Abstract: A trim assembly for a vehicle seat is provided with a first trim panel adapted to be pivotally connected to a lower region of a rear surface of a backrest that is pivotally adjustable relative to a seat cushion, to cover a gap between the backrest and the seat cushion in an upright position of the backrest. A second trim panel is connected to the first trim panel to cover the gap in a forward position of the backrest relative to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A reclinable passenger seat including a base, a seat pan frame having a front end connected to the base via a first fixed pivot, a support arm having one end connected to the base via a second fixed pivot aft of the first fixed pivot, and a backrest frame having an upper backrest member and a lower backrest member. An opposed end of the support arm is pivotally connected to the lower backrest member at a first location spaced from the upper backrest member. A rear end of the seat pan frame is pivotally connected to the lower backrest member at a second location between the first location and the upper backrest member. The backrest frame and seat pan frame are configured to move simultaneously between a sitting configuration and a reclined configuration through pivoting motion about the fixed pivots and about the two locations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing driver awareness of engine stoppage by a vehicle are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the system includes a stop-start mechanism in communication with an engine operable to cause movement of the vehicle, the stop-start mechanism programmed to shut off the engine at a beginning of a nonoperational period and restart the engine at an end of the nonoperational period. The system also includes a vibration device triggered to cause at least one vehicle component to vibrate when the stop-start mechanism shuts off the engine at the beginning of the nonoperational period, and triggered to cease causing the at least one vehicle component to vibrate when the stop-start mechanism restarts the engine at the end of the nonoperational period.

Abstract: A seat includes a seat bottom having an occupant support surface, a seatback connected to the seat bottom, the seatback having an occupant support side cooperating with the occupant support surface, and a rear side, and an energy absorbing feature including a rigid member connected to the rear side of the seatback. The rigid member is movable between a storage position adjacent the seatback, and a deployed position extending into a cargo space of a vehicle upon detection or occurrence of an impact event. In the deployed position, the rigid member is capable of interfacing with cargo, a cargo floor, or both, to reduce force imparted on and deflection of the seatback and deflect cargo from impacting the seatback.

Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seat base operably coupled with a seatback. A panel assembly includes a first panel coupled with the seatback and a second panel hingedly coupled with the first panel. The second panel includes a connector assembly having a housing and a support slidably coupled with the housing. The second panel is movable between a first position and a second position. The second panel is vertically aligned with the first panel in the first position and is substantially coplanar with the first panel in the second position.

Abstract: A seating arrangement for a vehicle is shown to include a plurality of seats, including at least two front seats, at least two rear seats, and a rear jump seat positioned intermediate the two rear seats. The jump seat comprises a seat back which is positioned rearwardly of the rear seats, and the rear seats are movable laterally between a first position where the rear seats are proximate to each other and generally covering the seat back of the jump seat, and a second position where the rear seats are spaced apart from each other and the seat back of the jump seat is exposed. The arrangement may also include rear seats which are rotatable relative to the seat backs to provide a storage surface.

Abstract: A vehicle seat hinge mechanism includes: a base portion that is fixed to a vehicle body; a movable portion that is fixed to a vehicle seat; a rotating shaft that is passed through the movable portion and the base portion and is welded to one of the movable portion and the base portion; a spiral spring that is passed through the rotating shaft and applies a rotational urging force to the movable portion; and a heat affected member that is passed through the rotating shaft and arranged with the spiral spring, wherein the rotating shaft is divided into a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion, and the first shaft portion includes an assembling portion that is capable of setting the heat affected member such that the heat affected member is passed from the one side.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle includes a seat cushion configured to move between a seat position at which an occupant to be seated in the seat cushion and a shelf position moved upward from the seat position substantially in parallel.

Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle comprises a lid for covering an opening of a container and a panel pivotally attached to the lid to enable the panel to pivot between a stowed orientation, in which the panel extends alongside the first face of the lid, and a first deployed orientation, in which the panel extends at a positive angle to the first face of the lid. The apparatus also includes a cushion member and a cushion attachment mechanism attaching the cushion member to the lid. The cushion attachment mechanism is arranged to enable the cushion member to move between a stowed position and a deployed position.

Abstract: An underseat container system can be positioned between a seat and a floor of a vehicle, and can include an open-topped receptacle or container. The receptacle can be secured to the vehicle seat via a cable lock system, the cable lock system including a cable and a cable lock mechanism. When the receptacle is placed under the vehicle seat, the cable can be threaded through an aperture in a wall of the receptacle, and around a support member in the seat. The cable lock mechanism can secure the threaded cable to itself, thus securing the receptacle to the vehicle seat. When the vehicle seat is configured to accept passengers for seating, the vehicle seat and the receptacle can form a storage compartment. The receptacle can include a plurality of nubs on its bottom surface, for providing traction to the underseat container when positioned underneath the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A vehicle seat hinge assembly includes a first pivoting member that defines a first axis and is coupled to a first bracket disposed on a vehicle floor. The hinge assembly also includes a second pivoting member that defines a second axis and is disposed on a seat. The first pivoting member is pivotable about the first axis between at least first and second positions. The second pivoting member is pivotable about the second axis between at least fixed and released positions.

Abstract: A front seat 31 is foldable such that a seat back 33 is frontwardly collapsed and placed on a seat cushion 32, a rear seat 39 is foldable such that a seat back 41 is frontwardly collapsed and placed on a seat cushion 40, and a trunk floor 53 extending from a front pillar 12 to a rear pillar 14 is formable by laying a trunk board 49 across a gap formed between a rear face of the seat back 33 of the front seat 31 and a rear face of the seat back 41 of the rear seat 39 with the front seat 31 and the rear seat 39 in a folded state.

Abstract: A seating assembly comprises an arcuate bracket mounted to a seatback assembly and having a first pivot point proximate a first end of the arcuate bracket, a forward mount operably coupled within a curved slot formed in the arcuate bracket, a rearward mount, and a control link operably coupled with each of the first pivot point and the rearward mount. The seatback assembly pivots forwardly and translates rearwardly when rotated to a forward folded stowed position.

Abstract: In various embodiments, seating systems and provided for vehicles that include an occupant seat, a cargo device, and a flipper panel. The flipper panel is disposed between the occupant seat and the cargo device. The flipper panel includes a flat spring and a housing. The housing is configured to be disposed between the occupant seat and the cargo device, and includes a plurality of walls configured to hold the flat spring in place against the housing when the flipper panel is installed in the seating system for the vehicle.

Abstract: A seat, including a seat bottom for which a seat frame is supported by a base, and a seat back, the seat including a “seated” position, a “lying” position and an intermediate “resting” position. A seat plate can be moved in rotation around a rear axis located at the side of a rear edge of the seat, the seat plate being movable in rotation around a tilting axis in front of the rear axis, the seat frame is moved forward during conversion from the “seated” position to the “lying” position. An essentially horizontal rear segment. An intermediate rear segment with a downward slope greater than the slope followed by the tilting axis. An intermediate front segment with an essentially horizontal upward slope.

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.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly for a vehicle having a cargo area bounded by a floor and at least one wall is provided along with a method of operation. The vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat back, a seat base, and a linkage assembly. The seat back of the vehicle seat assembly mounts to the wall and the linkage assembly mounts to the floor. The seat bottom is mounted to the linkage assembly and is moveable between stowed and deployed positions. When the seat bottom is in the deployed position, the seat bottom defines a deployed seat bottom plane. When the seat bottom is in the stowed position, the seat bottom is positioned below the deployed seat bottom plane. The seat bottom is separate from the seat back and is spaced apart from the seat back when the seat bottom is in the stowed position.

Abstract: A gap hiding structure for a vehicle luggage floor including: a gap hiding board hinged to the vehicle luggage floor and configured to cover a gap between the luggage floor and a seat; a rear tilt down mechanism configured to cause the entire seat to be sunk from a use position to an underfloor storage position with a forward tilting of a seat back; a first support surface portion configured to support the gap hiding board to be substantially flush with the luggage floor in the use position; and a second support surface portion configured to support the gap hiding board to be substantially flush with the luggage floor in the underfloor storage position; and a lifting mechanism configured to push up the gap hiding board avoiding interference with the second support surface portion by lifting the first support surface portion according to a rearward movement of the seat.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for a folding vehicle seat includes upper and lower arms pivotally coupled to one another between open and closed positions. The lower arm is fixedly coupled to a support surface, such as a vehicle body, and the upper arm is fixedly coupled to a lower surface of a seat pan. A retaining bar is disposed on the lower arm and outwardly extends therefrom. An outwardly opening clip member is disposed on the upper arm. The clip member releasably receives the retaining bar of the lower arm when the upper and lower arms are in the closed position to retain the vehicle seat in a folded down use position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion; a seatback configured to be tiltable in a front-rear direction; a deck board positioned behind the seatback; a covering having flexibility and provided to extend from the seatback to the deck board; and an object drop preventing material that covers, from a back side, a gap between the seatback and the seat cushion. The object drop preventing material is provided to extend from the seat cushion to an intermediate part of the covering in a length direction of the extending covering such that the object drop preventing material restricts an amount of upward bending of the covering.

Abstract: A vehicle including a storage compartment associated with the load floor, a stowable seat having a seat structure and configured to move between a deployed position and a stowed position where the stowable seat is stowed within the storage compartment, and a load floor access panel assembly. The load floor access panel assembly is movable between an open position providing access to the storage compartment, and a closed position where the load floor access panel assembly is in a substantially flat load floor configuration covering the storage compartment. The rearward panel includes a channel formed therein configured to receive the seat structure, and a seat structure access panel pivotally coupled to the rearward panel and configured to move between a load floor position where the seat structure access panel covers the channel, and an access position where the seat structure access panel is pivoted away from the channel.

Abstract: An auxiliary seating system for a light weight utility vehicle that comprises a seat support cage attachable to a rear portion of the vehicle, and a pair of seat assemblies mounted to the cage structure such that each seat assembly is oriented to be facing at least partially inward toward a longitudinal center line of the vehicle. Each seat assembly comprises a seat bottom that is pivotal between a down position and an up position. Each seat assembly can include a golf bag yoke disposed on an underside of the seat bottom, and a seat belt that retains a passenger within the seat assembly when the seat bottom is in the down position, and retains a golf bag within the respective golf bag yoke when the seat bottom is in the up position.

Abstract: A conversion seat for a marine vessel that converts from a lean post configuration to a seat configuration. In a stowed position, the seat is stored vertically exposing a cushion that can be used as a lean post. When a positive lock is released the seat is able to rotate, in some embodiments with an assist from a gas strut, two-hundred and seventy (270) degrees until the seat lands on a horizontal surface. When released, a backrest opens to a desired angle providing a comfortable seat or sun pad. To stow the seat for use as a lean post, the backrest is folded back down and then the seat is able to rotate back through the two-hundred and seventy (270) degrees to its vertical stowed position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat: wherein a reinforcing member includes, a first section attached to a back surface of a seat back so as to face the back surface of the seat back when the seat back is in a standing state and configured to follow the seat back when the seat back is tilted from the standing state, a second section disposed so as to face a back surface of a seat cushion when the seat back is in the standing state, and a connection portion connecting the first section and the second section, and wherein the connection portion is configured to allow the first section to bend with respect to the second section in a rearward direction of the seat, and restrict the first section to bend with respect to the second section in a forward direction of the seat.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a seat that comprises a seat bottom, a seat back, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The seat back is pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first biasing member is coupled to each of the seat back and the bed frame. The second biasing member is coupled to each of the seat back and the bed frame.

Abstract: The vehicle seat cover assembly covers a portion of a vehicle seat back. The vehicle seat cover assembly comprises a base member including a first portion and a second portion. The base member includes at least one connecting component to permit interlocking engagement therewith, a covering configured to be connected to the base member to cover a portion of the base member, and, a fastening member including at least one fastening component configure to attach the covering to the base member. The covering is positioned intermediate to the fastening member and the base member such that the fastening component of the fastening member engages the connecting component of the base member thereby attaching the covering to the base member.

Abstract: A passenger support apparatus includes a vehicle seat equipped with an easy-entry unit configured to provide easier passenger ingress and egress to an area behind the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat includes a seat bottom with front and rear portions and a seat back extending from the seat bottom. The easy-entry unit includes the seat back and the rear portion of the seat bottom and pivots about a pivot axis between an occupant use position and an access position. A cover assembly is coupled to the vehicle seat and expands and retracts between a stored configuration and a deployed configuration to limit access to an underside of the seat bottom whether the easy-entry unit is in the occupant use position, the access position, or an intermediate position. The vehicle seat can also be configured to slide along a seat support frame between forward and rearward positions.

Abstract: A rotary joint for a vehicle seat is movable between at least two positions. The rotary joint includes an outer bearing comprising two shell halves, which, when forced together by a mechanical fastener, compress a rounded space between the two shell halves. The rotary joint further includes an inner bearing held between the two shell halves and rotatable relative to the outer bearing via rotation within the shell halves. The inner bearing includes a sleeve forming the outer surface and having an elastic property to reduce non-rotational movement outer bearing and the inner bearing.

Abstract: A vehicle load floor assembly includes a vehicle seat that has a seatback that pivots between upright and stowed positions. A cargo floor extends rearward from the seat. A first panel pivotally couples with an upper portion of the seatback and pivots to a raised position away from the seatback in a forward stowed position. A second panel pivotally couples with the first panel and is pivotally deployable rearward to define a support surface together with the first panel that engages the cargo floor.

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.

Abstract: A vehicle load floor includes a seatback pivotal to a stowed position. A cargo floor is rearward the seatback. A foldable panel assembly is movable between stored and deployed positions. The foldable panel assembly includes a first panel pivotally coupled with the seatback and a second panel coupled with the first panel. A hinge coupled between bottom surfaces of the first and second panels. The deployed position includes the seatback in the stowed position and top surfaces of the first and second panels defining a planar support surface spanning to the cargo floor.

Abstract: A latching system that may be associated with a seat. The latching system may include a latch arm configured to engage a striker and a biasing member having a first portion. The latch arm moves from an unlatched position to a latched position when the first portion disengages the latch arm.

Abstract: A storage structure of an off-road vehicle includes a front row seat, a back row seat capable of switching between a usage position where a passenger sits, and a stowed position, a back row floor where a passenger seated in the back row seat places his feet when the back row seat is in the usage position or forms a portion of the storage structure, creating a storage space when the back row seat is in the stowed position, and rear doors. In the stowed position, the back row seat covers an upper part of the upper space of the back row floor, and the rear doors cover a side part of the upper space of the back row floor forming a rear storage section and the back row seat concurrently provide a load-carrying platform.

Abstract: A vehicle load floor assembly includes a vehicle seat that has a seatback that pivots between upright and stowed positions. A cargo floor extends rearward from the seat. A first panel pivotally couples with a rear portion of the seatback and pivots to a raised position away from the seatback in the stowed position. A second panel couples with the first panel and is deployable rearward to engage the cargo floor with the first panel in the raised position to define a support surface.

Abstract: An MUV having a utility bed including a bed floor having at least one panel. The bed floor panel is convertible between a planar storage surface and at least one passenger seat back by displacement of a lever. The bed floor being devoid of a latch handle.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A rotational damper 10 comprising: a casing 13 provided therein with a partition wall portion 12 provided with a flow path 11; a rotation body 16 rotatably disposed within the casing and provided with a pair of rotary vanes 14, 15 for partitioning the inside of the casing into two chambers R1, R2, in corporation with the casing; a viscous fluid L contained within the casing; lip seals 17 mounted to the pair of rotary vanes in such a manner that, only when the rotation body rotates and moves in one direction, the lip seals 17 expand in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction to prevent the viscous fluid from flowing between the two chambers; and a lid body 18 for closing the opening of the casing.

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.

Abstract: A fold and tumble seat assembly includes a seat cushion having an underside that forms a floor surface when the seat cushion is rotated to a stowed position, and a seat flap attached to the underside of the seat cushion for bridging a gap formed between the seat cushion and an adjacent vehicle floor surface when the seat cushion is in the stowed position. The flap includes a protruding tip adjacent a distal end thereof for facilitating sliding movement of the distal end along the adjacent vehicle floor surface when the seat cushion is rotated.

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.

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.

Abstract: A detachable, foldable seat specially designed to attach to the tailgate of a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle. The device comprises a bench seat, having a bottom seat cushion and a back support cushion attached to a hinge mechanism with a tailgate jamb post. The seat can fold in half at the hinge between the bottom and back support cushion of the device. During installation, the jamb post of the hinge inserts into the jamb between the open tailgate and the truck bed, securing the seat in position. A dual purpose strap attaches to either side of the bottom cushion such that the strap wraps around the open tailgate and further secures the seat in place. When the device is uninstalled and in a closed configuration, the strap serves as a fastening strap to keep the device in a stowed position.

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.

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.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a utility vehicle that includes a cargo bed area, an adjustable seat assembly, a tailgate, and a latch. The adjustable seat assembly includes a seat portion and a backrest assembly. The adjustable seat assembly is selectively movable between seating and expanded cargo bed configurations. The seat portion is pivotally movable between the cargo bed area and a stowed position below the cargo bed area. The backrest assembly is pivotally movable from the cargo bed area to a stowed position adjacent the cargo bed area. The tailgate is pivotally attached to the backrest assembly. The latch on the tailgate is configured to selectively engage cargo bed area to hold the backrest assembly in the seating configuration and engage at least one coupling at the end of at least one of the cargo bed area at the rear bed opening.

Abstract: A pick-up style utility vehicle having a front seat and a rear seat. The pick-up style utility vehicle includes a cargo bed movement mechanism for supporting a cargo bed movably within a predetermined movement range in a back and forth direction. Also, a seat movement mechanism is provided for supporting the rear seat movably between a use position set to be within the movement range and a shunting position set to be out of or beyond the movement range.

Abstract: A utility bed includes a bed frame, a bed floor, a sidewall, and a locking mechanism. The bed floor is pivotally coupled with the bed frame and is pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position. The sidewall comprises a door portion and a wall portion. The door portion is pivotally coupled with the bed floor and pivotable between a closed position and an opened position. The locking mechanism is associated with the sidewall. The locking mechanism is configured to retain the bed floor in the upright position with the door portion of the sidewall in the opened position. Vehicles including a utility bed are also provided.