Seats Convertible To Other Devices Patents (Class 296/69)
  • Patent number: 11198378
    Abstract: A conventional passenger vehicle has a lower deck and an upper deck on both sides of its aisle to double its seating areas. Each deck has ceiling and seat heights about the same as that in sedans, and hence without substantially increasing the vehicle height. Both decks are divided into seating sections with partition walls, and in a seating section each deck contains only a row of power reclining seats. Each seat has a power footrest mounted separately on the partition wall in front of the seat for sitting comfort and forming a bed with the seat. The footrest can also be placed to higher elevations to use as a table for eating or working. The footrest is stored vertically to allow more leg room for the seat. In some section of the vehicle each seating section may mount two rows of sitting-only seats to increase the vehicle capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Ming C Kuo
  • Patent number: 10689120
    Abstract: A stowable reversible seat for a vehicle includes a first member pivotally coupled to a floor for supporting a seat base, a second member releasably secured to the floor for supporting the seat base, and a seat back pivotally coupled to the first member. Components of the seat pivot between a folded configuration for stowing and a deployed configuration for seating. The orientation of the seat may be reversed for switching between a forward-facing direction and an aft-facing direction. A method of configuring a seat into an aircraft includes adapting a cabinet area to receive and conceal the seat, configuring a rail to make the seat slidable out from the cabinet area into an aisle, attaching a pivotable seat base on the seat, and pivotally mounting a supporting leg underneath a portion of the seat to secure the pivotable seat base in a substantially horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Thang Chien Phi
  • Patent number: 10363843
    Abstract: For loading space extending from a carriage to a driving section in a multipurpose vehicle with a driving section and a carriage disposed to the rear of the driving section fitted with a driver seat and a passenger seat laterally: the passenger seat has a seat portion and a backrest portion forwardly rotatable about a fulcrum provided by each of a front lower portion and a lower portion; a front gate board disposed on a front end of a floor board constituting the carriage is configured such that a movable front gate board positioned rearward of the passenger seat is forwardly rotatable; and the seat portion and the backrest portion rotated forward, the movable front gate board rotatable and to place over the backrest portion for an extended loading space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kawakami, Masaaki Yamashita, Kiyoyuki Okuyama
  • Patent number: 10131252
    Abstract: A rear-seat assembly, comprising a backrest, a transverse pin for articulation of the backrest, and a pair of brackets fixed by welding to respective rear wheelhouses. Each bracket comprises a fixing plate and a central bracket body, which are constituted by two separate components of sheet metal having different thicknesses and fixed together by welding. The fixing plate has front and rear surfaces contacting an inner surface portion of the wheelhouse, and the central bracket body is substantially C-shaped with a central wall and two side walls, which are bent with respect to the central wall and have respective front edges welded to the fixing plate front surface. The central wall has an opening for insertion and blocking of one end of the transverse pin having an internal edge that is not bent, with a thickness equal to the thickness of the central bracket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FCA Italy S.p.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Cesarano, Gianfranco Del Nero
  • Patent number: 10040398
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a vehicle seatback support pivotally connected to the vehicle body, and wherein the seatback support includes an integrated storage cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James F. Pywell, Matthew P. Meyer, Kevin T. Joy
  • Patent number: 9694755
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a support and a seat cushion defining a recess. The seat cushion is disposed on the support. The seat assembly further includes a cushion insert removably disposed in the recess and a fastener assembly removably coupling the cushion insert to the support such that the cushion insert is removable from the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tushar Rajaram Gawade, Babu Govardhan V
  • Patent number: 9371021
    Abstract: A double-folding-type automotive seat including: a seat cushion having a forward end portion rotatably mounted on a floor of the automobile and an engagement piece provided to a rear end portion of the seat cushion, the engagement piece being normally disposed near to the floor of the automobile and displaceable with the seat cushion; a seat back having a lower end portion rotatably mounted on the floor of the automobile; and a headrest detachably mounted on a top portion of said seat back. In that seat, at a bottom surface of the headrest, there is provided a headrest attaching portion so configured to permit insertion therein of the aforesaid engagement piece of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Mabashi, Yoshiyuki Shimomura, Shigeya Fujino, Makoto Miyabata, Toshiki Igarashi
  • 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: 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: 8783754
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Vincent Peterson, Darin D. King
  • Patent number: 8528976
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Brandon Wimberley
  • Patent number: 8414056
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear deck lid and a rear vehicle seat having a seat portion and a back portion. The back portion of the rear vehicle seat is configured to slide between a first, seating position and a second, intermediate position, and is further configured to articulate between the second, intermediate position and a third, tonneau cover position. When in the third, tonneau cover position, the back portion of the rear vehicle seat is substantially aligned with the rear deck lid, and extends toward a front seat of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: David M. Aller
  • Patent number: 8322772
    Abstract: A convertible cargo rack has a platform attached to a rear seat back and pivots between a seating position and a cargo position. A side rail is linked to the platform and pivots together with the platform. The side rail provides a retaining structure above and around the perimeter of the platform in the cargo position, and is generally coplanar with the front, side and rear walls of the cargo box in the cargo position. Linkages between the platform and the side rail align the platform and the side rail so they are generally parallel to each other in any position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jon C. Gilbeck, Darren Deblack, Daniel J. Knight, Larry D. Swanson, Kenneth John Piber, Joseph Oliver, Gregory Alan Camenisch
  • Patent number: 8313133
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Darin D. King
  • Publication number: 20120205934
    Abstract: A seat mounted extendable litter system includes a structural frame assembly supporting at least one seat. The seat has a seat member and a seat back member rotatable with respect to the seat member defining a seat upright condition and a seat folded condition. A litter tray is slidably connected to the structural frame assembly and oriented substantially horizontal in the seat folded condition such that the litter tray is slidable between a litter tray extended condition and a litter tray stowed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: MILTON MANUFACTURING INC
    Inventors: William K. Fletcher, Jay W. Winborn
  • Patent number: 8196990
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul T. Aebker, Donald W. Jackson, Hiroaki Taniguchi, Travis Newberg
  • Patent number: 8167351
    Abstract: A seat/flatbed/drop-in-container assembly for a cart comprises a framework extending from and supported by the cart, including at least one support member, and defining a volume of space interiorly of the support member and a remaining portion of the framework. A seat is supported by the framework within the volume of space and adapted to extend to define a flatbed supported by the framework within the volume of space. A container is adapted to be dropped in the volume of space and supported upon the flatbed. To secure the container to the framework upon the flatbed, the support member extends through an aperture disposed completely through the container and/or is interferingly fitted between a body of the container and lip of a rim thereof. Alternatively, to secure the container upon the flatbed, the seat includes a seat back, and the container defines a flange that holds the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Donald J. Plowman
  • Patent number: 8123271
    Abstract: A foldable, thin plate seat frame that is permanently built-in to the tailgate of a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle. The device comprises a foldable bench seat, having a bottom seat plate and a back support plate. The device is built-in to a tailgate along its interior side and folds flush thereagainst, locking into place such that a user does not need to uninstall the device when in a stowed position. Cushions can be attached to the extended seat frame when the device is in a working position for added comfort. The seat frame folds about a hinge that separates the bottom seat plate and the back rest plate of the device. When the seat is in the open configuration, the seat frame hinge rests above the jamb of the open tailgate such as to not interfere with the tailgate's ability to open or close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: Brandon Wimberley
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7980628
    Abstract: A folding seat combination is configured for use with and installation on a vehicle such as a golf cart type recreational vehicle. The folding seat combination provides selective positioning of seat, footrest, and backrest components, respectively each between upright and downward positions thereof, to alternately accommodate easy transport of either of additional passengers or materials. With the seat and footrest features in their upright positions and the backrest in its upward position, optional golf bag securing straps may be used to secure golf bags in the cart, as so configured for the transportation of materials rather than passengers in such location. With the footrest in an upright position, relatively loose items stored in an otherwise relatively open storage area of the cart may be contained and prevented from bouncing out during operation the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: JH Global Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Hu, Robert Weist
  • Publication number: 20110163567
    Abstract: A seat/flatbed/drop-in-container assembly for a cart comprises a framework that extends from and is supported by the cart, includes at least one support member, and defines a volume of space interiorly of the support member and a remaining portion of the framework. A seat is supported by the framework within the volume of space and adapted to extend to define a flatbed supported by the framework within the volume of space. A container is adapted to be dropped-in the volume of space and supported upon the flatbed. The support member positively engages the container to secure the container to the framework upon the flatbed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Donald J. Plowman
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7854461
    Abstract: A slide/flip-up type automobile-seat is disclosed. The seat is provided with lock-release restricting mechanisms provided at lower rail members of a slide rail mechanism for keeping slide lock levers in unlockable states with respect to the lower rail members during flipping-up movement of an entire seat or in a state where the entire seat has been flipped up, and for keeping striker locks in states of being unallowable to be unlocked when the lock levers are in states of incompletely locked with respect to the lower rail members. Each of the lock-release mechanisms includes a restricting arm which includes an arm body, a rising-up piece rising up from one end portion of the arm body and having a height reaching a position under a rear end portion of corresponding one of the lock levers, and a retaining piece which is provided at a side edge of the arm body and to which a corresponding one of extension rods extending from the striker locks is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuro Yamada
  • Patent number: 7828358
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention includes a seat movable in a front-rear direction between an in-use position and a stored position. The seat is moved in the front-rear direction via a link. The link is coupled pivotally in the front-rear direction. One end of the link is coupled to a coupling member fixed to the seat. The other end of the link is coupled to a coupling member fixed to the floor. The link and the respective coupling members are coupled to each other using an axial member. The insertion hole is formed in a shape that inhibits the axial member from undergoing positional displacement in the front-rear direction within the insertion hole when the seat is at the in-use position and allows the axial member to undergo positional displacement in the front-rear direction within the insertion hole as the seat is moved from the in-use position to the stored position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 7735889
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle has a folding rear seat. The rear seat has a seating surface disposed between a pair of tire houses, a backrest disposed in a vehicle lateral direction at the rear of a front end portion of the seating surface, and a partition wall coupled with the backrest to define a front wall of the cargo deck. A lower end portion of the backrest supported to be rotatable forward with respect to the all-terrain vehicle about lower rotation axes arranged in the vehicle lateral direction. A partition wall is supported to be rotatable forward with respect to the all-terrain vehicle about upper rotation axes located above the lower rotation axes. The upper rotation axes are rotatably supported by the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamura, Kaoru Haruna
  • Patent number: 7735896
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle has a cargo deck provided above rear wheels and a folding rear seat disposed on a front portion of the cargo deck. A seating surface covers an opening portion of an article storage area when the seating surface is set to allow an occupant to be seated on the seating surface. A backrest is rotated forward about rear rotation axes to cover the opening portion when the seating surface is rotated forward about the front rotation axes, thereby covering the opening portion of the article storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20100117394
    Abstract: A fully contented floor module (10) is provided. The floor module includes a lower floor section (18) and a plurality of side walls (20) that define a cavity (28). An upper floor segment (24)? is connected to the side walls. A mounting flange (26) extends from the upper floor segment (24) and is adhesively secured to the vehicle load bearing structure (12). The lower floor section (18), side walls (20), upper floor segment (24) and mounting flange (26) are integrally formed. A pivotal floor section (32) is pivotally secured to the upper floor segment (24). A seat (30) may be stowed in the cavity (28). Dampers, heat shields and underbody shields may also be secured to the floor module. The floor module may also include ductwork (44) and wiring raceways (46).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samar R. Teli, Allan James, Blair S. Patty
  • Patent number: 7677655
    Abstract: A seat having a back portion and a bottom portion can be inverted to form a storage enclosure, wherein the back portion forms the top of the enclosure and the bottom portion forms a side of the enclosure. Movable end panels may also be provided to secure the ends of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: William Charles Marsh
  • Patent number: 7527315
    Abstract: A armrest portion moving forward away from seat backs for allowing an object to be placed thereon is provided at the central portion of the seat backs of a rear row seat, and a movable cushion provided at a central portion of seat cushions in the vehicle width direction. The movable cushion is operative to move upward and forward away from the seat cushions to the location near a front end of the armrest portion. Accordingly, a large-scaled console can be formed at the proper level with the armrest portion and the movable cushion, thereby improving convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazue Sumida, Minoru Toyota, Naomune Moriyama
  • Patent number: 7503280
    Abstract: An integrated pet environment for a mobile vehicle. The integrated pet environment will consist of two pet care units, one located behind the driver's seat and the other located behind the passenger's seat. The driver's seat unit will have storage for pet supplies, and will have a gate which the driver can easily reach with one hand while driving to close off his/her seat, preventing the dog from disturbing him/her while he/she is driving. The passenger's seat unit will have more storage plus a ramp for the dog. The passenger's seat itself will fold all the way down forward and will provide a seat for the dog, accessible from the back of the truck, which will not allow the dog to reach the driver. One of the two storage units will also have food and water dishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Lisa Troutman, David Musso, Melissa R. Appel, Edwin K. Chan, Elijah Dobrusin
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7441818
    Abstract: A removable vehicle component, such as a seat cowl, including a body configured to couple to a vehicle in a first position wherein the body covers a portion of a seat of the vehicle and in a second position, such as connected to the vehicle windshield, wherein the body does not cover the portion of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Gary C Gray, Brian R Koesters
  • Patent number: 7404505
    Abstract: An enclosed carrier for a folded wheelchair, mounted on the outside side of an automobile, behind and adjacent to the driver's door, so that a wheelchair user can shift himself from his wheelchair to the driver's seat, then fold and store his own wheelchair, thus maintaining an economical independence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: William Paul Walther
  • Patent number: 7396066
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a cargo bed pivoting panel assembly is provided. The assembly includes a panel having a pair of studs extending from corresponding opposing ends of the panel adjacent a bottom of the panel. The assembly additionally includes a main body having a first deck portion and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending substantially perpendicular from the first deck portion. Each sidewall includes an elongated receptacle for receiving, and slideably and pivotally retaining, a respective one of the studs. Accordingly, the panel can be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position by sliding the studs between first ends of the elongated receptacles and second ends of the elongated receptacles while simultaneously rotating the panel about a centerline of studs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W. Houston
  • Patent number: 7390046
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided having an adjustable seating assembly comprising one or more members. One member of the seating assembly can be adjusted to provide a backrest to a straddle type seat of the vehicle. As such, when a carrier bed having an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, the one member can optionally be used to provide a wall portion of the carrier bed. The one member can also be adjusted to provide an extension to the straddle type seat. As such, when an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, the one member can optionally be used to at least partially cover a segment of the accessory platform. When an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, an additional member of the seating assembly can be adjusted to provide a backrest to one or more of the straddle type seat or an extended straddle type seat. The additional member can also be adjusted to form a segment of the accessory platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Ostroski, Roy Sunsdahl, Scott Taylor
  • Patent number: 7384067
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new type of safety system that is designed to protect a vehicle occupant during a rollover crash. The safety system will generally include a vehicle seat and a sensor. The sensor is designed to sense the occurrence of a rollover crash. The safety system also includes a support member that has an undeployed mode and a deployed mode. The support member converts from the undeployed mode into the deployed mode when a signal is received from the sensor indicating a rollover. The support member will generally be housed within the vehicle seat when the support member is in the undeployed mode. The support member is also anchored to the floor pan of the vehicle. When the support member is deployed into the deployed mode, the support member is disposed in effective engagement with the vehicle roof to limit movement of the roof toward the vehicle seat during rollover conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent A. Parks, Heath Knight-Newbury, David Parkinson
  • Patent number: 7350850
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a bed that is configured to move between a sleeping configuration and a seating configuration. The bed is also configured to move vertically between a use position and a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Lippert Components, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Martin Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7341302
    Abstract: A seating arrangement (9) comprises at least seat (11) and a second seat (12) arranged side by side. At least part of a seat member (12a) of the second seat (12) is displaceable in an up-down direction relative to the seat member (11a) of the first seat (11), and at least part of the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) is displaceable in a forward-rearward direction relative the seat back (11b) of the first seat (11) so as to allow movement of at least one of the seats (11, 12) in a sideways direction toward the other. The seat member (12a) and the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) may be foldable, in particular to form at lateral restraint and/or an arm rest, when the first and second seats (11, 12) are moved toward each other. Alternatively, the seat member (12a) and the seat back (12b) of the second seat (12) may be displaceable to below the seat member (11a) and behind the seat back (11b) of the first seat (11) respectively, when the first and second seats (11, 12) are moved toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.
    Inventor: Sean A. R. Slade
  • Patent number: 7328930
    Abstract: The seat includes a backrest (2) installed so as to pivot on the seat pan (1) and arranged to be placed in a table position where the rear wall of the backrest is maintained in horizontal position, more or less parallel to a seat support frame (3) arranged to be attached to the floor (5) of the vehicle, the seat pan (1) being itself installed on the said frame in a tiltable manner, so that it can be positioned, with a sufficient tilt angle, the rear of the seat pan being raised, so that the backrest tilted on the seat pan can be placed in the said table position. The seat pan (1) is attached to the frame (3) by a set of links (6, 7) forming, with the frame and the seat pan, a deformable quadrilateral (ABCD) such that a pivoting of the links leads to the deformation of the said quadrilateral to place the seat pan in the said sufficient tilt angle position, and locking means (10) are provided to lock the pivoting of the links in relation to the seat pan or the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Christophe Aufrere, Pierre Bequet
  • Patent number: 7325860
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle is disclosed, comprising a plurality of wheels configured to enable the recreational vehicle to roll along the ground, an interior living space enclosed by a plurality of walls, and a generally U-shaped seating area. In some embodiments, the generally U-shaped seating area may comprise two side couches and an interior couch that utilizes a lower mattress as a seat cushion. An exterior couch may face opposite the interior couch and also utilize the lower mattress as a seat cushion. In some embodiments, the recreational vehicle also comprises tracks for elevating the lower mattress and an upper mattress, and elevated table mounts attached to the bottom of the upper mattress that may be used to store one or more table tops below the upper mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Extreme RV's, LLC
    Inventor: Donald B. Day
  • Patent number: 7303226
    Abstract: A truck work office solution for a mobile vehicle. The work-station will take advantage of existing adjustability features on the passenger seat so that the height of the work-surface can be customized for each driver, and swivel to point toward the rear of the cab as well. The passenger seat itself converts into a work station. The driver seat may be swiveled to face the passenger seat that converts into an office area. The passenger's seat is normally a static element present in all cabs, and certainly in the case of single drivers it remains unused for its intended purpose. Because drivers are bound to the driver's seat, they use the close proximity of the passenger's seat to make peripheral tasks and items more convenient. The conversion provides a sliding work surface, storage, as well as power outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: William M. Bernstein, Catherine Sun, Zachary Beard, Rebecca Nathenson, Rachel Lin
  • Patent number: 7273243
    Abstract: Seat for a rear row of seats in a vehicle, which seat can be collapsed into a recess positioned in the cargo area behind the row of seats for the purpose of expanding cargo space, so that the back side of the backrest, which is folded forward onto the seat portion, is facing upward, and is essentially flush with the cargo area floor. The seat improves the kinematics of known seats and thereby makes the seat more ergonomically favorable in terms of its operation. The conversion of the seat from its use position to its non-use position is achieved through a single operation, namely a continuous pull on a strap fastened at the back end of a two-component seat portion frame, unlike known complicated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH
    Inventor: Michal Prugarewicz
  • 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: 7040685
    Abstract: A third row seat of a vehicle includes a seat back which can be folded down onto a seat cushion, and a headrest which can be pivoted rearward with respect to the seat back. The seat cushion is mounted on the vehicle floor so as to be pivotable rearward. A recess is formed in the floor of the vehicle behind the third row seat. The recess stores the third row seat, with the seat back being folded down, the headrest being pivoted rearward, and the third row seat being pivoted rearward. The headrest is located within a path of the pivotal motion of the seat back and the seat cushion, without increasing the path of the pivotal motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazue Sumida, Takashi Mizuma, Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 6986542
    Abstract: A retractable seat to be attached to a floor may include a seat cushion, a seat back rotatably supported on the seat cushion, and a link mechanism for supporting the seat cushion on the floor. The link mechanism includes a front leg and a rear leg that are pivotally connected to the seat cushion and the floor so that the seat can be switched between a use condition and a retracted condition. The front and rear legs respectively have a different link length so as to produce a difference between a rotating range of the front leg and a rotating range of the rear leg. The seat may further include a compensation mechanism for compensating for the difference between the rotating ranges of the front and rear legs within an operating range of the link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Imajo, Makoto Sakai
  • Patent number: 6983985
    Abstract: A cover assembly covers a recess in the floor of a motor vehicle. With a stowed vehicle seat in the recess, the cover assembly serves to completely cover the recess to form a continuous load floor in the vehicle. With the seat in a use position outside of the recess, the cover assembly includes a portion that is folded within the bin so that the support legs of the seat can extend from the recess to support the seat. The cover assembly includes multiple panels for folding the cover to provide clearance by the seat for opening the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Robert McGowan, Glenn F. Syrowik
  • Patent number: 6974174
    Abstract: A retractable seat may include a seat cushion, a seat back rotatably supported on the seat cushion, and a link mechanism for supporting the seat cushion on a floor. The link mechanism includes a front leg and a rear leg that are pivotally connected to the seat cushion and the floor so that the seat cushion and the seat back can be switched between a use condition and a retracted condition. The seat may further include a restraint mechanism provided on the floor for preventing the link mechanism from moving when the seat is in a use condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Imajo, Taiyou Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 6959960
    Abstract: A seating and cargo system (50) for a vehicle (10) is disclosed having a generally horizontal floor (16) and one or more generally vertical frame members (18). A panel (20) is mounted transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle (10) and pivotally coupled to the frame members (18). A seat back (52) is coupled to the panel (20) and has a lower end engaging a seat bottom (54). An optimal support member (70) is coupled to the seat bottom (54) and engages the floor section (16) of the vehicle (10) and another support member (62) is coupled to the lower end of the seat back (52) and to the bottom portion of the panel (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Antonio Buccinna, Richard Hong
  • Patent number: 6827394
    Abstract: A vehicle seat system includes a first-row seat as a driver seat, a second-row seat rearward thereof, and a third-row seat further rearward thereof. The second-row seat can be slid and reclined in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The third-row seat with a seat back folded is stored within a space immediately below the second-row seat. The second-row seat with the third-row seat stored can be slide and reclined in a vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Watanabe, Masahiro Hara