Vehicle seat assembly having movable panels mounted thereon

• US 6,698,829 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Freijy, Nizar, Varga, Dennis John, Babcock, Paul Cameron, Dowell, Robert John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARRETT, ERIKA P
• Application Number:
  US10/262,634
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 297/331, 297/335, 297/336, 297/378.11, 297/378.12, 297/378.13, 297/378.14, 297/248, 297/233, 297/232, 297/188.11, 297/188.13, 297/188.09, 297/188.08
• US Class Current: 297/188.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/363 characterised by provisions for enhancing the cargo floor surface, e.g. elements closing gaps or enlarging the back-rest surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/04 arranged at rear of vehicle B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065

Abstract

A seat assembly for mounting on a vehicle floor includes a seat bottom and at least one panel movably attached to the seat bottom. The panel is movable between a storage position adjacent the seat bottom, and a deployed position extending outwardly from the seat bottom such that the panel is in a generally horizontal position to form a flat load floor above the vehicle floor.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for mounting on a vehicle floor comprising:

a seat bottom; and

at least one panel movably attached to said seat bottom, said panel movable between a storage position adjacent said seat bottom, and a deployed position extending outwardly from said seat bottom;

wherein said seat bottom is movably mounted relative to the vehicle floor between a seating position for supporting an occupant, and a forward position exposing said lower surface, such that a rear portion of said seat bottom is generally oriented vertically above a front portion of said seat bottom when said seat bottom is in said forward position; and

wherein said panel is pivotally mounted on said seat bottom and movable between said storage position, wherein said panel is underneath said lower surface of said seat bottom when said seat bottom is in said seating position, and said deployed position, wherein said panel extends outwardly from said lower surface of said seat bottom and at a position lower than said rear portion of said seat bottom, such that said panel is in a generally horizontal position to form a flat load floor above a vehicle floor.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said seat bottom defines a lower surface, and wherein said panel is underneath said lower surface when in said storage position.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein said panel is in a generally horizontal position underneath said seat bottom when in said storage position.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said seat bottom is adapted to be pivoted relative to the vehicle floor at a front lower portion of said seat bottom.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said panel is pivotally mounted on said seat bottom.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said panel defines a first panel and said seat assembly further including a second panel pivotally attached to said first panel, said second panel movable between a storage position adjacent said seat bottom, and a deployed position extending outwardly from said first panel.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6, wherein said second panel is in a generally horizontal position when in said deployed position co-planar with said first panel in said deployed position to form a flat load floor above the vehicle floor.

8. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said seat bottom defines a lower portion having a recess formed therein, and wherein said panel is disposed in said recess when in said storage position.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said panel is in a generally horizontal position within said recess when said panel is in said storage position.

10. The seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said panel defines a first panel and said seat assembly further includes a second panel pivotally attached to said first panel, said second panel movable between a storage position disposed in said recess, and a deployed position extending outwardly from said first panel.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10, wherein said second panel is in a generally horizontal position when in said deployed position co-planar with said first panel to form a flat load floor above the vehicle floor.

12. The seat assembly of claim 10, wherein said second panel is disposed in said recess when said first panel is in said storage position.

13. The seat assembly of claim 1, further including at least one leg attached to said panel for supporting said panel on the vehicle floor when said panel is in said deployed position.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13, wherein said leg is pivotally attached to said panel such that said leg is movable between a retracted position adjacent said panel when said panel is in said storage position, and an extended position for supporting said panel on the vehicle floor when said panel is in said deployed position.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein said leg is spring biased to said extended position.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a floor having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a seat bottom defining a lower surface and adapted to be pivoted relative to said floor at a front lower portion of said seat bottom, said seat bottom being movably mounted relative to said lower portion of said floor between a seating position for supporting an occupant, and a forward position exposing said lower surface; and

at least one panel pivotally mounted on said seat bottom and movable between a storage position, wherein said panel is underneath said lower surface of said seat bottom when said seat bottom is in said seating position, and a deployed position, wherein said panel extends outwardly from said lower surface of said seat bottom such that said panel is in a generally horizontal position and is generally coplanar with said upper portion of said floor to form a flat load floor above said floor.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said panel is in a generally horizontal position underneath said seat bottom when in said storage position.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said panel defines a first panel and said seat assembly further including a second panel pivotally attached to said first panel, said second panel movable between a storage position disposed in said recess, and a deployed position extending outwardly from said first panel.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further including at least one leg attached to said panel for supporting said panel on said floor when said panel is in said deployed position.