Seat back mounted fold down auto office

• US 6,059,358 A
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Demick, Robert L., Nordlund, Howard R., Halse, Larry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/222,262
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.01, 297/188.04, 297/188.07, 297/146, 297/125, 297/217.6, 297/403, 297/408, 297/344.1, 312/223.3
• US Class Current: 297/188.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/206 to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/08 Disposition of racks, clips , holders, containers or the like for supporting specific articles B60R7/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat back mounted fold down auto office having a bin portion mounted to the seat back of a vehicle seat assembly on the rear side thereof including a recessed storage area therein. A cover is provided for the recessed storage area and is rotatable upon a hinge to move the cover from a closed position to an open position to access the recessed storage area. Additional features include a fold out support panel that can rotate out from the storage bin toward a user after which the storage bin can be closed while the support panel extends from the storage bin. The support panel can be used to attach a notepad or and/or cellular telephone. In addition, the cover can be equipped with a light to illuminate the storage area in the bin.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a generally horizontal seat cushion having front and rear ends;

a seat back at said rear end of said seat cushion and extending substantially upwardly in an occupant use position, said seat back being rotatably mounted for movement from said substantially upwardly extending occupant use position to a substantially horizontal folded forward auto office use position, said seat back having a rear side;

a bin portion mounted to said seat back on said rear side thereof, said bin portion having a recessed storage area therein, said bin portion being operable to retain items storable in said bin portion and providing access to said recessed storage area when said seat back is in said auto office use position;

a cover for said recessed storage area to conceal and retain items stored within said recessed storage area of said bin portion, and configured to provide access to said recessed storage area when said seat back is in said auto office use position; and

a hinge pivotally mounting said cover to said bin portion for movement between a closed position in which said cover conceals and retains items stored within said recessed storage area and an open position in which said recessed storage area is accessible.

2. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said hinge is secured to a forward edge of said cover as determined when said seat back is in said folded forward position.

3. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover includes an inner surface having storage containers secured thereto.

4. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover includes an inner surface and further comprising a light mounted to said cover on said inner surface for illuminating said recessed storage area when said cover is in said open position.

5. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising a support panel mounted to said bin portion for rotation between a stowed position within said recessed storage area and a use position extending laterally from said bin portion.

6. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said cover includes a notch coordinated with said support panel such that said cover can be positioned in a closed position when said support panel is in said laterally extending use position.

7. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said bin portion includes a notch coordinated with said support panel such that said cover can be positioned in a closed position when said support panel is in said laterally extending use position.

8. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 5 further comprising a clip on one surface of said support panel for attaching a note pad thereto.

9. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 5 further comprising a telephone support bracket on one surface of said support panel for attaching a cellular telephone thereto.

10. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said support panel rotates from said stowed position within said recessed storage area to said laterally extending use position in which a first surface of said support panel faces upward and a second surface faces downward, and further comprising a telephone support bracket on said second surface for attaching a cellular telephone thereto.

11. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein, when said cover is in said closed position, said support panel is rotatable from said laterally extending use position to an intermediate use position in which said second surface of said support panel faces laterally outward from said seat back.

12. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising a fore and aft seat adjuster for adjusting the position of said seat cushion and said seat back within a vehicle body.

13. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said seat cushion and said seat back are adapted to be mounted in a vehicle body at an outboard seating position.

14. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 13 further comprising a support panel mounted to said bin portion for rotation between a stowed position within said recessed storage area and a use position extending laterally inward from said bin portion.

15. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a head rest extending from said seat back, said head rest having a body with a rear surface; and

a storage pouch in said head rest body with a movable closure forming a part of said rear surface of said head rest body.

16. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a generally horizontal seat cushion having front and rear ends;

a seat back at said rear end of said seat cushion and extending substantially upwardly in an occupant use position, said seat back being rotatably mounted for movement from said substantially upwardly extending occupant use position to a substantially horizontal folded forward auto office use position, said seat back having a rear side;

a bin portion mounted to said seat back on said rear side thereof, said bin portion having a recessed storage area therein, said bin portion being operable to retain items storable in said bin portion and providing access to said recessed storage area when said seat back is in said auto office use position;

a cover for said recessed storage area to conceal and retain items stored within said recessed storage area of said bin portion, and configured to provide access to said recessed storage area when said seat back is in said auto office use position; and

a hinge pivotally mounting said cover to said bin portion for movement between a closed position in which said cover conceals and retains items stored within said recessed storage area and an open position in which said recessed storage area is accessible, said hinge being located at a forward edge of said cover as determined when said seat back is in said folded forward position whereby said cover rotates upward and forward to said open position.

17. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said cover includes an inner surface having storage containers secured thereto.

18. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said cover includes an inner surface and further comprising a light mounted to said cover on said inner surface for illuminating said recessed storage area when said cover is in said open position.

19. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a generally horizontal seat cushion having front and rear ends;

a seat back at said rear end of said seat cushion and extending upwardly in an occupant use position, said seat back being rotatably mounted for movement from said occupant use position to a folded forward position, said seat back having a rear side;

a bin portion mounted to said seat back on said rear side thereof, said bin portion having a recessed storage area therein;

a cover for said recessed storage area to conceal and retain items stored within said recessed storage area of said bin portion, said cover being pivotally secured adjacent to said bin portion, said cover having a closed position; and

a support panel pivotally mounted to said bin portion and having a stowed position within said recessed storage area and a use position extending from said bin portion, wherein said support panel is operable to be positioned in multiple use positions when said cover is in said closed position.

20. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 19 further comprising a clip on one surface of said support panel for attaching a note pad thereto.

21. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 19 further comprising a telephone support bracket on one surface of said support panel for attaching a cellular telephone thereto.

22. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 19 wherein said support panel rotates from said stowed position within said recessed storage area to said laterally extending use position in which a first surface of said support panel faces upward and a second surface faces downward, and further comprising a telephone support bracket on said second surface for attaching a cellular telephone thereto.

23. The vehicle seat assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein, when said cover is in said closed position, said support panel is rotatable from said laterally extending use position, toward said stowed position, to an intermediate use position in which said second surface of said support panel faces laterally outward from said seat back.

32. The auto office system as defined in claim 19 wherein one of said bin portion and said cover include a notch coordinated with said support panel such that said cover can be positioned in said closed position when said support panel is in said extended use position.

24. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a generally horizontal seat cushion having front and rear ends;

a seat back at said rear end of said seat cushion and extending upwardly in an occupant use position, said seat back being rotatably mounted for movement from said occupant use position to a folded forward position, said seat back having a rear side;

a bin portion mounted to said seat back on said rear side thereof, said bin portion having a recessed storage area therein;

a cover for said recessed storage area to conceal and retain items stored within said recessed storage area of said bin portion said cover being, pivotally mounted adjacent to said bin portion; and

a support panel pivotally mounted adjacent to said bin portion, wherein one of said bin portion and said cover includes a notch coordinated with said support panel such that said cover can be positioned in a closed position when said support panel is in an extended use position.

25. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a generally horizontal seat cushion having front and rear ends;

a seat back at said rear end of said seat cushion and extending upwardly in an occupant use position, said seat back being rotatably mounted for movement from said occupant use position to a folded forward position, said seat back having a rear side;

a bin portion mounted to said seat back on said rear side thereof, said bin portion having a recessed storage area therein;

a cover for said recessed storage area to conceal and retain items stored within said recessed storage area of said bin portion;

a hinge pivotally mounting said cover to said bin portion for movement between a closed position in which said cover conceals and retains items stored within said recessed storage area and an open position in which said recessed storage area is accessible; and

a support panel pivotally mounted adjacent to said bin portion and having an extended use position, wherein one of said bin portion and said cover include a notch coordinated with said support panel such that said cover can be positioned in said closed position when said support panel is in said extended use position.

26. An auto office system comprising:

a bin portion adapted to be mounted in a vehicle and having a generally horizontal use position, said bin portion having a recessed area therein;

a cover pivotally secured adjacent to said recessed area, said cover having an open position and a closed position; and

a support panel pivotally secured adjacent to said recessed area, said support panel having a stowed position within said recessed area and a use position extending from said recessed area, wherein said support panel is operable to be positioned in multiple use positions when said cover is in said closed position.

27. The auto office system as defined in claim 26 further comprising a clip on one surface of said support panel for attaching a note pad thereto.

28. The auto office system as defined in claim 26 further comprising a telephone support bracket on one surface of said support panel for attaching a cellular telephone thereto.

29. The auto office system as defined in claim 26, wherein said support panel rotates from said stowed position within said recessed storage area to said laterally extending use position in which a first surface of said support panel faces upward and a second surface faces downward, and further comprising a telephone support bracket on said second surface for attaching a cellular telephone thereto.

30. The auto office system as defined in claim 29 wherein, when said cover is in said closed position, said support panel is rotatable from said laterally extending use position to an intermediate use position in which said second surface of said support panel faces laterally from said bin portion.

31. The auto office system as defined in claim 26 wherein one of said bin portion and said cover include a notch coordinated with said support panel such that said cover can be positioned in said closed position when said support panel is in said extended use position.