COLLAPSIBLE SEAT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR COLLAPSING SAME
First Claim
1. A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a seating position and a collapsed position, the seat assembly comprising:
- a seat bottom operably connected to a floor of the motor vehicle, the seat bottom having a front portion, a rear portion spaced apart from the front portion, and a seating surface provided therebetween facing away from the floor in a seating position for receiving and supporting a seat portion of a passenger thereon, the seat bottom having a load surface provided upon an underside thereof spaced apart from the seating surface and generally facing the floor in the seating position; and
a seat back having a lower portion oriented proximate to the seat bottom rear portion in the seating position, an upper portion spaced apart from the lower portion, and a back supporting surface provided therebetween generally facing a forward direction relative to the seat bottom in the seating position for receiving and supporting a back portion of the passenger thereon, the seat back having a load surface formed upon a backside thereof spaced apart from the back supporting surface and generally facing a direction away from the seat back in the seating position;
wherein the seat bottom is translatable to an orientation such that the seat bottom back portion is spaced apart from the seat back lower portion with the seat bottom front portion disposed therebetween such that the seat bottom load surface is spaced apart and facing away from the floor in a collapsed position of the seat assembly; and
wherein the seat back is translatable to an orientation such the seat back upper portion is adjacent to the seat bottom front portion such that the seat back load surface is spaced apart and facing away from the floor in the collapsed position of the seat assembly, and the seat back load portion and the seat bottom load portion collectively provide a load floor within the vehicle for receiving cargo.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-positional collapsible seat assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom having a load surface provided on an underside thereof and a seat back having a load surface provided on the back side thereof. As the seat assembly is collapsed, the seat bottom is pivoted forward and the seat back is pivoted adjacent to the seat bottom such that the load surfaces collectively provide a load floor for receipt of cargo. An armrest assembly is disclosed that facilitates both passenger and cargo transport. A method is also disclosed for collapsing the seat assembly.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a seating position and a collapsed position, the seat assembly comprising:
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a seat bottom operably connected to a floor of the motor vehicle, the seat bottom having a front portion, a rear portion spaced apart from the front portion, and a seating surface provided therebetween facing away from the floor in a seating position for receiving and supporting a seat portion of a passenger thereon, the seat bottom having a load surface provided upon an underside thereof spaced apart from the seating surface and generally facing the floor in the seating position; and
a seat back having a lower portion oriented proximate to the seat bottom rear portion in the seating position, an upper portion spaced apart from the lower portion, and a back supporting surface provided therebetween generally facing a forward direction relative to the seat bottom in the seating position for receiving and supporting a back portion of the passenger thereon, the seat back having a load surface formed upon a backside thereof spaced apart from the back supporting surface and generally facing a direction away from the seat back in the seating position;
wherein the seat bottom is translatable to an orientation such that the seat bottom back portion is spaced apart from the seat back lower portion with the seat bottom front portion disposed therebetween such that the seat bottom load surface is spaced apart and facing away from the floor in a collapsed position of the seat assembly; and
wherein the seat back is translatable to an orientation such the seat back upper portion is adjacent to the seat bottom front portion such that the seat back load surface is spaced apart and facing away from the floor in the collapsed position of the seat assembly, and the seat back load portion and the seat bottom load portion collectively provide a load floor within the vehicle for receiving cargo. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An armrest assembly for a collapsible seat assembly of a motor vehicle comprising:
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an armrest housing operably connected to a floor of the motor vehicle adjacent to a lateral side of the seat assembly, the armrest housing having a load surface spaced apart and facing away from the vehicle floor; and
an armrest member pivotally connected to the armrest housing, the armrest member having a load surface oriented upon the mounting bracket load surface and an arm receiving surface spaced apart and facing away from the vehicle floor in the seating position for receiving and supporting an arm portion of the passenger thereon;
wherein the armrest member can be pivotally extended from the armrest housing thereby exposing the armrest housing and armrest member load surfaces, which collectively provide a load floor.
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20. A method for collapsing a seat of a motor vehicle comprising:
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pivoting a seat bottom relative to a floor of the motor vehicle such that an underside of the seat bottom faces away from the vehicle floor; and
pivoting a seat back relative to the floor such that a backside of the seat back faces away from the vehicle floor.
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Specification