Turntable assembly for a vehicle

• US 10,486,558 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Baccouche, Mohamed Ridha, Arora, Rahul, Line, Johnathan Andrew, Kondrad, Marcos Silva
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Mark R
• Application Number:
  US16/021,584
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 29734422, 297257, 2973441, 29734421
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/005 Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles , e.g. dismountable auxiliary seatsB60N2/02 takes precedence ; for railway vehicles B61D1/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/08 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/146 characterised by the locking device

Abstract

A turntable assembly for a vehicle includes a base that couples to a support structure, a network of rails that includes lateral rails, longitudinal rails, and diagonal rails, and a locking mechanism that is coupled to the base and is actuatable between engaged and disengaged positions with the support structure.

Claims

1. A turntable assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a base coupled to a support structure;

a network of rails comprising lateral rails, longitudinal rails, and diagonal rails;

a plurality of connecting plates positioned about a perimeter of the base, wherein the network of rails converge upon the plurality of connecting plates, and wherein the connecting plates are directly coupled to an end of at least one of the diagonal rails; and

a locking mechanism coupled to the base and actuatable between engaged and disengaged positions with the support structure.

2. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a closeout panel positioned as a top surface of the turntable assembly.

3. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a collar that engages with at least one of the base and the support structure to provide a low friction surface for rotational motion of the turntable assembly.

4. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 3, further comprising:

a rotation mechanism that comprises a motor and a plurality of rollers, wherein the rollers passively rotate as the rotation mechanism imparts rotational motion to the turntable assembly.

5. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more seating assemblies coupled to the network of rails.

6. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 5, wherein the one or more seating assemblies are coupled to the network of rails by guide tracks, and wherein the seating assemblies are horizontally actuatable along the guide tracks relative to the network of rails.

7. A turntable assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a base coupled to a support structure;

a network of rails converging on a plurality of connecting plates that are spaced about a perimeter of the base, wherein the plurality of connecting plates travel with the base when the base is actuated relative to the support structure; and

a locking mechanism coupled to the base and actuatable between engaged and disengaged positions with the support structure.

8. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 7, wherein the network of rails comprises lateral rails, longitudinal rails, and diagonal rails.

9. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a closeout panel positioned as a top surface of the turntable assembly.

10. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a collar that engages with at least one of the base and the support structure to provide a low friction surface for rotational motion of the turntable assembly.

11. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

a rotation mechanism that comprises a motor and a plurality of rollers, wherein the rollers passively rotate as the rotation mechanism imparts rotational motion to the turntable assembly.

12. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

one or more seating assemblies coupled to the network of rails.

13. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein the one or more seating assemblies are coupled to the network of rails by guide tracks, and wherein the seating assemblies are horizontally actuatable along the guide tracks relative to the network of rails.

14. A turntable assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a support structure;

a base coupled to the support structure;

a collar that engages with the base to provide a low friction surface for rotational motion of the turntable assembly;

a closeout panel positioned as a top surface of the turntable assembly;

a plurality of connecting plates that are spaced about a perimeter of the base, wherein the plurality of connecting plates comprises a first pair of connecting plates and a second pair of connecting plates, and wherein the first pair of connecting plates are oriented along a first axis and the second pair of connecting plates are oriented along a second axis;

a network of rails comprising lateral rails, longitudinal rails, and diagonal rails, wherein the network of rails converge on the plurality of connecting plates; and

a locking mechanism coupled to the base and actuatable between engaged and disengaged positions with the support structure.

15. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 14, further comprising:

a rotation mechanism that comprises a motor and a plurality of rollers, wherein the rollers passively rotate as the rotation mechanism imparts rotational motion to the turntable assembly.

16. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 14, further comprising:

one or more seating assemblies coupled to the network of rails.

17. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 16, wherein the one or more seating assemblies are coupled to the network of rails by guide tracks, and wherein the seating assemblies are horizontally actuatable along the guide tracks relative to the network of rails.

18. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 17, wherein the one or more seating assemblies comprises a first seating assembly and a second seating assembly, and wherein the first and second seating assemblies remain parallel to one another regardless of a rotational position of the turntable assembly.

19. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first axis and the second axis are angularly offset from one another.

20. The turntable assembly for a vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first pair of connecting plates are diametrically opposed from one another at points along the first axis that intersect with the perimeter of the base, and wherein the second pair of connecting plates are diametrically opposed from one another at points along the second axis that intersect with the perimeter of the base.