Vehicular under-seat compartment mechanism

• US 6,877,807 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Mizuno, Koji, Morinishi, Yasuji, Ogino, Takashi, Kutomi, Shingo
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US10/701,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.1, 297/188.09, 297/188.08
• US Class Current: 297/188.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

To utilize limited space in a vehicle cabin, a vehicular under-seat compartment mechanism includes a hinge mechanism, a compartment and a lock mechanism. The hinge mechanism interconnects a seat-frame and a seat-cushion in such a manner that the seat-cushion is pivotally rotatable with respect to the seat-frame. The compartment is disposed in the under-seat space under the seat and is formed an opening upwardly. The lock mechanism, integrated with the hinge mechanism, locks the seat-cushion at an upright position, at which the seat-cushion is pivotally flipped up about the hinge mechanism so that the compartment is accessible.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat-frame and a seat-cushion disposed on the seat-frame;

an under-seat compartment mechanism comprising;

a hinge mechanism pivotally interconnecting the seat-frame and the seat-cushion so that the seat-cushion is pivotal with respect to the seat-frame;

a compartment under the seat having an opening; and

a lock mechanism, integrated with the hinge mechanism, for locking the seat-cushion at an upright position, at which the seat-cushion is pivoted with respect to the seat-frame so that said compartment becomes accessible; and

a release mechanism for releasing the locking of the seat-cushion by the lock mechanism,

wherein said release mechanism includes;

an unlocking strap disposed at a rear end of the seat-cushion, and

a wire linking between said unlocking strap and said lock mechanism in such a manner that when said unlocking strap is operated by a user, the locking of the seat-cushion by said lock mechanism is released.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism includes:

a cam fixed on the seat-frame, said cam having a first slot and a second slot, and

a lock member, disposed to the seat-cushion for selectively engaging with one of said first and second slots so that when said lock member engages with said second slot, the seat-cushion is locked in the upright position and so that when said lock member engages with said first slot, the seat-cushion is locked in a horizontal position at which the seat-cushion lays on the seat-frame horizontally.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, further comprising an inner lid, disposed between the seat-cushion and said compartment, for covering the opening of said compartment.

4. A vehicle seat according to claim 3, further comprising:

a seat-hook attached at a back face of the seat-cushion, and

an inner lid strap attached to said inner lid to be hooked on said seat-hook.

5. A vehicle seat according to claim 4, further comprising an extra wall upwardly projected from an edge of the opening of said compartment along with the edge of the opening.

6. A vehicle seat according to claim 5, further comprising one or wore netting hooks, disposed around the opening of said compartment, for engaging a net so as to keep an object in said compartment.

8. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, further comprising:

a seat-hook attached at a back face of the seat-cushion, and

an inner lid strap attached to said inner lid to be hooked on said seat-hook.

9. A vehicle seat according to claim 8, further comprising an extra wall upwardly projected from an edge of the opening of said compartment along with tile edge of the opening.

10. A vehicle seat according to claim 1,further comprising:

a seat-hook attached at the back face of the seat-cushion, and

an inner lid strap attached to said inner lid to be hooked on said seat-hook.

7. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat-frame and a seat-cushion disposed on the seat-frame;

an under-seat compartment mechanism comprising;

a hinge mechanism pivotally interconnecting the seat-frame and the seat-cushion so that the seat-cushion is pivotal with respect to the seat-frame;

a compartment under the seat having an opening; and

a lock mechanism, integrated with the hinge mechanism, for locking the seat-cushion at an upright position, at which the seat-cushion is pivoted with respect to the seat-frame so that said compartment becomes accessible,

wherein said lock mechanism includes;

a cam fixed on the seat-frame, said cam having a first slot and a second slot, and

a lock member, disposed to the seat-cushion,, for selectively engaging with one of said first and second slot so that when said lock member engages with said second slot, the seat-cushion is locked in the upright position and so that when said lock member engages with said first slot, the seat-cushion is locked in a horizontal position at which the seat-cushion lays on the seat-frame horizontally.

11. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat-frame and a seat-cushion disposed on the seat-frame;

an under-seat compartment mechanism comprising;

a hinge mechanism pivotally interconnecting the seat-frame and the seat-cushion so that the seat-cushion is pivotal with respect to the seat-frame;

a compartment under the seat having an opening;

a lock mechanism, integrated with the hinge mechanism, for locking the seat-cushion at an upright position, at which the seat-cushion is pivoted with respect to the seat-frame so that said compartment becomes accessible;

an inner lid, disposed between the seat-cushion and said compartment, for covering the opening of said compartment;

a seat-hook attached at a back face of the seat-cushion; and

an inner lid strap attached to said inner lid to be hooked on said seat-hook.

12. A vehicle seat according to claim 11, further comprising an extra wall upwardly projected from an edge of the opening of said compartment along with the edge of the opening.

13. A vehicle seat according to claim 12, further comprising one or more netting hooks, disposed around the opening of said compartment, for engaging a net so as so keep an object in said compartment.

14. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat-frame and a seat-cushion disposed on the seat-frame;

an under-seat compartment mechanism comprising;

a hinge mechanism pivotally interconnecting the seat-frame and the seat-cushion so that the seat-cushion is pivotal with respect to the seat-frame;

a compartment under the seat having an opening;

a lock mechanism, integrated with the hinge mechanism, for locking the seat-cushion at an upright position, at which the seat-cushion is pivoted with respect to the seat-frame so that said compartment becomes accessible;

an extra wall upwardly projected from an edge of the opening of said compartment along with the edge of the opening; and

one or more netting hooks, disposed around die opening of said compartment, for engaging a net so as to keep an object in said compartment.