Vehicle with hidden pillows for bed mode

• US 7,832,794 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Reel, Travis
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/371,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100207427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.14, 296/37.15, 296/190.02, 296/191, 296/65.09, 296/65.01, 296/69, 296/65.05
• US Class Current: 296/190.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3084 Disappearing in a recess of the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed

Abstract

A vehicle may have a load floor with a load receiving surface that is supported to the frame and a panel having first and second sides, the second side having a storage cavity. The panel may be adjustable between: (1) a first position where the first side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface and the second side defines no portion of the load receiving surface; and, (2) a second position where the first side defines no portion of the load receiving surface and the second side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface. When the panel is in the first position, a pillow may be at least partially received within the storage cavity and it may be hidden. When the panel is in the second position, the pillow may not be hidden.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

an interior comprising;

a load floor having a load receiving surface that is supported to the frame;

a first panel having first and second sides, the second side comprising a storage cavity;

wherein the first panel is adjustable between;

(1) a first position where the first side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface and the second side defines no portion of the load receiving surface; and

, (2) a second position where the first side defines no portion of the load receiving surface and the second side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface;

a first pillow;

wherein when the first panel is in the first position, the first pillow is at least partially received within the storage cavity and, the first pillow is hidden; and

,

wherein when the first panel is in the second position, the first pillow is not hidden.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a releasable fastener that releasably fastens the first pillow to the second side of the panel at least partially within the storage cavity.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a releasable fastener that releasably fastens the first panel into the first and second positions.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first pillow is inflatable.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein:

the interior comprises;

a first seat assembly that supports an associated person in a sitting position and that is supported to the frame; and

,

the first seat assembly comprises the first panel.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein:

the first seat assembly comprises a seat base portion and a seat back portion; and

,

the seat back portion comprises the first panel.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 further comprising:

a second seat assembly that supports an associated person in a sitting position and that is supported to the frame within the interior.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a locomotion source supported to the frame for use in providing locomotion for the vehicle;

a seat assembly that supports an associated person in a sitting position and that is supported to the frame within the interior; and

,

at least a first ground engaging wheel supported to the frame.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the interior further comprises:

a second panel having first and second sides, the second side comprising a storage cavity;

wherein the second panel is adjustable between;

(1) a first position where the first side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface and the second side defines no portion of the load receiving surface; and

, (2) a second position where the first side defines no portion of the load receiving surface and the second side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface;

a second pillow;

wherein when the second panel is in the first position, the second pillow is at least partially received within the storage cavity and, the second pillow is hidden; and

,

wherein when the second panel is in the second position, the second pillow is not hidden.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first pillow is at least partially received within the storage cavity when the first panel is in the second position.

11. A method comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a vehicle comprising;

a frame;

a locomotion source supported to the frame for use in providing locomotion for the vehicle; and

, an interior comprising a load floor having a load receiving surface that is supported to the frame;

(B) providing a panel having first and second sides, the second side comprising a storage cavity;

(C) providing a pillow; and

,

(D) adjusting the panel;

(1) from a first position where the first side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface, the second side defines no portion of the load receiving surface, the pillow is at least partially received within the storage cavity and, the pillow is hidden;

(2) to a second position where the first side defines no portion of the load receiving surface, the second side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface and, the pillow is not hidden.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein after step (D) the method comprises the step of:

adjusting the panel back to the first position where the first side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface, the second side defines no portion of the load receiving surface, the pillow is at least partially received within the storage cavity and, the pillow is hidden.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein step (D) comprises the step of:

adjusting a releasable fastener to unfasten the pillow from the second side of the panel.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein step (D) comprises the steps of:

adjusting a releasable fastener to unfasten the panel from the first position; and

,

readjusting the releasable fastener to fasten the panel into the second position.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein after step (D) the method comprises the step of:

inflating the pillow.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein:

step (A) comprises the step of;

providing the interior with a seat assembly that supports an associated person in a sitting position and that is supported to the frame;

step (B) comprises the step of;

providing the panel as part of the seat assembly; and

,

prior to step (D) the method comprises the step of;

adjusting the seat assembly so that the panel is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of the load receiving surface.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein:

step (A) comprises the step of;

providing the seat assembly with a seat base portion and a seat back portion;

step (B) comprises the step of;

providing the panel as part of the seat back portion; and

,

the step of adjusting the seat assembly so that the panel is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of the load receiving surface, comprises the step of;

pivoting the seat back portion with respect to the seat base portion.

18. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a locomotion source supported to the frame for use in providing locomotion for the vehicle;

at least a first ground engaging wheel supported to the frame;

an interior comprising;

a first seat assembly that supports an associated person in a sitting position and that is supported to the frame;

a second seat assembly that is supported to the frame, the second seat assembly comprising a panel having first and second sides, the second side comprising a storage cavity;

a load floor having a load receiving surface that is supported to the frame;

wherein the second seat assembly is adjustable between;

(1) a first position where the second seat assembly supports an associated person in a sitting position; and

, (2) a second position where the panel is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of the load receiving surface;

wherein the panel is adjustable when the second seat assembly is in the second position between;

(1) a first position where the first side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface and the second side defines no portion of the load receiving surface; and

, (2) a second position where the first side defines no portion of the load receiving surface and the second side defines at least a portion of the load receiving surface;

a pillow;

wherein when the panel is in the first position, the pillow is at least partially received within the storage cavity and, the pillow is hidden; and

,

wherein when the panel is in the second position, the pillow is not hidden.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 further comprising:

a releasable fastener that releasably fastens the pillow to the second side of the panel at least partially within the storage cavity;

a releasable fastener that releasably fastens the panel into the first and second positions; and

,

wherein the pillow is inflatable.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein:

the first seat assembly comprises a seat base portion and a seat back portion; and

,

the seat back portion comprises the panel.