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EP-4494932-B1 - COCKPIT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR THE RECONFIGURATION OF A COCKPIT

EP4494932B1EP 4494932 B1EP4494932 B1EP 4494932B1EP-4494932-B1

Inventors

  • CONIGLIARO, Vito
  • DE PAOLI, Alessandro Paolo
  • GRANJARD, Thomas
  • TAYLOR, DANIEL MARTIN

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240718

Claims (16)

  1. A cockpit (25, 25') for a motor vehicle (1), comprising: - a frame (29, 29'), which can be fixed to said motor vehicle (1); - a first and a second seat cushion (30, 31); - a first and a second backrest (40, 41); - a central tunnel (55); said cockpit (25, 25') being available in a first configuration, wherein: said first seat cushion (30)and said first backrest (40) define a first seat (27) for a driver; and said second seat cushion (31) and said second backrest (41) define a second seat (26) for a passenger; said central tunnel (55) being interposed between said first and second seats (26, 27) along a first axis (Y); characterized in that said cockpit (25, 25') can be shifted to a second configuration, wherein it defines one single third seat (28) for a driver; said third seat (28) comprising, in turn, a third cushion (32) and a third backrest (42); said cockpit (25, 25') being further characterized in that said central tunnel (55) comprises, in turn: - a support structure (56), which is fixed relative to said first and second seat cushions (30, 31); and - an arm (57), which is movable relative to said support structure (56) between: a first position assumed when said cockpit (25, 25') is in said first configuration, wherein it is folded on said support structure (56) and defines an armrest (52) shared by said first and second seats (26, 27); and a second position assumed when said cockpit (25, 25') is in said second configuration, wherein it is spaced apart from said support structure (56) and defines said third backrest (32) of said third seat (28); said support structure (56) defining said third seat cushion (42) of said third seat (28), when said cockpit (25, 25') is in said second configuration.
  2. The cockpit according to claim 1, characterized in that said arm (57) can rotate relative to said support structure (56) around a first axis (Y) between said first position and said second position.
  3. The cockpit according to claim 2, characterized in that : - said arm (57) comprises a first end and a second end (58, 68) opposite one another along a second axis (X), which is transverse to said first axis (Y); - said support structure (56) comprises a third end and a fourth end (59, 69) opposite one another along said second axis (X); and - said second and fourth ends (59, 69) being hinged to one another around said first axis (Y).
  4. The cockpit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said arm (57) comprises, in turn: - a first face (75) at least partly defining said armrest (52) in said first position; and - a second face (76) opposite said first face (75) and defining said third backrest (42) in said second position of the arm (57); said support structure (56) comprising, in turn: - said third seat cushion (32), which faces said second face (76) and on which said second face (76) is folded when said arm (57) is in said first position, so as to define a further portion of said armrest (52), and is spaced apart from said second face (76) when said arm (57) is in said second position, so as to define part of said third seat (28).
  5. The cockpit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a first side (98, 108; 99'; 108') and a second side (99, 109; 99', 109'); said first side (98, 108; 99'; 108') delimiting said first seat (26) on the side of said second seat (27) in said first configuration; said second side (98, 108; 99'; 108') delimiting said second seat (27) on the side of said first seat (26) in said first configuration; said first side (98, 108; 99', 108') and said second side (99, 109; 99', 109') each comprising a respective first edge (160, 160'), which is constrained to said cockpit (25, 25'), and a respective second edge (161, 161'), which is opposite the respective first edge (160, 160') and is free; said first side (98, 108; 99', 108') and said second side (99, 109; 99', 109') converging towards one another in said first configuration of said cockpit (25, 25'), moving from the respective first edges (160, 160') to the corresponding second edges (161, 161'); said first side (98, 108; 99', 108') and said second side (99, 109; 99', 109') being interposed, along said first axis (Y), between said first seat (30) and said third seat (32) and between said third seat (32) and said second seat (31), respectively, in said second configuration of said cockpit (25, 25'); said first side (98, 108; 99', 108') and said second side (99, 109; 99', 109') diverging from one another in said second configuration of said cockpit (25, 25'), moving from the respective first edges (160, 160') to the corresponding second edges (161, 161').
  6. The cockpit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second sides (98, 108; 99, 109) can rotate relative to the respective first and second seat cushions (30, 31) or said first and second backrests (40, 41) can rotate between a third and a fourth position assumed when said cockpit (25) is in said first and second configuration, respectively.
  7. The cockpit according to claim 6, characterized in that said first and second sides (108, 109) can rotate relative to said frame (29); each one of said first and second sides (108, 109) comprising, in turn: - a respective first half-side (108a, 109a), which can rotate around a third axis (C, D); and - a respective second half-side (108b, 109b), which can rotate around a respective fourth axis (E, F).
  8. The cockpit according to claim 5, characterized in that said first side (98'; 108') and said second side (99'; 109') are connected to said frame (29') in a releasable manner; said first side (99'; 108') delimiting said second seat (26) on the side of said first seat (27) in said second configuration; said second side (99'; 108') delimiting said first seat (27) on the side of said second seat (26) in said second configuration.
  9. The cockpit according to any one of the claims from 5 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a third side (97, 107; 97', 107') and a fourth side (100, 110; 100', 110') fixed to the cockpit (25, 25') itself; said first side (98, 108; 98', 108') and said third side (97, 107; 97', 107') laterally delimiting, on opposite sides, the corresponding first seat cushion (30, 31) or said first backrest (40, 41) and diverging from one another moving from the respective first edges (160, 160') to the corresponding second edges (161, 161') in said first configuration of said cockpit (25, 25'); said second side (99, 109; 99', 109') and said fourth side (100, 110; 100', 110') laterally delimiting, on opposite sides, the corresponding second seat cushion (30, 31) or said second backrest (40, 41) and diverging from one another moving from the respective first edges (160, 160') to the corresponding second edges (161, 161') in said first configuration of said cockpit (25, 25').
  10. A motor vehicle (1) comprising: - a passenger compartment (3); - a plurality of driving members (10; 11, 12), which are housed inside said passenger compartment (3) and can be operated by a driver in order to control the trajectory and the speed of said motor vehicle (1); - at least one control member (6, 7, 9, 21) connected to at least one driving member (10; 11, 12) through a drive by wire mode; and - a cockpit according to any one of the claims 1-9.
  11. A method for the configuration of a cockpit (25, 25') for a motor vehicle (1); said cockpit (25) comprising: - a first and a second seat cushion (30, 31); - a first and a second backrest (40, 41); and - a central tunnel (55); said method comprising the step i) of arranging said cockpit (25, 25') to a first configuration, wherein: said first seat cushion (30)and said first backrest (40) define a first seat (27) for a driver; and said second seat cushion (31) and said second backrest (41) define a second seat (26) for a passenger; said central tunnel (55) being interposed between said first and second seats (26, 27) along a first axis (Y); characterized in that it comprises the steps of: ii) shifting said cockpit (25, 25') to a second configuration, wherein it defines one single third seat (28) for a driver; said third seat (28) comprising, in turn, a third cushion (32) and a third backrest (42); iii) moving said central tunnel (55) between: a first position assumed when said cockpit (25, 25') is in said first configuration and wherein said arm (57) is folded on said support structure (57) and at least partly defines an armrest (52) shared by said first and second seats (26, 27); and a second position assumed when said cockpit (25, 25') is in said second configuration and wherein said arm (57) is spaced apart from said support structure (56) and defines said third backrest (32) of said third seat (28); said support structure (56) defining said third seat cushion (42) of said third seat (28), when said cockpit (25, 25') is in said second configuration and said arm (57) is in said second position.
  12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that said step iii) comprises the step iv) of rotating said arm (57) relative to said support structure (56) around a first axis (Y) between said first position and said second position.
  13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: v) arranging said cockpit (25, 25') to a first configuration, wherein: - a first side (98, 108; 99'; 108') of said cockpit (25, 25') delimits said first seat (26) on the side of said second seat (27) in said first configuration; - a second side (98, 108; 99'; 108') of said cockpit (25, 25') delimits said second seat (27) on the side of said first seat (26) in said first configuration; and - said first side (98, 108; 99'; 108') and said second side (99, 109; 99', 109') converge towards one another, moving from the respective first edges (160, 160') to the corresponding second edges (161, 161'); vi) shifting said cockpit (25, 25') to a second configuration, wherein said first side (98, 108; 99'; 108') and said second side (99, 109; 99', 109') diverge from one another, moving from the respective first edges (160, 160') to the corresponding second edges (161, 161'); said first side (98, 108; 99', 108') and said second side (99, 109; 99', 109') being interposed, along said first axis (Y), between said first seat (26) and said third seat (28) and between said third seat (28) and said second seat (26) in said second configuration of said cockpit (25, 25').
  14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises the step vii) of rotating a first and a second side (98, 108; 99, 109) relative to the respective first and second seat cushions (30, 31) or said first and second backrests (40, 41) between a third position and a fourth position assumed when said cockpit (25) is in said first and second configuration, respectively.
  15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that said step vii) comprises the steps of: viii) rotating first half-sides (108a, 109a) of the respective first side and second side (108, 109) around respective second axes (C, D); and ix) rotating second half-sides (108b, 109b) of the respective first side and second side (108, 109) around respective third axes (E, F).
  16. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: x) connecting said first side (98', 108') and said second side (99', 109') to said frame (29) in a releasable manner; xi) placing said first side (98', 108') on a first side of said third seat (32) and said second side (99'; 109') on a second side of said third seat (32) opposite said first side, when said cockpit (25') is in said first configuration; and xii) switching said first side (98', 108') and said second side (99', 109') in order to shift said cockpit (25') from said first configuration to said second configuration.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102023000015279 filed on July 20, 2023. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a cockpit for a motor vehicle and a method for reconfiguring the cockpit. BACKGROUND Motor vehicles comprise, in a known way: a passenger compartment defining a body;multiple wheels;a steering wheel arranged inside the passenger compartment which can be driven by a driver to steer the front wheels and thus enable the motor vehicle to follow a curved trajectory; andpedals comprising an accelerator and a brake that the driver can activate to increase the drive torque or exert a braking torque on the wheels respectively, so as to control the speed of the motor vehicle. The passenger compartments of the motor vehicles normally intended for use on the road implement a so-called "two-seater" configuration. In this "two-seater" configuration, the passenger compartment comprises a pair of front seats intended to be occupied by a driver and a passenger respectively, and arranged next to each other along a transverse direction of the motor vehicle orthogonal to a longitudinal direction defining a normal forward direction of the motor vehicle. The steering wheel and the pedals are located opposite the driver's seat and are basically arranged in a left or right front corner of the vehicle. With particular reference to sports motor vehicles, passenger compartments are known that implement the so-called "single-seater" configuration. In this "single-seater" configuration, the passenger compartment comprises a single front seat arranged in a central position opposite the steering wheel and the pedals or passenger seats arranged to the side and/or set back from the central seat. There is a need in the sector to provide motor vehicles that enable simple and easy reconfiguration between the above-mentioned "single-seater" and "two-seater" configurations. An example of a seating system can be seen in WO2007/006122A1. SUMMARY The purpose of this invention is to produce a cockpit, which makes it possible to meet the need mentioned above. The above-mentioned purpose is achieved with this invention, as it relates to a cockpit according to what is defined in claim 1. This invention also relates to a method for reconfiguring a cockpit according to what is defined in claim 11. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand this invention, two nonlimiting preferred embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle comprising a first embodiment of a cockpit produced according to the precepts of this invention with parts removed for clarity;Figure 2 is a perspective view on a very enlarged scale of the first embodiment of the cockpit in Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity and, in a first, "two-seater" operating configuration;Figure 3 is a perspective view on a very enlarged scale of the first embodiment of the cockpit in Figure 2, with parts removed for clarity and, in a second, "single-seater" operating configuration;Figure 4 is a perspective view on a very enlarged scale of a second embodiment of the cockpit in Figures 1 and 2, with parts removed for clarity and in the first, "two-seater" operating configuration; andFigure 5 is a perspective view on a very enlarged scale of the second embodiment of the cockpit in Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity and in the second, "single-seater" operating configuration. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figure 1, reference number 1 indicates a motor vehicle comprising a body 2 defining a passenger compartment 3. It should be specified that, below in this description, expressions such as "above", "below", "in front of", "behind" and the like are used with reference to the normal movement of the motor vehicle 1. It is also possible to define: a longitudinal axis X integral with the motor vehicle 1, arranged, in use, horizontal and parallel to a normal forward moving direction of the motor vehicle 1;a transversal axis Y integral with the motor vehicle 1, arranged, in use, horizontal and orthogonal to the axis X; andan axis Z integral with the motor vehicle 1, arranged, in use, vertical and orthogonal to the axes X, Y. The motor vehicle 1 also comprises (Figure 1): a pair of front wheels 6 and a pair of back wheels 7;a known engine 9 only schematically illustrated in Figure 1 and operationally connected to the wheels 6 and/or 7 to exert drive torque on the wheels 6 and/or 7; anda brake system 21, also only schematically illustrated, in Figure 1 that can be driven to exert a braking torque on the wheels 6, 7. The motor vehicle 1 also comprises (Figure 1): a windscreen 5 delimiting the passenger compartment 3 at the front; anda pair of doors 8a, 8b hinged to the body 2 that can be moved between a closed position wherein they delimit the passenger compartment