Seat Securing Device Permitting Seat Removal And Replacement Patents (Class 296/65.03)
  • Patent number: 7284989
    Abstract: Electrical connectors for removable vehicle seats are provided. In at least one embodiment, an electrical connector system for a removable vehicle seat including an axle and a locator mounted to the axle is provided. The system includes a first electrical connector rotatably mounted to the axle. The system also includes a second electrical connector. The locator positions the first electrical connector relative to the second electrical connector such that the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are electrically connected. The first electrical connector may include slidable spring biased contact pins or in another embodiment may include outwardly biased contact wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel R. Hanlon, John F. Nathan
  • Publication number: 20070241583
    Abstract: In a seat and a maneuvering cabin for telescopic lifts, the seat comprises means for translating, predisposed to translate the seat forwards and backwards along a determined translation direction, and means for rotating, predisposed to rotate the seat about a rotation axis. The maneuvering cabin comprises: a frame for containing and supporting the cabin; at least a transparent front surface which is solidly constrained to the frame, through which an operator can observe outside the cabin in a frontal direction; a roof comprising a transparent portion, which transparent portion is contiguous to the front surface, through which an operator can observe outside the maneuvering cabin in an upwards direction through a predetermined angle of vision, and a non-transparent reinforced portion which is contiguous to the transparent portion; a maneuvering seat located internally of the frame and positioned below the reinforced portion of the roof facing the front surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: MANITOU COSTRUZIONI INDUSTRIALI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Riccardo Magni
  • Patent number: 7278672
    Abstract: A direction-lockable seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes an upright seat post that defines a pivot axis, a seat member mounted on top of the seat post such that the seat member is rotatable about the pivot axis, and a direction-locking device that includes a locking plate, a slide guide unit, and a locking pin. The locking plate has a plate body mounted on top of the seat post and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced apart locking grooves. The slide guide unit is mounted on the seat member, and is formed with a slide channel to be aligned with a selected locking groove. The locking pin is movably disposed in the slide channel, and is operable to extend into the selected locking groove so as to arrest rotation of the seat member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sunpex Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Shiang Lin, Chih-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7270361
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base with two seat legs detachably mounted on a vehicle floor, a seat cushion provided on the seat base, a backrest rotatably supported on the seat base via a backrest support member, a first operation element for releasing a fixation of the seat legs in the rotating direction, and a second operation element for releasing a fixation of the seat base to the vehicle floor. The seat legs are rotatably provided under the seat base. The first operation element and the second operation element are provided at the backrest support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Oishi, Kiyoshi Yajima
  • Patent number: 7270362
    Abstract: A seat module including at least one vehicle seat and a transverse guide is disclosed. The vehicle seat is connected through a vehicle body through a seat base, and is displaceable through a guide element along a transverse guide. When the vehicle seat is on a first side of the transverse guide, it is lockable relative to the transverse guide in a position of use, and when the vehicle seat is in a removal position on a second side of the transverse guide, it can be removed from the transverse guide when inclined or perpendicular to its normal extension direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Peter Rausch, Christina Schwerdtner
  • Patent number: 7264293
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for connecting a vehicle seat to a vehicle floor, said device comprising at least one connecting element, which can be engaged with a locking element that is connected to a lateral seat section or the guide rail of the vehicle seat and can be actuated using an unlocking lever The inventive device is equipped with a slide control element that acts between the lateral seat section or the guide rail, the locking element and the unlocking lever. In a locked position and during a first phase for unlocking the vehicle seat by actuating the unlocking lever, said slide control element maintains the lock between the connecting element and the locking element until a predefined intermediate position is reached. In a second phase for unlocking the vehicle seat, the slide control element moves the locking element into an unlocking position, releasing the lock between the connecting element, the locking element and the lateral seat section or the guide rail (1) of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Matthias Fischer, Jochen Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20070182195
    Abstract: A tether anchor assembly is coupled to a vehicle allowing a child seat tether to be connected thereto. The anchor assembly includes a mounting bracket, a receiver bracket, a nylon loop and a boot. The mounting bracket is configured to be fixedly secured to the vehicle. The nylon loop extends through both the mounting bracket and receiver bracket. The boot includes a channel for concealing the receiver bracket and the loop when not in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: George M. Chalhoub
  • Patent number: 7243974
    Abstract: A locking devices may include a striker and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may include a base plate having a slot that can receive the striker, a latch rotatably attached to the base plate, a pawl rotatably attached to the base plate, and a cam member rotatably attached to the base plate. The locking mechanism includes a force transmitting path for transmitting a force that urges the locking mechanism in a locking condition to be disengaged from the striker. The force transmitting path passes through the cam member and includes a force interrupting portion positioned therein. The force interrupting portion is arranged and constructed to interrupt the force transmitting path when the force exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokuji Kondo, Taiyo Ootuka, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Makoto Asano
  • Patent number: 7222907
    Abstract: A release latch for use with a vehicle seat. A latch plate is rotatably secured to the seat and engages a floor mounted striker. A cam is rotatably secured to the seat and defines a shoulder biasingly seating against a support surface of the latch plate. A lever actuates the cam away from the support surface. A coil spring extends between the cam and a location of the latch plate offset from its pivot point. Forward pivoting of the seat occurs upon the shoulder separating from the support surface, the coil spring causing the latch plate to further rotate in a disengaging direction relative to the striker and upon the coil spring exceeding an over center portion relative to the pivot point of rotation of the latch plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis S. Lutzka, Keith Brantley
  • Patent number: 7213881
    Abstract: The locking device for a detachable vehicle seat is provided with a special mechanism in a rear end locking part which easily enables checking the locking state of the locking device. The locking device for a detachable vehicle seat includes front and rear end locking parts, which respectively comprises a front main bracket and a rear main bracket, each of which, being connected to a striker, is independently installed at front and rear ends of a leg frame under the seat thereby supporting the leg frame, and is selectively locked/unlocked to a striker fixedly installed inside the cover of the striker by means of lock plates. The locking device also includes a spring member that provides an elastic recovery force so that the leg frame can rotate with respect to the front end locking part in a double-folded state when the rear end locking part is unlocked in a state that the front end locking part is fixedly locked by the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Ho Kim, Chan Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 7207619
    Abstract: Basically, a child seat tether anchor structures has a first end tether anchor, a second end tether anchor, an intermediate tether anchor, an anchoring tether, and a vehicle body mounting member with a height adjustment arrangement. In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle child seat attachment structures are secured to both the vehicle body and the frame. Preferably, the vehicle child seat attachment structures are configured and arranged to move between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the vehicle child seat attachment structures are covered by a carpet or other trim finishing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7198316
    Abstract: A combined seat back release and floor release for use with a vehicle seat. The seat back includes a first mechanism for forwardly rotating a seat back relative to a seat bottom. The floor release is actuated by the seat back by virtue of a linearly translatable cable extending therebetween. The cable acts upon a floor release lever, which is rotatably slaved to a pair of cam elements. A latch plate is rotatably secured to the seat and engages a floor mounted striker. Shoulder portions associated with the cams define primary and secondary abutment surfaces acting against the support surface of the latch plate. The lever actuates the cams away from the support surface in response to the actuation of the cable from the seat back mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis S. Lutzka, Keith Brantley
  • Patent number: 7175220
    Abstract: A device for attaching and removing a vehicle component to and from a vehicle includes a vehicle body side formed with a contacted portion with which a component can come into contact and a locking device for making a locking action for removably attaching the vehicle component to the vehicle body side in a state of the vehicle component being held in contact with the contacted portion. The vehicle component is made capable of coming from outside into contact with the contacted portion and movable in one direction generally in a straight line while the vehicle component remains held in contact with the contacted portion, and the locking device is adapted to make the locking action as interlocked with a motion of the vehicle component in the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Kashiwagi, Shigeto Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7156460
    Abstract: The locking device provides for double folding of a detachable vehicle seat, and in particular provides for double folding of a detachable vehicle seat capable of achieving an easier engaging and disengaging of a double folding detachable vehicle seat by providing a stopper and a strap for an unlocking operation of the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chan Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 7152925
    Abstract: A detachable seat for automobiles that folds and tumbles in a single operation while being firmly maintained in a desired position via a seat slide unit. The seat slide unit is fastened along a central line of a lower end thereof to an automobile body and includes an inside long slide rail and an outside long slide rail. The detachable seat also includes a seat detachment unit having a seat frame with rotatably mounted front and rear locks that are coupled to the inside long slide rail such that the front and rear locks rotate simultaneously. The detachable seat further includes a seat tumbling unit coupled to the rear lock of the seat detachment unit for simultaneously folding the detachable seat and unlocking the rear lock. The seat tumbling unit both folds a seat back part of the detachable seat and tumbles the detachable seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Dae Won San Up Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jae-Myung Hur, Do-Kywn Kim
  • Patent number: 7152926
    Abstract: In a locking device (1) for a vehicle seat (5), particularly for a motor vehicle seat, having locking elements (21, G) which interact in order to lock the locking device (1) and are moved away from one another to unlock it, and at least one securing element (15, 17) which ensures that the locked locking elements (21, G) do not open, the securing element (15, 17) being moved away from the locking elements (21, G) in order to unlock the locking device (1), a blocking element (25) is provided which blocks the securing element (15, 17), which has been moved away, as long as the locking elements (21, G) are not moved away from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Darius Wrobel
  • Patent number: 7137663
    Abstract: A detachable seat for a vehicle, includes a seat cushion, a seat leg mechanism for supporting the seat cushion, the seat leg mechanism including a base member on which the seat cushion is carried, and first and second spaced apart leg members pivotally connected to the base member, a seat back pivotally mounted to the base member of the seat leg mechanism, a first cooperating mechanism on the first and second leg members and a vehicle floor for causing the seat to be releasably locked with the vehicle floor, and a second cooperating mechanism on the base member and the seat cushion for causing the seat cushion to be removably or detachably mounted with respect to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tsujibayashi, Kiyoshi Yajima, Tamotsu Oishi, Koji Kamida
  • Patent number: 7134703
    Abstract: A double-folding seat has a seat cushion, a seat back, and a recliner portion. The seat also has a rear locking portion, a force transmitting member, and a front locking portion. The seat back is connected to the seat cushion. The recliner portion is configured to selectively fold the seat back toward the seat cushion. The rear locking portion selectively locks a rear potion of the seat cushion to a vehicle body. A force transmitting member transmits a force generated by folding of the seat back to the rear locking portion. The rear locking portion is configured such that a locking thereof, to the vehicle body, is automatically released by a force transmitted through the force transmitting member. The seat cushion is rotatably connected to the front locking portion and the front locking portion connects a front portion of the seat cushion to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chan Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 7118167
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure having right and left floor frame members and right and left side sills located outside the right and left floor frame members is disclosed. Rear end portions of the right and left floor frame members are joined to longitudinally middle portions of the right and left side sills, respectively. Seat brackets for mounting passenger seats are provided on the rear end portions of the right and left floor frame members, respectively, without being extended between the right and left side sills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Toba
  • Patent number: 7108305
    Abstract: A seat assembly selectively engages forward and rearward strikers along a floor of a motor vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. The seat assembly also includes a seat riser mounted to the seat cushion and including spaced apart rear legs. The seat riser includes rear latches operatively coupled to each of the rear legs for movement between a latched position engaged with the rear latches and an unlatched position disengaged from the rear latches. A spring assist member includes a lever portion extending between a first end fixedly secured to said rear leg and an opposite second distal end for engaging the rearward striker to assist in pivoting said seat assembly about the forward strikers as said rear latches release the rearward strikers in the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Frazier, Scott Lavoie
  • Patent number: 7090277
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism is provided for a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle having a floor. The adjuster mechanism includes a support member, a first leg, a shaft, an arm, a link and a motor. The shaft extends defines a first axis. A first end of the support member is rotatably coupled to the shaft. The first leg has an upper end rotatably coupled to the shaft and a lower end rotatably coupled to the floor for rotation about a second axis. The arm has a distal end extending radially outwardly from the shaft. The link has one end pivotally coupled to the distal end of the arm and an opposite end pivotally coupled to the floor for rotation of the link about a third axis. A motor is drivingly engaged to the shaft via a gear mechanism causing rotation of support member about the first axis, rotation of the first leg about the second axis and rotation of the link about the third axis, whereby the support member is displaced between a seating position and a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory James Alexander Andrigo, Andrew William Guthrie
  • Patent number: 7080870
    Abstract: A collapsible backrest assembly includes a panel that has a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a front side and a back side. A tube extends into the first lateral edge and outwardly of the second lateral edge. A first rod and a second rod each have a first end extending into opposite ends of the tube. A biasing member is positioned in the tube and biases the first and second rods away from each other. A pair of plates is provided. Each of the plates has a first side and a second side. The second ends of the rods are each attached to one of the first sides of the plates. Each of the plates may be abutted against one of a pair of spaced walls so that the panel is supported between the spaced walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventors: Monty D. McCann, Michael G. Blanquiz
  • Patent number: 7073862
    Abstract: A seat assembly is adapted to be mounted along a floor of a motor vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion frame having a forward end and a rearward end for supporting an occupant on the seat assembly. The seat assembly also includes a front support structure pivotally coupled to the forward end of the seat cushion frame. The front support structure pivots the seat assembly between a generally horizontal seating position and a generally upright tumbled position. In addition, the seat assembly includes a locking strut extending between a first end, which is coupled to the front support structure, and an opposite second end, which is coupled to the rearward end of the seat cushion frame. The locking strut locks and retains the seat assembly in any location between the seating position and the tumbled position in response to an acceleration force exerted on the seat assembly above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Lavoie
  • Patent number: 7073838
    Abstract: A mechanism for attaching a seat to and disconnecting the seat from a vehicle. The mechanism for attaching and disconnecting the seat having latch recesses on a lower frame of the seat, front and rear wheels for respectively engaging with front and rear seating recesses of a car body floor, and the latch recesses are located for engaging strikers fixed in the front and the rear seating recesses of the car body floor. The mechanism for attaching and disconnecting the seat has a control lever for controlling operation of the rear wheel. The control lever and a rotating bracket are connected and rotatably mounted on a hinge shaft, and the rotating bracket is coupled to the control lever via a pin. The rotating bracket is connected to the rear wheel via a connection link and a support lever, and the rear wheel is mounted to the support lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hak-sang Lee
  • Patent number: 7073839
    Abstract: An attachment structure for attaching a seat assembly to a vehicle underbody includes a first cross member that extends between a pair of side rails. The first cross member includes first and second transversely extending portions that each support a striker. A second cross member also extends between the pair of side rails. First and second longitudinal members extend between the first and second cross members. The first longitudinal member is attached to the first cross member at the first transversely extending portion and the second longitudinal member is attached to the second cross member at the second transversely extending portion. Straps are mounted to each of the first and second transversely extending portions, with one strap extending underneath each of the first or second longitudinal members. The first and second transversely extending portions each include a horseshoe shaped opening over which the respective striker extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sri Boyina, Zhonghui(Sean) Ma, John McGuckin
  • Patent number: 7070223
    Abstract: A detachable seat for a vehicle, provided for visualizing whether the seat is locked on the floor panel through an indicator window. The detachable seat is composed of such components as a bracket consisting of a locking section the can be selectively locked to a striker provided on the floor panel of a vehicle, a lock cam and lock plate and a body section supporting the locking section, the indicator window with a specified area formed by a penetration in covers on the seat, and a highly recognizable colored paint applied on the interlocking section so that it is possible to check through the indicator window from outside whether the seat is locked when the striker is locked at the locking section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chan Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 7044552
    Abstract: In the case of a locking mechanism (1) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a pivotably mounted pawl (11) for locking to a mating element (B), and having at least one securing element (25, 31) which secures a locked state by interaction with a first functional surface (21) of the pawl (11), and secures an opened state by interaction with a second functional surface (41) of the pawl (11), the securing element (25, 31) exerts an opening moment on the pawl (11) in the opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Müller, Thomas Christoffel, Kadir Yasaroglu, Holger Trautmann
  • Patent number: 7007997
    Abstract: A stanchion cover having an upholstered cover for providing a flat cargo surface in a sport utility vehicle or minivan in the area of removable or stowable seats. The cover also includes improvements in providing cargo storage compartments for common and safety accessories as well as providing ways to utilize the seat stanchions to provide cargo anchor for specific applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Wieczorek, Bryan Busha
  • Patent number: 6994391
    Abstract: A release mechanism for use with a latch associated with a vehicle seat pivotally secured to a vehicle floor. A three-dimensional housing encloses an actuator mounted in axially translatable fashion upon the vehicle floor. A coil spring secures at a first end to an interior location of the housing, a second end of the spring engages the actuator in a selected biasing direction. A lever pivotally secures to a bracket extending from an underside location of the vehicle seat, an extending end of the lever engaging the actuator through the housing, a torsion spring biasing the lever in a given pivoting direction relative to the mounting bracket. A cable extends between the lever and the vehicle latch and, upon the actuator translating in a selected direction, the lever is caused to pivot and the cable to translate in order to disengage the latch and to permit pivoting of the seat relative to the vehicle floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Bae Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis S. Lutzka, Stanley D. Pacolt
  • Patent number: 6991293
    Abstract: A vehicle seat support frame assembly (14) has a seat cushion base member (16) with opposite ends (20) and (22) pivotally connected to first and second legs (28, 40). The first legs (28) are also pivotally connected to the associated vehicle and the second legs (40) have first and second latches (50) and (52). Each first latch (50) provides securement of the associated second leg to the associated vehicle in the seating position, and each second latch (52) prevents pivoting between the second leg and the seat cushion base member end (22) to provide rigidity in the seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Porter Group, LLC
    Inventors: Yue Lang, Edward H. Poulos, Karl A. Murphy, Hsing Lung Lewis Liu
  • Patent number: 6974173
    Abstract: A vehicle seat apparatus includes a first latch mechanism supported at a front portion of a seat cushion frame supporting a vehicle seat, a second latch mechanism supported at a rear portion of the seat cushion frame, a first striker mechanism provided on a vehicle floor and being engagable and disengagable relative to the first latch mechanism, a second striker mechanism provided on the vehicle floor and being engagable and disengagable relative to the second latch mechanism, an upper bracket provided at the first latch mechanism and fixed to the seat cushion frame, and a lower bracket provided at the first latch mechanism and rotatably supported at the upper bracket by a rotating shaft. The upper bracket includes a supporting portion, and the lower bracket moves to be disengaged from the first striker mechanism due to a contact of the supporting portion to the vehicle floor side while the vehicle seat being tumbled is reclined in the rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoyama, Takahiro Ishijima
  • Patent number: 6962383
    Abstract: A vehicle seat 1 includes a seat unit, a lift-up unit and a long-sliding unit. The lift-up unit moves the seat unit between an interior and an exterior of a vehicle via a door opening portion that corresponds to a passenger seat position. The long-sliding unit moves the seat unit between a driver's seat position and the fellow passenger seat position. The lift-up unit moves the seat unit downward when the seat unit is positioned at the driver's seat position, so that the seat unit is located at a suitable position for driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Takenoshita, Yoshirou Suehiro, Tomoyuki Kuroda, Teiji Naruse, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6948778
    Abstract: A removable jump seat assembly for an automotive vehicle has a jump seat, and a support structure for the jump seat. The support structure includes at least one support bar having a first terminal portion connected to the jump seat. A bracket is mounted on a rear upright wall of the vehicle. A releasable latch assembly releasably secures the support bar to the bracket. The latch assembly includes a housing on a second terminal portion of the support bar. Latch fingers in the housing are engageable in slots in the bracket to connect the support bar to the bracket. A spring urges the latch fingers into the slots. Release members carried by the housing are adapted to withdraw the latch fingers from the slots against the force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Waseem Jaradat
  • Patent number: 6945585
    Abstract: A vehicle seat attachment latch assembly (24) includes a latch (40) mounted for movement between latched and unlatched positions with respect to a striker (29) to secure and selectively release a vehicle seat with respect to a vehicle body. A latching wedge (48) is mounted on the latch (40) for movement therewith and for movement with respect thereto in cooperation with a bias (54) provided by a first spring (58) that moves a wedging surface 52 of the latching wedge (48) into wedging contact with the striker (29) with the latch (40) in its latched position in order to provide a rattle free attachment. A locking pawl (70) and a spring (78) cooperate to hold the latch (40) in its latched position or permit release thereof for movement to the unlatched position where the striker (29) is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Porter Group, LLC
    Inventors: Hsing Lung Lewis Liu, Karl A. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6935682
    Abstract: The present invention is a sinking seat for a vehicle assembled with a rear leg and a grooved leg integrally coupled to enable convenient handling due to the unification of parts. The mounting of the sinking seat onto a vehicle body is simplified by a folded lower part being unfolded to allow a lower part rotating axle to be rotatably coupled to the vehicle body. The assembly process is made simpler, and noise generated from the coupling portion between the vehicle body and the sinking seat is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sang-Do Park
  • Patent number: 6910723
    Abstract: A seat mounting device for a vehicle seat may include at least two locking mechanisms (20) provided on one of a vehicle seat (40) and a vehicle body, and an engagement member (43) provided on the other of the vehicle seat and the vehicle body. The locking mechanisms (20) are interconnected via an interconnecting member (26, 28). The engagement member (43) is arranged and constructed to be locked by the locking mechanisms (20). The locking mechanisms (20) and the engagement member (43) are arranged and constructed such that the engagement member (43) can be engaged with or removed from the locking mechanisms (20) by moving the vehicle seat (40) in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kawabe, Akiyoshi Okugawa
  • Patent number: 6883853
    Abstract: An anchoring device for a seat that can be installed and removed inside a vehicle without the use of tools has at least one locking unit (2, 4) with a first functional part attached in stationary fashion to the vehicle, and a second functional part attached to the seat, the functional parts being constituted on the one hand by an undercut extension element (14) and on the other hand by a receiving part (16) having a locking receptacle (18), in such a way that for mounting, the seat can be inserted in a direction approximately perpendicular to a seat base plane (10) and is then displaceable parallel to the seat base plane (10) into a detent position. In the detent position, the extension element (14) sits in the locking receptacle (18) in a manner secured against perpendicular relative motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Jürgen Otto
  • Patent number: 6883854
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat assembly for use in a vehicle cabin having a cabin floor. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion member having downwardly extending front and rear legs. A mounting means is positioned on the front and rear legs for releasable engagement with the cabin floor. A control rod system is pivotably interconnected between the seat cushion member and the cabin floor, and is adapted to enable selective pivoting of said seat cushion member between a deployed design configuration and a raised stowed configuration. In the deployed design configuration, the mounting means is in engagement with the cabin floor as aforesaid, and the seat cushion member has a substantially horizontal orientation. The raised stowed configuration is located rearwardly of the deployed design configuration, whereat the mounting means is released from engagement with the cabin floor, with the seat cushion member has a substantially vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Daniel
  • Patent number: 6863330
    Abstract: A seat device adapted to be fixed to engagement members on a vehicle floor includes a first engagement member supporting a front portion of the seat device, a second engagement member supporting a rear portion of the seat, a first lock engagable with the first engagement member, a second lock engagable with the second engagement member. The first lock is supported on the seat device and includes a bracket rotatably supported relative to the seat device and being engagable with the first engagement member and a hook member supported on the bracket and being able to maintain an engagement of the bracket with the first engagement member. A contact portion is provided on the hook member for contacting on a portion of the seat device to prevent a release operation of the hook member when the bracket is out of a predetermined position range relative to the seat device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoyama, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6843526
    Abstract: A storable and removable jump seat for use in a vehicle. The improved seat provide for convertible seating in the form of a folding jump seat provides conforming appearance, comfort, safety and practicality. The jump seat provides a safe, comfortable and easily storable seat that may be folded and stored against a wall within the vehicle's cargo area in order to expand the available cargo space. The jump seat assembly is also designed to be quickly and easily removable in order to increase the available cargo space within a vehicle. The jump seat may be quickly and easily reinstalled without the need for tools or additional assistance. Multiple jump seats may be arranged within a vehicle to provide a side by side seating arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Honda, Charles Stephen Haase, Kelly Michael Whalen, Takuya Hori, Tatsuya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6840703
    Abstract: The ball anchoring device consists of a lock body (10) comprising an annular wall (14) featuring radial holes (15) to accommodate radially mobile balls (16), and a locking piston (20) that slides axially within the body bore between a released position and a locked position. The lock body (10) is inserted into a first hole (7) made in the surface of the first part (55) and into a second hole (8) made in the surface of the second part, the two holes being more or less coaxial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marie Blanchard
  • Patent number: 6820912
    Abstract: A vehicle seat latch assembly including a structural latch member having a first engagement surface that is adapted to secondarily engage a striker. A deformable latch member is attached to the structural latch member and has a second engagement surface that extends beyond the first engagement surface for primary engagement with the striker. The second engagement surface has a greater offset angle derived from a pivot point than the offset angle of the first engagement surface derived from the pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Lavoie
  • Patent number: 6817646
    Abstract: A vehicle seat of fold-down type which allows simultaneous flipping over of both seat back and seat cushion to their respective positions via an interlocking mechanism. The interlocking mechanism is operatively connected between the seat back and seat cushion, so that, for instance, upon folding the seat back down to a horizontal storage position, the seat cushion is automatically flipped over upwardly to an upright use position, without contact and interference therebetween. A seat cushion lock mechanism may be provided in such interlocking element so as to permit automatic locking and unlocking of the seat cushion to and from a vehicle body by folding the seat back downwardly and upwardly. In that fold-down seat, a headrest lock mechanism may be provided such that operation of a seat back lock mechanism causes quick operation of the headrest lock mechanism to unlock the headrest prior to the seat back being folded down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobukazu Kikuchi, Kouji Tamada, Isao Sekita, Tetsuo Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20040217618
    Abstract: A vehicle seat latch assembly including a structural latch member having a first engagement surface that is adapted to secondarily engage a striker. A deformable latch member is attached to the structural latch member and has a second engagement surface that extends beyond the first engagement surface for primary engagement with the striker. The second engagement surface has a greater offset angle derived from a pivot point than the offset angle of the first engagement surface derived from the pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Scott LaVoie
  • Patent number: 6808231
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a device for releasably mounting to a vehicle trailer hitch. The device includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. The first end is removably extendable into the trailer hitch. The elongated member has a perpendicular bend therein such that the second end extends upwardly when the first end is inserted into the hitch. A chair assembly is removably attachable to the second end of the elongated member. A footrest assembly is releasably attachable to the elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Marvin L. Hill
  • Patent number: 6805407
    Abstract: A latch assembly secures a striker of a seat cushion to a floor of a motor vehicle. The latch assembly includes a hinge bracket fixedly secured to the floor. The hinge bracket defines an elongated slot for receiving the striker therethrough. The latch assembly also includes a retainer mechanism coupled to the hinge bracket. The retainer mechanism selectively locks the striker within the elongated slot to secure the seat cushion in a passenger supporting position generally horizontal relative to the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Virgil A. Iliscu
  • Publication number: 20040183328
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat assembly for use in a vehicle cabin having a cabin floor. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion member having downwardly extending front and rear legs. A mounting means is positioned on the front and rear legs for releasable engagement with the cabin floor. A control rod system is pivotably interconnected between the seat cushion member and the cabin floor, and is adapted to enable selective pivoting of said seat cushion member between a deployed design configuration and a raised stowed configuration. In the deployed design configuration, the mounting means is in engagement with the cabin floor as aforesaid, and the seat cushion member has a substantially horizontal orientation. The raised stowed configuration is located rearwardly of the deployed design configuration, whereat the mounting means is released from engagement with the cabin floor, with the seat cushion member has a substantially vertical orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Daniel
  • Patent number: RE38845
    Abstract: A seat a seat arrangement and attachment structure in a motor vehicle comprises at least two rows of passenger's seats arranged in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, including one row and another row defined by at least two passenger's seats juxtaposed transversely across a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, wherein one of the passenger's seats is disposed adjacent to a lateral side of the motor vehicle, transverse rails for supporting another of the passenger's seat for movement from a position closely adjacent to the one passenger's seat in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, to a side position in the passenger compartment which is spaced from the one passenger's seat in the transverse direction; a first holder for holding said other passenger's seat in the position closely adjacent to the one passenger's seat, and a second holder for holding the other passenger's seat in the side position in the passenger compartment which is spaced from the one passenger's seat in said transv
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunimichi Odagaki
  • Patent number: RE39101
    Abstract: A seat device of a vehicle including a substantially flat floor surface substantially extending across a full cabin space of the vehicle, front row seats, center row seats and a rear row seat disposed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle on the floor surface, a seat storage pan extending rearward the rear row seat and downward a level of the floor surface, the front row seats being disposed with a space, the center row seats including a plurality of seats in which at least one of the seats is movable in a lateral direction of the vehicle. When the rear row seat is received in the seat storage pan, a substantially flat and continuous surface of a substantially same level as the floor surface is formed rearward the center row seats to a rear end of the cabin space with a substantially full width of the cabin space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tamio Miyahara, Kazuhiro Matsuhashi, Masahiro Maruyama, Yasukazu Watanabe, Akira Itoh
  • Patent number: RE39315
    Abstract: An operator opens the tail gate, and stretches his/her arm through the tail gate to make the seat back fall down forward. Then, the operator can pull the pull fitting to make both the seat back and the seat cushion turn over backward so as to be received in the storage concave portion. Accordingly, this design allows an operator to perform the rear seat rearrangement in a very easy posture from the outside of a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kamida, Takahiro Mori