Vehicle front seat configuration

• US 20050179242A1
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Chernoff, Adrian B., White, Tommy E.
• Application Number:
  US10/771,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179242A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/781
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01508 using quick release attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 24/00 Connections between vehicle body and vehicle frame B62D23/00, B62D33/077 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/20 Floors or bottom sub-units sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11; drip trays F16N31/006
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/00 Superstructures for passenger vehicles passenger vehicles specially adapted to co-operate with aircraft or terminal buildings B64F1/31

Abstract

A vehicle body includes a floorpan and a front seat having a lower seat portion and a substantially upright seatback portion. The lower seat portion is rigidly fixed with respect to the floorpan such that it is not movable fore or aft by an occupant of the seat. The vehicle body preferably includes a drive-by-wire control input device movable with respect to the front seat. The vehicle body is also preferably characterized by the absence of an engine compartment forward of a passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A vehicle body comprising:

a floorpan at least partially defining a passenger compartment;

a front seat in the passenger compartment, the front seat including a lower seat portion and a seatback portion, the lower seat portion being nonadjustable fore or aft by an occupant of the seat; and

at least one drive-by-wire control input device located within the passenger compartment and configured to convert at least one of steering, braking, and propulsion system control signals from mechanical to nonmechanical form.

2. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the vehicle body is characterized by the absence of an engine compartment forward of the passenger compartment.

3. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the floorpan defines a vehicle floor, and wherein the floorpan is characterized by a formation that supports the lower seat portion above the floor.

4. The vehicle body of claim 1, wherein the floorpan is characterized by a formation that at least partially forms the lower seat portion.

5. The vehicle body of claim 3, wherein the floorpan is one piece.

6. The vehicle body of claim 5, wherein the floorpan is formed using a process selected from the group consisting of quick plastic forming, sheet hydroforming, and superplastic forming.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a floorpan at least partially defining a passenger compartment;

a front seat in the passenger compartment, the front seat including a lower seat portion and a seatback portion, the lower seat portion being sufficiently nonmovable with respect to the floorpan such that the lower seat portion is nonadjustable fore or aft by an occupant of the seat; and

at least one drive-by-wire control input device located within the passenger compartment and configured to convert at least one of steering, braking, and propulsion system control signals from mechanical to nonmechanical form.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the vehicle body is characterized by the absence of an engine compartment forward of the passenger compartment.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the floorpan is characterized by a protuberance that forms a portion of the vehicle seat.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the floorpan is one-piece.

11. The vehicle body of claim 10, wherein the floorpan is formed using a fluid forming process.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a floorpan at least partially defining a passenger compartment;

a front seat including a lower seat portion and a seatback portion, the lower seat portion being rigidly mounted with respect to the floorpan such that the lower seat portion is not adjustable fore or aft by an occupant of the seat; and

at least one drive-by-wire control input device located within the passenger compartment and configured to convert mechanical steering control signals to electronic steering control signals, mechanical braking control signals to electronic braking control signals, and mechanical propulsion system control signals to electronic propulsion system control signals;

wherein the floorpan is characterized by a protuberance that forms a portion of the vehicle seat.