Rear seat cushion underside storage flap

• US 20080093874A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Partch, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 7,628,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/005 Nets or elastic pockets tensioned against walls or backrests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

A storage area defined by a folded-forward rear seat cushion, an upright rear seatback, the floor tunnel, and an article retaining flap which is stowed when not in use. The storage flap may be folded away for storage under the rear seat cushion when not in use.

Claims

1. A storage area for a motor vehicle having a vehicle floor, the vehicle floor forming the base for the storage area, the storage area comprising:

a seat attached to the vehicle floor, said seat having a seat cushion and a seatback, said seat cushion being movable between a lowered, substantially horizontal position and an upright, substantially vertical position, said seat cushion providing a first wall of the storage area when in said vertical position and said seatback providing a second wall of the storage area; and

a flap movable between a stowed position and an un-stowed position, said flap providing a third wall of the storage area when in said un-stowed position.

2. The storage area for the motor vehicle of claim 1, further including a tunnel formed on the vehicle floor, said tunnel forming a fourth wall of the storage area.

3. The storage area for the motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein said flap is operatively associated with said seat cushion.

4. The storage area for the motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein said flap is composed of a rigid material.

5. The storage area for the motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein said flap is composed of a flexible material.

6. The storage area for the motor vehicle of claim 5, wherein said flap includes a first end and a second end, said first end of said flap being attached to said seat cushion.

7. The storage area for the motor vehicle of claim 6 wherein said second end of said flap is releasably attachable to said seatback.

8. The storage area for the motor vehicle of claim 6 wherein said seat cushion includes a top side and a bottom side and wherein said first end of said flap is attached to said bottom side of said seat cushion.

9. The storage area of the motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein said bottom side of said seat cushion includes a flap storage area formed therein.

10. A flap for use as a first wall in a storage area of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a floor as the base of the storage area, a seat cushion as the second wall of the storage area, and a seatback as the third wall of the storage area.

11. The flap of claim 10 wherein the motor vehicle includes a tunnel formed in said vehicle floor, said tunnel forming the fourth wall of the storage area.

12. The flap of claim 10, wherein said seat cushion is movable between a lowered, substantially horizontal position and an upright, substantially vertical position, said seat cushion providing said second wall of said storage area when in said vertical position.

13. The flap of claim 12, wherein said flap is operatively associated with said seat cushion.

14. The flap of claim 13, wherein said flap is operatively associated with said seatback.

15. The flap of claim 10, wherein said flap is composed of a rigid material.

16. The flap of claim 10, wherein said flap is composed of a flexible material.

17. The flap of claim 12, wherein said flap includes a first end and a second end, said first end of said flap being attached to said seat cushion.

18. The flap of claim 12, wherein said seat cushion includes a top side and a bottom side and wherein said first end of said flap is attached to said bottom side of said seat cushion.

19. The storage area of the motor vehicle of claim 18 wherein said bottom side of said seat cushion includes a flap storage area formed therein.

20. A seat assembly for a motor vehicle comprised of a seat cushion movable between a lowered, substantially horizontal position and an upright, substantially vertical position, a seatback, and a wall positionable between said seat cushion when said seat cushion is in its vertical position and said seatback.