Seat structure in automobile

• US 6,488,326 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Moburg, Frank D., Wyszogrod, Jose N.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/767,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 296/64, 296/65.05, 296/65.16, 296/65.01, 297/335, 297/331, 297/378.12
• US Class Current: 296/64
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3072 on a lower level of a multi-level vehicle floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3079 in a recess
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/971 the locking system being an element distinct from articulation means, retaining the seat or seat part in its folded position, e.g. controlled by a wire

Abstract

In an automobile including front and rear seats (Sf) and (Sr) disposed at a longitudinal distance on a vehicle body floor (F), rearward-extending support arms (A) are provided at lower portions of sides of the front seat (Sf). The rear seat (Sr) includes a seat portion (3) which is connected at its front end to tip portions of the support arms (A) and pivotally turnable between a predetermined tilted-down position (3H) and a standing position (3S), and a seat back (4) which is connected at its lower end to a front end of a rear floor section (Fr) and pivotally turnable between a predetermined standing position (4S) and a tilted-down position (4H). A receiving surface (Fm) for supporting the seat portion (3) lying in the tilted-down position (3H) is formed between the front floor section (Ff) and the rear floor section (Fr) higher in level than the front floor section (Fr), and when the rear seat (Sr) is in service, the seat portion (3) is retained in the tilted-down position (3H), and the seat back (4) is retained in the standing position (4S). Thus, an occupant can sit in a forward-facing attitude on the rear seat. Moreover, the baggage chamber space is enlarged, and the floor structure simplified. Further, the seat arrangement is diversified.

Claims

1. A seat structure in an automobile including front and rear seats disposed at a longitudinal distance therebetween on a vehicle body floor, wherein

said vehicle body floor includes a front floor section having said front seat disposed thereon, and a rear floor section which is disposed at the rear of said front floor section and which is higher in level than said front floor section;

said rear seat is comprised of a seat portion which is connected at a front end thereof to inner walls of the vehicle body at the rear of said front seat and pivotally turnable between a predetermined tilted-down position and a standing position in which the seat portion is righted forwards, and a seat back which is connected at a lower end thereof to a front end of said rear floor section and pivotally turnable between a predetermined standing position and a tilted-down position in which the seat back is tilted down forwards;

a receiving surface contiguous with and at the same level as the front floor section for supporting said seat portion lying in the tilted-down position is formed between said front floor section and said rear floor section, and when said rear seat is in service, said seat portion is retained in the tilted-down position, and said seat back is retained in the standing position.

2. A seat structure in an automobile according to claim 1, wherein when said rear seat is not in service, said seat back lying in the tilted-down position is superposed on an upper surface of said seat portion likewise lying in the tilted-down position, and in this state, the back surface of said seat back is substantially flush with said rear floor section.

3. A seat structure in an automobile according to claim 1, wherein, when said rear seat is not in service and said seat back lies in the tilted-down position over the upper surface of said seat portion likewise lying in the tilted-down position, a clearance is formed between the upper surface of said seat portion and a lower surface of said seat back.

4. A seat structure in an automobile according to claim 1, wherein when said rear seat is not in service, said seat back lying in the tilted-down position is positioned over an upper surface of said seat portion likewise lying in the tilted-down position, and in this state, the back surface of said seat back is substantially flush with said rear floor section.