Rear seat for a vehicle

• US 6,629,729 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2002
• 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: Dixon, John, Moburg, Frank D., Tsay, Michael, Endo, Mami, Frye, John A., Wiedeman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, STEPHANIE N
• Application Number:
  US10/034,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20030127891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 297/331, 297/335, 297/344.21, 297/378.1, 297/325, 297/326, 297/452.56, 297/232, 297/13, 297/14, 297/410, 297/378.12, 297/245, 297/248, 296/65.11, 296/65.09
• US Class Current: 297/232
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3043 about longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3052 about vertical axis

Abstract

A pair of foldable rear seats for a motor vehicle includes a support stub fixed to the vehicle and a pair elongated support arms pivotally connected to the support stub. A pair of seat bottoms are pivotally connected to each of the respective support arms, such that each seat bottom is pivotable between a vertical folded position and a horizontal open position. Further, a pair of seat backs are each pivotally connected to a rear portion of each respective seat bottom in order to fold into the respective seat bottom from an open position. A headrest is slidably disposed on each seat back. Furthermore, a pair of seat legs are each pivotally connected to the seat bottom at an outer portion thereof so that when the seat bottom is in the open state, the seat leg, in its open position, extends from the seat bottom to the vehicle floor.

Claims

1. A foldable rear seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a support stub fixed to the vehicle generally at a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;

an elongated support arm having a first end operatively connected to and pivotable about a vertical axis of said support stub and a second end remote from said first end;

a seat bottom operatively connected to and pivotable about said second end of said support arm, such that said seat bottom is pivotable between a vertical folded position and a horizontal open position; and

a seat back operatively connected to said seat bottom and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said seat bottom in order to fold into said seat bottom from an open position,

whereby said rear seat is configurable into an open state for use as a seat and two folded states, a first folded state in which said seat is stowed in position generally along the centerline of the vehicle and a second folded state stowed laterally with respect to the centerline of the vehicle.

2. The foldable rear seat of claim 1, further comprising a seat leg pivotally connected with said seat bottom at an outer portion thereof, such that when said seat is in the open state, said seat leg extends between said seat bottom and the vehicle floor in order to support said seat bottom.

3. The foldable rear seat of claim 1, wherein said seat bottom includes an outer shell and an inner cushion.

4. The foldable rear seat of claim 3, wherein said seat leg is U-shaped, having a bight and opposing support legs, wherein with each opposing support leg thereof is pivotally attached to said outer shell of said seat bottom, such that said bight of the U-shaped leg rests on the vehicle floor in said open state.

5. The foldable rear seat of claim 4, further comprising a lock operatively connected with said seat bottom and said seat leg, such that when said seat leg is moved from a stowed position, said seat back and said seat bottom are released to also move into place for the open state.

6. The foldable rear seat of claim 1, wherein said seat back includes a headrest slideable upwardly and downwardly from a top of said seat back.

7. The foldable rear seat of claim 3, wherein said inner cushion includes a lower seat pan attached to said shell, an upper seat pan attached to said lower seat pan, a layer of mesh-like fabric covering said upper seat pan, and a cushion layer on top of a portion of said mesh-like fabric.

8. The foldable rear seat of claim 1, wherein said seat back includes a rear seat back frame, a seat back pan fixed to said seat back frame, a mesh-like fabric covering said seat back pan and a seat back cushion on top of a portion of said mesh-like fabric.

9. The foldable rear seat of claim 1, wherein said seat bottom, in said open state, is angled outwardly with respect to a centerline of the vehicle.

10. A pair of foldable rear seats for a vehicle, comprising:

a support stub fixed to the vehicle;

left and right elongated support arms, each having a first end operatively connected to and pivotable about said support stub and a second end remote from said first end, wherein each of said arms is pivotable from a position generally parallel to a centerline of the vehicle to a position generally perpendicular to the vehicle centerline;

left and right seat bottoms, each operatively connected to and pivotable about said second end of said respective left and right elongated support arms, said left and right seat bottoms pivotable between an open horizontal position and a folded vertical position;

left and right seat backs, each operatively connected to and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said respective left and right seat bottoms, in order to fold into said respective left and right seat bottoms;

whereby said rear seats are each individually configurable into an open state, for use as a seat, and two folded states, a first folded state in which said seat is stowed in a position generally parallel to the vehicle centerline and a second folded state in which said seat is stowed in position generally lateral to the vehicle centerline.

11. The pair of foldable rear seats of claim 10, further comprising a pair of seat legs, each one pivotally connected with each of said left and right seat bottoms, at respective outer portion thereof, such that when said seats are in the open state, each seat leg extends between said respective seat bottom and the vehicle floor in order to support said seat bottoms.

12. The pair of foldable rear seats of claim 10, wherein said seat bottoms each includes an outer shell and an inner cushion.

13. The pair of foldable rear seats of claim 12, wherein each of said seat legs is U-shaped, having a bight and opposing support legs, wherein with each opposing support leg thereof is pivotally attached to said outer shell of said respective seat bottom, such that said bight of each U-shaped leg rests on the vehicle floor in said open state.

14. The pair of foldable rear seats of claim 13, further comprising a lock operatively connected with each said seat bottom and each said seat leg, such that when each seat leg is moved from a stowed position, each seat back and each seat bottom are released to also move into place to the open state.

15. The pair of foldable rear seats of claim 10, wherein each seat back includes a headrest slideable upwardly and downwardly from a top of each seat back.

16. The pair of foldable rear seats of claim 12, wherein said inner cushion of each seat bottom includes a lower seat pan attached to said respective shell, an upper seat pan attached to said lower seat pan, a layer of mesh-like fabric covering said upper seat pan, and a cushion layer on top of a portion of said mesh-like fabric.

17. The pair of foldable rear seats of claim 10, wherein each said seat back includes a rear seat back frame, a seat back pan fixed to said seat back frame, a mesh-like fabric covering said seat back pan and a seat back cushion on top of a portion of said mesh-like fabric.

18. The pair of foldable rear seats of claim 10, wherein each said seat bottom, in said open state, is angled outwardly with respect to a centerline of the vehicle.

19. A pair of foldable rear seats for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a support stub fixed to the vehicle;

left and right elongated support arms, each having a first end operatively connected to and pivotable about said support stub and a second end remote from said first end, wherein each of said arms is pivotable from a position generally parallel to a centerline of the vehicle to a position generally perpendicular to the vehicle centerline;

left and right seat bottoms, each operatively connected to and pivotable about said second end of said respective left and right elongated support arms, said left and right seat bottoms pivotable between an open horizontal position and a folded vertical position;

left and right seat backs, each operatively connected to and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said respective left and right seat bottoms, in order to fold into said respective left and right seat bottoms, each seat back including a headrest slideable upwardly and downwardly from a top of each seat back; and

a pair of seat legs, one each pivotally connected with each of said left and right seat bottoms, at respective outer portion thereof, such that when said seats are in the open state, each seat leg extends between said respective seat bottom and the vehicle floor in order to support said seat bottoms, wherein said seat bottoms each includes an outer shell and an inner cushion, and each of said seat legs is U-shaped, having a bight and opposing support legs, wherein with each opposing support leg thereof is pivotally attached to said outer shell of said respective seat bottom, such that said bight of each U-shaped leg rests on the vehicle floor in said open state,

whereby said rear seats are each individually configurable into an open state, for use as a seat, and two folded states, a first folded state in which said seat is stowed in a position generally parallel to the vehicle centerline and a second folded state in which said seat is stowed in position generally lateral to the vehicle centerline.

20. A method of folding up, from an open state, a foldable rear seat of a vehicle, said foldable rear seat including,

a seat bottom operatively connected to and pivotable about a support arm, said support arm pivotable about a vertical axis of a support stub near a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, such that the seat bottom is pivotable between a vertical folded position and a horizontal open position, and

a seat back operatively connected to said seat bottom and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said seat bottom in order to fold into said seat bottom from an open position, wherein said seat back includes a headrest slideable upwardly and downwardly from a top of said seat back,

a seat leg pivotally connected with said seat bottom at an outer portion thereof, such that when said seat is in the open state, said seat leg extends between said seat bottom and the vehicle floor in order to support said seat bottom,

wherein said method comprises the steps of:

sliding said headrest downwardly into a nesting position in said seat back;

folding said seat back into said seat bottom;

raising said seat bottom, including said seat back and headrest, into a vertical stowed position; and

pivoting said seat leg from its open position to a closed position adjacent said seat bottom.

21. A method of unfolding a folded rear seat of a vehicle, said foldable rear seat including,

a seat bottom operatively connected to and pivotable about a support arm, said support arm pivotable about a vertical axis of a support stub near a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, such that the seat bottom is pivotable between a vertical folded position and a horizontal open position;

and

a seat back operatively connected to said seat bottom and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said seat bottom in order to fold into said seat bottom from an open position, wherein said seat back includes a headrest slideable upwardly and downwardly from a top of said seat back,

a seat leg pivotally connected with said seat bottom at an outer portion thereof, such that when said seat is in the open state, said seat leg extends between said seat bottom and the vehicle floor in order to support said seat bottom, said seat bottom, seat back and seat leg being in the closed or folded position,

wherein said method comprises the steps of;

pivoting said seat leg outwardly into an open position;

pivoting said seat bottom from a vertical folded position to a horizontal open position;

pivoting said seat back from a horizontal position to a vertical position; and

sliding said headrest upwardly on said seat back from a nesting position to an extended position.