Vehicle seat having an integral, retractable step
First Claim
1. A vehicle seat, comprising:
- a generally hollow base secured to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of opposing, spaced-apart base side walls;
a generally horizontal seat cushion attached atop the base, the seat cushion being fixedly coupled to the base and having a fixed orientation with respect to the floor;
an open base portion bounded by the floor, the seat cushion and the base side walls;
a generally vertical seatback attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion; and
a step comprising a pair of opposing, spaced-apart step side walls, a generally vertical front wall extending between the step side walls and a generally horizontal top portion fixedly coupled to both the front wall and the step side walls, the step being slidably coupled to the base and selectively positionable between a stowed position substantially within the base and a deployed position extending at least partially outwardly through the open base portion,wherein the front wall of the step closes off the open base portion when the step is in the stowed position, andwherein the step in the deployed position is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed step riser.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle seat with an integral retractable step. A generally hollow base is attached to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of side walls. A generally horizontal seat cushion is attached atop the base. A generally vertical seatback is attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion. A step is slidably coupled to the base, the step being selectively positionable between a stowed position substantially within the base and a deployed position wherein the step extends at least partially outwardly from the base. In the deployed position the step is generally horizontally oriented and is configured to support the weight of an occupant of the seat during ingress and egress therefrom. In addition in the deployed position the step is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed step riser.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vehicle seat, comprising:
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a generally hollow base secured to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of opposing, spaced-apart base side walls; a generally horizontal seat cushion attached atop the base, the seat cushion being fixedly coupled to the base and having a fixed orientation with respect to the floor; an open base portion bounded by the floor, the seat cushion and the base side walls; a generally vertical seatback attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion; and a step comprising a pair of opposing, spaced-apart step side walls, a generally vertical front wall extending between the step side walls and a generally horizontal top portion fixedly coupled to both the front wall and the step side walls, the step being slidably coupled to the base and selectively positionable between a stowed position substantially within the base and a deployed position extending at least partially outwardly through the open base portion, wherein the front wall of the step closes off the open base portion when the step is in the stowed position, and wherein the step in the deployed position is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed step riser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle seat, comprising:
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a generally hollow base secured to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of opposing, spaced-apart base side walls; a generally horizontal seat cushion attached atop the base, the seat cushion being fixedly coupled to the base and having a fixed orientation with respect to the floor; an open base portion bounded by the floor, the seat cushion and the base side walls; a generally vertical seatback attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion; and a step comprising a pair of opposing, spaced-apart step side walls, a generally vertical front wall having a grip and extending between the step side walls, and a generally horizontal top portion fixedly coupled to both the front wall and the step side walls, the top portion having a tread, the step being slidably coupled to the base, wherein the step is selectively positionable between a stowed position substantially within the base and a deployed position extending at least partially outwardly through the open base portion in a generally horizontal orientation, the step being sufficiently secured to the base to support the weight of an occupant of the seat during ingress and egress therefrom, wherein the front wall of the step closes off the open base portion when the step is in the stowed position, and wherein the step in the deployed position is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a step riser.
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Specification