrangement by 90° with respect to the horizontal so that with an arrangement of the respective outer seat adjacent to the middle seat, a load-through possibility is provided between the outer seat and that side panel of a body part that faces the outer seat. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present disclosure a back seat arrangement of a passenger car, in particular for use in a small car, is provided which, with regard to construction and handling effort, enables in the simplest way possible to form loading space of the passenger car in the region of the back seat arrangement. In an embodiment, the seat parts may be laid on top of one another from a flat usage position into a non-usage position, and the backrests can be laid on top of one another from a flat usage position into a non-usage position. 
         [0006]    Thus, on the one hand, folding the seat parts on top of one another and, on the other, folding the backrests on top of one another takes place in order to form the loading space in the region of the back seat arrangement. For forming the loading space in the non-usage position of the arrangement of the seat parts and the non-usage position of the arrangement of the backrests, the seat parts and the backrest, respectively, are stowed in a compact manner in the region of the passenger car that serves for accommodating the back seat arrangement in the usage position thereof With this compact arrangement of the seat parts and the backrests, sufficient space for forming the loading space in the region of the back seat arrangement is made in that region of the passenger car that is taken up by the back seat arrangement in the usage position. 
         [0007]    Thus, the seat parts and the backrests can each be folded like a book. The arrangement of the seat parts and the arrangement of the backrests is therefore compact and practicable. The seat parts and/or the backrests are placed in the non-usage position in such a manner that they are arranged in an upright position. The seat parts and backrests thus take up space substantially in the vertical direction, where space is available anyway to a sufficient degree in this region of the passenger car. 
         [0008]    Particularly large loading space can be created if in the non-usage position, the seat parts and/or the backrests are arranged in the region of a side panel of the passenger car. It is not required that the seat parts and the backrests are arranged in the region of the of the same side panel of the passenger car. However, this is often regarded to be advantageous since then the region of the other side panel of the passenger is completely available for forming the loading space. 
         [0009]    With regard to usage position of the seat parts, the seat parts are preferably connected to one another on their facing sides to be pivotable about a first axis. The pivotable connection of the two seats enables in a simple manner to transfer the seat parts from the usage position into the non-usage position since only a folding process is required. The seat parts are in particular identical so that in the non-usage position, they lie flat on top of one another and the arrangement of the two seat parts thus has double the height of a single seat part. 
         [0010]    The one seat part, on its side facing away from the other seat part, is preferably mounted in a body part of the passenger car to be pivotable about a second axis, wherein this second axis is arranged parallel to the first axis that connects the seat parts. This configuration enables a defined mounting of the one seat part in the body part via the second axis and the connection of the two seat parts via the first axis. This, on the one hand, enables simple folding of the seat parts for transitioning from the usage position into the non-usage position and on the other, it enables simple moving of the arrangement of the two seat parts in a non-usage position which is arranged in particular in the region of a side panel of the passenger car. 
         [0011]    In the usage position, the seat part facing away from the second axis can preferably be fixed on its side facing away from the second axis in the body part by a first fastener. When mounting the one seat part in the body part by the second axis and mounting the two seat parts inside each other by the first axis, a fixed connection of the arrangement of the two seat parts in the body part is obtained and thus a defined mounting of the two seat parts in their usage position. 
         [0012]    It is regarded to be advantageous if, with regard to the usage position, the backrests are connected to one another on their facing sides to be pivotable about a third axis. The connection of the backrests thus is carried out corresponding to that of the seat parts, as a result of which the backrests can be folded on top of one another in a constructional simple manner and with uncomplicated handling. The backrests are likewise identical so that in the non-usage position, thus in the position folded on top of one another, they have an approximate height that is double the height of a single backrest. The backrests folded on top of one another form a homogeneous block. 
         [0013]    The one backrest, on its side facing away from the other backrest, is preferably mounted in a body part of the passenger car to be pivotable about a fourth axis. The fourth axis is arranged parallel to the third axis that connects the backrests. In this respect, mounting of the one backrest is provided that is comparable to the mounting of the one seat part. This applies also to the fixation of the other backrest. Thus, it is preferably provided that in the usage position, the backrest facing away from the fourth axis can be fixed on its side facing away from the fourth axis in the body part by a second fastener. By the third and fourth axes and the second fastener, a strong and stable mounting of the two backrests in their usage position is obtained in the body part. 
         [0014]    Since the seat parts in the usage position usually rest on a floor region of the body part whereas the backrests in their usage position do not rest with their rear surface on a support surface, it is provided according to an advantageous refinement that in the usage position at least one backrest. In particular both backrests can be fixed or are fixed in the region facing the third axis in a floor region of the body part by a third fastener. This ensures a stable mounting of the two backrests in the region of the third axis in the floor region of the body part. Due to the third axis that connects the two backrests, this stable mounting can be carried out by a fastener that is associated with a backrest. However, instead of this, a latch or fastener can be provided in the region of the third axis, which fastener is associated with both backrests. The fastener can be transferred into the non-fixing position so that after transferring the second fastener into the non-fixing position thereof, the backrests can be pivoted about the third axis and thus can be folded back and, furthermore, the arrangement of the backrests can be pivoted about the fourth axis so as to rest against a side panel of the body part. 
         [0015]    It is regarded to be advantageous if by the first and/or second fastener, the seat parts and backrests, respectively, can be fixed in a side panel of the body part. This mounting is regarded as the preferred option because it is carried out in the vertical extent of the loading space or the back seat arrangement and accordingly is particularly stable. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the side parts and/or the backrests can be secured in their non-usage position with a retainer. For example, a retainer in the form of a strap or elastic band may be connected with one end, for example, to the side panel of the body part. With regard to the non-use of the seat parts or backrests, the retainer is fed past that side of the arrangement of backrests or seat parts that faces away from the side panel and is connected in the region of the other end to the side panel of the body part. 
         [0017]    The side parts and/or the backrests are preferably each mounted in frames that are pivotally connected to each other. The one frame, on its side facing away from the other frame, is pivotally mounted in a body part of the motor vehicle. The other frame, in the region of its end facing away from the one frame, can be fixed in the body part. Such a frame construction is configured in a simple manner and is well suited for receiving the cushions used for the respective seat part and the respective backrest. The respective frame is in particular formed by a tube. The frame is preferably a rectangular frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a passenger car in the region of a back seat arrangement that is in a usage position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a back seat arrangement according to  FIG. 1  during the transfer of the seat parts into a non-usage position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a back seat arrangement according to the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the seat parts transferred into the non-usage position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows the back seat arrangement according to  FIG. 3  during the transfer of the back seats into their non-usage position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows the back seat arrangement according to  FIG. 4  with the backrests in the non-usage position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows the back seat arrangement according to  FIG. 1  in a usage position of the seat parts and a non-usage position of the backrests; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a back seat arrangement according to  FIG. 1  in the usage position of the seat parts and in the non-usage position of one of the two backrests; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  shows the region of the passenger car illustrated in  FIG. 1  with disassembled seat parts and disassembled backrests; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  shows a passenger car in the region of a back seat arrangement that is modified with respect to that according to the  FIGS. 1 to 8 , illustrated in the usage position of the seat parts and the backrests; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  shows the back seat arrangement, illustrated with regard to the seat parts in the usage position, wherein the cushions of the seat parts are removed in part so as to illustrate components of the frame forming the seat parts; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 10 , but illustrated without cushions; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 11 , thus only the frame, illustrated for the non-usage position of the seat parts; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  shows the passenger car illustrated only for the region of the backrests and only for the frames of the backrests, shown for the usage position of the backrests, in a front view; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 13  in a rear view; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 14 , illustrated with the backrest or the frames of the backrest swiveled into an intermediate position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 15  with the other backrest completely swiveled against the one backrest, illustrated only with regard to the frames; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  shows another non-usage position of the arrangement of the two backrests or frames of the backrest, in which the one backrest or the one frame is arranged in the region of a side panel of the body part. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the application and uses of the present disclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description. 
         [0037]    Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a section of a passenger car  1 , which is a small car. The latter is illustrated in the region of a rear row of seats  2  and a foot well  3  for the rear row of seats  2  that extends in front of the row of seats. This rear row of seats  2  includes two seats  4 ,  5  which are arranged directly adjacent next to one another. The two seats  4 ,  5  arranged next to one another take up substantially the entire width of an interior of the passenger car  1 . Behind the rear row of seats  2 , a loading space can be formed which, in light of the fact that the passenger car  1  is a small car, has only a relatively small volume. The seat  4  has a seat part or seat cushion  6  and a backrest or seat back  7 , wherein a headrest is integrated in the backrest  7 . The seat  5  has a seat part or seat cushion  8  and a backrest or seat back  9 , wherein a headrest is integrated in the backrest  9 . 
         [0038]    Apart from minor deviations which are described in greater detail below, the two seat parts  6  and  8  are formed to be identical and the two backrests  7  and  9  are formed to be identical. The seat parts  6 ,  8  and the backrests  7 ,  9  are substantially cube-shaped, corresponding to the structure and shape of a cube-shaped cushion so as to ensure sufficient cushioning for passengers using the respective seat  4  or  5 . 
         [0039]    In the  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the basic modification of the seats  4  and  5  for forming a loading space  10  in the region of the rear row of seats  2  is illustrated. 
         [0040]    Thus, as is apparent from the illustration of the  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the seat parts  6  and  8  can be laid on top of each other from the flat usage position shown in  FIG. 1  into the non-usage position shown in  FIG. 5 , and the backrests  7  and  9  can be laid on top of each other from the flat usage position shown in  FIG. 1  into the non-usage position shown in  FIG. 5 . Hereby, as is apparent from the illustration of  FIG. 5 , the loading space  10  is formed in the region of the rear row of seats  2  between the arrangement  11  of the two seat parts  6  and  8  and the arrangement  12  of the two backrests  7  and  9 . This loading space  10  is variable, as is described in greater detail below. 
         [0041]    In the non-usage position, the seat parts  6  and  8  and the backrests  7  and  9  are arranged in an upward position, as is apparent from the illustration of  FIG. 5 . It is also apparent from this figure that the seat parts  6  and  8  and the backrests  7  and  9  are arranged in the region of side panels of the passenger car  1 . The side panels as such are not shown, but they arise implicitly from the lateral boundary of the foot well  2  and that portion of a body part  17  of the passenger car  1  that forms the floor  13 , which is arranged below the seats  4  and  5  with respect to the usage position thereof 
         [0042]    With respect to the usage position, the seat parts  6  and  8  are connected to one another on their facing sides so as to be pivotable about a first axis  14 . Furthermore, the seat part  6 , on the side facing away from the seat part  8 , is mounted in the body part  17  of the passenger car  1  so as to be pivotable about a second axis  15 . The two axes  14 ,  15  are arranged in parallel. With respect to the usage position of the seat parts  6  and  8 , the seat part  8 , on its side facing away from the axis  14 , can be fixed on the floor  13  of the body part  17  by a first fastener  16 . 
         [0043]    With respect to the usage position, the backrests  7  and  9  are connected to one another on their facing sides so as to be pivotable about a third axis  18 . On its side facing away from the backrest  7  or the axis  18 , the backrest  9  is mounted in the body part  17  so as to be pivotable about a fourth axis  19 , to be more specific, it is mounted in the non-illustrated side part of the body part  17 . The axes  18  and  19  are arranged in parallel. The backrest  17 , on its side facing away from the third axis  18 , can be fixed in the usage position in the body part  17 , in particular in a side part of the part  17 , by two fasteners  20 . Furthermore, in the usage position, the backrest  9  can be fixed in the region of the axis  18  in the floor  13  by a third fastener  21 . When the fastener  21  is disengaged from the floor  13 , the arrangement  12  can be swiveled from the usage position into the non-usage position. 
         [0044]    Furthermore, a fastener  22  for fixing the seat parts  6  and  8  in their non-usage position and a fastener  23  for fixing the backrests  7  and  9  in their non-usage position are provided. 
         [0045]      FIG. 1  shows the components of the passenger car  1  described in this respect in the usage position of the seat parts  6  and  8  and of the backrests  7  and  9 .  FIG. 2  shows an intermediate position of the seat parts  6  and  8  during the transfer from the usage position into the non-usage position. Here, the first fastener  16  is disengaged and both the seat parts  6  and  8  can swivel towards each other with respect to the axis  14  and the seat part  6  can swivel about the axis  15  with respect to the body part  17  or the floor  13 .  FIG. 3  shows the seat parts  6  and  8  in their position folded on top of one another, thus in their non-usage position. In this position, the arrangement  11  is fixed on the side panel of the body part  17  by the fastener  22 .  FIG. 4  shows the subsequent transfer of the backrests  7  and  9  from the usage position into the non-usage position, illustrated in an intermediate position. The fasteners  20  are disengaged so that the backrests  7  and  9  can swivel towards one another about the axis  18  and, moreover, the backrest  9  can swivel about the axis  19  that is fixed on the body.  FIG. 5  shows the arrangement  12  in the non-usage position, which arrangement is formed by the backrests  7  and  9 . In this non-usage position, the arrangement  12  rests against the side panel of the body part  11  and is fixed there by the fastener  23 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  shows an alternative in which the seat parts  6  and  8  remain in their usage position and only the arrangement  12  formed from the backrests  7  and  9  is transferred into the described non-usage position. 
         [0047]      FIG. 7  shows an arrangement that is modified in such a manner that the two seat parts  6  and  8  are in their usage position and, furthermore, the backrest  9  is in its usage position and is fixed here by the fastener  21  while the backrest  7  in its non-usage position is swiveled against the rear panel of the backrest  9 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 8  illustrates a state in which the seat parts  6  and  8  as well as the backrests  7  and  9  are disassembled with respect to the body part  17  so that the region of the passenger car  1  that is taken up in the usage position of the seat parts  6  and  8  and the backrests  7  and  9  is now completely available as loading space. 
         [0049]    As described above,  FIGS. 1 to 8  show that by modifying the arrangement of the seat parts  6 ,  8  and the backrests  7 ,  9 , different additional loading spaces can be formed in the region of the rear row of seats  2 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 9 to 17  illustrate for a modified embodiment the construction of the rear row of seats  2  in greater detail in which the construction of the arrangement  11  and the seat parts  6  and  8  forming this arrangement. It is shown that the seat part  6  has a frame  24  and the seat part  8  has a frame  25 . These frames  24 ,  25  are pivotally connected in the region of the axis  14  by joints  26 . The frame  24 , in the region of its side facing away from the other frame  25  or the axis  14 , is pivotally mounted in the region of the axis  15  in joints  27  on the body part. The frame  25 , in the region of its end facing away from the frame  24  or the axis  14 , thus is in the region of the axis  16 , can be fixed to the body part  17 , specifically to the floor  13 , by a fastener  16 . The respective frame  24  or  25  is surrounded by a cushion  29  of the respective seat part  6  or  7 , respectively. 
         [0051]      FIG. 9  shows the seat parts  6  and  8  in the usage position.  FIG. 10  likewise shows the seat parts  6  and  8  in their usage position; however, for a better illustration of the construction, the region of the cushion  29  adjacent to the joints  26  is not illustrated.  FIG. 11  shows the arrangement of the seat parts  6  and  8  in their usage position; however, it is shown only with respect to the arrangement of the frames  24  and  25 .  FIG. 12 , again only with respect to the frames  24  and  25 , shows the arrangement of the latter when the seat parts  6  and  8  are in their non-usage position, wherein the fastener  22  for fixing the arrangement  11  are also shown at the same time. The fastener  22  is an elastic fixation band.  FIG. 12  also illustrates two receptacles  30  in the floor  13 , wherein the fastener  16  interact with these receptacles in the usage position of the arrangement  11 . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 13 to 17  show a construction of the rear row of seats  2  in the region of the backrests  7  and  9 , which largely corresponds to the construction of the seat parts  6  and  8  according to the  FIGS. 9 to 12 . However, shown here are always only a frame  30  of the backrest  7  and a frame  31  of the backrest  9 . 
         [0053]    Shown are joints  32  which connect the two frames  30  and  31  in the region of the axis  18  and, furthermore, joints  32  which connect the backrest  9  in the region of the axis  19  to the side panel of the body part  17 , and finally the fasteners  20  for fixing the frame  30  and thus the backrest  7  in the other side panel of the body part  17 . 
         [0054]    In the region of its upper end, the respective frame  30  or  31  has receptacles  34  for inserting the headrests. In the region of the joints  32 , thus of the axis  18 , the frame  30  or  31  is provided with the fastener  21  that is formed as a downwardly directed locking bar. Each locking bar  21  can be manually operated by a mechanism  28  that is arranged in the upper region of the backrest  7  or  9  so that each backrest  7  or  9  can be separately locked and/or unlocked on the floor side. 
         [0055]      FIG. 13  shows the backrests  7  and  9  in their usage position, specifically the frames  30  and  31  in a position that corresponds to this usage position of the backrests  7 ,  9 . Here, the frames  30 ,  31  are fixed by the fastener  21 .  FIG. 13  illustrates the situation in a front view and  FIG. 14  in a rear view. For transferring only the backrest  7  into the non-usage position for the purpose of increasing the loading space, the fasteners  20 , as shown in the illustration of  FIG. 15 , is unlocked and by actuating the mechanisms  28 , the fastener  21  associated with the backrest  7  or the frame  30  is disengaged from the floor  13 . Thus, by swiveling rearwards, the backrest  7  can be moved against the rear surface of the backrest  9 . This end position is shown in  FIG. 16 . Through this folding of the arrangement  12  formed from the backrests  7  and  9 , a loading space extending over half the width of the vehicle interior is available so that through-loading of items to be loaded next to the arrangement  12  is possible. 
         [0056]      FIG. 17  shows another increase of the loading space in that the fastener  21  associated with the backrest  9  is also disengaged from the floor  13  by actuating the associated mechanism  28  so that the arrangement  12 , namely the two backrests  7  and  9 , can be jointly swiveled forwards about the joints  33  until the backrest rests against the side panel of the body part  17  and is fixed there by the fastener  23  that likewise is formed as an elastic band. 
         [0057]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment is only an example, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.