Vehicle seat assembly

• US 5,529,376 A
• Filed: 04/06/1994
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation, Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Bargiel, David A., Schulte, Steven A., Susko, Thomas J., Jovan, Dragi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/223,881
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 296/63, 296/64, 296/65.1, 280/801.1, 248/429, 297/232, 297/248, 297/257, 297/344.1, 297/464, 297/188.04, 297/188.01, 297/188.07, 297/463.1
• US Class Current: 297/257
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/015 Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/35 Seat, bench or back-rests being split laterally in two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49956 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

A vehicle modular three-across seat, or, so-called, split bench seat assembly, including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure. Each outboard seat structure is supported on the floor of the vehicle by four corner anchors for independent forward and aft movement. The middle seat is supported in a fixed manner by four corner support brackets extending outwardly and downwardly to mount on the adjacent two pairs of front and rear corner anchors. The modular three-seat assembly is adapted to be installed as a unit in the vehicle by securing the four corner anchors of each of the two outboard seat structures to the vehicle floor pan.

Claims

1. In a vehicle modular three-across seat assembly including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure, wherein each outboard seat structure comprises a seat frame having oppositely disposed longitudinal slide members slidably mounted on respective tracks, with a floor anchor secured to each forward and each rear end portion of each track, and the middle seat structure comprising a seat frame, the improvement comprising two front and two aft support brackets secured between the respective four corner portions of the middle seat frame and the respective two front and two rear adjacent floor anchors of the two outboard seat structures, wherein each said outboard seat structure being adapted for independent fore and aft adjustable movement relative to said middle seat structure.

2. The vehicle modular three-across seat assembly described in claim 1, wherein the narrower middle seat structure includes a back which is adapted to be pivoted downwardly, and includes a back cover which is pivotable upwardly to expose at least one storage compartment therein.

3. In a vehicle modular three-across seat assembly including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure, wherein each outboard seat structure comprises a seat frame having oppositely disposed longitudinal slide members slidably mounted on respective tracks, with a floor anchor secured to each forward and each rear end portion of each track, and the middle seat structure comprising a seat frame, the improvement comprising two front and two aft support brackets secured between the respective four corner portions of the middle seat frame and the respective two front and two rear adjacent floor anchors of the two outboard seat structures, wherein each front support bracket is formed to include a brace segment angled outwardly and downwardly at a predetermined angle, a substantially horizontal mounting flange secured to said middle seat frame, and a substantially vertical mounting flange secured to the adjacent respective floor anchor.

4. In a vehicle modular three-across seat assembly including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure, wherein each outboard seat structure comprises a seat frame having oppositely disposed longitudinal slide members slidably mounted on respective tracks, with a floor anchor secured to each forward and each rear end portion of each track, and the middle seat structure comprising a seat frame, the improvement comprising two front and two aft support brackets secured between the respective four corner portions of the middle seat frame and the respective two front and two rear adjacent floor anchors of the two outboard seat structures, wherein each rear support bracket is formed to include a brace segment angled outwardly and downwardly at a predetermined angle, a substantially horizontal mounting flange secured to said middle seat frame and a substantially horizontal mounting flange secured to the adjacent respective floor anchor.

5. In a vehicle modular three-across seat assembly including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure, wherein each outboard seat structure comprises a seat frame having oppositely disposed longitudinal slide members slidably mounted on respective tracks, with a floor anchor secured to each forward and each rear end portion of each track, and the middle seat structure comprising a seat frame, the improvement comprising two front and two aft support brackets secured between the respective four corner portions of the middle seat frame and the respective two front and two rear adjacent floor anchors of the two outboard seat structures, and a seat belt connector secured to an inner rear side portion of each outer seat frame and a center seat belt and buckle respectively secured to said two rear support brackets.

6. In a vehicle modular three-across seat assembly including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure, wherein each outboard seat structure comprises a seat frame having oppositely disposed longitudinal slide members slidably mounted on respective tracks, with a floor anchor secured to each forward and each rear end portion of each track, and the middle seat structure comprising a seat frame, the improvement comprising two front and two aft support brackets secured between the respective four corner portions of the middle seat frame and the respective two front and two rear adjacent floor anchors of the two outboard seat structures, and a center seat belt and buckle respectively secured to said two rear support brackets.

7. In a vehicle modular three-across seat assembly including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure, wherein each outboard seat structure comprises a seat frame having oppositely disposed longitudinal slide members slidably mounted on respective tracks, with a floor anchor secured to each forward and each rear end portion of each track, and the middle seat structure comprising a seat frame, the improvement comprising two front and two aft support brackets secured between the respective four corner portions of the middle seat frame and the respective two front and two rear adjacent floor anchors of the two outboard seat structures, and a contoured floor pan adapted to having the total of four forward and four rear floor anchors secured thereto to support the three seat frames.