Including Hinged Backrest Patents (Class 296/65.09)
  • Patent number: 9663002
    Abstract: A device of folding a seat for a vehicle may include a seat cushion disposed on a bottom of a vehicle body and rotatable by a rotation mechanism and provided with a first position fixing mechanism, a seat back rotatably disposed at a rear of the seat cushion and provided with a second position fixing mechanism, a headrest rotatably disposed at an upper portion of the seat back and fixed in position by a third position fixing mechanism disposed in the seat back, and an operation mechanism disposed in the seat back and unlocking the first position fixing mechanism to unlock the second position fixing mechanism and the third position fixing mechanism at a time of rotating the seat cushion so as to rotate the seat back and the headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp., DAS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Jae Lee, Yong Soo Chang, Min Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 9644409
    Abstract: An unlocking lever device includes: a lever member which is operated to rotate to allow a locking mechanism to perform an unlocking operation; a sign member which is stored in a storage recessed portion provided in the lever member; a bias member which biases the sign member in a direction of protrusion from the storage recessed portion; and an inclined surface which regulates the protrusion of the sign member from the storage recessed portion in accordance with a position of rotation of the lever member by being abut against the sign member, and generates a bias force which allows the lever member to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Iwasa, Yasuhiro Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 9616778
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure having a seat back section, a latch mechanism and a striker member. The latch mechanism is connected to the seat back section. The striker member has a first attachment end, a striker bar portion, a serpentine portion and a second attachment end. The striker bar portion is located between the first attachment end and the serpentine portion. The serpentine portion is located between the striker bar portion and the second attachment end. The first and second attachment ends are adapted to be attached to an upright rear wall of the passenger compartment. The striker bar portion is configured to releasably engage the latch mechanism to limit movement of the seat back section with respect to the rear wall of the passenger compartment. The serpentine portion is configured to deform in response to application of force to the seat back section in excess of a predetermined level of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisle Bates, Makoto Haraguchi, Peihao Qi
  • Patent number: 9499076
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a slide mechanism including an inner-side slide rail and an outer-side slide rail; a seat cushion; and a biasing unit for applying a biasing force for flipping up the seat cushion toward a wall portion of a vehicle. The outer-side slide rail includes: a first slide rail fixed to the wall portion at a same position as the seat cushion in a vertical direction; and a second slide rail fixed to a portion of the wall portion located deeper in an interior than the first slide rail, at a position below the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Yuya Kanai, Akinori Taniguchi, Satoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9381836
    Abstract: A vehicle seat housing apparatus wherein a seat is swung back from a seatable position by a support mechanism and housed in a housing recess part such that the bottom is oriented upward, the housing recess part is formed on the floor behind the seat. The support mechanism includes a first support member, a second support member, a coupling shaft, and a folding mechanism. The first support member extends from either the floor or the housing recess part. The second support member extends from the bottom surface of the seat to the first support member. The coupling shaft couples the second support member to the first support member so as to allow back and forth swinging movement. The folding mechanism, when the seat is housed in the housing recess part, folds the first and second support members in a direction eliminating protrusion to the passenger compartment from the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Sawada, Tadao Kitagawa, Junichi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9352695
    Abstract: A vehicle floor assembly includes a floor frame, floor panel, and a pair of closeout devices. In an open position, the floor panel permits access to a stowage cavity. In a closed position, access to the stowage cavity is inhibited. Each closeout device includes a cartridge, a pair of first members, a pair of second members, and a plurality of biasing members. The cartridge defines a slot and a plurality of guide channels. The slot receives at least one seat riser through the floor panel. The first and second members are slidably received in individual guide channels and moveable between a retracted position and an extended position wherein each of the first or second members is extended into the slot a greater extent than when in the retracted position. The biasing members are configured to bias the first and second closeout members toward their respective second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Cory W Karosa, Riccardo B Capitanio
  • Patent number: 9290115
    Abstract: A seat assembly having stanchions secured to a floor of a vehicle interior, a seatback pivotally secured between the stanchions. A seat bottom has an arm extending therefrom which is pivotally engaged to the seatback at a location offset from the seatback pivot with the stanchions. The seat bottom is pivotally connected at forward locations by a linkages extending to additional floor locations such that pivoting of the seatback results in slaved pivoting and combined displacement of the seat bottom between upright design and forward folded positions. A motor is pivotally secured to the vehicle interior, a rotatable screw extending from the motor and supporting an interiorly threaded collar in length displaceable fashion along the screw. A support arm is pivotally secured to the floor and to the screw supported collar. The support arm responds to actuation of the motor in at least a rewind direction in order to upwardly displace the seat bottom and slaved seatback to the upright design position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis Lutzka, Jason Hamilton
  • Patent number: 9108550
    Abstract: A headrest apparatus for an MPV includes a headrest that can be automatically completely housed in a storage space in such a way as to slide without requiring a user to perform an additional operation of pushing the headrest downwards, thus being more convenient for the user. The headrest apparatus has a simple structure and a reduced size, thus reducing the weight of the vehicle. The headrest apparatus includes a headrest sliding unit, a sinking seat folding unit, and a seat support frame supporting a sinking seat on a floor of the MPV, wherein, when the sinking seat is housed in a seat storage space formed in the floor of the MPV, the upper surface of the sinking seat that is in a housed state is level with the upper surface of the floor of the MPV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: KIA MOTORS CORP., DAE WON SAN UP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ho Kim, Soo Hyun Moon, Deok Soo Lim, Jun Yeol Heo, Hyeong Jun Kim, Hyuk Kim, Jae Myung Hur, Do Kywn Kim
  • Patent number: 9061601
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cargo area having folding seats and rear doors. The rear doors are provided with a seat stopper on an inner side. The seat stopper presses a seat back plate from above when the door is closed and the seat back plate is folded down to prevent the seat back plate from being lifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Uchiyama, Hiroyuki Nishimori
  • Patent number: 9016754
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention discloses an agricultural work vehicle comprising a cabin and at least a cladding element (105) for delimiting an internal space of the cabin, in which the cladding element (105) comprises an opening (135) able to place the internal space of the cabin in communication with a compartment (140) in which at least a seat (205) is housed, the seat (205) being mobile with respect to the cladding element (105) between a rest position, in which it is completely contained in the compartment (140), and a use position, in which it is horizontally orientated and projects at least partially into the internal space of the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Argo Tractors S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Esposito, Andrea Magnanini, Massimiliano Del Bue
  • Patent number: 8985665
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a seat bench which includes a seat surface which is approximately horizontal in a normal position and a backrest which is approximately vertical in the normal position, wherein the seat surface and the backrest are adjustable into a partition position in which the seat surface and the backrest adopt an at least approximately vertical position and the backrest is arranged above the seat surface. The backrest upper edge is in contact with the roof of the motor vehicle in the partition position, such that the backrest together with the seat surface forms a partition which separates the region behind the partition in the direction of travel from the region in front of the partition in the direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Christoph Aschaber, Thomas Auer, Manuel Erlacher, Martin Rodler, Harald Zachnegger
  • Patent number: 8960783
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use in a seat assembly of a vehicle, the recliner mechanism comprising a cam stop member coupled to the seat assembly; a cam bracket pivotably coupled to the seat assembly; a catch lever pivotably coupled to the seat assembly; a release crank member coupled to the catch lever; a cable member coupled to the cam bracket and to the cushion pivot bracket; and wherein rotation of the seat assembly via the cushion pivot bracket causes the cable to wind about the cam of the cushion pivot bracket such that the first end of the cable member pulls an actuates the cam bracket causing the cam bracket to rotate against the pin catch lever causing the catch lever to actuate the release crank member to release the recliner mechanism and thereby enable reconfiguration of the seat assembly from a first position to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brian S. Holder, Kurt A. Seibold, Michael B. Clor, Aleksandar D. Malusev
  • Patent number: 8960800
    Abstract: A release mechanism selectively actuates a recliner between a locked condition and an unlocked condition allowing pivotal movement of a seat back between a seating and fold flat position. The release mechanism includes a recliner cam lever operatively coupled to the recliner for actuating the recliner between the locked and unlocked conditions. A recliner handle lever engages the recliner cam lever in a first actuated position to actuate the recliner between the locked and unlocked conditions allowing pivotal movement of the seat back between a seating position and a fold flat position and further engages the recliner cam lever in a second actuated position to release a seat cushion from the floor and allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a seating position and tumbled position when the seat back is maintained in the fold flat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Champ, Rabindranath Persad, Jeffrey P. Carroll
  • Publication number: 20150028618
    Abstract: A seat lock apparatus includes a case member having a striker entrance groove and a hook lever that is provided rotatably via a hook shaft and is movable between an opening position and a restraining position where the hook lever closes an opening in a striker entrance groove. The apparatus is configured to position the hook lever in the restraining position while positioning the striker in the striker entrance groove when a seatback is erected. The striker entrance groove is formed such that when the striker enters the striker entrance groove and abuts against the hook lever positioned in the restraining position, only a portion of the case member, which is positioned closer to a central side of the seatback than the hook lever is in an axial direction of the hook shaft, is brought into abutment with the striker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Naoya SETO, Naoki HANAKI, Kazuhito YOKOMORI
  • Patent number: 8926007
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat includes a seat support portion that supports a seat cushion rotatably in the front-and-rear direction, a seat back provided with reclining elements that can be folded onto the seat cushion, a stowage recess portion disposed on the vehicle body floor side, a front-side leg portion disposed on the front side of the seat cushion, leg-portion locking elements that lock and unlock the front-side leg portion to and from the vehicle body floor side, a link mechanism connected to the reclining elements and the leg-portion locking elements, and a strap for operating the reclining mechanism and the leg-portion locking elements through the link mechanism, in which the seat back is locked in the folded state in a stowing operation by a pulling operation of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: 8894124
    Abstract: A load floor assembly for a vehicle includes a seatback that pivots between an upright position and a stowed position. A cargo floor extends rearward of the seatback, and a load panel is coupled with the cargo floor. The load panel moves between a rearward position and a forward position. In the forward position, the load panel extends over at least a lower portion of the seatback in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhavani Thota, Michael James Whitens, Gian Carlo Morlet Ugalde
  • Publication number: 20140306479
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: TS TECH Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Abe, Toshiyuki Tsujibayashi
  • Patent number: 8851549
    Abstract: A stowable seat can include a seat back having an upper end, an opposite lower end and a seating side, a seat bottom having a forward end, a rearward end and a seating side, and a linkage arrangement. The linkage arrangement can include a first member pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and a vehicle support structure, a second member pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and the support structure, a third member fixed to the seat back and pivotably coupled to the support structure, and a fourth member pivotably coupled to the second member and the third member. The linkage arrangement can facilitate suspending the seat bottom in a seating position from the support structure in spaced relation to the floor; rotating the seat bottom to a stadium position; and rotating the seat back and articulating the seat bottom to a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Walter W. Holzhueter, Todd C. McCann
  • Patent number: 8844998
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle, in which a seat back may be foldable toward a seat cushion of a seat, may include a storage space provided at the bottom of a floor and storing the seat to provide a luggage space in the vehicle, a link member pivotally connected between a cushion link of the seat cushion and the storage space such that the seat may be foldable to be stored in the storage space, a locking device provided on the seat back to maintain an unfolded or folded state of the seat back, and an elastic member provided on the link member to pop up the cushion link and the seat back out of the storage space when the seat back may be unfolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, Faurecia Automotive Seating Korea
    Inventors: Sang Ho Kim, Sang Do Park, Deok Soo Lim, Bong Ku Kim, Soo Hyun Moon, Chang Oan Woo, Jun Yeol Heo, Youn Myung Joo
  • Patent number: 8845026
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat including a first seat portion movable between a use position in which the first seat portion is ready for use and a retracted position in which the first seat portion not in use is located, and a second seat portion movable between a use position in which the second seat portion is ready for use and a retracted position in which the second seat portion not in use is located, an actuator mechanism is configured to cause the second seat portion to start moving toward its retracted position at a time when the first seat portion passes a predetermined intermediate position that is on a way from the use position toward the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kobayashi, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Kazuhisa Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8801101
    Abstract: A vehicle seating system including a seat back, a seat bottom, a track arrangement, a first carriage, and a second carriage is for use within a vehicle. The seat bottom is coupled to the seat back. The track arrangement is configured to be coupled to the vehicle. The first carriage is coupled to the seat bottom and is moveable within the track arrangement. The second carriage is coupled to the seat back and is moveable within the track arrangement. The second carriage and the first carriage are releasably coupled to one another so the second carriage is moveable relative to the first carriage when the coupling of the first carriage and the second carriage is released. The position of the second carriage relative to the first carriage is substantially fixed when the coupling of the first carriage and the second carriage is locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: M. Omer Dagcioglu, Ioan Ghergheli, Michael B. Clor, Ram Gopal, Kyle Doxey, Paul A. Gilmore, Timothy A. Brademeyer, John Newberry, Stephen P. Telesco
  • Patent number: 8783753
    Abstract: A stowable rear seat, wherein a seat back section comprises: a seat back body stood in a floor surface so as to tilt freely; a seat back locking mechanism that locks the tilting of the seat back body; and a swinging member that swings in the forward/backward direction in conjunction with the tilting movement of the seat back body when the lock of the seat back locking mechanism is released and the seat back body tilts. The seat cushion section of the stowable rear seat comprises: a seat cushion body freely housed in the underfoot floor surface and arranged horizontally in the floor surface in front of the seat back body, and a seat cushion locking mechanism that locks the seat cushion body in a horizontal state on the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teppei Ito, Kazuyuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8757711
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle seat assembly having a seatback member and a lower seat member. The lower seat member has a generally horizontal and upwardly-facing seating surface. The seatback member has a cushion portion and is selectively rotatable between an upright position in which the cushion portion is adjacent the wall and a lowered position in which the cushion portion extends farther forward than the seating surface. The seatback member functions to support the back or head of an occupant (when the seatback member is in the upright position) or as an extension to the lower seat member to provide additional fore/aft support to a child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Marcelo Bertocchi
  • Patent number: 8720996
    Abstract: A dual front linkage system for a adjusting a vehicle seat includes a seat sub-frame member, a first linkage member, a second linkage member, and a base member. The first end of the seat sub-frame member is coupled to the second end of the first linkage member and the second end of the seat sub-frame member is coupled to the seat base, the first end of the first linkage member is coupled to the first end of the second linkage member, the second end of the second linkage member is coupled to the first end of the base member, and the second end of the base member is coupled to the vehicle. The linkage system enables the seat base and seat back to be folded forward and downward into a stowed position and allows the seat to be tumbled forward to enhance vehicle ingress and egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Nazione, Steven P. Livesey, Munur Omer Dagcioglu
  • Patent number: 8714619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat (1) comprising at least one first segment (3, 3?) with a seat part (6) as well as a second segment (2) with a seat part (5) and a backrest (4). The second segment can be stowed underneath the seat part (6) while the backrest (4) is collapsible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Miles Lindley, Joerg Tabellion, Ponnarasu Annal Ganesan, Michael Fahl, Raghu Balla
  • Patent number: 8708393
    Abstract: A seat assembly can include a seat bottom, a pair of front and rear legs and an articulation arrangement. The front legs can have an upper and a lower end, where each upper end can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. The articulation arrangement can include a pair of rotating members, a pair of guide channels, a pair of first and second guide members, and an assist arrangement. The rotating members can be rotatably coupled to the lower ends of the front legs, and the pair of guide channels can have the first guide members positioned therein. The second guide members can be coupled to the lower ends of the front legs and positioned in the guide channels. The assist arrangement can include a biasing member coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat assembly can be movable from a deployed position to a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, David M. Savinsky
  • Patent number: 8702172
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, such as a rear bench seat, includes a seat part, a backrest part and a fitting part. The backrest part and the fitting part are pivotable relative to the vehicle body about a first rotational axis. The first rotational axis is disposed below the seat part or behind the backrest part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Hans Schmodde, Stefan Josten, Stuart Woolston, Peter Lekat
  • Patent number: 8690217
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a rollover protective structure surrounding a riding space and a cargo bed provided behind a riding space. A rear seat is changeable between a seating position and a stowed position. The screen is supported pivotably about pivot point portions such that the screen is changeable between a first position in which the screen stands substantially upright at a location in a vicinity of the front end of the cargo bed in the non-expanded state of the cargo bed, and a second position in which the screen is inclined and extends from the pivot point portions toward the front side of the riding space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruaki Yamamoto, Itsuo Takegami
  • Patent number: 8678463
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat portion disposed in a relatively horizontal alignment, wherein the seat portion is moveable. Also included is a seat back rotatable about a first axis proximate a rear portion of the seat portion. Further included is a memory seat module (MSM) configured to monitor and control movement of the seat portion and the seat back, and comprises a sensor configured to activate upon movement of the seat portion and/or the seat back to a predetermined position, wherein the MSM automatically restricts movement of the seat portion and/or the seat back upon detection of activation of the sensor. The MSM further engages other required movements to return the vehicle seat assembly to earlier stored locations with the process being repeated a maximum number of times to transition the seat portion and seat back to their required positions that have been predetermined by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Mark R. Willey
  • Patent number: 8662561
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion and seat back supported above a floor by a rear leg. The seat back is pivotally coupled to a recliner bracket. The seat cushion is selectively pivotally locked relative to the recliner bracket. A disc recliner operatively couples the recliner bracket and rear leg. The disc recliner allows the rear leg to pivot relative to the recliner bracket to move the seat assembly from a design seating position to a slouch position. The seat back is pivoted towards the seat cushion and the recliner allows the rear leg to pivot relative to the recliner bracket, thereby lowering the seat assembly to move the seat assembly to a fold and kneel position. The seat cushion is unlocked relative to the recliner bracket to pivot the seat cushion towards the seat back to move the seat assembly to a stadium position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Runde, Peter Paul Zeimis, III
  • Patent number: 8651550
    Abstract: A stowable seat arrangement can include a seat having a seat back pivotably coupled to a seat bottom. A pair of front and rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. A first floor panel can be fixed to the pair of front legs. An access panel can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat can selectively articulate from a deployed to a stowed position where the seat is adapted to be received in a stowage recess of the vehicle. The articulation of the seat can automatically open the access panel to provide access to the recess and then close the access panel upon the seat being in the stowed position. The first floor panel can automatically move to a substantially horizontal position relative to a vehicle floor to provide a flat load floor configuration when the seat is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale
  • Patent number: 8646840
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a base portion, a support bracket, a seatback frame and a cushion frame. The support bracket is pivotally coupled to the base portion about a first axis. The seatback frame is pivotally coupled to the support bracket about a second axis that is spaced apart from the first axis. The cushion frame is pivotally coupled to the support bracket about a third axis that is spaced apart from both the first and second axes, such that the seatback frame and the cushion frame move with the support bracket relative to the base portion when the support bracket pivots about the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Slavko Stojanovic, Aaron Pfau, Randy Dale, Richard Miller, Masashi Okumura, Hiroki Matsui, Chiyoko Murata, Takenori Kiyose, Kimihiro Yano
  • Patent number: 8632113
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle having a floor can include a seat bottom, a seat back, a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs. The seat bottom can have a seating side and an opposite lower side facing the floor. The front legs can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and to the seat bottom via releasable locking mechanisms. The rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and releasably coupled to the vehicle. A pair of linking members can pivotably couple the front and rear legs to each other. The seat assembly can be movable from a deployed to a stowed position whereby the seat bottom can be pivoted forward about the front and rear legs while maintaining the seat bottom lower side facing the floor and the front and rear legs pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale, David M. Savinsky, Dorinel Neag
  • Publication number: 20140015273
    Abstract: A vehicle seat housing apparatus wherein a seat is swung back from a seatable position by a support mechanism and housed in a housing recess part such that the bottom is oriented upward, the housing recess part is formed on the floor behind the seat. The support mechanism includes a first support member, a second support member, a coupling shaft, and a folding mechanism. The first support member extends from either the floor or the housing recess part. The second support member extends from the bottom surface of the seat to the first support member. The coupling shaft couples the second support member to the first support member so as to allow back and forth swinging movement. The folding mechanism, when the seat is housed in the housing recess part, folds the first and second support members in a direction eliminating protrusion to the passenger compartment from the floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Sawada, Tadao Kitagawa, Junichi Yoshioka
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130300145
    Abstract: Provided are a seat frame and a stowable vehicle seat which enables high assembling work efficiency and easy stowing operation. There are provided a reclining mechanism, a seat slide mechanism which slides a seat bottom frame, a slide lock mechanism which prohibits or allows the operation of the seat slide mechanism in cooperation with the reclining mechanism, a striker lock mechanism, and an assist mechanism which assists an operation of stowing and returning a stowable vehicle seat. The seat slide mechanism includes a lower rail, an upper rail, and a slide biasing member which automatically slides the upper rail in cooperation with a tilting movement of a seat back frame to a predetermined angle upon stowage of the stowable vehicle seat. The seat slide mechanism and the slide lock mechanism are mounted to the seat bottom frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Otake, Shingo Kimata, Yoshinobu Kimpara, Takahiro Mitsui
  • 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: 8573674
    Abstract: A switching mechanism that switches a locking device of a slider device between a locked state and an unlocked state includes a sliding member that slides along a wall surface of a fixed rail, a step portion that is formed on the wall surface of the fixed rail and onto which the sliding member rides when a seat main body enters an unusable range, an unlocking mechanism that is provided on the seat main body and that unlocks the locking device and keeps the locking device unlocked in response to movement of the sliding member as the sliding member rides onto the step portion, and an unlocking operation canceling mechanism that is provided on the seat main body and that cancels an operation by the unlocking mechanism to unlock the locking device when the seat cushion is flipped up into a tipped up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taiyo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 8567846
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicular frame and a utility bed coupled with the vehicular frame. The utility bed includes a bed frame and a seat. The seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The seat back includes an upper back support and a lower back support. The lower back support is movably coupled with the upper back support and is movable between a passenger support position and a stored position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric B. Stevens, Casey Heit, Christopher M. Krajewski, Yoshiyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8562060
    Abstract: A vehicle seat device in which a seat can be simply and reliably held at a storage position. In a vehicle seat, a vehicle width direction outer side end portion of a seat cushion is supported so as to be capable of rotating around a drive shaft having an axis along a vehicle front-rear direction, and the seat cushion can be switched between a seating configuration at which an occupant can be seated and a storage configuration at which the seat cushion stands erect along a vehicle cabin inner side surface, due to being rotated around the drive shaft by a driving motor. Further, the vehicle seat which is in the storage configuration is held at the storage configuration by a striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boushoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kato, Takahiro Sugama, Masami Natsume, Tetsuya Abe
  • Patent number: 8556348
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a track mount configured to shift along a track and a platform configured to selectively latch to, unlatch from, and pivot relative to the track mount. The assembly also includes a seat-back and a seat-cushion, each connected to the platform and configured to selectively latch to, unlatch from, and pivot relative to the platform. The assembly additionally includes a first mechanism configured to selectively operate the seat assembly in a first mode and a second mode. The first mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-back and unlatching and pivoting the platform such that the seat assembly tumbles relative to the track. The second mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-cushion and unlatching and pivoting the seat-back such that the seat-back comes to rest substantially parallel to the track mount. A vehicle having the seat assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rainer A. Glaser, Krzysztof Wroblewski, Stanislaw A. Wieclawski
  • Patent number: 8556324
    Abstract: A utility vehicle according to the present invention includes a front seat, a rear seat, a cargo bed, a screen, and seat belt systems, the cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state and a non-expanded state, the screen has a movable mount in a lower end, the screen is movable between a first position and a second position, each of the seat belt systems has a three-point seat belt structure, a bottom anchor, a retractor, and a buckle are provided in the movable mount, and a top anchor is provided in the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruaki Yamamoto, Itsuo Takegami
  • Patent number: 8540308
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat with improved operability is configured so that a stowing and restoring operation can be performed by rotating seat support parts and provided on the rear end part of a seat cushion in the front and rear direction around the rotating center. The seat support part is provided with a rotating shaft provided on the seat cushion side, a rotating shaft bracket pivotally supporting the rotating shaft on the vehicle body floor side, and spiral springs one end part side of which is always locked to the rotating shaft side and which urges in the restoration rotating direction. The other end part side of the spiral springs is locked to the vehicle body floor side at different predetermined angles of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Aoki, Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: 8534750
    Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat includes a seat support portion that supports a seat cushion rotatably in the front-and-rear direction, a seat back provided with reclining elements that can be folded onto the seat cushion, a stowage recess portion disposed on the vehicle body floor side, a front-side leg portion disposed on the front side of the seat cushion, leg-portion locking elements that lock and unlock the front-side leg portion to and from the vehicle body floor side, a link mechanism connected to the reclining elements and the leg-portion locking elements, and a strap for operating the reclining mechanism and the leg-portion locking elements through the link mechanism, in which the seat back is locked in the folded state in a stowing operation by a pulling operation of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: 8528958
    Abstract: A vehicle seat accommodating device of the invention includes: a seat configured to include a seat cushion and a seat back supported so as to be tiltable with respect to the seat cushion; an accommodation recess portion formed on a floor located behind the seat; and a support unit movably supporting the seat so as to accommodate the seat in the accommodation recess portion in a state where the seat back is folded so as to be overlapped on the seat cushion, wherein when the seat is adjusted to a seating posture, both ends of the seat cushion in a vehicle width direction are mounted on wheel housings that are bloated from side walls of a vehicle body toward the inside in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Imamura, Osamu Shirose, Ichirou Yokoyama, Tsuyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 8523262
    Abstract: A vehicle seat rear floor latch and positioner assembly (22) for a vehicle seat (10) movable between a seating position, a generally horizontal nonuse position, and a generally vertical storage position as well as being removable from the vehicle to increase cargo capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Porter Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Haeske, Michael A. Blake, Brent C. Everett
  • Publication number: 20130207411
    Abstract: A stowable seat can include a seat back having an upper end, an opposite lower end and a seating side, a seat bottom having a forward end, a rearward end and a seating side, and a linkage arrangement. The linkage arrangement can include a first member pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and a vehicle support structure, a second member pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and the support structure, a third member fixed to the seat back and pivotably coupled to the support structure, and a fourth member pivotably coupled to the second member and the third member. The linkage arrangement can facilitate suspending the seat bottom in a seating position from the support structure in spaced relation to the floor; rotating the seat bottom to a stadium position; and rotating the seat back and articulating the seat bottom to a stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Walter W. Holzhueter, Todd C. McCann
  • Patent number: 8505999
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure, a cargo surface, and a vehicular seat assembly. The body structure defines a floor. The vehicular seat assembly includes a left leg member, a right leg member, a support member, a seat back, and a cover panel. The support member is attached to the left and right leg members. The seat back is pivotally coupled with the left and right leg members. The seat back is pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position. The cover panel is coupled with the support member and is movable between a stowed position and a bridging position. When the seat back is in the cargo support position with the cover panel in the bridging position, the support member provides underlying support for the cover panel, and the cargo surface, the cover panel, and the seat back cooperate to provide a generally planar load support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kelly Michael Whalen, Grey Burchfield Parker, Todd Alan Morris, Eric Dustin Daume, Brooks G. Marquette, Matthew W. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8496294
    Abstract: A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor includes a support mechanism operatively coupled between a seat back and a seat cushion. A rear end of the seat cushion is released from the support mechanism to pivot the seat cushion from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back from an upright seating position to a forwardly folded position. The support mechanism is released from the floor and a stand-up link pivotally coupled between the floor and the support mechanism moves the seat cushion from the generally horizontal position to the generally vertical position and simultaneously urges the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion, thereby maintaining the seat back in a generally vertical orientation defining a stand-up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventors: Carl J. Holdampf, Ronald A. Zimmerman, II, Douglas A. Dingel, Brian Adwell
  • Patent number: 8485583
    Abstract: A stowable seat arrangement can include a seat having a seat back coupled to a seat bottom. A pair of front and rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. A floor panel can be fixed to the seat back. A stowage recess cover can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat can be configured to selectively articulate from a deployed position to a stowed position where the seat can be received in a vehicle stowage recess. Pivotably raising the cover can automatically begin articulation of the seat from the deployed position to the stowed position. The floor panel can be in spaced relation to the floor when the seat is in the deployed position and can automatically move to a position in engagement with the floor to provide a flat load floor configuration when the seat is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale