INTEGRATED UNDERSEAT STORAGE

• US 20130313869A1
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aguirre, Adrian, Oceguera, Pedro Antonio Romero, Marin, Alberto Soto
• Granted Patent: US 9,090,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/188.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/00 Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of radio sets, television sets, telephones, stowing or holding appliances , safety belts or the like B60R
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

A seating assembly for a vehicle including a seat movable between a raised vertical position and a lowered horizontal position. A storage cavity is defined by an underside of the seat. The storage cavity includes a plurality of vehicle emergency items. Retaining features are disposed on the underside of the seat and secure the plurality of vehicle emergency items. An access opening is disposed on the underside of the seat. A door covers the access opening and is pivotally connected to the underside of the seat. The door is maintained in a latched condition until the seat is moved to the raised vertical position. The door moves to an unlatched condition when the seat is in the raised vertical position and access to the access opening is possible.

Claims

1. A seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a seat movable between a raised vertical position and a lowered horizontal position;

a storage cavity defined by an underside of the seat, the storage cavity including a plurality of vehicle emergency items;

retaining features disposed on the underside of the seat and securing the plurality of vehicle emergency items;

an access opening disposed on the underside of the seat; and

a door covering the access opening and pivotally connected to the underside of the seat, wherein the door is maintained in a latched condition until the seat is moved to the raised vertical position, and wherein the door moves to an unlatched condition when the seat is in the raised vertical position and access to the access opening is possible.

2. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuation assembly coupled to the door and adapted to shift the door from the latched condition to the unlatched condition when the seat is in the raised vertical position.

3. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

retaining features that secure stored items adjacent to the door.

4. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a handle assembly disposed on an exterior side of the door.

5. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage space disposed below the seat when the seat is in the lowered horizontal position.

6. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the door includes an at least partially transparent body construction such that items in the storage cavity can be viewed when the door is in a closed position.

7. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the door includes a solid body construction such that items in the storage cavity cannot be viewed when the door is in a closed position.

8. A seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a seat back;

a seat pivotally coupled with the seat back and movable between a raised position and a lowered position, the seat defining a storage cavity;

a single access opening disposed on an underside of the seat; and

a door covering the access opening, wherein access to the storage cavity through the access opening is possible only when the seat is in the raised position.

9. The seating assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

retaining features that secure stored items adjacent to the underside of the seat.

10. The seating assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

retaining features that secure stored items adjacent to the door.

11. The seating assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a handle assembly disposed on an exterior side of the door.

12. The seating assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a storage space disposed below the seat when the seat is in the lowered position.

13. The seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the door includes a solid body construction such that items in the storage cavity cannot be viewed when the door is in a closed position.

14. A seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a seat movable between a raised position and a lowered position, an underside of the seat defining a storage cavity;

an access opening disposed on the underside of the seat; and

a door covering the access opening and operable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, wherein the door is movable to the unlatched condition only when the seat is in the raised position.

15. The seating assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

an actuation assembly coupled to the door and adapted to shift the door from the latched condition to the unlatched condition when the seat is in the raised position.

16. The seating assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

retaining features that secure stored items adjacent to the underside of the seat.

17. The seating assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

retaining features that secure stored items adjacent to the door.

18. The seating assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a storage space disposed below the seat when the seat is in the lowered position.

19. The seating assembly of claim 14, wherein the door includes a solid body construction such that items in the storage cavity cannot be viewed when the door is in a closed position.