VEHICLE SEAT HAVING AN INTEGRAL, RETRACTABLE STEP

• US 20090058150A1
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Whalen, Kelly M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/69
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/50 Supports for the feet or the legs coupled to fixed parts of the chair coupled to other adjustable parts of the reclining or easy chair A47C1/034, A47C1/037; stand-alone rests or supports for the feet or the legs, e.g. footstools A47C16/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/063 with adjustment systems

Abstract

A vehicle seat with an integral retractable step. A generally hollow base is attached to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of side walls. A generally horizontal seat cushion is attached atop the base. A generally vertical seatback is attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion. A step is slidably coupled to the base, the step being selectively positionable between a stowed position substantially within the base and a deployed position wherein the step extends at least partially outwardly from the base. In the deployed position the step is generally horizontally oriented and is configured to support the weight of an occupant of the seat during ingress and egress therefrom. In addition in the deployed position the step is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed step riser.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a generally hollow base attached to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of side walls;

a generally horizontal seat cushion attached atop the base;

a generally vertical seatback attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion; and

a step slidably coupled to the base, the step being adjacent to the floor and selectively positionable between a stowed position substantially within the base and a deployed position extending at least partially outwardly from the base, the step being generally horizontally oriented and configured to support the weight of an occupant of the seat during ingress and egress therefrom,

wherein the step in the deployed position is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed step riser.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the step further comprises a top, a front wall and a pair of opposing side walls.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 2, further comprising a pair of rails, each rail being slidably coupled between a base side wall and a facially adjacent step side wall such that the step is slidable upon the rails.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 2, further comprising:

a slot formed in an inner surface of each base side wall; and

at least two pegs, the pegs being mounted in opposition to each other and extending outwardly from the step side walls and into slidable engagement with a facially adjacent slot,

wherein the step is slidable upon the pegs in cooperation with the slots.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 4 wherein the slots further comprise at least one notched detent defining a travel limit for the step in cooperation with a corresponding peg.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 2, further comprising:

a slot formed in an outer surface of each step side wall; and

at least two pegs, the pegs being mounted in opposition to each other and extending inwardly from the base side walls and into slidable engagement with a facially adjacent slot,

wherein the step is slidable upon the pegs in cooperation with the slots.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 6 wherein the slots further comprise at least one notched detent defining a travel limit for the step in cooperation with a corresponding peg.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 2 wherein the front wall further comprises a grip.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 2 wherein the front wall further includes a covering.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 2 wherein the top further comprises a tread.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the step further comprises a lower support shaped to contact the floor of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a generally hollow base attached to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of side walls;

a generally horizontal seat cushion attached atop the base;

a generally vertical seatback attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion; and

a step pivotably coupled to the base, the step being selectively positionable between a generally vertical stowed position that substantially closes off a front of the base and a generally horizontal deployed position extending at least partially outwardly from the base, the step being configured to support the weight of an occupant of the seat during ingress and egress therefrom,

wherein the step in the deployed position is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a step riser.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the step pivots downwardly when moving from the stowed position to the deployed position, and pivots upwardly when moving from the deployed position to the stowed position.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 13, further comprising a first latch to releasably hold the step in the stowed position and a second latch to releasably hold the step in the deployed position.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the step pivots upwardly when moving from the stowed position to the deployed position, and pivots downwardly when moving from the deployed position to the stowed position.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 15, further comprising a support latch to releasably hold the step in the deployed position.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 16, further comprising a stop to limit upward travel of the step when in the deployed position.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the step further comprises a grip.

19. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the step further includes a covering.

20. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the step further comprises a tread.

21. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the step further includes a support leg that is positionable between a stowed position within the base and a deployed position generally perpendicular to the step.

22. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a generally hollow base attached to a floor of a vehicle;

a generally horizontal seat cushion attached atop the base;

a generally vertical seatback attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion; and

a step coupled to the base, the step being adjacent to the floor and having a front wall with a grip and a top with a tread,

wherein the step is selectively positionable between a stowed position substantially within the base and a deployed position extending at least partially outwardly from the base in a generally horizontal orientation, the step being sufficiently secured to the base to support the weight of an occupant of the seat during ingress and egress therefrom, and

wherein the step in the deployed position is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a step riser.