Hinged Seat Patents (Class 296/65.05)
  • Patent number: 11904743
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a floor, and a tailgate at the rear end of the cabin interior, wherein at least a portion of the tailgate pivots between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. The vehicle has a first seat track assembly is supported on the floor in the cabin interior, a second seat track assembly supported on the tailgate, and a seat assembly. The seat assembly including a first seat panel, a second seat panel, a bracket that allows the first seat panel and the second seat panel to pivot between a forward facing position and a rearward facing position, and a guide supporting the bracket on one of the first and second seat track assemblies, wherein the seat assembly may slide rearward along the first seat track assembly onto the second seat track assembly when the tailgate is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sean Bayle West, Johnathan Andrew Line, Peter Phung, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Patent number: 11884191
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a utility vehicle having a pivotable seat connected by a hinge to a fixed platform. The pivotable seat configured to pivot between a first position and a second position defining a standard seat location and a first wall of a cargo bay, respectively. A seatback is configured to form a second wall of a cargo bay when the pivotable seat is in the second position. First and second opposing side walls are positioned on either side of the pivotable seat. The side walls are configured to form barriers at either side of the cargo bay when the pivotable seat is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Club Car, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Harris McGraw, William David Reeves, Jr., Joseph Mark Butler
  • Patent number: 11794609
    Abstract: A passenger-receiving device intended to be installed in a compartment of a vehicle includes a seat bottom movable between a first position in which the seat bottom is configured to allow a passenger to sit on the seat bottom and a second position in which the seat bottom prevents a passenger from sitting on the seat bottom. The device detects the presence of the seat bottom in the first position. The device also includes a signaling module configured to receive a value of a parameter of the compartment and to generate a signal intended for at least one passenger present in the compartment when the measured value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold and the seat bottom is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ALSTOM Transport Technologies
    Inventor: Denis Miglianico
  • Patent number: 11554694
    Abstract: A vehicle seat control device including a control unit that, in a case in which at least one user has declared in advance a desire to board a self-driving vehicle having a plurality of seats that are switchable between a first state in which a user is able to sit down, and a second state that impedes a user sitting down, switches a same number of seats as a number of the at least one user to the first state before the at least one user boards the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Shiga
  • Patent number: 10953769
    Abstract: A latch assembly of a seat is provided in a vehicle. The latch assembly includes a base including a first pin and a second pin. A first latch includes a first housing and a first latch mechanism at least partially enclosed within the first housing. The first latch is pivotally coupled to the base. A second latch includes a second housing and a second latch mechanism at least partially enclosed within the second housing. The second latch is pivotally coupled to the base. The first latch is disposed in its latched position when the first latch engages the first pin, and the second latch is disposed in its latched position when the second latch engages the second pin. The first latch and the second latch are not disposed in their respective latched positions at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE BRAUN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthew D. Moss
  • Patent number: 10870327
    Abstract: An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a condenser configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor and transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser. A first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator. A first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle. A second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator. A second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr, Joseph James Rozsnaki, Kenneth A. Pistone
  • Patent number: 10850638
    Abstract: A device for adjusting a seat of a vehicle is capable of implementing functions including adjusting a position of the seat back and forth, a height of the seat up and down, and tilting or the like by using a plurality of actuators having pistons. The functions of adjusting the position of the seat back and forth, the height of the seat up and down, and tilting or the like are carried out by providing connections between a floor panel and a seat cushion frame through a plurality of actuators and a single link, and selectively moving a piston of each actuator back and forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Seok Han, Seon Chae Na, Hyun Kyu Moon, Chan Ho Jung
  • Patent number: 10773613
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a second parallel link mechanism is actuated in order to adjust an vertical position of a seat body with respect to a vehicle body, such that a first parallel link mechanism is moved up or down together with the seat body with respect to the vehicle body. In order to recline a seatback as an integral unit with a seat cushion, the first parallel link mechanism and the second parallel link mechanism are actuated such that an upper link is maintained in a predetermined orientation. The upper link is restricted from rotating relative to the armrest, and so the armrest is also maintained in a predetermined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: NHK SPRING Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakamura, Kenichi Katsube, Shu Kondou, Daisuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10604036
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back, a seat cushion, and a base. The seat cushion has a rear cushion portion, a front cushion portion, and a shaft support portion. The rear cushion portion has a rear upper surface and a front surface. The front cushion portion has a front upper surface and a rear surface. The shaft support portion extends in a seat width direction at a position below the front upper surface and forward of the rear surface. The shaft support portion is configured to support the front cushion portion so as to be pivotable. The front cushion portion pivots upward around the shaft support portion as the center of rotation, so that the front cushion portion is positioned in a tipped-up state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Kimura
  • Patent number: 10471854
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat back and seat cushion connected thereto, the seat back and seat cushion being retractable to a retraction floor disposed lower than a vehicle body floor, is described. The vehicle seat includes: a support base connected to the body floor, disposed below the seat cushion, and pivotally connected to a lower end of the seat back; a detachable leg having an upper end attached to the seat cushion and a lower end connectable to the support base; a leg retaining member attached to the support base and configured to detachably retain the lower end of the detachable leg; and a base cover that covers the support base. The leg retaining member is disposed at a rear side of a front end of a portion of the base cover in a front to back direction that is configured to cover the support base from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akutsu, Daisuke Kitagawa, Taro Murayama
  • Patent number: 10442322
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising: a seating portion having a seat frame with a pair of frame members and a cross member arranged between the pair of frame members; a seat base for supporting the seating portion; a height-adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the seat frame with respect to the seat base, and comprising at least one height-adjustment link; and an easy-entry mechanism for displacing the seating portion with respect to the seat base at least along a longitudinal axis between a use position and an easy-entry position, and comprising at least one easy-entry link being pivotably mounted on the seat base and pivotably connected with the height-adjustment link, the height-adjustment link connecting the easy-entry link with the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Umesh Handigol, Ulf Hartmann
  • Patent number: 10414292
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which is attached to a floor of a vehicle via a rail device and a coupling device with a high level of stiffness so as to minimize deformation of the rail device and the coupling device without substantially increasing the weight and the manufacturing cost of the seat. The vehicle seat is provided with an upper engagement portion secured to a member on a side of an upper rail of the rail device, and a lower engagement portion secured to a member on a side of a lower rail of the rail device and including a part opposing a corresponding part of the upper engagement portion from above defining a prescribed gap therebetween. The coupling device is provided laterally spaced from the rail device, and the upper engagement portion and the lower engagement portion are provided substantially directly above the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Ikawa, Yasutaka Abe
  • Patent number: 10124700
    Abstract: Disclosed is a locking device for a foldable structure, and the locking device includes: a foldable body, a support bracket to support a rotation shaft of the foldable body, a locking pin elastically supported in a direction from the foldable body toward the support bracket, a locking groove provided in the support bracket such that the locking pin is seated therein to inhibit a rotation of the foldable body with respect to the support bracket, and an unlocking tool provided in the foldable body to provide a linear displacement of the locking pin while overcoming an elastically-biased force of the locking pin such that the locking pin is separated from the locking groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI DYMOS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Seong Bin Jeong, Myung Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9216671
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat flip-up mechanism that may be stably fixed to a vehicle body floor and may stably support an occupant load. In a vehicle seat flip-up mechanism that is provided to switch a posture of a seat cushion between a normal sitting posture and a stowed posture where the seat cushion is stowed while being inclined forward, the vehicle seat flip-up mechanism includes: links that extend in the front to back direction while being separated from each other in the seat width direction; a mounting bracket that is attached to the ends of the links and supports a seat cushion; a connection member that is installed in the mounting bracket; a support mechanism that rotatably supports the links; and mounting plates that are disposed below the support mechanism and are locked to the vehicle body floor, in which the mounting plate extends rearward relative to the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9126537
    Abstract: A cargo management system including an automotive vehicle seat having a backrest which separates the vehicle interior into a passenger area at the front of the vehicle and a cargo area at the rear of the vehicle is provided. The system includes a vehicle load floor to compartmentalize the cargo area into an upper compartment and a covered lower compartment. The load floor has a wood grain finish. A compression-molded, composite cargo trim panel is secured to the backrest and faces the upper compartment of the cargo area above the load floor in an upright sitting position of the backrest. The panel includes a base layer and a coverstock sheet bonded to the base layer by press molding. The coverstock sheet provides the trim panel with a wood grain finish in the upper compartment of the cargo area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBAL IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila, Steven A. Mitchell, Jeffrey P. Schmelzer
  • Patent number: 9126503
    Abstract: A stowable rear seat includes a seat back unit; and a seat cushion unit. The seat back unit includes a tiltable seat back erected on a floor surface; a seat back locking mechanism for locking a tilt of the seat back; and a rocking member rocking in cooperation with a tilting operation of the seat back after unlocking the seat back locking mechanism. The seat cushion unit includes a seat cushion horizontally placed on the floor surface in front of the seat back, the seat cushion being foldable on a foot floor surface at a lower position than the floor surface; a lock shaft provided at a back end of the seat cushion; and a seat cushion locking mechanism provided in the floor surface, the seat cushion locking mechanism engaging with the lock shaft to lock a horizontal state of the seat cushion on the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Teppei Ito
  • Patent number: 9004582
    Abstract: In a floor structure of a vehicle body center section, a floor side member is provided at lower portions of a main floor panel, a vertical wall is formed at a front side of a rear floor panel, a rear seat is installed on the rear floor panel, a rear seat leg extends downward along the vertical wall, a lower end portion of the rear seat leg is mounted to a portion of the rear floor panel, a rear seat leg reinforcement member that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction is disposed on each of upper portions at both left and right sides of the floor panels, a rear end portion of the reinforcement member is connected to the lower end portion of the rear seat leg, and a front end portion of the reinforcement member is connected to the main floor panel and the floor side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Jojiki, Yu Hashiba, Keisuke Kawai
  • Patent number: 8985692
    Abstract: A rear row vehicle seat in which a pair of spaced apart and fixed supports are mounted upon a floor of a vehicle. A seat bottom exhibits a pair of side plates pivotally secured between said fixed supports. A seat back is pivotally mounted at its side ends to axially aligning locations of the side plates, offset from a pivot axis established between the seat bottom and the fixed supports, and such that upward pivoting of the seat bottom causes a combined pivotal and vertically induced displacement of the seatback. A latch is mounted to a rear facing location of the seatback and an elongated striker bar is mounted to a structurally supported and elevated location of the vehicle. The striker bar exhibits a combined arcuate and vertically extending profile for engaging the latch while accommodating vertical sliding of the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley D. Pacolt
  • Patent number: 8973967
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat surface, a backrest and a suspension device. The suspension device may comprise at least one upper part on a seat surface side, a lower part on the body side, suspension mechanisms and damping mechanisms. At least the scissor-type frame is positioned between the upper part on the seat surface and the lower part on a vehicle body. The vehicle seat may comprise a tilting mechanism which can be actuated by a vertical deflection of the suspension device for tilting the upper part on the seat surface side relative to the lower part on the body side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventor: Jens Kolb
  • Publication number: 20140333086
    Abstract: A rear-facing seat for a vehicle comprises: a seat portion connected to the vehicle by a hinge so that the rear-facing seat assumes at least a stowed position and an unstowed position; and a back portion connected to the seat portion, wherein in the unstowed position the back portion assumes at least an up position and a down position, wherein in the up position (i) a hook on the back portion engages a first striker on a vehicle wall, and (ii) a latch on the back portion engages a second striker of a back of a forward-facing seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl Zalan, Sohel Merchant
  • Patent number: 8857778
    Abstract: A slide structure of a seat for a vehicle positions a cushion seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle has a stationary outer rail which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a substantially C-shaped cross section, an open portion which is oriented to be inner in the widthwise direction, and is disposed such that its cross section is elongate in the vertical direction, a movable inner rail which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and fits over the stationary outer rail so as to be slid relative to the stationary outer rail in the longitudinal direction and is fixed on the cushion seat and includes a substantially C-shaped cross section, an open portion of which is oriented to be outer in the widthwise direction, and is disposed in such a way that its side surface is elongate in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Nonomiya
  • Patent number: 8857882
    Abstract: A combination toolbox and seating assembly is provided. The toolbox seating assembly is installed in the bed of a pickup truck, wherein the toolbox includes a hinged lid, and wherein a bench style seat may be stored the toolbox when not in use, and may be positioned within the upper portion of the toolbox when in use to provide comfortable rearward seating within the bed of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Frederick Augustus Daniels, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8820819
    Abstract: In a vehicle floor frame structure, side members 2 each include a floor side member 21 and a rear side member 22; the floor side member 21 is disposed on a main floor panel 11; the rear side member 22 is disposed on a rear floor panel 12; a reinforcement 3 is stacked on the floor side member 21 in a vertical direction with the main floor panel 11 interposed therebetween; an upper surface 3a of the reinforcement 3 becomes higher toward the rear of the vehicle body; a front portion 3b and lower portions of side surfaces 3c of the reinforcement 3 are joined to the main floor panel 11; a rear end portion 3d of the reinforcement 3 is joined to the vertical wall 13a in a front portion of the rear floor panel 12; a closed section space S1 enclosed by the main floor panel 11, a front portion 13 of the rear floor panel 12, and the reinforcement 3 is formed in a side view; a lower surface portion 21b of a rear end of the floor side member 21 becomes higher toward the main floor panel 11; and the upper surface 3a of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20140239662
    Abstract: A storage apparatus for a seat of a vehicle, in which the seat is stored in a storage space formed therebelow, so that it is possible to secure a wider luggage space as compare with the related art and reduce unit cost without using a separate slide rail. In addition, the storage apparatus variously uses the space of a back seat when shifted between a passenger space (seating mode) and a luggage space (luggage mode) of the multi-functional back seat, which is vertically movable and foldable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: DAE WON SAN UP CO., LTD., HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sang Ho KIM, Soo Hyun MOON, Deok Soo LIM, Jun Yeol HEO, Hyeong Jun . KIM, Jae Myung HUR, Byeong Hee JO, Yong Cheol JANG
  • Publication number: 20140117699
    Abstract: A seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between an upright seating position and a fold flat position overlying the seat cushion. A support bracket is coupled to the seat cushion for mounting the seat assembly to the floor of a vehicle. A pair of front legs extends between a first end pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and an opposite second end pivotally coupled to the support bracket. A pair of rear legs extends between a first end pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and an opposite second end pivotally coupled to the support bracket. A linkage mechanism is operatively coupled between the front legs and the rear legs for actuating rotation of the seat assembly between a seating position spaced above the vehicle floor and a stow position recessed within below the floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Peter P. Zeimis, III, Carl J. Holdampf
  • Patent number: 8708392
    Abstract: A retractable vehicle seat in which a seat main body disposed on a vehicle floor is flipped up laterally, so as to be retracted in a vehicle interior side wall of which the upper portion is inwardly inclined, may include a connection mechanism that is configured to rotatably connect the seat main body to a support stand. The connection mechanism includes a four-link mechanism having a stationary link integral with the support stand, an intermediate link integral with the seat main body, and a first link and a second link that connect these two links. The second link is configured to increase an angle between the first link and the intermediate link as the seat main body is flipped up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taiyou Otsuka, Toshio Araki, Eiji Mizutani, Ryo Hattori, Masashi Fujimoto, Shinji Yamada, Yasunori Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8708413
    Abstract: A locking device (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, has a housing (5), a catch (11) mounted in a movable manner on the housing (5) for locking with a mating element (B). At least one safety element (25, 31) is provided for securing the catch (11) in the locked state and can be moved relative to the catch (11) for unlocking the locking device (1). A query device (40) queries the locking state of the locking device (1) and has at least one transducer (41, 42) and at least one sensor (43). The query device (40) is designed in a contactless manner. The transducer (41, 42) and the sensor (43) interact with each other due to the relative positioning and/or movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Heeg, Andreas Diehl, Markus Dein
  • Patent number: 8702146
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a propshaft, a vehicle body and a seat assembly. The propshaft is coupled to a source of rotary power and a rear axle of the vehicle. The source of rotary power may be disposed in a front portion of the vehicle. The vehicle body includes an occupant cabin defined by a floor panel and a back wall panel. The floor panel is disposed above the propshaft and defines a lower boundary of the occupant cabin. The back wall panel extends upward from the floor panel and defines a rearward boundary of the occupant cabin. The seat assembly is disposed above the propshaft and is movable between a seating position and a stowed position. The seat assembly may be at least partially received in a space of the vehicle body that is separate from the occupant cabin when the seat assembly is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
  • Patent number: 8702145
    Abstract: A cargo area assembly for a movable seat in an automotive vehicle includes a configurable panel covering at least a portion of a storage compartment located rearwardly of the seat. The configurable panel and a removable panel cooperate to cover the storage compartment, if desired, in a full forward and full rearward position of the seat. The configurable panel incorporates hinges to allow various positioning of panel portions and storage alternatives, and the removable panel is dimensioned for storage in the tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Cao, Ross L. Burghardt
  • Patent number: 8672387
    Abstract: A utility vehicle according to the present invention includes a chassis, a ROPS surrounding a space on the chassis, a seat or a seat row arranged in the space, a cargo bed provided in a rear part of the chassis, and one or more resin storage boxes provided between the seat or the seat row and the cargo bed in the front and rear direction in the space, the storage boxes being integrated with parts of vehicle-side covers covering side parts of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Tyler Furman
  • Patent number: 8616624
    Abstract: In a seat, in a state in which tilting of a back main frame around a tilting center is locked by a reclining mechanism, a lower end of a back joint link is turnably joined to a vehicle side. Thus, turning of a first link, a back sub frame and the back joint link is locked, and operation of a back link mechanism is locked. Therefore, a supporting rigidity from rear side of a back side portion can be enhanced by the back link mechanism (the back sub frame), and a crew sitting in the seat can be thoroughly retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamada, Hideki Kobayashi, Takeshi Tokai, Masaki Mori, Keisuke Onoda, Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 8579351
    Abstract: A vehicle seat device capable of providing a space in which a large sized load can be disposed. A seat device is provided with a left rear seat and a right rear seat arranged next to each other in the vehicle width direction, and also with a left front movement device for moving the left rear seat to a left foot space located in front of the left rear seat. The left rear seat having been moved to the left foot space is moved through a lateral slide rail up to a right foot space located in front of the right rear seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Takakura, Kazutomo Isonaga, Toshihiko Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8562059
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for a movable seat for use on a bi-directional work vehicle that laterally shifts the lower seating surface as it is pivoted between raised and lowered positions to increase clearance adjacent to the seat to improve operator ingress and egress to the vehicle operator platform. The incorporation of a biasing mechanism enables the seat mechanism to automatically reposition the seat for maximum ingress/egress clearance when the vehicle operator rises from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: J. Bradley Lukac, John C. Campbell, Kyle J. Brenner, Matthew A. McCullough
  • Patent number: 8556323
    Abstract: A folding seat arrangement comprising a first carrying structure (2) having a backrest (3) and guiding elements (11) for the removable attachment in guide rails (9) to a vehicle floor, a second carrying structure (5) pivotally mounted to the first carrying structure (2) and having a seat cushion (4), and a supporting structure (6; 31), on which in a first end region guiding elements (10) are provided for the removable attachment in guide rails (9) and which in a second region is mounted a carrying structure (2; 5) in an articulated manner such that the seat arrangement in the folded setting requires the least amount of space in the lower region of the expanded luggage compartment. This is achieved in that the guiding elements (11) on the first carrying structure (2) and the supporting structure (6; 31) can be moved relative to one another to pivot the supporting structure (6; 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Seating (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoge, Karim El Benaye, Lip-Min Ng, Matthew Cooper, Johan Skrabala
  • Patent number: 8496282
    Abstract: A cabin in a construction machine has a door having a vertically extending door frame and a door glass attached to the door frame. The door frame has a pulling handle portion which is attached to the cabin frame pivotally around a vertical pivot axis and projects in a direction having a component extending away from the door glass. The pulling handle portion is aligned with the riding handle in front and rear directions outside the cabin when the door is fully opened. The pulling handle portion satisfies at least one of a first condition that the height position of the second gripped portion is offset upward from the height position of the riding handle, and a second condition that the second gripped portion of the pulling handle portion extends in a second extending direction different from the first extending direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Murakami, Masafumi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8480051
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) is provided with a base (3), which is connected to a vehicle structure (7). The vehicle seat (1) is adjustable at least between a use position and an easy-entry position. The vehicle seat (1) is guided displaceably in at least one track (5) with at least one first, straight area (15a) and at least one additional, curved area (15c). At least three rollers (17, 23, 23?) or link blocks are provided each per track (5). The three rollers (17, 23, 23?) support the vehicle seat (1) in the use position in the same at the track (5) and only two of the rollers (17, 23) or link blocks are arranged within the same track (5) in the easy-entry position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Mühlberger, Birger Hahn
  • Patent number: 8465096
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat includes a seat supporting portion that supports one end portion side of a seat cushion movably in a front-and-rear direction, a seat back that can be folded to a seat cushion through a reclining mechanism, a link mechanism that is connected to the reclining mechanism and is movable, and a strap connected to the reclining mechanism through the link mechanism. The link mechanism has a fourth link member that prohibits return from a moved position to an initial position after movement by the strap, and since an unlocked state of the reclining mechanism is maintained even if a pulling operation of the strap is stopped, the seat back can be reliably folded and stowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: 8449012
    Abstract: A collapsible seat assembly providing a compact size in the stowed position. The seat assembly has a reduced overall height in the stowed position, and an articulated bolster and lumbar supports which provides a reduced compact size of the seat in the stowed position. A cover may extend over the seat in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kurt A. Seibold, Joseph F. Prosniewski, John Gomez, Richard Tann, Brennon L. White
  • Patent number: 8434808
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seatback movable between an upright position and a horizontal position, a seat bottom movable between a use position perpendicular to the seatback and a stowage position parallel to the seatback, and a lock mechanism for holding the seat bottom at the stowage position when the seat bottom is moved to the stowage position. When the seatback is moved to the horizontal position, the vehicle seat has a dive-down state where the seatback and the seat bottom are stacked on top of the other. The seat bottom has a detection lever that, when the seat bottom becomes the dive-down state, comes into contact with a floor panel and is displaced. In the lock mechanism, when the detection lever is displaced, the function of holding the seat bottom at the stowage position becomes ineffective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Abe, Toshiyuki Tsujibayashi, Toshihiko Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8430442
    Abstract: A tractor is disclosed as a four-wheel drive vehicle with a movable seat back, with a seat height adjustment and with a varying load capability. The tractor also has a speed control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Utke, Philip Nowacki
  • Patent number: 8408628
    Abstract: A storable vehicle seat is provided, which can be rotationally moved smoothly and can further be prevented from wobbling in a seating state even though the storable vehicle seat has a structure in which the rotational path of the seat is defined by front and rear links. An elongated support hole 52 and a guide hole 53 are formed in a seat cushion frame 50, a rotational support shaft 30 which is rotatably engaged in the elongated support hole 52 to be relatively movable therein and a guide projection 60 which is engaged in the guide hole 53 to be movable therein are projected from an end of the front link 27, and an extension spring S is installed between the rotational support shaft 30 and a locking projection 56 of the seat cushion frame 50 to bias the rotational support shaft 30 rearwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Takuji Yamazaki, Noriyuki Zaiki
  • Patent number: 8403083
    Abstract: In a vehicle (1) including a frame (2) incorporated with a drive unit (3) for enabling the frame to travel in a prescribed direction and a seat assembly (4) supported by the frame and including a pair of saddle members (63) defining a pair of seat surfaces (70A), respectively, configured to jointly support buttocks of a vehicle occupant, the saddle members are resiliently supported by the frame in such a manner that the seat surface of each saddle member is in an approximately horizontal orientation but is progressively tilted inward with a downward movement of the saddle member under a load of a vehicle occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Waita, Kazushi Hamaya, Hiroshi Gomi
  • Patent number: 8398142
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which is positionable between a use and not-it-use position convenient for increased storage space and access to rearward areas of the vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a seat part and a backrest. The seat part is pivotably coupled to the vehicle floor at one end so that that the seat part may be moved frontward with respect to the vehicle. A transmission link is provided, coupled to the backrest and the seat part so that the backrest pivots into the not-in-use position as the seat part is moved into its not-in-use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Johnson Controls GmbH, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Stark, Erik Sprenger, Andreas Weiss
  • Publication number: 20130038082
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a rear wall of a passenger compartment, a first member being mounted with respect to the wall, having a first surface that is generally horizontal, and defining a lower seat portion of a vehicle seat, and a second member having a second surface. The second member is selectively mountable to the rear wall such that the second surface is generally vertical and functions as a seatback. The second member is also selectively mountable to the first member such that the second surface is generally horizontal and cooperates with the first surface to provide a larger support for a child seat than just the first surface alone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Marcelo Bertocchi
  • Patent number: 8328266
    Abstract: A pick-up style utility vehicle has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed. The cargo bed is expandable forward and has a screen shield for partitioning at a front end thereof. The rear seat has a seat bottom for the rear seat detachably attached to a rear seat attaching portion provided on a vehicle body. The screen shield has a seat holding portion to which the seat bottom, detached from the rear seat attaching portion, is attachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Yasui, Hirokazu Morira, Kenji Oda, Takao Kawabata, Masaki Tanaka, Eiji Ihara
  • Patent number: 8287024
    Abstract: Rattling of a stowable vehicle seat in a stowed state during driving is prevented, and a seat locking device and a stowable vehicle seat that reduces a returning operation load and improves returning operability is provided. The seat locking device includes a stowage locking member disposed on the rear face side of a seat back and lockable to and unlockable from the vehicle body floor side in stowage of a seat, a pulling-up grip disposed on the rear face side of a seat cushion and operated in a returning operation of the seat, a movable member moved in conjunction with the pulling-up grip in the returning operation, and a stowage unlocking wire that connects the stowage locking member and the movable member, and lock of the stowage locking member is unlocked through a stowage unlocking wire by movement of the movable member in the returning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: 8177282
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat includes: a seat cushion including a seating part, a front leg which is rotatably attached to the seating part at a front side, and rear legs which support a rear side of the seating part; and a seatback is provided rotatably to the rear side of the seat cushion. The front leg is rotatably attached to a vehicle floor, the rear legs are detachably attached to the vehicle floor, and the vehicle seat is adapted to be arranged into a seating mode and a storage mode. In the seating mode, the seatback is locked on the seat cushion in an upright state, and the rear legs are locked on the vehicle floor, and in the storage mode, the seat cushion is turned forward by unlocking the lock on the seatback and the locks on both of the rear legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8177280
    Abstract: A vehicle seat device is designed to perform tilt adjustment of a seat cushion in a construction which is high in rigidity, downsized and high in the quality of external appearance. The device comprises rotational links; floor attached front brackets and front swing links which make couplings between first joint portions of the rotational links and upper rails; flank brackets coupled to the rotational links at front portion thereof; floor attached rear brackets and rear swing links which make couplings between rear portions of the flank brackets and the upper rails; a front drive device secured to one of the flank brackets for rotationally driving the rotational links; and cushion frames coupled to the flank brackets and second joint portions of the rotational links respectively at rear portions and front portions thereof. The second joint portions and the cushion frames are coupled to respective both ends of cushion frame swing links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Sadao Ito
  • Patent number: 8177281
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat having improved operability and safety at the time of seat stowage are provided. A seat having a seat cushion back includes a foot lock mechanism for inhibiting the rotating of the cushion, a reclining lock mechanism for inhibiting the rotating of the seat back, a strap pullable toward any pull direction, and a lock releasing mechanism for keeping/releasing the rotate inhibiting states of the foot lock mechanism and the reclining lock mechanism by the pulling operation of the strap. When the pull direction of the strap is a horizontal direction, the lock releasing mechanism releases the rotate inhibiting states of both the foot lock mechanism and the reclining lock mechanism, and when the pull direction of the strap is an upward direction, the lock releasing mechanism keeps the rotate inhibiting states of both the foot lock mechanism and the reclining lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: RE44700
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises a main body, a seat deck assembly including an operator seat, and structure for movably mounting the seat deck assembly to the main body. The seat deck assembly moves relative to the main body along a varying radius path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Berger, Michael P. Gallagher, John P. Jones, Thornton K. Lothrop, Donald E. Luebrecht, Rainer B. Teufel, Juergen Buchmann, Edgar Wahnemuehl