Vehicle seat covering system

• US 20030071479A1
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: ASC Incorporated
• Inventors: Corder, George A., Schaller, Bernard W., Grubbs, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 6,595,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/136.05
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/028 the sliding movement being combined with a pivoting movement

Abstract

A covering system for a rear passenger seat of an automotive vehicle. The covering system includes a panel that is positionable in an extended position that generally conceals the rear passenger seat and a retracted position that generally reveals the passenger seat. The covering system further includes an automatic drive system capable of driving the panel between the extended position and the retracted position. The covering system of the present invention enables a four-seat convertible vehicle to be quickly and conveniently converting into a two-seat roadster-style vehicle.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a passenger seat;

a panel positionable in an extended position generally concealing the passenger seat and a stowed position generally revealing the passenger seat, the panel being generally vertical in the stowed position; and

an automatic actuation system operable to move the panel between the extended position and the stowed position.

2. The automotive vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a supplemental panel assembly operably coupled to the panel, the supplemental panel assembly being positionable in an extended position generally coplanar with the panel and a retracted position.

3. The automotive vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the supplemental panel assembly comprises:

a supplemental panel having a support arm, the support arm having a pair of camming pins;

a guide track supporting the support arm, the guide track having a cam slot sized to receive the pair of camming pins;

an second automatic actuation system coupled to the supplemental panel, the second automatic actuation system being operable to move the supplemental panel between the extended position and the retracted position.

4. The automotive vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the second automatic actuation system comprises:

a drive motor;

a drive cable coupled to the drive motor for linear movement;

a guide block coupled to the drive cable and the support arm, the guide block driving the support arm such that the pair of camming pins of the support arm cam within the cam slot of the guide track.

5. The automotive vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the guide block further comprises a guide slot sized to receive a guide cam pin extending from the support arm, the guide cam pin and the guide slot cooperating to lift the support arm into the extended position.

6. The automotive vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the retracted position of the supplemental panel assembly is generally stacked relative to the panel.

7. The automotive vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the automatic actuation system comprises:

a support frame;

a slidable member disposed in the support frame;

a four-bar linkage coupled between the slidable member and the panel;

a first actuator coupled between the four-bar linkage and the slidable member, the first actuator operable to drive the four-bar linkage; and

a second actuator coupled between the support frame and the slidable member, the second actuator operable to drive the slidable member.

8. The automotive vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:

a drive mechanism coupled to the support frame, the drive mechanism capable of pivoting the support frame.

9. The automotive vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:

a seating surface coupled to the support frame.

10. The automotive vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a retractable convertible roof being positionable between a retracted position and an extended position, the retractable convertible roof being separate and independent from the automatic actuation system.

11. The automotive vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the automatic actuation system is operable even when the retractable convertible roof is in the retracted position and the extended position.

12. The automotive vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the panel is substantially below a beltline of the automotive vehicle when the panel is in the stowed position.

13. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a rear passenger seat;

a body panel positionable in an extended position generally concealing the rear passenger seat and a stowed position generally revealing the rear passenger seat;

an automatic drive mechanism operable to drive the panel between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a linkage mechanism coupled between the body panel and the automatic drive mechanism.

14. The automotive vehicle according to claim 13, further comprising:

a supplemental panel operably coupled to the body panel, the supplemental panel being positionable in an extended position generally coplanar with the body panel and a retracted position generally stacked with the body panel, the supplemental panel having a support arm and a pair of camming pins extending from the support arm;

a guide track mounted to the body panel, the guide track supporting the support arm, the guide track having a cam slot sized to receive the pair of camming pins; and

an second automatic drive mechanism coupled to the supplemental panel, the second automatic actuation system being operable to move the supplemental panel between the extended position and the retracted position.

15. The automotive vehicle according to claim 14 wherein the second automatic drive mechanism comprises:

a drive motor;

a drive cable coupled to the drive motor for linear movement;

a guide block coupled to the drive cable and the support arm, the guide block driving the support arm such that the pair of camming pins of the support arm cam within the cam slot of the guide track.

16. The automotive vehicle according to claim 15 wherein the guide block further comprises a guide slot sized to receive a guide cam pin extending from the support arm, the guide cam pin and the guide slot cooperating to lift the supplemental panel into the extended position.

17. The automotive vehicle according to claim 13, further comprising:

a retractable convertible roof being positionable between a retracted position and an extended position, the retractable convertible roof being separate and independent from the automatic drive mechanism.

18. The automotive vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the linkage mechanism comprises at least four bars.

19. The automotive vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the automatic drive mechanism comprises:

a support frame;

a slidable member disposed in the support frame;

a four-bar linkage coupled between the slidable member and the panel;

a first actuator coupled between the four-bar linkage and the slidable member, the first actuator operable to drive the four-bar linkage;

a second actuator coupled between the support frame and the slidable member, the second actuator operable to drive the slidable member; and

a pivoting mechanism coupled to the support frame, the pivoting mechanism capable of pivoting the support frame.

20. The automotive vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the body panel is substantially below a beltline of the automotive vehicle when the panel is in the retracted position.

21. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a body panel positionable in an extended position generally concealing the rear passenger seat and a stowed position generally revealing the rear passenger seat; and

a supplemental panel slidably coupled to the body panel, the supplemental panel being linearly positionable in an extended position generally coplanar with the body panel and a retracted position.

22. The automotive vehicle according to claim 21, further comprising:

an automatic drive mechanism operable to drive the panel between the extended position and the stowed position, the automatic drive mechanism having;

a support frame;

a slidable member disposed in the support frame;

a linkage assembly coupled between the slidable member and the panel;

a first actuator coupled between the linkage assembly and the slidable member, the first actuator operable to drive the linkage assembly;

a second actuator coupled between the support frame and the slidable member, the second actuator operable to drive the slidable member; and

a pivoting mechanism coupled to the support frame, the pivoting mechanism capable of pivoting the support frame.

23. The automotive vehicle according to claim 21, further comprising:

a support arm extending from the supplemental panel, said support arm having a pair of camming pins extending therefrom, the supplemental panel being generally stacked with the body panel in the retracted position;

a guide track mounted to the body panel, the guide track supporting the support arm, the guide track having a cam slot sized to receive the pair of camming pins; and

an second automatic drive mechanism coupled to the supplemental panel, the second automatic actuation system being operable to move the supplemental panel between the extended position and the retracted position.

24. The automotive vehicle according to claim 23 wherein the second automatic drive mechanism comprises:

a drive motor;

a drive cable coupled to the drive motor for linear movement;

a guide block coupled to the drive cable and the support arm, the. guide block driving the support arm such that the pair of camming pins of the support arm cam within the cam slot of the guide track.

25. The automotive vehicle according to claim 24 wherein the guide block further comprises a guide slot sized to receive a guide cam pin extending from the support arm, the guide cam pin and the guide slot cooperating to lift the supplemental panel into the extended position.

26. The automotive vehicle according to claim 21 wherein the body panel is substantially below a beltline of the automotive vehicle when the panel is in the retracted position.

27. The automotive vehicle according to claim 21, further comprising:

a retractable convertible roof being positionable between a retracted position and an extended position, the retractable convertible roof being separate and independent from the automatic drive mechanism, the automatic drive mechanism being operable even when the retractable convertible roof is in the retracted position and the extended position.

28. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a convertible roof moveable between a raised position and a stowed position;

a roof storage compartment operably receiving the convertible roof when the convertible roof is in the stowed position;

a generally rigid panel moveable from a generally vertical retracted position to a generally horizontal exposed position generally forward of the roof storage compartment; and

an elongated guide coupled to the panel to assist in movement of the panel.

29. The automotive vehicle according to claim 28, further comprising:

a supplemental panel assembly operably coupled to the generally rigid panel, the supplemental panel assembly being positionable in an extended position generally coplanar with the generally rigid panel and a retracted position.

30. The automotive vehicle according to claim 29 wherein the supplemental panel assembly comprises:

a supplemental panel having a support arm, the support arm having a pair of camming pins;

a guide track mounted to the generally rigid panel and supporting the support arm, the guide track having a cam slot sized to receive the pair of camming pins;

an automatic actuation system coupled to the supplemental panel, the automatic actuation system being operable to move the supplemental panel between the extended position and the retracted position.

31. The automotive vehicle according to claim 30 wherein the automatic actuation system comprises:

a drive motor;

a drive cable coupled to the drive motor for linear movement;

a guide block coupled to the drive cable and the support arm, the guide block driving the support arm such that the pair of camming pins of the support arm cam within the cam slot of the guide track.

32. The automotive vehicle according to claim 31 wherein the guide block further comprises a guide slot sized to receive a guide cam pin extending from the support arm, the guide cam pin and the guide slot cooperating to lift the support arm into the extended position.

33. The automotive vehicle according to claim 29 wherein the retracted position of the supplemental panel assembly is generally stacked relative to the generally rigid panel.

34. The automotive vehicle according to claim 28, further comprising:

a support frame operably supporting the generally rigid panel;

the elongated guide coupled to the support frame;

a slide member slidably coupled to the elongated member;

a four-bar linkage coupled between the slide member and the generally rigid panel;

a first actuator coupled between the four-bar linkage and the slide member, the first actuator operable to drive the four-bar linkage; and

a second actuator coupled between the support frame and the slide member, the second actuator operable to drive the slide member.

35. The automotive vehicle according to claim 34, further comprising:

a drive mechanism coupled to the support frame, the drive mechanism capable of pivoting the support frame.

36. The automotive vehicle according to claim 28 wherein the generally rigid panel is substantially below a beltline of the automotive vehicle when the generally rigid panel is in the retracted position.

37. The automotive vehicle according to claim 28 wherein the convertible roof is a soft top convertible roof.

38. The automotive vehicle according to claim 28, further comprising:

a trunk lid operable to selectively conceal the roof storage compartment.

39. An apparatus for an automotive vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a generally rigid panel moveable between a generally vertical retracted position and a generally horizontal exposed position;

a support frame;

a slide member slidably coupled to the support frame;

a four bar linkage assembly pivotally coupled between the slide member and the generally rigid panel;

a first actuator operably coupled between the support frame and the slide member for raising and lowering the slide member; and

a second actuator operably coupled between the slide member and one of the four bar linkage assembly.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

an automatic drive controller coupled to at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to automatically control the movement of the generally rigid panel between the generally vertical retracted position and the generally horizontal exposed position.

41. The apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

a support frame drive mechanism coupled to the support frame for pivoting the support frame.

42. The apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

a supplemental panel assembly operably coupled to the generally rigid panel, the supplemental panel assembly being positionable in an extended position generally coplanar with the generally rigid panel and a retracted position.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42 wherein the supplemental panel assembly comprises:

a supplemental panel having a support arm, the support arm having a pair of camming pins;

a guide track mounted to the generally rigid panel and supporting the support arm, the guide track having a cam slot sized to receive the pair of camming pins;

an automatic actuation system coupled to the supplemental panel, the automatic actuation system being operable to move the supplemental panel between the extended position and the retracted position.

44. A method of operating a moveable panel of a vehicle, the method comprising:

actuating a controller to produce a control output; and

energizing an actuator in response to the control output, the actuator moving the moveable panel from a generally vertical retracted position to a generally horizontal exposed position, the generally horizontal exposed position of the moveable panel generally concealing a rear seat of the vehicle.

45. The method of operating the moveable panel according to claim 44, further comprising:

energizing a supplemental actuator to move a supplemental panel from a retracted position to a generally co-planar position relative to the moveable panel, the supplemental panel operable to cover an area generally adjacent the rear seat of the vehicle.

46. The method of operating the moveable panel according to claim 45 wherein the movement of the supplemental panel is generally linear.

47. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a trunk;

a front seat;

an area disposed between said trunk and said front seat;

a panel positionable in an extended position generally concealing the area and a stowed position generally revealing the area, the panel being generally vertical in the stowed position; and

an automatic actuation system operable to move the panel between the extended position and the stowed position.

48. The automotive vehicle according to claim 47, further comprising:

a supplemental panel assembly operably coupled to the panel, the supplemental panel assembly being positionable in an extended position generally coplanar with the panel and a retracted position.