Folding platform and shelves for use in vehicles
First Claim
1. A folding platform for a vehicle having a seat with a folding seat back supported for movement between an upright position and a forward position, the folding platform comprising:
- a first series of panels, the edge of a first panel of said first series being affixed to a shaft rotatively fixed in a horizontal direction behind and in parallel proximity to the seat back, the opposite edge of said first panel being hinged to a second panel of said first series of panels, said series of panels being hinged to one another to unfold in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to rest on vertical support members and fold substantially congruently over said first panel to be rotated as a unit with said shaft;
a second series of panels, a first panel of said second series of panels being horizontally hinged to the seat back and connected to a top vertical extreme of said seat back, said second series of panels being hinged to one another to fold substantially congruently with said first panel of said second series of panels against said seat back, and when said seat back is in the forward position, to unfold in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to rest on vertical support members whereby a substantially continuous platform with said first series of folding panels is formed, when said first series is unfolded; and
means for horizontally levelling said panel to said seat back when said seat back is folded;
whereinthe means for horizontally levelling said panel hinged to said seat back comprises a bar held horizontally and transversely in said vehicle by means of a pair of members attached to said bar, said members having ends pivotally attached to said seat back, and said bar moving from a position against said seat back to a substantially vertical position to engage brackets attached to said panel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A folding platform for a vehicle (12) comprising a first series of panels (2, 3, 4), and a second series of panels (5, 7, 9) which may be unfolded within the vehicle (12) to form load carrying shelves or a platform which may be used to support a mattress. The first series of panels (2, 3, 4), one of which is affixed to a shaft, rotate as a unit with the shaft. The panels fold to be stored against the rear of a folding seat back (11) in close parallel proximity to the seat back (11), thus occupying only a small volume and not interfering with the use of the rear cargo area or trunk (30) of the vehicle (12). The panels may be disposed in a flexible fabric container (101, 105) with seams between the panels serving as hinges.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A folding platform for a vehicle having a seat with a folding seat back supported for movement between an upright position and a forward position, the folding platform comprising:
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a first series of panels, the edge of a first panel of said first series being affixed to a shaft rotatively fixed in a horizontal direction behind and in parallel proximity to the seat back, the opposite edge of said first panel being hinged to a second panel of said first series of panels, said series of panels being hinged to one another to unfold in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to rest on vertical support members and fold substantially congruently over said first panel to be rotated as a unit with said shaft; a second series of panels, a first panel of said second series of panels being horizontally hinged to the seat back and connected to a top vertical extreme of said seat back, said second series of panels being hinged to one another to fold substantially congruently with said first panel of said second series of panels against said seat back, and when said seat back is in the forward position, to unfold in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to rest on vertical support members whereby a substantially continuous platform with said first series of folding panels is formed, when said first series is unfolded; and means for horizontally levelling said panel to said seat back when said seat back is folded;
whereinthe means for horizontally levelling said panel hinged to said seat back comprises a bar held horizontally and transversely in said vehicle by means of a pair of members attached to said bar, said members having ends pivotally attached to said seat back, and said bar moving from a position against said seat back to a substantially vertical position to engage brackets attached to said panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A folding platform for a vehicle having a seat with a folding seat back supported for movement between an upright position and a forward position, the folding platform comprising:
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a first series of panels, the edge of a first panel of said first series being affixed to a shaft rotatively fixed in a horizontal direction behind and in parallel proximity to the seat back, the opposite edge of said first panel being hinged to a second panel of said first series of panels, said series of panels being hinged to one another to unfold in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to rest on vertical support members and fold substantially congruently over said first panel to be rotated as a unit with said shaft; and a second series of panels, a first panel of said second series of panels being horizontally hinged to the seat back said second series of panels being hinged to one another to fold substantially congruently with said first panel of said second series of panels against said seat back, and when said seat back is in the forward position, to unfold in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to rest on vertical support members whereby a substantially continuous platform with said first series is unfolded, and in which one of the second series of panels unfolds forward of the seat back to a horizontal position in which it is supported when the seat back is in the forward position. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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- 12. A folding shelf for a vehicle having a seat with a folding seat back supported for movement between an upright position and a forward position, the folding shelf comprising a series of panels, a first panel of said series of panels being horizontally hinged to the seat back, said series of panels being hinged to one another to fold substantially congruently with the first panel against the seat back, and when the seat back is in the forward position, to unfold in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to rest on vertical support members, the folding shelf further comprising means for horizontally leveling the panel hinged to the seat back when said seat back is in the forward position, and wherein the means for horizontally leveling the panel hinged to the seat back comprises a bar held horizontally and transversely in the vehicle by means of a pair of members attached to the bar, the members having ends pivotally attached to the seat back, said bar moving from a position against the seat back to a substantially vertical position to engage brackets attached to said panel.
- 16. A folding shelf for a vehicle having a seat with a folding seat back supported for movement between an upright position and a forward position, the folding shelf comprising a series of panels, a first panel of said series of panels being horizontally hinged to the seat back said series of panels being hinged to one another to fold substantially congruently with the first panel against the seat back, and when the seat back is in the forward position, to unfold in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to rest on vertical support members, and in which one of the panels unfolds forward of the seat back to a horizontal position in which it is supported when said seat back is in the forward position.
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19. In a vehicle having a seat with a folding seat back supported for movement between an upright position and a forward position, a folding platform comprising:
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a front panel assembly including first and second front panels, first front hinge means connecting an upper portion of the first front panel to an upper portion of the seat back for pivotal movement between a folded position rearward of the seat back and a substantially horizontal, unfolded position, and second front hinge means connecting an upper portion of the second front panel to an upper portion of the first front panel for pivotal movement between a folded position, wherein, when the seat back is in the upright position, the second front panel overlaps, is rearward of, and is substantially parallel to the first front panel, and an unfolded position, wherein, when the seat back is in the forward position, the second front panel is substantially coplanar with and extends away from the first front panel and projects forward of the seat back; and a back panel assembly including a first rear panel, a horizontal shaft transversely extending across the vehicle rearward of the seat, and first rear hinge means connecting the first rear panel to the shaft for pivotal movement about the shaft between a folded position and a substantially horizontal, unfolded position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A folding shelf for a vehicle having a seat with a folding seat back supported for movement between an upright position and a forward position, the folding shelf comprising:
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first, second, and third panels; first hinge means for connecting an upper portion of the first panel to the seat back for pivotal movement between a folded position and a substantially horizontal, unfolded position; second hinge means connecting an upper portion of the second panel to an upper portion of the first panel for pivotal movement between a folded position, wherein, when the seat back is in the upright position, the second panel overlaps, is rearward of, and is substantially parallel to the first panel, and an unfolded position, wherein when the seat back is in the forward position, the second panel is substantially coplanar with and extends away fom the first panel and projects forward of the seat back; and third hinge means connecting a lower portion of the first panel to a lower portion of the third panel for pivotal movement, when the seat back is in the forward position, between a folded position, wherein the third panel overlaps and is substantially parallel to the first panel, and an unfolded position, wherein the third panel is substantially coplanar with and extends away from the first panel. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification