Seat-forming Body Parts Patents (Class 296/66)
  • Patent number: 8235446
    Abstract: A folding vehicle seat is adapted to be stored on a first portion of a vehicle body floor and retained on the first portion by a retaining belt arrangement which includes a belt attached at its lower end to a vertical wall extending upward from the floor and a hook attached to an upper end of the belt. The upper end is inserted through a ring attached to the wall. The seat includes a seat cushion pivotally supported on a second portion of the floor and a seat back pivotally supported by the cushion, the cushion and back being adapted to be put together as a single body which is adapted to be pivoted from the second portion toward the first portion and has an engagement mechanism with which the hook is adapted to be engaged at the time when the body is stored on the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: TS TECH Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Aoki
  • Patent number: 8235445
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with on-demand seating to allow maximum cargo space in the passenger compartment when the seats are not needed. The seating is lightweight and compact, maximizing available cargo space and minimizing mass and fuel economy impact. The flexible seat may be stowed within body structure defining the passenger compartment, such as side trim panels or a vehicle floor. The body structure supports the flexible seat in a deployed position in which the flexible seat extends from the body structure into the passenger compartment. Roller mechanisms mounted within the body structure allow the seat to extend and retract from the passenger compartment. The seats may be inflatable, and may include pneumatic foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jones, Therese A. Tant, James T. Embach, Kurt D. Zeile, Michael J. Richardson
  • Patent number: 8196989
    Abstract: To provide a seat cowl structure of a saddle-riding type vehicle that can reduce weight of a seat cowl support structure, while achieving stiffness to support an occupant load. The seat cowl structure includes a pair of left and right seat rails and a stiffness portion. The pair of left and right seat rails extends rearwardly from a vehicle body frame and is disposed inside a seat cowl. The stiffness portion connects between seat cowl fastening portions of the left and right seat rails in a vehicle width direction and is disposed inside an upper surface portion and side surface portions of the seat cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Kurayoshi, Masashi Hagimoto, Sumio Suzaki
  • Patent number: 8177279
    Abstract: To be able to store a seat back and a seat cushion in line from front to back and be able to widely ensure space above a storage position of the seat cushion. In a rear seat (10), when a seat back (18) is rotated to a forwardly collapsed position in a state where a seat cushion (16) has been moved to a storage position, the seat back (18) and the seat cushion (16) are stored in parallel from front to back. Consequently, the seat back (18) and the seat cushion (16) can be thinly stored in an up-down direction of a vehicle. Moreover, the storage position of the seat cushion (16) is set on a rear lower side of a use position, so space above the storage position can be widely ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshinao Wada, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Sadao Ito, Yukifumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8096600
    Abstract: A pick-up style utility vehicle has a driver's seat, a seat next to the driver's seat, one or more passenger seats behind the driver's seat, and a cargo bed. Each of all the passenger seats and the seat next to the driver's seat is independently changeable between a first state in which the seat is seatable and a second state in which the seat is retracted so that an occupied space of the seat can be used as part of the cargo bed. Preferably, a screen shield partitioning the cargo bed and a riding space in front of the cargo bed is provided. The screen shield is divided into left and right screen shield members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Shinnoki, Takao Kawabata, Eiji Ihara, Hidekazu Yasui, Shinichi Tamba, Masaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8075040
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicular frame, a utility bed, a seat back, and a seat bottom. The utility bed is coupled with the vehicular frame. The utility bed comprises a bed frame, a bed floor, and an end wall. The bed floor comprises first and second floor portions. The first floor portion is pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position. The second floor portion is coupled with the frame. The end wall is movably coupled with the bed frame and is moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position. The seat back is coupled with first floor portion. The seat bottom is coupled with the end wall. When the first floor portion is in the upright position with the end wall in the collapsed position, the seat back and the seat bottom cooperate to provide a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: David W. Arnold
  • Publication number: 20110248523
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure and a rear vehicular seat assembly that includes a seat back and a cover panel. The seat back is movably coupled with the body structure and is movable between upright and cargo support positions. The cover panel is associated with the seat back and includes a flap, a base portion, and a perforated living hinge. The base portion is fixedly coupled with the body structure. The perforated living hinge includes a plurality of arms. Each arm of the plurality of arms extends between the flap and the base portion to facilitate pivoting of the flap with respect to the base portion about a hinge axis between stowed and bridging positions. The plurality of arms are spaced from each other and cooperate to at least partially define a plurality of perforations. At least one of the perforations is intersected by the hinge axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Paul T. Aebker, Donald W. Jackson, Hiroaki Taniguchi, Travis Newberg
  • Patent number: 8016337
    Abstract: A pick-up style utility vehicle according to the present invention has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from front. The cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded forward to a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The rear seat forms side panels of the expandable portions of the cargo bed in the expanded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Itou, Hideyuki Kato, Kenji Oda, Kousei Hokari, Hirokazu Morita
  • Patent number: 8002331
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a folding seat assembly, and a utility bed. The utility bed is attached to the frame and is moveable with respect to the frame between a hauling position and a dumping position. The folding seat assembly is moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position. The utility bed comprises a bed floor and a cargo lid. The bed floor includes a first cargo supporting surface and defines an aperture. The cargo lid is movable between a closed position and an opened position. In the closed position, the cargo lid at least substantially covers the aperture. In the opened position, the cargo lid facilitates selective passage of at least a portion of the folding seat assembly into the aperture when both the utility bed is in the hauling position and the folding seat assembly is in the erected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Lee N. Bowers
  • Publication number: 20110198879
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Jonathan Melven Kemp, P. Enoch Stiff
  • Publication number: 20110156434
    Abstract: A pick-up style utility vehicle according to the present invention has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from front. The cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded forward to a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The rear seat forms side panels of the expandable portions of the cargo bed in the expanded state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: KOUJI ITOU, HIDEYUKI KATO, KENJI ODA, KOUSEI HOKARI, HIROKAZU MORITA
  • Publication number: 20110095571
    Abstract: A cargo management system includes a vehicle floor pan, a passenger seat having a seat back and a seat cushion, and an adjustable load floor. The passenger seat is disposed on the vehicle floor pan. The passenger seat has a seatback that is pivotally mounted to the seat cushion. The adjustable load floor is disposed above the vehicle floor pan. The adjustable load floor has a rear end and a front end wherein the front end is operatively configured to engage with the base of the seatback. The adjustable load floor being is operatively configured to move between a first position and a second position as the seat back moves between the upright position and the collapsed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Karin Lovett
  • Publication number: 20110031775
    Abstract: A fold flat seat and more specifically a cable control system for engaging and disengaging various actuators and latches to allow a vehicle seat to move between an upright position and various stowed or folded positions, as well as a method for stowing a vehicle seat with a single motion by the operator of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Michael B. Clor, Dan Neaga, Aleksandar Malusev, M. Omer Dagcioglu
  • Patent number: 7874606
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a pair of left and right front wheels and at least a pair of left and right rear wheels that are supported on the vehicle frame, a front seat that is provided to the rear of the front wheels, and a rear seat that is provided to the rear of the front seat and including an in-use position, a transition position, and a non-use position. A cargo bed, disposed to the rear of the front seat includes a bottom wall portion whereon the seat cushion portion of the rear seat is provided movably; a left side wall portion and a right side wall portion that are provided on the left and right side portions of the bottom wall portion, wherein the left side wall portion and the right side wall portion extend forward to the rear seat in its non-use position; and a rear wall portion that is provided at the rear end portion of the bottom wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamura, Craig Smith
  • Publication number: 20100283301
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is movable between a first position to a second position and includes a seat back, seat cushion for coupling to a track adjuster for use in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a recliner mechanism coupled to the seat back and the seat cushion. The vehicle seat further includes a stow mechanism coupled to the recliner mechanism and an easy entry mechanism coupled to the recliner mechanism and stow mechanism, wherein, when the stow mechanism is actuated, the easy entry mechanism is not actuated and when the easy entry mechanism is actuated, the stow mechanism is not actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Tamizharasan Shanmugam, Kurt Siebold, Paul Arthur Gilmore, David D. Sheill, Bruce A. Hiemstra
  • Publication number: 20100270823
    Abstract: A lock apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a protruding portion formed at the side of a seat cushion so as to protrude therefrom, the seat cushion being movable between a usable position and a retracted position, a guide wall member having a guide groove with which the protruding portion is engaged, a latch formed with an opening portion within which the protruding portion is engagable, a sliding member a sliding surface, a latch biasing member, a pawl, a cam surface formed at the pawl for rotating the latch so as to sandwich the protruding portion, a pawl biasing member, a releasing lever and a releasing member formed so as to protrude from the releasing lever in order to rotate the pawl by pressing a releasing portion in a direction against the biasing force applied to the pawl by the pawl biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya IWASA, Hiroaki Hayahara
  • Publication number: 20100225082
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is disclosed that may be used in multiple modes of use, such as a low speed transport vehicle or a golf cart. The vehicle has a rear passenger seat area which can be converted into a golf bag carrying mechanism. The vehicle also has a foot pedestal for use when operating with rear passengers, and which may fold up when not in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Krosschell, Mark W. Chevalier, Bryan K. Johnson, Brian T. Utter, Gregory C. Brew, Ryan J. Andreae, Adam J. Schlangen
  • Publication number: 20100207420
    Abstract: There is provided a stowable vehicle seat that can be stowed and restored with improved operability. The stowable vehicle seat has a seat support part for supporting a seat cushion so that the seat cushion is rotatable in the front and rear direction, a seat back having a reclining mechanism that folds over the seat cushion, a stowage recess provided on the vehicle body floor side, a front leg provided on the front side of the seat cushion, a leg locking element that engages and disengages the front leg with and from the vehicle body floor side, a link mechanism connected to the reclining mechanism and the leg locking element, and a strap that operates the reclining mechanism and the leg locking element via the link mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Publication number: 20100207422
    Abstract: There is provided a stowable vehicle seat having improved operability. This seat includes a seat support part for rotatably supporting one end part side of a seat cushion, and a seat back that is foldable over the seat cushion via a reclining mechanism. The reclining mechanism includes a spiral spring for urging the seat back to fold the back to the seat cushion side with a predetermined angle with respect to the seat cushion, a first locking part disposed in a raised state on the cushion side of a connecting part between the cushion and the seat back to lock one end part side of the spiral spring, and a second locking part disposed in a raised state on the seat back side of the connecting part between the cushion and the back to lock the other end part side of the spiral spring to the seat back side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Publication number: 20100207421
    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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Publication number: 20100194135
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with on-demand seating to allow maximum cargo space in the passenger compartment when the seats are not needed. The seating is lightweight and compact, maximizing available cargo space and minimizing mass and fuel economy impact. The flexible seat may be stowed within body structure defining the passenger compartment, such as side trim panels or a vehicle floor. The body structure supports the flexible seat in a deployed position in which the flexible seat extends from the body structure into the passenger compartment. Roller mechanisms mounted within the body structure allow the seat to extend and retract from the passenger compartment. The seats may be inflatable, and may include pneumatic foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jones, Therese A. Tant, James T. Embach, Kurt D. Zeile, Michael J. Richardson
  • Patent number: 7686367
    Abstract: A seat storage assembly is provided for an automotive vehicle having a floor, a roof, and a rear liftgate extending between the floor and the roof. A pair of spaced apart and parallel tracks is disposed along the floor and extends between fore and aft ends. A recess is formed in the floor rearward of the aft ends of the tracks. A second row seat is slidably engaged and pivotally coupled to the tracks for moving between forward and rearward seating positions, and a stowed position within the recess. A third row swing seat is pivotally coupled to the roof for moving between a seating position and a raised stowed position. Moving the third row swing seat into the raised stowed position enables the second row seat to move between the forward and rearward seating positions, and the stowed position within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Colin G. Neale
  • Publication number: 20100060026
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a folding seat assembly, and a utility bed. The utility bed is attached to the frame and is moveable with respect to the frame between a hauling position and a dumping position. The folding seat assembly is moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position. The utility bed comprises a bed floor and a cargo lid. The bed floor includes a first cargo supporting surface and defines an aperture. The cargo lid is movable between a closed position and an opened position. In the closed position, the cargo lid at least substantially covers the aperture. In the opened position, the cargo lid facilitates selective passage of at least a portion of the folding seat assembly into the aperture when both the utility bed is in the hauling position and the folding seat assembly is in the erected position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Lee N. Bowers
  • Publication number: 20100019526
    Abstract: To be able to store a seat back and a seat cushion in line from front to back and be able to widely ensure space above a storage position of the seat cushion. In a rear seat (10), when a seat back (18) is rotated to a forwardly collapsed position in a state where a seat cushion (16) has been moved to a storage position, the seat back (18) and the seat cushion (16) are stored in parallel from front to back. Consequently, the seat back (18) and the seat cushion (16) can be thinly stored in an up-down direction of a vehicle. Moreover, the storage position of the seat cushion (16) is set on a rear lower side of a use position, so space above the storage position can be widely ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshinao Wada, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Sadao Ito, Yukifumi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100007167
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is taught that preferably include a seat cushion (10), a seat back (20) rotatably connected to the seat cushion via a reclining mechanism (30), front (40) and rear (46) legs removably connecting the seat cushion to a vehicle floor (66), a retracting link (50), an operating member capable of removing the front and rear legs from the floor, and a coupling link (54). The seat back can be rotated forwardly by unlocking the reclining mechanism, so as to be superimposed on the seat cushion. When the front and rear legs are removed from the floor, the seat can be moved from a use condition to a retracted condition depending on the motion of the retracting link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicants: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Yoshihiro Ooishi, Tomohiro Muramatsu, Osamu Fujimoto, Robert Day
  • Publication number: 20090243357
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle includes: a seat cushion frame, adapted to be mounted to a vehicle floor side to rotate around a front end portion relative to a vehicle floor and selectively operated to be in a raised state or in a used state relative to the vehicle floor; a seat back frame, adapted to be coupled at the vehicle floor side to rotate relative to the vehicle floor and operated to be in a stored state; a locking mechanism, provided between the seat cushion frame being in a used state and the vehicle floor and operated to lock the seat cushion frame; and an operating lever, rotatably provided at one side of the seat cushion frame and made from a rigid body unlocking the locking mechanism and rotating the seat cushion frame in a direction in which the seat cushion frame is raised in a single.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatoshi MORI, Kouji Miyake
  • Publication number: 20090218844
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention can include a vehicular seat having a first member, a cooperatively moving apparatus configured to release a lock apparatus from being locked in cooperation with a movement of the first member, and a second member configured to be adjusted when the lock apparatus is released. Further, the cooperatively moving apparatus includes a main cooperatively moving member connected to the first member and capable of cooperative movement with the first member, and a sub cooperatively moving member connected to the lock apparatus and capable of being moved by receiving a force from the main cooperatively moving member. Also, a hold mechanism is provided between the main cooperatively moving member and the sub cooperatively moving member, the hold mechanism is capable of holding the lock apparatus in a lock release state by holding a portion of the sub cooperatively moving member by a predetermined amount while operating the main cooperatively moving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Publication number: 20090206626
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle such as a snowmobile, personal watercraft, or all-terrain vehicle has a removable straddle-type seat that includes a base having a flexible portion that includes an aperture. The base is used in conjunction with a fuel tank or vehicle frame having a protrusion protruding therefrom. The flexible portion is flexed to allow the aperture therein to pass over the protrusion on the fuel tank or vehicle frame such that removal of the seat is quick, easy and requires no tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Yvon Bedard
  • Publication number: 20090079247
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle seat (2) comprising a seat part (6) which may be moved by means of a seat part mechanism (20) from an operating position into a non-operating position, a backrest (4) which may be swiveled by means of a backrest mechanism (8) about a swivel pin (10) in the direction of the seat part (6), and a coupling element (44) for coupling the movement of the backrest (4) to the movement of the seat part (6), the coupling element (44) cooperating with the backrest mechanism (8) and the seat part mechanism (20) such that the coupling element (44) exerts a tensile force on the seat part mechanism (20), in order to move the seat part (6) from the operating position into the non-operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ventura, Bernd Winkelhake
  • Patent number: 7503613
    Abstract: A power retracting assembly includes an actuator, an output shaft operatively coupled to the actuator, and an outer plate rotatably coupled to the output shaft about an upper axis. A rigid link fixed to the output shaft pivots about a primary lower axis. Rotation of the outer plate by the output shaft in a first direction causes pivotal movement of the link about the primary lower axis in a second direction, thereby rotating the outer plate and the output shaft about the primary lower axis in the second direction. A bracket pivots about a secondary lower axis. A fastener extends from the outer plate through the bracket. As the outer plate rotates about the primary lower axis, the fastener also rotates, pulling the bracket about the secondary lower axis. A stop extending from the bracket travels along an anchor between a seating end and a stowed end for defining movement of the link and the seat assembly between the seating and stowed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Carl J. Holdampf
  • Publication number: 20090015030
    Abstract: A covering is provided for a gap behind at least one rear seatback in a motor vehicle, which gap is provided in the transverse direction of the vehicle between the rear seatback and a luggage compartment covering. The covering has at least one covering flap which is held in position on a housing of the luggage compartment covering, is mounted pivotably about a hinge and, in a use position, bears under prestress against the rear seatback. An integrated receptacle for the hinge of the covering flap is provided on an upper and, as seen in the direction of travel, front region of the housing of the luggage compartment covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Peter Hofmann
  • Patent number: 7469952
    Abstract: A seat stowage system for a vehicle having a spare tire tub comprises a seat assembly including a seatback cushion having an occupiable surface and an opposing cargo load surface and a base cushion having an occupiable surface and an underside surface. A translational joint assembly operatively connects the seatback cushion and the base cushion. The translational joint assembly allows the seat assembly to transition between an occupiable and a stowed position while utilizing the foot well and not interfering with or obstructing the spare tire tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Luttinen, Anthony A. Bane
  • Publication number: 20080303305
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor and an adjustment mechanism providing generally horizontal movement of the seat assembly relative to the floor and substantially vertical movement of the seat assembly through an opening in the floor between a use position extending above the floor and a stowed position disposed in a storage space beneath the floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Robert C. Day
  • Patent number: 7452019
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor and an adjustment mechanism providing generally horizontal movement of the seat assembly relative to the floor and substantially vertical movement of the seat assembly through an opening in the floor between a use position extending above the floor and a stowed position disposed in a storage space beneath the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Christopher Day
  • Patent number: 7416238
    Abstract: A convertible cargo bed assembly for a utility vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a single piece molded main body having a pair of integrally formed hip restraints that each include a passenger hand hold integrally formed within the respective hip restraint. The assembly additionally includes a molded pivoting panel that has a cargo deck side and a seat side. The cargo deck side functions as a portion of a cargo deck when the pivoting panel is in a deployed position. The seat side has at least one full-sized seat cushion coupled thereto. That is the full-sized seat cushion is approximately the same size as the forward facing driver's and passenger's seats. Therefore, when the pivoting panel is transitioned from the deployed position to a stowed position, wherein the convertible cargo bed provides a full-sized rear facing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W. Houston
  • Patent number: 7396063
    Abstract: A rear seat assembly is for use in an automotive vehicle having a package shelf includes a generally horizontal seat cushion, a seat back and a flap. The seat cushion is fixedly secured to the vehicle. The seat back is pivotally coupled to the vehicle for movement between a plurality of seating positions relative to the seat cushion. The seat back has a rear surface spaced apart from the package shelf to define a gap therebetween. The flap is fixedly secured to the rear surface of the seat back. The flap has a front wall adapted to be fixedly secured to the rear surface of the seat back. The front wall has an upper edge. An upper wall extends outwardly from the upper edge of the front wall for substantially concealing the gap while the seat back is in any one of the seating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aamir Warsi, Robert Joseph Hazlewood
  • Publication number: 20080129072
    Abstract: Layout for an automobile vehicle seat retractable into a stowage well (41) made in the floor (4) of the said vehicle, the seat including a backrest (2) foldable onto the seat pan (1) and the seat pan being movable on the floor by pivoting towards the rear between a current utilization position and a retracted position in which the seat pan is located in the well more or less horizontal, the bottom of the seat facing upwards and the backrest then being below the seat pan in the bottom of the well. The seat pan (1) is supported by a seat pan support (3) which is hinged on the floor (4) to allow the said pivoting to the seat pan, and the backrest (2) is connected to the floor of the vehicle by a first rod (6) hinged on the backrest and on the floor respectively so that the pivoting of the seat pan towards the rear is accompanied by the pivoting of the backrest towards the seat pan and the pivoting of the seat pan towards the front is accompanied by the deployment of the backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: FAURECIA SIEGES D'AUTOMOBILE
    Inventor: David EPAUD
  • Patent number: 7341018
    Abstract: A boat having a deck section, e.g., a forward deck, having an opening in which a pivotable seat assembly is located. The pivotable seat assembly includes a seat that mounted on a frame and is arranged to be pivoted from a closed position, wherein the back of the seat forms a hatch closing the opening in the deck section, to an open position wherein plural passengers can be seated on the seat in the deck section. The frame pivotably supports the seat. A hydraulic actuating system under electrical control is provided arranged to pivot the seat between its closed and open positions and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Chris Craft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Greenberg, Kevin A. Tucker
  • Patent number: 7300088
    Abstract: A collapsible storage container is provided for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a floor and a seat assembly having a seat back frame pivotally coupled to a seat bottom frame. The seat assembly is capable of being pivoted between a deployed position where the seat bottom frame is substantially perpendicular to the seat back frame and a stowed position wherein the seat bottom frame is substantially parallel to the seat back frame. A collapsible storage container having an attachment mechanism is provided which is capable of being moved from a collapsed position to an operative position. The floor includes a receiving mechanism located beneath the seat bottom frame in its deployed position arranged to removably secure the container to the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Paolo L. Catenacci, Ghassan M. Dirani
  • Patent number: 7290822
    Abstract: An occupant seat is disclosed for a vehicle having a seat riser bracket and a floor with a footwell. The seat includes a seat bracket operatively connected to the vehicle floor and/or the seat riser bracket. A seat back is pivotally connected to the seat bracket, the seat back selectively rotatable between a seating configuration and a cargo configuration, the cargo configuration having the seat back substantially coplanar with the vehicle floor. A seat is cooperatively connected to the seat bracket and to the seat back, whereby when the seat back is rotated from the seating configuration to the cargo configuration, the seat is substantially simultaneously translated and rotated into a stowed configuration whereby the seat is at least partially within the footwell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Villeminey
  • Patent number: 7240950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat back, a seat proper connected to the seat back, a link mechanism for fastening the seat to the floor, and enabling the seat to move between a retracted position and a deployed position, the mechanism comprising at least a first connecting rod hinged to the floor and to the seat back, and the seat further comprising a guide mechanism comprising a guide fastened to the floor with the bottom portion of the seat back being guided therealong between the retracted position and the deployed position. In the seat, the rear portion of the seat proper is mounted to pivot relative to the bottom portion of the seat back, and the link mechanism further comprises a connection piece mounted to move relative to the floor and hinged to the front portion of the seat proper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges D'automobile
    Inventors: François Fourrey, Fabrice Lesbats, David Epaud, Sébastien Vankerckvoorde
  • Patent number: 7216916
    Abstract: A removable flipper panel system for a vehicle includes a rod housing mounted on a seat support member which is movable with respect to a load floor of the vehicle. A load bearing blow-molded hard panel hides the gap which is formed between seat and load floor when the seat moves. The system includes a rod and spring assembly mechanism having a configuration to sustain the panel in adjustable positions between a generally planar position and an upright position. The flipper panel attaches to the seat to provide movement for the panel in the planar position to hide the gap and space between the seat and the load floor and to maximize the cargo area. The attachment of the flipper panel to the seat has a locking feature permitting the flipper panel to be removed easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, ABC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Czerwinski, Seyed R. Hashemizad, James Axiotis, Mosen Sepasi
  • Patent number: 7201426
    Abstract: This invention relates to vehicle having a conveniently storable passenger seat. The seat is collapsible into an on-floor or stowed position. A user can stow the seat using only one hand. A release member is activated to permit the seat to move from an upright position to the collapsed position. A tub area which stows the seat is concealed by a floor covering member which has flippers that automatically retract upon activation of the release member. The seat is also capable of reclining. Moreover, the seat remains adjustable in the forward and rearward directions with respect to the vehicle cab. This type of arrangement is ideal for passenger vehicles with two or more rows of seating, like SUVs, vans, and minivans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Villeminey
  • Patent number: 7163251
    Abstract: A storage compartment for a motor vehicle having a partition has an annular vehicle frame set in the partition, a container set in the vehicle frame and having an open side, a cover fittable over the open side, and a mounting system for releasably securing the cover over the open side and permitting complete separation of the cover from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Sitzler, Jürgen Salewski
  • Patent number: 7159922
    Abstract: There is provide a cover member which is pivotally connected to a vehicle floor near a rear end of a seat cushion at its lower end and to a seat back at its upper end. The seat back is supported by the cover member so as to move forward and be located in its rising position in front of the seat cushion and behind a front seat located before the rear seat according to a forward rotation of the cover member via the lower end pivotal connection to the vehicle floor. The cover member covers substantially an upper face of the seat cushion and provide a substantially flat and horizontal face at the vehicle rear in cooperation with a floor of the load compartment when the seat back has moved forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hirochika Iyoda, Shinya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7066519
    Abstract: A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A Rhodes, Douglas J Quigley, Joseph L Salani, Carl Mather, John V Keane, David J Ewers
  • Patent number: 7044550
    Abstract: A rear seat having a backrest provided with a back board includes a first link member, a second link member, a sliding member, an elastic member, and a stopper. The back board is arranged to be automatically deployed by the elastic member in such a manner that the movement of the sliding member integrated with the back board is controlled in conjunction with a folding condition of the backrest. Accordingly, in the present invention the drawbacks such as falling or sticking of a luggage are effectively addressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seok Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7029063
    Abstract: A seat assembly (10) supports an occupant above a floor (7) having a load floor and a recess (6) extending therebelow. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion (12) extending between a seating surface (15) and a bottom surface (17). A riser mechanism (20) extends between the bottom surface (17) of the seat cushion and the floor (7) for allowing selective movement of the seat assembly between a seating position to support the occupant above the load floor and a stowed position disposed within the recess in the floor. A panel (70) is operatively coupled to the riser mechanism (20) for movement with the seat assembly between the seating position, wherein the panel (70) conceals the recess (6) in the floor, and said stowed position, wherein the panel is disposed within the recess to provide access thereto allowing the seat assembly to be stowed in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Carl J. Holdampf
  • Patent number: 7000968
    Abstract: A rear seat assembly movable between a use configuration and a stowed configuration within a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The rear seat assembly includes a seat cushion having a front portion and a rear portion, a seat back disposed adjacent to the rear portion of the seat cushion, and a translator coupled to the seat back. The translator moves the seat back between the use configuration and the stowed configuration in which the seat back is adjacent to a rear lift gate of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Welch, Ben Sung Chang, Colin G. Neale
  • Patent number: 6997500
    Abstract: A multifunctional third row seating assembly that is capable of moving between two seating positions, as well as moving between split passenger seating configurations and between seating and storage positions. In the storage position, the third row seating assembly forms a true flat floor in combination with a second row seating assembly. The third row seating assembly includes a seat cushion and a seat squab coupled to it and mounted to the vehicle such that the third row seating assembly can be pivoted in an elliptical movement between a forward and a rearward seating position. The third row seat cushion is also latched such that it can be released and flipped over from a front longitudinal axis to fit into a foot rest area of the vehicle. The third row squab can then be folded down to form a flat floor. The third row squab is also constructed in two sections, so that it is capable of forming a bench seat or a split seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Steele Horsford, Andrew Brian French, Robert Bostock