Motor vehicle seating

• US 20040160081A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Horsford, Peter Steele, Bostock, Robert, French, Andrew Brian
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/65.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/065 Rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/206 to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3031 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3072 on a lower level of a multi-level vehicle floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3075 stowed in recess B60N2/3079 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/35 Seat, bench or back-rests being split laterally in two or more parts

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.

Claims

1. A foldable seat assembly for a motor vehicle, the seat assembly being movable between a normal passenger seating position and a stowed position and comprising a seat cushion having an upper seating surface and a generally flat base surface, the seat cushion being mounted for pivotal movement about a front transverse axis such that the seat cushion can be folded forward from a normal position corresponding to the normal passenger seating position of the seat assembly into a stowed position corresponding to the stowed position of the seat assembly in which the base surface faces upwards, and a backrest connected to the seat cushion and extending upward from the seat cushion when the seat assembly is in the normal seating position, the backrest having a lower end, an upper end, a front seating surface and a generally flat rear surface and being movable from a normal position corresponding to the normal passenger seating position of the seat assembly into a stowed position corresponding to the stowed position of the seat assembly, the lower end of the backrest being arranged to move rearwards as the backrest is moved from its normal position into its stowed position such that, in the stowed position, the backrest lies behind the folded seat cushion, the arrangement being such that the upper end of the backrest folds forwards as the lower end of the backrest moves rearwards during movement of the backrest from its normal position into its folded position so that, when the seat assembly is in the stowed position, the rear surface of the stowed backrest lies immediately behind the base surface of the folded seat cushion and the rear surface (and the base surface are aligned to form a generally flat substantially continuous load bearing surface.

2. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, the seat assembly further comprising a position adjustment mechanism arranged to facilitate movement of the seat cushion and backrest between a forward seating position and a rearward seating position.

3. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the position adjustment mechanism is arranged such that the seat cushion and the backrest are lower in the forward seating position than in the rearward seating position.

4. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the position adjustment mechanism includes a latching means to selectively latch the seat cushion and backrest in the forward and rearward seating positions.

5. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seat cushion is connected to the backrest by a releasable locking means.

6. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backrest includes a backrest frame assembly comprising a support frame and a pair of support legs, each of the support legs being pivotally connected to the support frame and in use connecting the support frame to a structural part of the motor vehicle.

7. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein a combination of rotation of the support legs relative to the structural part of the motor vehicle and rotation of the support frame relative to the support legs produces the rearward movement of the lower end of the backrest.

8. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 6, the seat assembly further comprising a position adjustment mechanism arranged to facilitate movement of the seat cushion and backrest between a forward seating position and a rearward seating position, each of the support legs being in use attached to the structural part of the motor vehicle by means of a support arm forming part of the position adjustment mechanism.

9. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the position adjustment mechanism comprises a pair of front support arms to pivotally connect the seat cushion near to a front edge thereof to the structural part of the motor vehicle and a pair of rear support arms to pivotally connect the support legs to the structural part of the motor vehicle.

10. A motor vehicle having a passenger compartment and two or more rows of seating mounted in the passenger compartment wherein the rearmost of the rows of seating includes at least one foldable seat assembly which is movable between a normal passenger seating position and a stowed position and comprises a seat cushion having an upper seating surface and a generally flat base surface, the seat cushion being mounted for pivotal movement about a front transverse axis such that the seat cushion can be folded forward from a normal position corresponding to the normal passenger seating position of the seat assembly into a stowed position corresponding to the stowed position of the seat assembly in which the base surface faces upwards, and a backrest connected to the seat cushion and extending upward from the seat cushion when the seat assembly is in the normal seating position, the backrest having a lower end, an upper end, a front seating surface and a generally flat rear surface and being movable from a normal position corresponding to the normal passenger seating position of the seat assembly into a stowed position corresponding to the stowed position of the seat assembly, the lower end of the backrest being arranged to move rearwards as the backrest is moved from its normal position into its stowed position such that, in the stowed position, the backrest lies behind the folded seat cushion, the arrangement being such that the upper end of the backrest folds forwards as the lower end of the backrest moves rearwards during movement of the backrest from its normal position into its folded position so that, when the seat assembly is in the stowed position, the rear surface of the stowed backrest lies immediately behind the base surface of the folded seat cushion and the rear surface and the base surface are aligned to form a generally flat substantially continuous load bearing surface.

12. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 10, the motor vehicle further comprising a luggage space, the rear surface of the backrest of the at least one foldable seat assembly, when in the normal seating position, defining a front wall of the luggage space.

13. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 12 wherein the length of the luggage space is increased by moving the at least one foldable seat assembly from a rearward position to a forward position.

14. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 12, the motor vehicle further comprising a floor structure and, in the region of the luggage space, a false floor spaced above the floor structure, the lower end portion of each backrest of each foldable seat assembly, when in the stowed position, being located between the false floor and an adjacent portion of the floor structure and each backrest being shaped so as to form in combination with the false floor a generally flat load bearing surface extending from the rear of the passenger compartment to a forward edge of the folded backrest.

15. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 12 wherein each backrest, when in the stowed position, forms a generally flat load bearing surface extending from the rear of the passenger compartment to a forward edge of the folded backrest.

16. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 12 wherein the luggage space includes a well which is covered when the backrest of the or each foldable seat assembly is in the stowed position.

17. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 10 wherein the base surface of the seat cushion of the or each foldable seat assembly, when in its stowed position, is aligned with the rear surface of the stowed backrest of that foldable seat assembly.

11. The motor vehicle as claimed in 10 wherein the motor vehicle has three rows of seating, there being a first row seating mounted at the front of the passenger compartment, a second row seating mounted to the rear of the first row seating and a third row seating mounted to the rear of the second row seating.

18. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the second row seating includes at least one re-configurable seat assembly comprising a seat cushion having a seating surface and a rear surface and a backrest having a seating surface and a back surface and the at least one re-configurable seat assembly is movable between a seating position and a stored position wherein, when in the stored position, the back surface of the backrest of the at least one re-configurable seat assembly is aligned with a corresponding stowed foldable seat assembly so as to provided a generally flat substantially continuous surface from the rear of the passenger compartment to a forward edge of the backrest of the stowed re-configurable seat assembly.

19. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18 wherein the at least one re-configurable seat assembly is further movable from the seating position in which the seat cushion is arranged substantially horizontal and the backrest extends upwards from the seat cushion to a table position in which the backrest is folded forwardly onto the seat cushion to form a raised substantially horizontal surface.

20. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 19 wherein the at least one re-configurable seat assembly is movable from the table position to the stored position by movement of the seat cushion and backrest of the re-configurable seat assembly in a downward direction.

21. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 20 wherein the seat cushion is connected to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a collapsible linkage including a locking mechanism used to hold the seat cushion in a raised position and which when released allows the seat cushion and the backrest to be moved downwards.

22. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 19 wherein the at least one re-configurable seat assembly is movable from the table position to a folded forward position by rotating the folded seat assembly about a transverse axis located near to a front edge of the seat cushion so that the respective seat cushion and backrest are arranged substantially vertically.

23. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 22 wherein the second row seating comprises a centre seat assembly and two outer re-configurable seat assemblies, both of which are movable from the table position to the folded forward position.

24. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 22 wherein the at least one re-configurable seat assembly is selectively securable in the seating position towards a rear edge of the seat cushion by a release mechanism and is movable from the table position to the folded forward position by releasing the release mechanism and rotating the seat cushion and the backrest about the transverse axis into the folded forward position.

25. A method of converting a motor vehicle from a normal seating configuration to a load carrying configuration, the motor vehicle having a passenger compartment in which is mounted a first row seating comprising at least one seat assembly, a second row seating comprising a least one seat assembly having a seat cushion and a backrest having a generally flat back surface, and a third row seating comprising a least one seat assembly having a seat cushion and a backrest having a generally flat rear surface defining an upper end thereof and a the lower end thereof, the method comprising the steps of folding forward the seat cushion of the at least one seat assembly of the third row seating, moving the backrest of the at least one seat assembly of the third row seating to a stowed position in which the backrest lies behind the folded seat cushion, folding forward the backrest of the at least one seat assembly of the second row seating onto its respective seat cushion and moving the at least one folded seat assembly of the second row seating into a lowered stored position, the backrest of the at least one seat assembly of the third row seating being arranged so that when the backrest of the at least one seat assembly of the third row seating is moved from the normal seating position into the stowed position the said upper end is folded forwards as the said lower end is moved rearwards so that, when the seat assembly of the third row seating is in the stowed position, the rear surface of the stowed backrest lies immediately behind the base surface of the folded seat cushion of the respective seat assembly of the third row seating so that the respective rear surface and the respective base surface are aligned, the backrest of the at least one seat assembly of the second row seating being aligned with the seat cushion and backrest of the at least one stowed seat assembly of the third row seating to produce a generally flat substantially continuous load bearing surface from the first row seating to the rear of the passenger compartment.