A REAR SEAT FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract: The present utility model refers to a rear seat for a vehicle which permits the vehicle to be changed from a passenger vehicle to a high cargo capacity vehicle. This change is possible due to the seat back (5) of the rear seat (2) being pivotable between a first position substantially aligned with the seat portion (6) of the seat (2) and a second position in which the seat back (5) is substantially folded on to the seat portion (6), then, with the seat (2) at its forwardmost position on the tracks (8), the seat portion (6) may be pivoted by means of an articulation (9). The seat (2) with the seat back (5) in the said first position also allows the formation of a bed by reclining the front seat.

Description: - I T Title: "A REAR SEAT FOR A VEHICLE". The present Utility Model refers to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a new type of rear seat which permits a multiplicity of uses of same. Currently, various types of vehicle seats are provided with means which permit the back to be reclined in relation to the seat, allowing its positioning in innumerable positions with different degrees of inclination. In the case of front seats, these devices permit the driver to adjust the seat back to the most confortable position for driving. In the case of the rear seats, such devices typically permit the articulation of the seat back to position it on top of the seat portion, to increase the cargo space. The present utility model has as its objective to provide a new configuration for a rear seat for a vehicle, which makes possible the transformation of a passenger vehicle into a high cargo-capacity vehicle, or alternatively makes possible the formation, together with the front seat, of a bed which may be used for rest during long journeys. These options are made possible by the means which permit the pivoting of tlie seat, back relative to the seat, which is slidingly mounted on tracks, and pivoting of the seat portion relative to the tracks. According to the present model, there is provided a rear seat for a vehicle comprising a slidable seat portion mounted on tracks and a seat back pivotally mounted on the seat portion, characterised by the fact that it comprises first articulation means between the said seat back and seat portion, by which said seat back may be intermittently pivoted from a first position in which it is aligned with the seat portion forming a substantially plane surface therewith, to a second position in which the seat back is folded on to the seat portion, and second articulation means between the said seat portion and said tracks, by which said seat portion may be pivoted from a horizontal position to a vertical position when the said seat back is in its second position. This rear seat configuration in accordance with the present utility model, when used with rear seats which have luggage space therebehind, permits a more rational use of the internal space of the vehicle due to the increase in useful space of the luggage area, and also the possibility of transforming the rear seat by simply slid¬ ing and reclining it, in conjunction with the front seat, into a type of bed, constitutes an irrefutable advantage in a vehicle, this versatility perhaps even being a decisive factor in choosing a vehicle for purchase. The present model will now be described in greater detail as a non-limitative example, in relation to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings r in which: Figure 1 shows in schematic form, the rear seat in its normal position; Figure 2 shows, in schematic form, the rear seat in a first reclined position, in which, together with the reclined front seat, it forms a substantially flat continuous surface; Figure 3, in schematic form, the rear seat in a second folded position, providing a greater useful cargo space; Figure 4 shows, in perspective, an embodiment of the articulation mechanism for the seat portion of the seat; and Figure 5 shows a section taken substantially along line 5-5 of figure 4. O PI Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there are shown in figure 1 a front and a rear seat 1, 2, respectively, mounted in a vehicle. The front seat 1 is provided with a back portion 3 pivotally mounted on a seat portion 4 by an articulation means (not shown) . Although the front seat 1, shown in broken lines in figures 1, 2, and 3, is shown as being fixed to the vehicle floor, it is to be understood that the same may be slidably mounted relative to the floor. The rear seat 2 comprises a back portion 5 pivotally mounted to a seat portion 6, by means of an articulation 7, which may be conventional such as a known reclining mechanism for seat backs. Additionally, the rear seat 2 is slidably mounted on tracks 8, fixed to the vehicle floor, and is pivotable in relation to said tracks 8 by means of articulation 9 disposed between the said seat portion 6 and the said tracks 8. The back portion 5 may be intermittently pivoted from a first position, in which it is substantiallyaligned with, the seat portion 6, represented in full lines in figure 2, to a second position in which it is folded on to the said seat portion, represented in dashed lines in figure 2. When.in said first position of the seat back 5, and with the rear seat at rearmost position on tracks 8, a bed may be formed by reclining * the back portion 3 of front seat 1 as illustrated in figure 2. The rear seat 2 is slidably mounted on tracks 8 by means of front and rear shoes 10, 11, respectively, which slide within channels 8a formed at the sides of tracks 8 by lateral flanges 10a, 11a provided thereon, and are held by the channels. Further, the channels 8a are recessed at locations 12 selected along their lengths, to permit the passage of the flanges " 11aof the rear shoes 11 out of the tracks. Preferably, the recesses 12 are disposed in such a way that the flanges 11a of rear shoes 11 may only move out of the tracks when the rear seat is in its fully forward position on the tracks. Oϊ-ΪPI In order to provide a larger cargo space, the seat back 5 is first pivoted to its second position, i.e. folded on to the seat portion 6, and then the rear seat is moved to its fully forward position on tracks 8. Then, with flanges . 11a positioned opposite recesses 12 in channels 8a, the rear seat may be pivoted by articulations 9 so as to raise it to the position illustrated in figure 3. An additional recess 13 is provided near the front end of the tracks 8, to allow the passage of a flange 14 integral with a control lever 15 which controls the pivoting of the rear seat 2. To fix the lever 15 to the structure, as shown in figure 4, the tongue 14 of the said lever must be aligned with its corresponding recess 13 so that it may leave the channel 8a in the same way as the rear shoes. According to the above description, the present utility model achieves its objective of providing a rear seat for a vehicle which may have diverse variations of position between its seat and back portions, making possible the transformation of a passenger vehicle into a vehicle of larger cargo capacity, or alternatively the formation together .with the front seat, of a substantially plane surface which is particularly suited for resting during long journeys. The model having been described, it is to be understood that it may undergo numerous variations in its configuration without departing from the scope of the same as hereafter claimed. OMP

Claims: - 5 - CLAIMS : 1. A rear seat for a vehicle, comprising a seat portion slidably mounted on tracks and a back portion pivotally mounted on said seat portion, characterised in 5 that it comprises first articulation means (7) between the said seat portion (6) and back portion (5) , by means of which the said back portion (.5) may be selectively pivoted from a first position in which it is aligned with the seat portion (.6) forming a substantially flat surface therewith, 0 to a second position in which the back portion (5) is folded on the seat portion (.6) , and second articulation means (.91 between the said seat portion and said tracks (.8) , by which the said seat portion (6) may be pivoted from a horizontal to a vertical position when the said 5 back portion (5) is in its second position. 2. A rear seat, for a vehicle, in accordance with claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said seat (2) is slidably movable on said tracks (8) by means of shoes CIO, 11) which slide within channels (8a) provided at the 0 lateral edges of the tracks C8> . 3. A rear seat for a vehicle according to claim 2 characterised in that the said shoes (10, 11) are provided with lateral flanges C10a, 11a) which are held within the said channels (8a) . 5 4. A rear seat for a vehicle according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said channels (8a) are provided with, recesses (.12) to permit passage of the shoe flanges (10a, 11a) . 5. A rear seat for a vehicle according to claim Q 2, 3, or 4, characterised in that the said channels are further provided with a recess 13 adjacent the front end of the tracks to permit the passage of a flange (14) integral with a control lever C15) . OMPI

Inventors: KOBASHIKAWA SEIYU, PEREIRA WELLINGTON ARAUJO, KOBASHIKAWA, SEIYU, PEREIRA, WELLINGTON, ARAUJO
Applicants: VOLKSWAGEN BRASIL, VOLKSWAGEN DO BRASIL S/A
Application year: 1983
Main classification: B60N1
IPC codes: B60N2