Abstract:
The invention relates to a vehicle seat ( 1 ) comprising at least one first segment ( 3, 3′ ) with a seat part ( 6 ) as well as a second segment ( 2 ) with a seat part ( 5 ) and a backrest ( 4 ). The second segment can be stowed underneath the seat part ( 6 ) while the backrest ( 4 ) is collapsible.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a U.S. National Stage filing of International Application No. PCT/EP2008/001425, filed on Feb. 22, 2008, titled “VEHICLE SEAT” which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2007 009 622.6, filed Feb. 26, 2007; German Patent Application No. DE 10 2007 013 376.8, filed Mar. 16, 2007; and German Patent Application No. DE 10 2007 053 958.6, filed Nov. 9, 2007, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The disclosure generally relates to a vehicle seat having at least one first seat segment and second seat segment, such as a rear seat bench for a motor vehicle. More particularly, the disclosure relates in particular to a vehicle seat having a central seat segment and two lateral seat segments. 
     Such vehicle seats are known, for example, from WO 2005/077708 A2, published Aug. 25, 2005, to Souville et al.; DE 103 92 187 T5, published Feb. 24, 2005, to Wiedman et al.; and DE 10 2004 017 655 A1, published Jan. 5, 2005, to Eichhorn et al. The publications EP 1 449 710 A2, published Aug. 25, 2004, to Shibata et al.; EP 0 769 410 A2, published Apr. 23, 1997, to Hashimoto et al.; JP 09002113, published Jan. 7, 1997, to Otani; and JP 2001130304 A, published May 15, 2001, to Tono et al. represent further prior art. The vehicle seats disclosed therein, however, are relatively costly to manufacture and require a relatively large amount of space for the respective pivoting movement. Moreover, the central seats often do not satisfy the relevant safety regulations and/or they have a relatively low level of comfort. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one exemplary embodiment, there is disclosed a vehicle seat comprising at least one first segment with a seat part and a second segment with a seat part as well as a backrest, the second segment being able to be stowed underneath the seat part of the first segment and the backrest being designed to be collapsible. 
     The seat bench of the disclosed exemplary embodiment has a first segment which is located adjacent to a second segment. Preferably, two first seat segments are present which are located to the right and left, adjacent to the second segment. The segments preferably form a seat bench to be located in a motor vehicle, in particular, as a rear seat bench which is preferably arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. Accordingly, the second segment is preferably the central segment of a three-seat bench. Moreover, according to the disclosed exemplary embodiment a second seat segment may be stowed below the seat part of a first seat segment and that the backrest of the second seat segment is designed to be collapsible. 
     The vehicle seat according to one disclosed exemplary embodiment is able to be produced more easily and more cost-effectively. The lateral pivoting movement of the seat does not require any additional space between the vehicle seat according to the one exemplary embodiment and seats arranged in front of the vehicle seat. As the backrest of the second seat segment includes a collapsing mechanism and is designed to be collapsible, the second seat segment requires relatively little stowage space, although in the state of use (i.e., use position) the vehicle seat satisfies all the required safety requirements and provides a relatively high level of comfort. 
     Collapsible or collapsing within the meaning of the disclosure means that the backrest of the second seat segment in at least one dimension, in particular in the longitudinal dimension, may be reduced, in a reversible manner. Preferably, the backrest can be reduced in its length such that, once reduced, the reduced length of the backrest is shorter than the length of the seat part of the first seat segment. In on alternative exemplary embodiment, the same collapsible or collapsing applies to the width dimension of the backrest, provided the width is also designed to be collapsible. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, tha collapsing of the backrest takes place during, or in another alternative before, the stowage of the second seat segment. In particular, the collapsing of the backrest preferably takes place when rotating the backrest from a substantially vertical position of use into a substantially vertical stowage position, in which the backrest is located parallel to the seat part. 
     Preferably, the collapsing takes place by pushing together the bearing structure of the backrest, particularly preferably according to the rotational movement of the backrest from the position of use into a stowage position. In one exemplary embodiment, that collapsing of the backrest takes place, for example, by a gear unit which is operatively connected, in particular, to the bearing structure, for example a telescopic tube. The collapsing of the backrest may also take place by any other appropriate structure and/or means, for example hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, by a worm gear or the like. During the collapsing, a spring may be tensioned which facilitates the subsequent unfolding of the backrest when it is moved again from the stowage position back toward and then into the position of use. 
     Preferably, the backrest has a region which may be extended, similarly to the manner of a bellows, which particularly preferably bears against the lower part of the backrest cushion and substantially covers the gap to the seat part for allowing collapsing of the backrest. The bearing structure of the backrest is driven, for example, as disclosed above. In one exemplary embodiment, that bellows-like region preferably consists of a part of the seat cover protruding over the backrest cushion, which is provided with correspondingly extending seams or reinforcements for forming pre-determined folding points. 
     It may further preferably be provided that the contour of the backrest, when folded onto the seat part, is flattened in a reversible manner, to reduce the height of the second seat segment before stowage. 
     Preferably, the second seat segment has a backrest, which may be particularly preferably folded onto the seat part. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the first segment preferably has a seat part which may be pivoted such that a stowage space located thereunder is opened up, into which the second seat segment may be pivoted. To this end, the seat part is preferably folded into a substantially vertical position. Preferably, the seat part is pivotable through about ninety degrees (90°) from a substantially horizontal position into a substantially vertical position. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the folding of the backrest of the second seat segment and the pivoting of the seat part of the first segment preferably take place substantially at the same time. 
     Preferably, the seat part and the backrest of the second seat segment are pivotably arranged in the stowage space under the seat part of the first seat segment. To this end a rotating mechanism or a rotating means is arranged on the seat part of the first seat segment, in particular a pivot pin or a rotating joint, which is preferably located between the seat parts of the first and second seat segments. Even when two first seat segments are arranged to the right and left of the second central seat segment, the second seat segment is preferably pivotably connected to only one first seat segment. In this exemplary embodiment the vehicle seat includes the advantage that a first seat segment released from the other seat segments is able to be removed from the vehicle or is able to be altered in its position inside the vehicle. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a locking connection is preferably present between a second seat segment and a first seat segment and is preferably released when folding forward the seat part of the other first seat segment. This connection exists particularly preferably between the second seat segment and the first seat segment which is not pivotably connected to the second seat segment. The connection preferably serves for reinforcing the entire vehicle seat. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the first seat segment, in particular the first seat segment under which the first seat segment is stowed, is preferably arranged in a height-adjustable manner. This embodiment has the advantage that more stowage space may be made available for the second seat segment. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, there is disclosed a method for stowing a seat segment under another seat segment arranged to the side, including the steps of:
     a folding a backrest of the second seat segment onto a seat part of the second seat segment,   b collapsing the backrest,   c folding a seat part of a first seat segment to open up a stowage space under the seat part of the first seat segment, and   d pivoting the seat part and the backrest of the second seat segment to the side into the stowage space.   

     The exemplary embodiments disclosed for the vehicle seat apply equally to the method of stowing according to the disclosure. 
     In alternative exemplary embodiments, the method steps a and b may take place substantially at the same time or in any sequence. 
     Preferably, when folding forward the backrest of the second segment, a locking connection between the first segment and the second segment is released. This method step is preferably carried out when two first segments are present, one being located to the right and one being located to the left of the second segment. The connection to one of these two first segments is then released. 
     Preferably, the first seat segment is adjustable in its height whereby the stowage space located thereunder may be increased. In one alternate exemplary embodiment, the second seat segment may be stowed in this stowage space. 
     In one alternate exemplary embodiment, the backrest of the second segment is designed to be collapsible. As a result, the backrest may be reduced in its length, so that it requires less stowage space. 
     The disclosed exemplary embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . These explanations are provided merely by way of example and do not limit the general inventive idea. The explanations apply equally to all subjects of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIGS. 1   a  through  1   f  show the stowage of the first seat segment. 
         FIGS. 2   a  through  2   f  show the folding out of the first seat segment. 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show an exemplary embodiment of the collapsible backrest. 
         FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show a further exemplary embodiment of the collapsible backrest. 
         FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  show a further exemplary embodiment of the collapsible backrest. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A rear seat bench  1  is shown in  FIG. 1   a  in the position of use, the rear seat bench includes a central second seat segment  2  and two lateral first seat segments  3 ,  3 ′. The backrest  4  of the central seat segment  2  is, as visible from  FIGS. 1   b  and  1   c , able to be folded by approximately 90° from the use position toward the front onto the corresponding seat part  5  into a horizontal position. The seat part  6  of the seat segment  3  is also foldable by about ninety degrees (90°) toward the front into a vertical position and opens up a stowage space  7  ( FIG. 1   d ) located below the seat part  6 . The central seat segment  2  may now be pivoted to the side into this stowage space  7 . After folding back the seat part  6  ( FIG. 1   f ) the lateral seat segment  3  is again in the position of use. The gaps produced between the lateral seat segments  3 ,  3 ′ may, for example, be used for climbing through or for transporting goods to be loaded which are of long length. The displacement into (return to) the initial position takes place correspondingly in the reverse sequence ( FIGS. 2   a  to  2   f ). 
     The central seat segment  2  is preferably directly fastened in an articulated manner to the lateral seat segment  3 , so that the other lateral seat segment  3 ′ may be independently therefrom removed from the vehicle. The unlocking of the pivot pins from the backrest  4  and the unit made up of the backrest  4  and seat part  5  preferably takes place by folding forward the seat part  6  of the lateral seat segment  3 . 
     To reduce the size of the seat unit to be stowed, the backrest  4  of the central seat part is designed to be collapsible, and may therefore be reduced in any of its lengths including in its height H (viewed in the position of use) to a reduced length or height H′. To this end, (see  FIG. 3   a ) the upper part  8  of the backrest  4 , which also forms the headrest  9  of the central seat segment  2 , is displaceable before or during the folding onto the seat part  5  manually in the direction of the lower part  10  of the backrest  4  ( FIG. 3   b ). In the embodiment, a telescopic tube  11  is used for guidance, but alternatively the use of a rail system is also conceivable. 
     In the exemplary embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b , the pushing together from the height H to the height H′ is carried out according to the rotational movement of the backrest  4  by a gear unit  12  which is operatively connected to the telescopic tube  11 . The collapse of the backrest  4  may also take place by any other mechanism or means, for example hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, by a worm gear or the like. 
     In the exemplary embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 5 , the backrest is configured to be collapsible by means of a region  13  which may be extended in the manner of a bellows, which bears against the lower part of the backrest cushion  14  and substantially conceals the gap in the seat part  5 . The backrest cushion  14  is preferably driven by using the mechanisms and/or means disclosed in  FIGS. 3 and 4  intended for displacing the upper backrest part  8 . 
     The bellows-like region  13  preferably includes a part of the seat cover protruding over the backrest cushion  14 , which is provided with correspondingly extending seams or reinforcements  10  for forming pre-determined folding points.