Vehicle seat

• US 20050057081A1
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: McCannell, Michael D., Kahn, Zaki A., Basile, Patrick, Uno, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/331
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/874 movable to an inoperative or stowed position B60N2/832, B60N2/856 take precedence

Abstract

A seat is disclosed for use in a vehicle. The seat includes a pivotable seat cushion, a pivotable seatback, and a pivotable headrest. A rearward portion of the seat cushion is pivotably attached to the floor of the vehicle by an anchor member. A forward portion of the seat cushion is pivotably coupled to a forward support leg that contacts the floor of the vehicle when the seat cushion is retained in a generally horizontal position. The forward support leg automatically retracts to a position proximate the seat cushion when the seat cushion is released and pivoted upwardly to a generally vertical stowed position proximate the seatback. The seatback is pivotably attached to the anchor member and may be downwardly pivoted to a generally horizontal stowed position proximate the seat cushion. The headrest may be pivotally attached to the seatback, and may be movable to a stowed position.

Claims

1. A seat anchorable to the floor of a vehicle, comprising:

a seat cushion comprising a forward portion, a rearward portion, a top portion, a bottom portion and a first frame;

a forward support leg pivotably coupled to the bottom portion of the seat cushion proximate the forward portion and adapted to contact the floor of the vehicle when the seat cushion is generally horizontal;

an anchor member pivotably coupled to the first frame proximate the rearward portion of the seat cushion and adapted to engage a structural portion of the vehicle;

a seatback comprising an upper portion, a lower portion and a second frame, wherein the second frame is pivotably coupled to the anchor member proximate the lower portion of the seatback; and

a moveable headrest coupled to the upper portion of the seatback.

2. The seat of claim 1 wherein the seat cushion is upwardly pivotable to a generally vertical position proximate and facially adjacent the seatback.

3. The seat of claim 1 wherein the seatback is downwardly pivotable to a generally horizontal position proximate and facially adjacent the seat cushion.

4. The seat of claim 1 wherein the headrest is pivotably coupled to the seatback.

5. The seat of claim 1 wherein the forward support leg automatically folds into a stowed position proximate the bottom portion of the seat cushion when the seat cushion is pivoted upwardly, and automatically unfolds into an extended position generally perpendicular to the seat cushion when the seat cushion is pivoted downwardly.

6. The seat of claim 1 wherein the seat cushion is releaseably retained in at least one position by a first latch, and wherein the first latch may be actuated by a first lever to release the first latch when the seat cushion is to be pivoted.

7. The seat of claim 6 wherein the seat cushion is releaseably retained either in a first generally horizontal position or a second generally vertical position.

8. The seat of claim 1 wherein the seatback is releaseably retained in at least one position by a second latch, and wherein the second latch may be actuated by a second lever to release the second latch when the seatback is to be pivoted.

9. The seat of claim 8 wherein the seatback is releaseably retained in either a first generally vertical position or a second generally horizontal position.

10. The seat of claim 1 wherein the headrest is releaseably retained in at least one position by a third latch, and wherein the third latch may be actuated by a third lever to release the third latch when the headrest is to be pivoted.

11. The seat of claim 10 wherein the headrest is releaseably retained in either a first extended position generally aligned with the seatback or a second stowed position generally perpendicular to the seatback.

12. The seat of claim 1 wherein the seat cushion, seatback and headrest each provide a visual indication when not in a retained condition.

13. The seat of claim 1, wherein the headrest is linked to the seatback such that the headrest advances toward its stowed position as the seatback is downwardly pivoted, and wherein the headrest advances toward its extended position as the seatback is upwardly pivoted.

14. The seat of claim 1, wherein the headrest is biased toward its stowed position and releasably retained in its extended position.

15. The seat of claim 1, wherein at least one passenger is deterred from utilizing the seat when the headrest is not in its extended position.

16. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a storage container.

17. The seat of claim 1, further comprising at least one armrest.

18. The seat of claim 17, further comprising at least one cupholder disposed in the armrest.

19. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a cargo retainer releasably coupled to the forward portion of the seat cushion and to the floor, and extending between the bottom portion of the seat cushion and the floor.

20. A seat anchorable to the floor of a vehicle, comprising:

a seat cushion comprising a forward portion, a rearward portion, a top portion, a bottom portion and a first frame, wherein the seat cushion is releasably retained in at least one position by a first latch, and wherein the first latch may be actuated by a first lever to release the first latch when the seat cushion is to be pivoted;

a forward support leg pivotably coupled to the bottom portion of the seat cushion proximate the forward portion and adapted to contact the floor of the vehicle when the seat cushion is generally horizontal, and wherein the forward support leg automatically folds to a stowed position proximate the bottom portion of the seat cushion when the seat cushion is upwardly pivoted, and wherein the forward support leg automatically unfolds to an extended position generally perpendicular to the seat cushion as the seat cushion is downwardly pivoted;

an anchor member pivotably coupled to the rearward portion of the seat cushion and adapted to engage a structural portion of the vehicle;

a seatback comprising an upper portion, a lower portion and a second frame, wherein the second frame is pivotably coupled to the anchor member proximate the lower portion of the seatback, and wherein the seatback is releasably retained in at least one position by a second latch, and wherein the second latch may be actuated by a second lever to release the second latch when the seatback is to be pivoted; and

a moveable headrest coupled to the upper portion of the seatback, wherein the headrest is releasably retained in at least one position by a third latch, and wherein the third latch may be actuated by a third lever to release the third latch when the headrest is to be pivoted.