Vehicle stadium/slide seat system

• US 7,686,368 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Ghergheli, Ioan, Buccinna, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US10/577,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20070132266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.05, 296/65.09, 296/65.13, 296/65.16, 296/65.01, 297/15, 297/313, 297/331, 297/334, 297/337, 297/344.1
• US Class Current: 296/65.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0292 Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/206 to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3022 along longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3031 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method to configure the back seats of a passenger vehicle to provide easy vehicle ingress and egress and to configure the back seats for a flat or near flat load (cargo) floor.

Claims

1. A method of reconfiguring a vehicle seat for facilitating ingress and egress in a vehicle, the vehicle seat including a seat back that may be pivotably adjusted, a seat cushion pivotably coupled to the seat back, a track assembly, and a linkage assembly, the vehicle seat being slidably movable along the track assembly in a first direction, the method comprising the steps of:

unlatching the seat cushion;

sliding the vehicle seat in the first direction; and

moving the seat cushion from a first position wherein the seat cushion is substantially perpendicular to the seat back to a second position wherein the rear of the seat cushion is adjacent to the seat back and positioned above the front of the seat cushion and the seat cushion is aligned with respect to the seat back.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first position is an easy-entry position and the second position is a design position.

3. The method of claim 1, including the step of locking the seat in the second position.

4. A method for facilitating stowing of a non-first row seat of a vehicle having at least one row of non-first row seats coupled to the vehicle in a seat track, with each non-first row seat having a seat cushion pivotably coupled to a seat back, the method comprising the steps of:

manipulating a lever associated with the non-first row seat to stow the non-first row seat;

moving the seat cushion forward and downward about a pivotal connection between the seat cushion and the seat back such that the seat cushion is closer to the vehicle floor; and

rotating the seat back to a position adjacent to the seat cushion.

5. The method of claim 4, including the step of rotating the seat back to a design position.

6. The method of claim 4, including the step of moving the seat along the seat track to a pre-selected position.

7. The method of claim 6, including the step of locking the seat in the pre-selected position.

8. A seat system for mounting in a vehicle, seat system having a seat track, a seat cushion and a seat back, the seat system comprising:

a first mechanism for adjusting the seat cushion between a design position for sitting and a easy-entry position where the seat cushion is flipped forward comprising;

a linkage assembly coupled to the seat track;

a seat bracket coupled to the linkage assembly and the seat cushion;

and

an easy-entry adjuster coupled to the linkage assembly and configured to release a track engagement device coupled to the linkage assembly, wherein the vehicle seat can be moved to one of a design position and an easy-entry position while maintaining the seat back in an upright position; and

a stow adjuster coupled to the seat and configured to lock and release the seat cushion and allow the seat cushion to move to one of a design position and a stowed position wherein the seat cushion is flush with the vehicle floor.

9. The seat system of claim 8, wherein the seat system is operable from either side of the vehicle seat.

10. The seat system of claim 8, including a locking device to lock the seat in a position along the seat track.

11. The seat system of claim 8, further comprising:

a lever associated with the non-first row seat configured to lock and release the seat cushion and seat back and allow the seat cushion and seat back to move to one of a design position or stowed position wherein the seat cushion is closer to the vehicle floor and the seat back is positioned adjacent to the seat cushion.

12. A method for facilitating vehicle ingress and egress with a vehicle including at least one non-first row seat coupled to the vehicle in a seat track and having a seat cushion pivotably coupled to a seat back, the method comprising the steps of:

manipulating a first mechanism of the non-first row seat for adjusting a seat cushion to flip forward;

rotating the seat cushion about a pivotal connection between the seat cushion and the seat back; and

moving the non-first row seat in the seat track to a pre-selected position after rotating the seat cushion.

13. A vehicle seat for facilitating vehicle ingress and egress in a vehicle, the vehicle seat including:

a seat back that may be pivotably adjusted;

a seat cushion that may be pivotably adjusted;

wherein the seat cushion is pivotably coupled to the seat back such that the seat cushion may be flipped forward;

a track assembly;

the vehicle seat being slidably movable along the track assembly in a first and second direction; and

a linkage assembly having a first end pivotably coupled to the rear of the seat cushion and a second end pivotably coupled to the seat back.