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TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to motor-vehicle seats of the type comprising a seat frame rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on a motor-vehicle floor.

Prior art

Various types of motor-vehicle seats have already been proposed in the past, which are supported by the floor in a rotatable manner around a vertical axis, for example, for the purpose of orienting a front seat towards the rear seats, to create a seating area inside the passenger compartment of the motor-vehicle, or again to facilitate getting off the motor-vehicle or getting on the motor-vehicle for disabled persons.

Documents FR2977202 and US11208012 disclose respective solutions of a seat rotatably mounted around a vertical axis on a motorvehicle floor.

In all the solutions already proposed which are known to the Applicant, the seat frame is specifically modified for the interface with a respective frame portion of the motor-vehicle, to allow rotation about the aforesaid vertical axis. For this reason, motor-vehicle manufacturers must diversify the production of seats a priori according to the final application, in particular, according to a standard fixed configuration on the floor, or a motor-vehicle interior configuration with a rotatable seat.

In view of the above, the present invention starts from the desire to propose a motor-vehicle seat which can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks, and which - at the same time - is particularly simple and economical to manufacture, as well as fulfilling the safety requirements.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is, therefore, to make a seat available inside the passenger compartment of a motor-vehicle that is rotatably mounted around a vertical axis, which keeps the seat structure unchanged and which allows rotation to be carried out with a simple and cheap-to-make mechanism.

Summary of the invention

According to one or more embodiments, the above-mentioned objects are achieved through a motor-vehicle seat having the characteristics specifically set forth in the attached claim 1 .

Further advantageous characteristics of the invention are defined in the attached claims and in the description that follows.

Brief description of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description that follows with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor-vehicle floor on which a seat according to the invention is mounted,

- Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the seat according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 3 is an enlarged scale view illustrating some components of the previous figure,

- Figure 4 is a schematic front view of a support structure fixed to the floor and connected to the seat frame,

- Figures 5A, 5B are plan views of the support structure, according to two different operating conditions,

- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, which illustrates the support structure according to a further operating condition,

- Figures 7, 8 are a perspective view and a front view illustrating the support structure according to further embodiments, and

- Figures 9A, 9B are plan views illustrating the support structure of Figure 8, according to two different operating conditions.

In the following description various specific details are illustrated aimed at a thorough understanding of examples of one or more embodiments. The embodiments can be implemented without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments. The reference to “an embodiment” in the context of this description indicates that a particular configuration, structure or characteristic described in relation to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, phrases such as “in an embodiment”, possibly present in different places of this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, particular conformations, structures or characteristics can be combined in a suitable manner in one or more embodiments and/or associated with the embodiments in a different way from that illustrated here, for example, a characteristic here exemplified in relation to a figure may be applied to one or more embodiments exemplified in a different figure.

The references illustrated here are only for convenience and do not, therefore, delimit the field of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

In Figure 1 , the reference number 1 indicates - in its entirety - a motor-vehicle seat comprising a seat frame 2 defining a cushion portion 3 and a backrest portion 4, made in any known way.

According to the present invention, the seat frame 2 is rotatably mounted around a vertical rotation axis Z on a floor F of a motor-vehicle V. As illustrated in Figure 1 , the seat 1 is rotatable around the aforesaid rotation axis Z to achieve a rotated configuration - for example by 180° - with respect to the conventional position.

As illustrated in Figures 2, 3, the cushion portion 3 is connected at its lower part to a support structure 5. The support structure 5 comprises a base portion 6 fixed to the floor F and a rotating platform 7 carrying the seat frame 2 and rotatably mounted on the base portion 6 around the aforesaid vertical rotation axis Z.

According to a preferred embodiment, the base portion 6 comprises a substantially plate-shaped element 6’ anchored to the floor F, from which a column-shaped portion 6” protrudes centrally, carrying the rotating platform 7. Still according to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the rotating platform 7 comprises a central body 7’ engaged with the base portion 6, in particular with the aforesaid column portion 6”. Peripheral portions 7” of the rotating platform 7 extend from the central body 7’, configured for supporting the cushion portion 3 of the seat 1. Preferably, the central body 7’ and the peripheral portions 7” of the rotating platform 7 are made in a single piece.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, the support structure 5 comprises mutually engaging locking means 8, capable of locking the rotating platform 7 on the floor F in a rotated position with respect to an initial position corresponding to the conventional position of the seat 1 . The seat 1 also comprises deactivation means 9 associated with the locking means 8, arranged to release the locking means 8 and allow rotation of the seat 1 around the aforesaid vertical rotation axis Z. The details relating to the locking means 8 and to the deactivation means 9 are indicated below in the present description.

According to a unique characteristic of the invention, illustrated in Figures 2, 3, the seat frame 2 - in particular the cushion portion 3 - is connected at its lower part to the rotating platform 7 at guide means 10 for adjusting the position of the seat 1 with respect to the floor F in the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle V. The guide means 10 comprise a pair of fixed guides 10’ formed on opposite sides of the rotating platform 7 and a pair of movable guides 10” rigidly connected to the cushion portion 3 and slidably mounted on the fixed guides 10’. In other words, the rotating platform 7 supports the seat frame 2 at its peripheral portions 7”, along which the fixed guides 10’ are formed, while the central body 7’ is not in contact with the cushion portion 3 of the seat frame 2. Thanks to these characteristics, the seat 1 is configured as rotatable around the aforesaid vertical axis Z, without having to modify the cushion portion 3 with respect to a normally produced seat having the cushion portion rigidly connected to a pair of movable guides arranged to slide within respective fixed guides anchored to the floor. With reference to the elevation views of Figures 5A, 5B, it should be noted that the fixed guides 10’ extend longitudinally along the sides of the rotating platform 7. As previously stated, the rotating platform 7 can be made in a single piece.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, illustrated in Figures 4, 6, the support structure 5 is configured to allow a vertical translation of the rotating platform 7 - along the aforesaid axis Z - with respect to the base portion 6, to be carried out beforehand and following the rotation of the seat 1 , respectively away (Figure 4) and towards (Figure 6) the floor F. In one or more embodiments, the central body 7’ of the rotating platform 7 is, therefore, configured to slide axially upwards or downwards with respect to the base portion 6, in particular, on the aforesaid column portion 6”. The upward movement of the rotating platform 7, and therefore of the entire seat 1 , allows overcoming any components of the motor-vehicle V that impede the rotation of the seat itself around the vertical axis Z, such as, for example, the longitudinal member of the body. Therefore, following actuation of the deactivation means 9 to release the locking means 8, the seat 1 can be translated along the vertical axis Z, away from the floor F, before carrying out the rotation maneuver. Once the rotation maneuver has been carried out, by selecting a determined operating fixing position (among those available, thanks to the locking means 8 described below), the rotating platform 7 and, therefore, the whole seat 1 translates downwards in the direction of the floor F, to allow the locking of the seat 1 in a rotated position with respect to a position of normal use. The vertical translation movement may be facilitated by an elastic system with spring means mounted on the column portion 6” and/or by a kinematic mechanism included within the base portion 6. In one or more embodiments, the locking means 8 comprise a plurality of abutment members 8’, mutually engageable with respective latch elements 8” comprising snap means for locking the abutment members 8’ by interference. The latch elements 8” therefore comprise a cavity within which the respective abutment member 8’ can be locked. The abutment members 8’ and the latch elements 8” may be made in any known way, for example, similarly to the latch units for motorvehicle doors. Each latch element 8” is arranged vertically aligned with a respective abutment member 8’, so that following the vertical translation of the rotating platform 7, away from or towards the floor F, they can be mutually released or locked.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4-6, the abutment members 8’ are carried by the rotating platform 7 and the latch elements 8” protrude vertically from the floor F towards the abutment members 8’. More specifically, the abutment members 8’ protrude from a lower face of the rotating platform 7, below the fixed guides 10’ formed on the sides of the rotating platform 7. In accordance with this embodiment, the rotating platform 7 may comprise two pairs of abutment members 8’, the abutment members 8’ of each pair being spaced apart along one of the sides of the rotating platform 7, for example, at opposite ends of a respective side, below the fixed guides 10’. As illustrated in Figures 5A, 5B, four latch elements 8” can be arranged on the floor F, forming a square arrangement. Therefore, according to this configuration, the seat 1 may be locked in a position rotated by 90° or 180°, or 270°, with respect to the position of normal use. Of course, the number and arrangement of the latch elements 8” and of the abutment members 8’ may vary with respect to what is illustrated in Figures 5A, 5B, for example, by providing only one abutment member 8’ on each side of the rotating platform 7 and corresponding latch elements 8” protruding from the floor F, to obtain only one configuration rotated by 180° with respect to the position of normal use.

Figure 7 illustrates a concrete embodiment of the base portion 6 fixed on the floor F. According to the embodiment illustrated in this figure, the latch elements 8” are integrated on the base portion 6 of the support structure 5. Similarly to what has been said previously for Figures 4-6, the abutment members 8’ are instead carried by the rotating platform 7, to be mutually engageable with the latch elements 8”. According to this embodiment, the latch elements 8” are spaced apart in a square arrangement, at the vertices of the plate element 6’ of the base portion 6. Alternatively, they are spaced apart in a rectangle arrangement. Preferably, the plate element 6’ defines respective arms 6”’ extending from the central column-shaped portion 6” to the respective latch element 8”, forming a square arrangement of the latch elements 8”. According to the specific configuration illustrated in Figure 7, the latch elements 8” are arranged at the vertices of the base portion 6 at respective support elements of the base portion 6, intended to support respective peripheral portions of the upper rotating platform 7. Alternatively, the latch elements 8” may respectively be arranged in different positions with respect to the aforesaid support elements.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8-9B, the latch elements 8” are carried by the rotating platform 7, and the abutment members 8’ protrude vertically from the floor F towards the latch elements 8”. More specifically, the latch elements 8” protrude from a lower face of the rotating platform 7, below the fixed guides 10’ formed on the sides of the rotating platform 7. In accordance with this embodiment, the rotating platform 7 may comprise two pairs of latch elements 8”, the latch elements 8” of each pair being spaced apart along one of the sides of the rotating platform 7, for example, at the opposite ends of a respective side, below the fixed guides 10’. As illustrated in Figures 9A, 9B, a plurality of abutment members 8’ may be arranged on the floor F, forming a circumferential-shaped fastening path. Preferably, the abutment members are spaced apart by an angle of 45°, in such a way that the rotating platform 7 - and therefore the seat frame 2 - can be locked in intermediate rotated positions, with respect to rotations of 90°, for example, with positions rotated by 45° or 135° with respect to the position of normal use. Of course, the number and arrangement of the abutment members 8’ and of the latch elements 8” may vary with respect to what is illustrated in Figures 9A, 9B, for example, by providing only one latch element 8” on each side of the rotating platform 7 and corresponding abutment members 8’ protruding from the floor F, to obtain only one configuration rotated by 180° with respect to the position of normal use.

As previously indicated, the seat 1 also comprises deactivation means 9 associated with the locking means 8, arranged to release the locking means 8 and allow rotation of the seat 1 around the aforesaid vertical rotation axis Z. More specifically, the deactivation means 9 actuate the latch elements 8” to release the respectively engaged abutment members 8’.

According to a preferred embodiment, the deactivation means 9 are of the mechanical type, and comprise a manually operated release command 9’, for example, a lever, comprising a mechanical command transmission device (Bowden cable). In Figure 7, the deactivation means 9 are integrated into the base portion 6, which carries the latch elements 8” intended to cooperate with the respective abutment members 8’ carried by the rotating platform 7. Alternatively, according to an equally applicable configuration, the deactivation means 9 are integrated into the base portion 6, which carries the abutment members 8’ intended to cooperate with the respective latch elements 8” carried by the rotating platform 7. According to a further embodiment, the deactivation means 9 are integrated into the rotating platform 7, which carries the latch elements 8” intended to cooperate with the respective abutment members 8’ protruding from the floor F.

In other embodiments, the deactivation means 9 are of the hydraulic or pneumatic type.

Whatever the configuration of the deactivation means 9, following the release of the locking means 8, the vertical translation and rotation maneuver of the rotating platform 7 may be performed manually, by selecting the required rotated seat configuration.

According to alternative embodiments, the entire rotation maneuver of the seat frame 2, including that of raising and lowering the rotating platform 7 with respect to the base portion 6, may be performed in a completely automatic way with the aid of actuators of any known type, for example, electric. In this case, the maneuver may be controlled by means of manual control means, for example, push-button means, integrated in the structure of the seat itself.

As is evident from the foregoing description and from the attached drawings, the motor-vehicle seat 1 is rotatably mounted around a vertical axis Z on the floor F of the motor-vehicle V, keeping the seat structure unchanged with respect to a conventional seat, and allowing rotation with a simple and intuitive mechanism.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to those described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the attached claims.