초록 ▼

A seating arrangement (9) comprises at least seat (11) and a second seat (12) arranged side by side. At least part of a seat member (12a) of the second seat (12) is displaceable in an up-down direction relative to the seat member (11a) of the first seat (11), and at least part of the seat back (12b)

A seating arrangement (9) comprises at least seat (11) and a second seat (12) arranged side by side. At least part of a seat member (12a) of the second seat (12) is displaceable in an up-down direction relative to the seat member (11a) of the first seat (11), and at least part of the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) is displaceable in a forward-rearward direction relative the seat back (11b) of the first seat (11) so as to allow movement of at least one of the seats (11, 12) in a sideways direction toward the other. The seat member (12a) and the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) may be foldable, in particular to form at lateral restraint and/or an arm rest, when the first and second seats (11, 12) are moved toward each other. Alternatively, the seat member (12a) and the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) may be displaceable to below the seat member (11a) and behind the seat back (11b) of the first seat (11) respectively, when the first and second seats (11, 12) are moved toward each other.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A seating arrangement for use in a vehicle, the seating arrangement comprising at least a first seat and a second seat arranged side by side, each of the first and second seats having a seat member and a seat back, wherein at least part of the seat member of the second

The invention claimed is: 1. A seating arrangement for use in a vehicle, the seating arrangement comprising at least a first seat and a second seat arranged side by side, each of the first and second seats having a seat member and a seat back, wherein at least part of the seat member of the second seat is displaceable in an up-down direction relative to the seat member of the first seat, and at least part of the seat back of the second seat is displaceable in a forward-rearward direction relative to the seat back of the first seat so as to allow movement of each of the seats in a sideways direction toward the other. 2. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the seat member of the second seat comprises side edge seat member parts separated by an intermediate seat member part, and wherein the seat member is foldable to permit the side edge seat member parts to be moved toward each other while the intermediate seat member part is displaceable in an up-down direction. 3. The seating arrangement of claim 2, wherein the intermediate seat member part is displaceable in an upward direction as the side edge seat member parts are moved toward each other. 4. The seating arrangement of claim 2, wherein the seat member of the second seat is foldable along at least one predetermined fold line. 5. The seating arrangement of claim 4, wherein the fold line is defined by an elongate recess in the second seat member. 6. The seating arrangement of claim 4, wherein the seat member of the second seat is foldable along two mutually parallel fold lines. 7. The seating arrangement of claim 2, wherein the seat member of the second seat is foldable by continuous bending between the side edge seat member parts. 8. The seating arrangement of claim 2, wherein, when the seat member of the second seat is folded, the seat member constitutes an arm rest for a person seated on the first seat. 9. The seating arrangement of claim 2, wherein the seat members of the first and second seats are hinged together about an axis extending in a forward-rearward direction. 10. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the seat member of the second seat is displaceable so as to be below the level of the seat member of the first seat. 11. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the seat back of the second seat comprises side edge seat back parts separated by an intermediate seat back part, and wherein the seat back of the second seat is foldable to permit the side edge seat back parts to move toward each other while at least an upper portion of the intermediate seat back part is displaceable in a forward-rearward direction. 12. The seating arrangement of claim 11, wherein at least the upper portion of the intermediate seat back part is displaceable in a forward direction as the side edge seat back parts move toward each other. 13. The seating arrangement of claim 11, wherein the second seat back is foldable along at least one predetermined fold line. 14. The seating arrangement of claim 13, wherein the second seat back is foldable along two mutually parallel fold lines. 15. The seating arrangement of claim 11, wherein the intermediate seat back part of the seat member is continuously bendable between the side edge seat back parts. 16. The seating arrangement of claim 11, wherein, when the seat back of the second seat is folded, the folded seat back constitutes a lateral restraint for a person seated on the first seat. 17. The seating arrangement of claim 11, wherein the seat back of the second seat is foldable so that a lower portion of the intermediate seat back part is displaced in the opposite direction to the upper portion of the intermediate seat back part. 18. The seating arrangement of claim 17, wherein the lower portion is separated from the upper portion along at least one predetermined fold line. 19. The seating arrangement of claim 11, wherein the seat backs of the first and second seats are hinged together about an axis extending in an up-down direction. 20. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the seat back of the second seat is displaceable so as to be rearward of the seat back of the first seat. 21. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the seat member of the second seat is thinner than the seat member of the first seat. 22. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first seat is movable in a sideways direction toward the second seat. 23. The seating arrangement of claim 22, wherein the first seat is mounted on slides so as to permit movement of the first seat in a sideways direction. 24. The seating arrangement of claim 23, wherein the first seat is mounted on a support so as to be movable in a forward-rearward direction relative to the support, wherein the support is mounted on the slides so as to permit movement of the first seat in a sideways direction. 25. The seating arrangement of claim 23, wherein the first seat is movable in an oblique direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 26. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second seat is a centre seat of a three seat arrangement having three seats arranged side by side in a row, a first seat being located on one side the centre seat and a third seat being located on the other side of the centre seat. 27. The seating arrangement of claim 26, wherein the third seat is movable toward and away from the first seat. 28. The seating arrangement of claim 26, wherein, when the first and third seats are moved toward each other causing the seat member and seat back to be displaced, the seats are movable as a group in a rearward direction relative to a front end of the vehicle. 29. A seating arrangement comprising a first seat and a second seat arranged side by side, each of the first and second seats having a seat member and a seat back, wherein the seat member of the second seat has side edge seat member parts separated by an intermediate part, wherein said seat member is foldable so that the side edge seat member parts are movable toward each other while the intermediate seat member part is displaceable in an up-down direction relative to the seat member of the first seat, and wherein the seat back of the second seat has side edge seat back parts separated by an intermediate seat back part, and wherein the seat back of the second seat is foldable so that the side edge seat back parts thereof are movable toward each other while the intermediate seat back part thereof is displaceable in a forward-rearward direction relative to the seat back of the first seat. 30. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seating arrangement is behind a seat of a driver of the vehicle.