Seat storage system

• US 6,981,730 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Bixby, Seth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US10/495,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.15, 296/37.16, 296/65.09, 297/188.01, 297/188.1, 297/188.11, 297/188.12, 297/188.08, 297/188.09, 297/188.04, 297/188.2, 224/275, 150/108, D33/13
• US Class Current: 296/37.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3045 about transversal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

A seat has a seating surface and a bottom to which a sliding panel is mounted. The bottom of the seat includes a storage bin for removably holding items stored therein, which is selectively exposed by the sliding panel when translated from a position aligned with the seat to a position translated outwardly from a vehicle door to expose the storage area in the bottom of the seat. A fold-down table is pivotally mounted to the sliding panel for providing a convenient work surface and for holding items, such as bags and the like, which are easily loaded and unloaded with the sliding panel in the translated position, extending from the side of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat storage system comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat section wherein the seat section is adapted to be mounted for movement between a generally horizontal seating position and a raised, stored position substantially flush with the seat back, wherein said seat section includes a bottom and at least one guide extending longitudinally along said bottom;

a storage recess formed in said seat bottom; and

a panel slidably mounted to said guide for extending from a position aligned with the bottom of the seat for covering said storage recess to a position projecting laterally from said aligned position.

2. The storage system as defined in claim 1 wherein said panel includes a pivot-down table for supporting items positioned on said table.

3. The storage system as defined in claim 2 wherein said table is hingedly mounted to said panel.

4. The storage system as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom of the seat section includes a storage bin.

5. The storage system as defined in claim 4 wherein said bottom of said seat includes a pair of parallel spaced-apart guide rails.

6. The storage system as defined in claim 5 wherein said panel includes guides which slidably engage said rails.

7. The storage system as defined in claim 6 wherein said panel is integrally molded of a polymeric material.

8. The storage system as defined in claim 7 wherein said polymeric material is glass-filled polypropylene.

9. The storage system as defined in claim 7 wherein said polymeric material is ABS.

10. The storage system as defined in claim 2 wherein said panel includes a plurality of hooks positioned above said table for holding items.

11. The storage system as defined in claim 1 and further including a storage bin for snap-in attachment to said storage recess.

12. A vehicle seat storage system comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat section wherein the seat section is adapted to be mounted for movement between a generally horizontal seating position and a raised, stored position substantially flush with the seat back, wherein said seat section includes a bottom;

a storage recess formed in said bottom of said seat section; and

a pivot-down table pivotally mounted to said seat bottom for selectively covering said storage recess and for supporting items positioned on said table.

13. The storage system as defined in claim 12 wherein the bottom of the seat section includes a storage bin removably coupled to said storage recess.

14. The storage system as defined in claim 13 wherein said table includes a pivoted support leg for engaging the floor of a vehicle.

15. The storage system as defined in claim 14 wherein said bottom of said seat includes a pair of parallel spaced-apart guide rails and further including a sliding panel mounted to said guide rails for extending from a position aligned with the bottom of the seat to a position projecting laterally from said aligned position.

16. The storage system as defined in claim 15 wherein said table is hingedly mounted to said panel.

17. The storage system as defined in claim 16 wherein said panel and table are individually molded of a polymeric material.