Seat Securing Device Permitting Seat Removal And Replacement Patents (Class 296/65.03)
  • Publication number: 20040183327
    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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoyama, Takahiro Ishijima
  • Patent number: 6761411
    Abstract: In a seat cushion for a vehicle seat, the seat cushion is joined to a frame by a disengageable locking apparatus that has a wire spring engaging behind a mushroom head. The wire spring has two opposite limbs that at their one end are joined to one another and at their other end are open. In order to ensure a secure attachment, the two limbs of the wire spring may have at their open end an eye which engages behind a strut shaped onto the cushion shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Michael Boehmer, Michael Burr, Gerhard Flory, Thomas Geisel, Daniel Hippel, Darius Wrobel
  • Patent number: 6749264
    Abstract: A detachable seat for a vehicle includes a seat bracket at the bottom thereof, which is detachably coupled with guide grooves and front and rear strikers formed in a floor panel of the vehicle. The bracket comprises a body unit including a bracket body with front engaging grooves and rear engaging grooves for floor mounted strikers; locking units for releasing the rear striker from the rear engaging grooves in response to control of a release lever; and rollers located to facilitate mounting and demounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chan-Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 6746070
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a seat to a floor of a vehicle, the seat including a seat proper which extends between a front end and a rear end. The fixing device comprises a base serving to support the seat proper, and provided with a rear coupling and with a front coupling, the front coupling comprising an anchoring fork serving to co-operate with a horizontal rod secured to the floor to allow the seat to be pivoted between an in-use position and a tilted-forwards position, the anchoring fork being provided with a finger, and the device further comprising an elastically deformable blade that is secured to the floor and that serves to co-operate with the finger to lock the seat proper to prevent it from pivoting when it is in its tilted-forwards position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile S.A.
    Inventors: Didier Gallienne, Gilles Sourdillon, Gilles Dusquesnay
  • Publication number: 20040104590
    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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicants: HONDAGIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobukazu Kikuchi, Kouji Tamada, Isao Sekita, Tetsuo Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20040104589
    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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoyama, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6739643
    Abstract: A collapsible seat assembly releasably attachable to a vehicle includes a support member for attachment to a vehicle hitch receiver, a pair of pivotable arms attached to the support member and a pair of support assemblies pivotally attached to the arms opposite the support member. The support assemblies include a pair of support surfaces that can be formed into a seating surface to enable individuals to sit on the assembly. The assembly can also be collapsed into a storage configuration that can easily be transported when attached to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventors: Patrick T. Rock, Daniel L. Haluzak
  • Publication number: 20040075292
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat module comprising at least one vehicle seat having a seat bottom, via which the seat can be joined to a motor vehicle body, and comprising a transversal guide, on which the seat can be horizontally displaced in a manner that is transversal to the longitudinal direction of the seat, whereby the seat, with regard to the transversal guide, can be locked into at least one position for use. The invention provides that the seat (1) can be moved, along the transversal guide (4, 6), out of the position of use and into a position, in which the seat can be detached from said transversal guide (4, 6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Rausch, Christina Schwerdtner
  • Publication number: 20040066055
    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: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Jurgen Otto
  • Patent number: 6698837
    Abstract: A seat recliner and latch includes a housing, an upper quadrant rotationally supported by the housing, a recliner mechanism supported by the housing and operably engaging the upper quadrant, a latch mechanism pivotally supported by the housing and operable to selectively engage a floor striker. An actuation mechanism is in operable communication with the recliner and latch mechanisms, and is operable in a first position, whereby the recliner mechanism enables rotational adjustment of the upper quadrant, and in a second position whereby the latch mechanism disengages the striker. The latch mechanism is pivotally supported about a pivot axis, wherein the latch mechanism rotates thereabout as the seat folds about a remote axis. An interlock is engaged with latch mechanism and is in selective engagement with the quadrant. The interlock limits a range of rotation of the quadrant when the latch mechanism disengages the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corproration
    Inventors: Srinivas Pejathaya, Jeffery T. Bonk
  • Publication number: 20040017091
    Abstract: A seat for an automobile, which is intended to reduce its weight and to be easily mounted and dismounted by having a seat sliding device mounted on a body frame rather than a seat frame and having rollers, and which can be automatically tumbled and mounted face to face with other seats by a spiral spring and a locking structure by engagement at two points, is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: DAE WON Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Myung Hur, Ki-Jong Park
  • Patent number: 6663157
    Abstract: A removable motor vehicle seat includes a locking mechanism, an operating element for triggering the locking mechanism and at least one electric and/or pneumatic interface which has a detachable connector element. A contact mechanism is provided for connecting and/or disconnecting the connector element which is forcibly coupled to the locking mechanism so that removal or installation of the vehicle seat takes place in at least two chronologically successive phases wherein in one phase exclusively a connection/disconnection of the connector element takes place and in the other phase exclusively a locking/unlocking of the vehicle seat takes place. The removable vehicle seat ensures an automatic functionally reliable connection and disconnection of the electric and/or pneumatic components of a vehicle seat during the installation and dismantling of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Jochen Hofmann, Gregor Kroener, Karl-Heinz Fritz
  • Patent number: 6655702
    Abstract: A combination vehicle passenger seat/child stroller apparatus is adapted to be releasably secured to floor-board seat tracks of a vehicle. The apparatus is selectively convertible between a stroller mode for use outside the vehicle and a seat mode for supporting an adult or child passenger inside the vehicle. The apparatus includes an upright body portion and a corresponding first cushion, a bottom body portion and a corresponding second cushion, where the bottom body portion is operatively coupled to the upright body portion. Also included are front wheels and rear wheels, and front arms and rear arms each having proximal and distal ends. The distal ends of the front arms are operatively connected to the front wheels, and the distal ends of the rear arms operatively connected to the rear wheels. The proximal ends of the arms are pivotally connected to either the upright body portion or the bottom body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Patent Holding Company
    Inventor: Marc Senger
  • Patent number: 6655724
    Abstract: An inertia locking system for a vehicle seat is disclosed. The seat has a C-shaped leg portion. The inertia locking system includes a pedestal mounted on the vehicle floor. The pedestal has an oblique, upwardly facing U-shaped receiving port for receiving the leg portion. A U-shaped clip having a second opening is provided for also receiving the leg portion. The second opening faces obliquely upward and has a width slightly narrower than the diameter of the lower section of the leg portion. A latch having an inverted J-shape has a lower base portion, a curved upper portion, and a jaw portion. The latch is pivotally supported at the lower base portion to a side portion of the pedestal and spring biased away from the receiving port. The curved upper portion faces the receiving port and the jaw portion protrudes beyond an inner surface of the receiving port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yoshino, Yoshinobu Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6648393
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes first and second rails configured for mounting transversely on a vehicle floor, parallel to each other. A seat includes rear and front supports with rollers configured for rolling engagement with the first and second rails, respectively, to facilitate lateral movement of the seat across the rails. The rear supports have a releasable rear clamping mechanism engageable with the first rail and releasable from the first rail to enable tumbling of the seat forward in the vehicle. The front supports include a releasable front clamping mechanism engageable with the second rail and releasable from the second rail to enable removal of the seat from the vehicle after tumbling. The seat is laterally movable across the rails when the front and rear clamping mechanisms are simultaneously at least partially released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James B Milnar, Timothy N Boundy
  • Patent number: 6609745
    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: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tamio Miyahara, Kazuhiro Matsuhashi, Masahiro Maruyama, Yasukazu Watanabe, Akira Itoh
  • Patent number: 6561583
    Abstract: A removable automobile vehicle seat with a tilting seat pan has at least one mechanism for connecting the front of the seat to the floor of the vehicle. The mechanism has an anchoring foot including a device for positioning the foot on an anchoring part that is joined to the floor. A lock pivots on the foot to engage with the anchoring part in a locking position such that the foot is immobilized on the floor. A lug connects a frame of the seat pan with the foot, the connecting lug being joined to the seat pan frame and mounted on the foot to pivot around a transverse axis. This allows the seat pan to pivot between a horizontal normal utilization position and a tilted forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile S.A.
    Inventor: Frédéric Glaser
  • Patent number: 6547300
    Abstract: A rear body structure of a vehicle having a floor panel, a pocket provided on the floor panel for accommodating a spare tire assembly therein and a seat disposed above the pocket includes a reinforcement member hingedly connected with the floor panel and covering at least a part of the opening of the pocket for preventing the spare tire assembly from moving, a seat fixing section provided on the reinforcement member for detachably fixing the seat, and a seat belt anchoring section provided on the reinforcement member for anchoring an end portion of a seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Watanabe, Jun Chida
  • Patent number: 6499786
    Abstract: A child seat attachment structure install a child seat in a vehicle. The child seat attachment structure includes a bracket having an attachment area that is adapted to be attached to a portion of the vehicle, and two anchors that are fixedly coupled to the bracket with a predetermined distance between the anchors. The attachment area is adapted to be attached to a seatbelt anchor mount of the vehicle so as to be fastened together. The child seat attachment structure can be easily installed in the vehicle in a more precise position in the vehicle. Further, the child seat attachment structure can be retrofitted to vehicles that have already been sold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6497443
    Abstract: A multipurpose console for use in a vehicle, the console has an upper portion and a lower portion. A pair of mounting flanges are fixedly secured to the lower portion, the mounting flanges each having a plurality of openings to allow a mounting member of a vehicle seat to pass therethrough. The multipurpose console is releasably secured to the vehicle through the securement of a removable seat having a locking mechanism passing through one of the plurality of openings and the pair of mounting flanges. The console includes many features that can be sold as part of the console or be added on at a later time. The console fits between the two middle row seats and extends up between the two front row seats. The unit can be mounted into the vehicle by placing the side flange holes over the seat floor attachment then adding the seats which snap into the floor inside these two holes on the center side of both middle row seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry C. Worrell, Kenneth A. Gassman, Joshua A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6488249
    Abstract: An adjustment system for a seat including at least one foot adapted to be mounted to the seat, and a slideway having a longitudinal slot configured to receive the foot in a sliding manner. The foot has an expandable mechanism with locking members having symmetric and opposed action relative to a central longitudinal plane. The slideway has a plurality of locking portions. The expandable mechanism has a first position in which the locking members are oriented with a first transverse width such that the expandable mechanism can be introduced into and extracted from the slot. The mechanism has a second position where the locking members have a second transverse width such that a locking member is engaged to a locking portion, thereby immobilizing the foot relative to the slideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Renault
    Inventors: Philippe Girardi, Marc Amerigo
  • Publication number: 20020175531
    Abstract: A multipurpose console for use in a vehicle, the console has an upper portion and a lower portion. A pair of mounting flanges are fixedly secured to the lower portion, the mounting flanges each having a plurality of openings to allow a mounting member of a vehicle seat to pass therethrough. The multipurpose console is releasably secured to the vehicle through the securement of a removable seat having a locking mechanism passing through one of the plurality of openings and the pair of mounting flanges. The console includes many features that can be sold as part of the console or be added on at a later time. The console fits between the two middle row seats and extends up between the two front row seats. The unit can be mounted into the vehicle by placing the side flange holes over the seat floor attachment then adding the seats which snap into the floor inside these two holes on the center side of both middle row seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Barry C. Worrell, Kenneth A. Gassman, Joshua A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6485080
    Abstract: An electrification system for removable vehicle seats, includes electrical contacts located on the vehicle and electrical contacts located on the removable seat. Coupling members are provided for selectively installing the seat to the vehicle and for removing the seat to provide additional cargo space. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical contacts are arranged so that when the seat is installed, the contacts engage one another to provide power to the rear seat which in turn can be used with a variety of electrical devices, including seat heaters, seat ventilation devices, computers, entertainment or educational systems, illumination devices, and the like. In this embodiment, the electrical contacts on the vehicle are provided in the wells into which the seat coupling components fit and the contacts on the seat are located near the seat coupling members. The seat is hooked over rods within the well and rotated to its installed position. In such position, the seat is powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Hansen, Nels R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6485055
    Abstract: A safety restraint anchoring device for use in a vehicle includes an anchor plate having an opening defined therethrough, the plate being adapted to have multiple portions thereof fixed to a support panel in a vehicle body, and a rigid rod member connected to the anchor plate. The rod member has a loop shaped portion extending through the opening and projecting away from said plate, and the loop shaped portion is adapted to securely receive a child restraint seat attachment tether. The rod member also has ends welded to a surface of the anchor plate and the loop shaped portion of the rod member extends through the opening in the plate. The anchor plate is adapted to be welded or otherwise fixed to a lower surface of the support panel and the loop shaped portion of the rod member extends through an opening defined in the support panel and projects away from the support panel when the anchor plate is fixed to the support panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Andrew K. Swayne, Aron K. Madsen, Jeffrey P. Tiefenthaler, Kazuhiko Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6431632
    Abstract: An improved automotive vehicle seating assembly. A seat including a back and a base having a pair of first attachment legs and a pair of second attachment legs is employed. A floor pan has slots for receiving the first attachment legs. Strikers are provided in the floor pan for latchingly receiving the second attachment legs. The first attachment legs include a projection for insertion through the cross member slots and deforming engagement with an underside of the floor pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alanna J Kozikowski, Tina M Moceri-Kaleugher, Mark Lyjak
  • Patent number: 6431631
    Abstract: A device for releasably fastening a vehicle seat or parts of a vehicle seat includes at least one electrical contact element that can couple with an electric contact element on the vehicle side, in a motor vehicle having a locking mechanism that can be unlocked to remove the seat or parts of the seat from the motor vehicle. A removal lock prevents unlocking of the locking mechanism when the two contact elements are coupled. The removal lock includes a securing element which, when the contact elements are coupled together, is mounted between a movable locking element of the locking mechanism and a stop connected to the vehicle seat. The removal lock is forced by the locking element against the stop when an attempt is made to unlock the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jochen Hofmann, Gregor Kroener
  • Publication number: 20020105203
    Abstract: An electrification system for removable vehicle seats, includes electrical contacts located on the vehicle and electrical contacts located on the removable seat. Coupling members are provided for selectively installing the seat to the vehicle and for removing the seat to provide additional cargo space. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical contacts are arranged so that when the seat is installed, the contacts engage one another to provide power to the rear seat which in turn can be used with a variety of electrical devices, including seat heaters, seat ventilation devices, computers, entertainment or educational systems, illumination devices, and the like. In this embodiment, the electrical contacts on the vehicle are provided in the wells into which the seat coupling components fit and the contacts on the seat are located near the seat coupling members. The seat is hooked over rods within the well and rotated to its installed position. In such position, the seat is powered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: Johnson Contorls Technology Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Hansen, Nels R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6419315
    Abstract: An occupant detection system for a vehicle including a seat assembly and a mounting device. The mounting device includes a first member connected to the seat assembly, a second member connectable to the vehicle and connected to the first member at a first point, a floating joint located at a second point engageable with the seat assembly and with the vehicle, and a load sensor located on one of the first member and a second member between the first point and the second point. A compressing force tending to compress the seat assembly toward the vehicle travels through the load sensor, while a pulling force tending to pull the seat assembly from the vehicle travels through the floating joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Bruce A. Hiemstra
  • Patent number: 6412849
    Abstract: A latch assembly adapted for use in a vehicle having a movable member, a fixed member, and a striker fixed to one of the movable and fixed members. The latch assembly is adapted to be connectable to the other of the movable and fixed members and to selectively couple the movable member to the striker. More particularly, the latch assembly of the present invention includes a housing, a latch and a release cam coupled to the housing, spring means, and a release mechanism. The housing includes a striker opening adapted to accommodate the striker. The latch is operable in a latched position when the latch assembly is in a latched mode wherein the latch is adapted to couple the striker to the housing and in an unlatched position when the latch assembly is in an unlatched mode wherein the striker is freely movable relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Scott J. Fast
  • Publication number: 20020074819
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separation/attachment of a seat for vehicles, which can easily attach/separate the seat to/from strikers of a car body floor. The seat for the vehicle has a structure that latch holes of a lower frame of the seat, which has front and rear wheels, are engaged to the strikers fixed in front and rear seating holes of a car body floor 1. A lever for relaxing the rear wheel is connected and mounted on a rotating bracket in the front latch hole through the medium of a hinge shaft and a movable pin. The rotating bracket is connected through the medium of a support lever and a connection link, on which the rear wheel is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Hak-sang Lee
  • Patent number: 6405988
    Abstract: An anchor assembly is suitable for releaseably and adjustably securing a vehicle seat to the floor of a vehicle. The anchor assembly includes an anchor unit that in use is secured to the floor of the vehicle and a lock unit that in use is secured to the base of the vehicle seat. The lock unit cooperates with an anchor member in the anchor unit so that 1) the position of the vehicle seat can be adjusted by sliding the lock unit along the anchor member, 2) the lock unit can be secured in at least one predetermined adjustment position, and 3) the lock unit can be released from the anchor unit in at least one predetermined release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Alexander Thomas Taylor, Rodger Gordon Smith, Pacho Leon
  • Patent number: 6386614
    Abstract: A wheelchair system is provided for use with conventional passenger vehicles. The system includes a wheelchair frame for supporting a conventional seat of the vehicle thereon for rolling movement along the ground. The wheelchair frame includes a lift frame which permits the seat to be supported thereon at various heights and inclinations relative to the ground. A portable ramp permits the wheelchair frame to be rolled in and out of the vehicle. A docking system mounts in place of conventional existing floor anchors in the floor of the vehicle for securing the wheelchair frame thereon in a transport position. The use of the wheelchair frame and the docking system permits a vehicle such as a mini-van to be adapted to transport a disabled person requiring the use of a wheelchair, with no structural modification required to the vehicle while providing a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing seat for the disabled person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Donald A. Logan
  • Patent number: 6375245
    Abstract: A seating system for a vehicle having a vehicle floor. The seating system includes a mounting member and a frame assembly. The mounting member is configured to be fixedly coupled to the vehicle floor. The frame assembly has a mounting structure with a mounting leg, an isolator and a compression lever. The mounting leg has a slotted aperture into which a portion of the mounting member is disposed. The isolator is coupled to one of the mounting leg and the compression lever. The compression lever is pivotably mounted to the mounting structure such that rotation of the compression lever in a first rotational direction positions the isolator in an engaged condition wherein at least a portion of the isolator is compressed against the mounting member. Rotation of the compression lever in a second rotational direction positions the isolator in a disengaged condition wherein the isolator is disengaged from the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kurt A. Seibold, Travis W. Simmons
  • Patent number: 6375246
    Abstract: A fold and tumble seat support assembly (10) for removably securing a vehicle seat to a pair of front and rear strikers (12, 14) on the floor (16) of a vehicle. The seat support assembly includes a riser (20) having a pair of forward (32) and rearward (34) legs. A rear latch (36) is pivotally connected to each of the rearward legs (34) and operable by a first linkage mechanism (40) to latch and unlatch with the rear strikers (14). A front latch (64) is pivotally connected to each of the forward legs (32) and operable by a front latch handle (68) to latch and unlatch with the front strikers. A rear support leg (74) supports the rearward legs (34) of the riser above the vehicle floor (16). A foot bracket (56) is pivotally connected to each of the forward legs (32) for supporting the riser (20) above the vehicle floor (16) between both a generally horizontal use position and a forwardly pivoted tumbled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Magna Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk M. Nicola, Frank Wittman
  • Patent number: 6364393
    Abstract: A device for detachably mounting an automotive seat to a vehicle floor includes a seat based mounting means configured to cooperate with a floor based retaining piece of the vehicle. The mounting means includes two hinge-connected retaining limbs configured to grasp the floor-based retaining piece in such a manner that, in a first configuration wherein the retaining limbs have been brought together, the mounting means is locked to the floor-based retaining piece. In a second configuration wherein the two retaining limbs are spread apart, the mounting means is separated from the retaining piece. A sleeve-shaped device is configured to slide relative to the retaining limbs wherein in the second configuration of the retaining limbs the retaining limbs are spread apart and wherein the retaining limbs are brought together and held together in their first configuration by sliding the actuating device over the retaining limbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Gavriel Shafry
  • Patent number: 6361098
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat back and a seat bench that pivot relative to each other so that the seat back may be positioned generally upright to provide an upright seating position or positioned generally folded onto the seat bench to provide a cargo position. The seat assembly is mounted to the floor of the vehicle using front and rear latches which engage respective front and rear anchors. From the upright position, the seat assembly may be rotated forward to provide access to and egress from the area behind the seat. From the folded position, the seat assembly may be pivoted forward to provide additional cargo space. The seat assembly is configured to facilitate installing and removing the seat assembly by preventing the latches from contacting the anchors until such contact is desired. The seat assembly is also configured to facilitate moving the seat while in a vehicle and while removed from the vehicle. A cupholder is included in a cover for the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Pesta, Murali Govindarajalu, Troy M. Cornell, Matthew E. Dukatz
  • Patent number: 6357811
    Abstract: In coupling a part or component of synthetic resin mounted on a vehicle and a threaded member capable of detachably engaging with the part, the part is provided with a retaining portion for retaining at least a portion of the threaded member against rotation relative to each other, and a claw construction means capable of disengageably engaging with the threaded member so as to inhibit the separation of the threaded member from the retaining portion. With this coupling structure, the operation of molding a part of synthetic resin for a vehicle having a threaded member integrally incorporated therein can be carried out easily and a labor-saving is achieved in the operation. Further, the recycling of parts defectively formed or the like can be promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Nakamura, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Kenichi Hasegawa, Koichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6357814
    Abstract: A vehicle seat the feet of which are assembled in a removable manner on two fixed sections by means of vertical jaws which ensure the coupling of the seat onto the fixed sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements SA
    Inventors: Bernard Boisset, Jean-Michel Lejeune, Laurent Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6354648
    Abstract: A child-restraint system is mounted in relation to a seat of a motor vehicle by a mount which includes a base portion secured to the vehicle structure and a mounting portion which extends to an accessible position upon the seat where it may be engaged by the restraint system, the mounting portion being able to be moved from its position on the seat when it is not required to be engaged by the child-restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ian Leonard Allan, Jens Sauer
  • Publication number: 20020024228
    Abstract: The seat features an anchoring foot (3) comprising a lock (5) that pivots to engage, in a locking position, with an anchoring part (41) in the floor, and a connecting lug (6) joined to the frame (11) of the seat pan and mounted to pivot on the foot around an axis (A), to allow the seat pan to pivot between a normal utilization position and a tilted forward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile S.A.
    Inventor: Frederic Glaser
  • Patent number: 6345867
    Abstract: A latch system for providing adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat bottom includes a seat-back latch mechanism interconnecting the seat back and the seat bottom for movement of the seat back between a use position and a folded position and a floor-latch mechanism selectively connecting the seat bottom to the base for movement of the seat bottom between a deployed position and a stowed position. An interlock mechanism interacts with the floor-latch mechanism and the seat-back latch mechanism to selectively block operation of the floor-latch mechanism and the seat-back latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Paul Hellrung, Christopher James Ryan
  • Patent number: 6345856
    Abstract: In a removable seat for automobile which has an unlocking lever projecting rearwardly thereof, a bar element is arranged such as to surround the unlocking lever, so that the unlocking lever is not only protected against contact with a foot or shoe of a person, but also can be grasped together with the bar element by one hand of a user for easy unlocking operation and carrying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masamitsu Minai
  • Patent number: 6334601
    Abstract: A detachable seat for an automobile is disclosed. The detachable seat comprises a seat cushion. A seat leg bracket is mounted to the lower surface of the seat cushion and has two laterally spaced portions. Two front locking units for locking the front portion of the seat to an automobile body are mounted to both sides of the front portion of the seat leg bracket and connected to each other by a front operating link to be operated in conjunction with each other. Two roller locking units are mounted to the front portion of the seat leg bracket to be respectively connected to the front locking units. Two front roller units are mounted to the front portion of the seat leg bracket to be respectively connected to the roller locking units. Two rear locking units are mounted to both sides of the rear portion of the seat leg bracket on the opposite side of the seat leg bracket to the rear roller units and connected to each other by a rear operating link to be operated in conjunction with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Dae Won San Up Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Myoung Hur, Tae-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6312037
    Abstract: A vehicle seat mounting assembly includes a mounting pin rotatably retained in a support foot to removably retain a seat track assembly to a vehicle floor member. The support foot is located on the vehicle floor member and the mounting pin is moved downward through a slot in the vehicle floor member. The mounting pin is rotated within the support foot and released such that the biasing member moves the mounting pin upward into a receipt member. Another embodiment of the vehicle seat mounting assembly includes a pin having an engagement surface. The mounting pin is passed through the vehicle floor member an into a receipt member. To retain the mounting pin in the receipt member, a spring biased locking member engages the engagement surface of the mounting pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies
    Inventors: Pascal E. Garrido, Mark Volkmann, Joseph Allen Wilbanks, II, Nathan Allen Clark, Gregory D. Collins, Christopher Clifford, Jack P. Pogodzinski
  • Patent number: 6299230
    Abstract: The invention relates to an appliance for the rapidly releasable, displaceable and rapid-retention fixing of a piece of vehicle equipment in a vehicle, comprising a housing (F), clamping elements (B) which protrude from the housing (F) and have at least one projection in order to engage behind a protrusion on the vehicle or a fixing part fixed on the latter, at least one first tightening element (D), which can be displaced essentially in the direction in which a clamping effect is produced and on which the clamping elements (B) can be fixed, and at least one second tightening element (C) which can be moved perpendicularly to the first tightening element and brings about a displacement of the first tightening element (D) and thus of the clamping elements (B) so as to achieve a clamping effect by frictional engagement, and a positioning device (A) which is provided at a fixed spacing from the clamping elements (B) and can be moved into and out of force-maintained engagement with the vehicle and/or the fixing pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Heinrich Oettl
  • Patent number: 6286886
    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
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunimichi Odagaki
  • Patent number: 6283550
    Abstract: It relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat part which is mounted on the vehicle floor by means of a front connection including a catch. This catch is provided with a notch intended to engage with a first horizontal transverse spindle integral with the floor in order to pivot the seat rearwards around said first spindle and to bring it into a use position where the seat part extends substantially horizontally. A finger projects frontwards and comprises an upper face turned in the opposite direction to the opening of the notch and intended to abut against stop means in said use position, these stop means being integral with the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements SA
    Inventors: Emmanuel Vialatte, Jean-Noël Castrec
  • Patent number: 6283528
    Abstract: A folding seat for assisting persons who use wheelchairs and other persons with physical limitations to enter and exit motor vehicles. The seat includes an adjustable width frame which fits adjacent a vehicle seat at a doorway of the vehicle and which attaches to the existing bracketry holding the vehicle seat to the vehicle body. A transfer seat is pivotally connected longitudinal of the vehicle and vertically slidably connected at an edge thereof to respective slots in a pair of spaced apart upright posts of the frame. The seat is supported in a horizontal deployed position with the pivotal connection thereof at the top of the respective slots by means of an upper cross member of the frame and by a folding brace member which extends from the underside of the seat to the lower doorway portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: Steven J. Townsend
  • Patent number: 6279981
    Abstract: A removable automobile vehicle seat, comprising anchorings adapted to enable rapid mounting and dismantling of the seat on the bodywork of a vehicle. The seat comprises in addition an electrical circuit connected to an electrical supply connector which is connected to an electrical connector mounted on the vehicle bodywork, the connection and disconnection being made by the installing movement of the seat on the vehicle bodywork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements SA
    Inventor: Stéphane Mesnage
  • Patent number: 6270140
    Abstract: A vehicle seating structure allowing the removal of a seat assembly through an opening (72) of a vehicle having a track (26) secured to the body of the vehicle, the track coordinated with the opening such that the seat assembly (10) includes a coupling device (30) which slidably engages the track, thereby allowing the seat assembly to be displaced along the track and pass through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Opfer, Terrence Duncan, Leslie Griswold, David G. Anticuar, Lawrence A. Fieroh