Hinge arrangement for a vehicle seat

A hinge arrangement may be used for a vehicle seat bottom to facilitate pivoting of the seat bottom to open a storage area below the seat bottom. The hinge arrangement may include at least one hinge having two plates connected by a pivot pin and a support structure separate from the at least one hinge. The support structure may be positioned adjacent to the at least one hinge to stop the hinge pin or pins from being ejected in the presence of an impact force.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a hinge arrangement for a vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle seats such as those found in automobiles and other passenger and commercial vehicles are subject to a variety of forces that result in stresses of various directions and magnitudes at different locations in the seat assembly. Of particular interest may be the forces encountered during a vehicle impact, for example, a front impact with another vehicle or some other object. In these situations, the forces encountered and the resultant stresses may be very high so it is important to have seat components that can react appropriately to these situations. One kind of seat that has special requirements is a seat having a storage compartment below the bottom seat cushion. The seat bottom may be attached to a support structure such as a frame, for example, with hinges to allow the seat bottom to pivot away from the frame to facilitate access to the storage area. In the event of a vehicle impact, especially when the seat is occupied, the seat bottom—and therefore the hinges—may be subjected to high stresses. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a hinge arrangement for a vehicle seat that was designed to manage these high stresses.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein may include a hinge arrangement for a vehicle seat that includes a hinge having a first plate pivotably connected to a second plate by an elongated member disposed at least partially through an opening in the first plate and at least partially through an opening in the second plate. The hinge arrangement may further include a support structure disposed proximate to the hinge such that removal of the pin from the openings in the first and second plates is inhibited. The support structure may also be positioned such that deformation of at least one of the first plate or the second plate in a predetermined direction is limited by contact with the support structure. Embodiments may also include a hinge plate configured for controlled plastic deformation in a predetermined area to absorb forces and reduce stresses in other areas of the hinge arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a portion of a vehicle seat10, and in particular, shows a portion of a vehicle seat bottom12with the cushion removed. The seat bottom12provides a storage compartment14, which is accessible by lifting a cover portion16. The cover portion16, which in this embodiment is a storage-compartment cover—is pivotably attached to a portion18of a seat frame of the vehicle seat. More specifically, the cover portion16is attached to the frame portion18by a hinge arrangement20. The hinge arrangement20is shown in an exploded view inFIG.2.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.1and2, the hinge arrangement20includes first and second hinges22,24and a support structure26. The first hinge22includes a first plate28pivotably connected to a second plate30by a first elongated member or first hinge pin32. The hinge pin32is disposed at least partially through an opening34in the first plate28and an opening36in the second plate30. Similarly, the second hinge24includes a first plate38pivotably connected to a second plate40by a second elongated member or second hinge pin42. The hinge pin42is disposed at least partially through an opening44in the first plate38and an opening46in the second plate40.

In the embodiment shown inFIG.2, the support structure26includes a first flange27and a first riser29projecting outwardly from the first flange27, a second flange31and a second riser33projecting outwardly from the second flange31, and a connecting member35attached to and connecting the first riser29and the second riser33. The first and second risers29,33and the connecting member35may be conveniently referred to as a bridge37that connects the two flanges27,31.

FIG.3shows the hinge arrangement20with the hinges22,24secured to the support structure26. In the embodiment shown inFIG.3, the support structure26is tacked onto the first plate28of the hinge22and the first plate38of the hinge24, for example, by welding. As shown inFIG.3, when the hinge arrangement20is assembled, the support structure26is disposed proximate to each of the hinges22,24such that removal of the respective hinge pins32,42is inhibited. More specifically, the bridge35blocks removal of the first and second hinge pins32,42from their respective hinges22,24. This may be particularly important if the hinge arrangement20is subjected to high forces, for example, in the case of a vehicle impact. More specifically, each of the hinge pins32,42includes a respective head48,50. In the embodiment shown inFIG.3, each of the heads48,50is positioned on an inboard side of its respective hinge22,24, and the heads48,50therefore inhibit removal of the respective pins32,42in an outboard direction. In the absence of the support structure26, however, the pins32,42could potentially be removed or forcibly ejected toward an inboard direction. In the embodiment shown inFIG.3, however, a first portion49of the support structure26is positioned proximate to the first hinge pin32such that removal of the pin32from the two plates28,30is inhibited. Similarly, a second portion51of the support structure26is positioned proximate to the second hinge pin42such that removal of the pin42from the two plates38,40is inhibited. In this way, the support structure26helps to maintain the integrity of the hinge arrangement20even in the presence of a relatively high ejection force.

FIG.4shows a top view of the hinge arrangement20with cut lines through the hinge24, providing reference for the sectional views inFIGS.5-9. Specifically,FIGS.5-7are sections through line5-5andFIGS.8-9are sections through line8-8. Although the sectional views are of the hinge24, it is understood that they also apply to the hinge22on the opposite side of the support structure26.FIG.5shows a side sectional view of a portion of the cover portion16of the seat bottom12, the hinge24, and the support structure26. As shown inFIG.5, the hinge24is in its design position—i.e., it is installed and operating under normal conditions. Under these conditions, there is a gap between the hinge plate38and an edge52of the support structure26. This is illustrated in the detail view shown inFIG.6. As shown inFIG.6, there is a separation distance (D1) between the hinge plate38and the edge52of the support structure26when the hinge arrangement20is in the design position. When subject to a large force, such as may occur in the case of a vehicle impact, the hinges22,24may undergo plastic deformation. Thus, in addition to ejection of the hinge pins32,42, the hinge plates may deform and undesirably separate from each other or from the seat bottom12.

This is another advantage of having a hinge arrangement, such as the hinge arrangement20described above, especially one that includes a support structure, such as the support structure26. InFIG.7, the hinge24has been subjected to a high loading condition and has deformed such that the plate38has moved in the direction of the edge52of the support structure26. As shown inFIG.7, the support structure26is positioned such that deformation of the plate38in a predetermined direction—in this embodiment in a direction toward the front of the vehicle—is limited by contact with the support structure26, and in particular, with the edge52, which is part of the bridge35. Also shown inFIG.7is the hinge pin42still in place: even if the forces acted to eject the pin42toward an inboard direction, its motion in this direction would be inhibited by the support structure26—see also,FIG.3. Although the cross-sectional views ofFIGS.4-6illustrate the interaction between the first plate38of the first hinge22and the support structure26, it is understood that a similar interaction occurs between the support structure26and the first hinge plate28of the second hinge24on an opposite side of the support structure26. Therefore, the first and second hinges22,24are positioned relative to the support structure26such that deformation in a predetermined direction of at least one of the two plates28,30of the first hinge22and at least one of the two plates38,40of the second hinge24is limited by contact with the support structure26.

In addition to the hinge arrangement20being configured to limit movement of the first hinge plates28,38and the hinge pins32,42, embodiments of the hinges22,24may also include features that promote controlled deformation of the second hinge plates30,40. For example, as shown inFIG.5, the hinge plate40includes a step54, which creates a predetermined area of deformation. Also shown inFIG.5is that in the design position—i.e., when the cover portion16of the seat bottom is closed as shown inFIG.1—the hinge plate40is on the opposite side of the hinge pin42of the hinge plate38. More specifically, the first hinge plate38is attached to one vehicle structure—i.e., the frame portion18—on one side of the hinge pin42, which is generally toward the left inFIG.5, and the second hinge plate40is attached to a different vehicle structure—i.e., the cover16—on a second side of the hinge pin42opposite the first side, or generally to toward the right inFIG.5. Stated another way, the first hinge plate38extends outward in a first direction relative to the hinge pin42, while the second hinge plate40extends outward in a second direction relative to the hinge pin42that is opposite to the first direction. This configuration may also promote plastic deformation of the plate40when the hinge arrangement20is subjected to a relatively large force. It is understood that the plate30is similarly configured and also designed to undergo plastic deformation in the presence of a large force. Deformation of the hinge plates30,40helps to absorb some of the impact force, thereby reducing the force and associated stresses in other portions of the hinges22,24.

FIG.8shows a side view of a portion of the hinge arrangement20, and in particular, shows portions of the hinge plate40and the hinge pin42. In the view shown inFIG.8, the hinge arrangement20is in the design position, subject only to forces associated with normal use. The hinge plate40is wrapped around the hinge pin42and at the end of the plate, a small gap56is formed. Choosing a baseline along the bottom of the plate40and continuing to the gap56, an angle58is formed. In the event of a front impact, the plate40may be subjected to high stresses that tend to move the plate40forward—which is toward the left inFIG.8—and upward. If the hinge plate40were on the same side of the pin42as the plate38, this movement could cause the gap56to increase and the plate40to “unwrap” from around the pin42. With the configuration shown inFIGS.4and7, the movement of the plate40caused by the impact forces tends to wrap the plate40more securely around the pin42. The pin42is forward of the portion of the hinge plate40attached to cover portion16when in the design position. Therefore, in the event of a front impact which tends to move the hinge plate40forward (and upward), the hinge plate40is moved toward the pin42and disengagement of the plate40and the pin42is inhibited.

This is illustrated inFIG.9, which shows the hinge plate40after it has been subjected to a large force such as may be seen during a vehicle front impact. As shown inFIG.9, the stepped portion54of the hinge plate40has undergone significant deformation, which has absorbed forces that would otherwise be transferred to other portions of the hinge24. In addition, because of the position of the plate40when it is in the design position, the impact forces tend to secure the plate40to the pin42rather than disengage it from the pin42. If the hinge plate40was secured to the cover portion16on the same side of the pin42as the hinge plate38—see, e.g.,FIG.5—the hinge plate40would be positioned forward of the pin42. With this configuration, a front vehicle impact would move the hinge plate40away from the pin42, which would tend to unwrap the hinge plate40from the pin42.

Still using the bottom of the plate40as a baseline, an angular measurement60to the gap56has increased significantly from the angle58shown inFIG.8. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing figures and described above, the step54created the predetermined area of deformation. In each case, however, the deformable portion represents a discontinuity in the plate that facilitates deformation in that location. In the same way, the support structure26also inhibits deformation of the plate30of the first hinge22. For the embodiment shown inFIGS.5and6, one of the plates28,30,38,40of each of the first hinge22and the second hinge24includes a deformable portion53,54defined at least in part by a discontinuity therein. In this embodiment, the deformable portions53,54are step discontinuities, although different embodiments may have different types of discontinuities. More specifically, as an alternative, or in conjunction with a step, a hinge plate may include an area of reduced thickness or width, it may include holes, or it may include some combination of these or other features to promote deformation in the desired area.