Stowable seats

• US 9,764,661 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Hansen, Charles S., Muck, Todd R., Vargo, Christopher M., Murthy, Vasudeva S., Salvia, III, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/989,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3079 in a recess
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2204 Adjustable back-rest height or length

Abstract

A stowable seat for a vehicle is provided including a seat portion pivotably connected to a back portion, the back portion having a first base portion and a first extendable portion, the first extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the first extendable portion is spaced apart from the first base portion the seat portion having a second base portion and a second extendable portion, the second extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the second extendable portion is spaced apart from the second base portion. The seat assembly may be configured to move to a stowed position only after the first extendable portion of the back portion and the second extendable portion of the seat portion are moved to the stowed position.

Claims

1. A stowable seat for a vehicle comprising:

a seat portion pivotably connected to a back portion;

the back portion having a first base portion and a first extendable portion, the first extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the first extendable portion is spaced apart from the first base portion; and

the seat portion having a second base portion and a second extendable portion, the second extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the second extendable portion is spaced apart from the second base portion;

wherein the stowable seat is configured to move to a stowed position only after the first extendable portion of the back portion and the second extendable portion of the seat portion are moved to the stowed position.

2. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein a motor is used to move the first extendable portion and/or the second extendable portion.

3. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 2 wherein at least one biasing member is configured to move the first extendable portion and/or the second extendable portion.

4. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 2 wherein a screw drive is configured to move the first extendable portion and/or the second extendable portion.

5. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 2 wherein a worm gear is configured to move the first extendable portion and/or the second extendable portion.

6. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 2 wherein a bar linkage system is configured to move the first extendable portion and/or the second extendable portion.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a compartment within a vehicle floor;

a seat having at least one extendable portion, the seat movable from a use position to a stowed position,

the use position defined when the extendable portion is in an at least partially extended position; and

the stowed position defined when the extendable portion is not extended and the seat is stowed in the compartment of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the seat includes an actuator adapted to move the seat from the use position to the stowed position.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the seat includes an actuator adapted to move the seat from the stowed position to the use position including moving the extendable portion to the use position.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the seat is manually movable between the use and stowed positions.

11. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein unless the extendable portion is retracted, the seat will not fit within the compartment.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the extendable portion is on a base portion of a seat portion of the seat.

13. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the extendable portion is on a base portion of a back portion of the seat.

14. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein there are two total extendable portions, a first extendable portion of the back portion and a second extendable portion on the seat portion.

15. A stowable seat for a vehicle comprising:

a seat portion pivotably connected to a back portion, the seat portion connected to a floor within the vehicle;

a storage portion on the floor, the seat portion and the back portion stowable within the storage portion; and

one of the back portion or the seat portion having a base portion and an extendable portion, the extendable portion movable from a stowed position to an extended position, the extended position defined when the extendable portion is spaced apart from the base portion;

wherein the seat is configured to move to a stowed position only after the extendable portion and the extendable portion are moved to the to the stowed position.

16. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 15 wherein at least one biasing member is configured to move the extendable portion.

17. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 15 wherein a screw drive is configured to move the extendable portion.

18. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 15 wherein a worm gear is configured to move the extendable portion.

19. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 15 wherein a screw drive is configured to move the extendable portion.

20. The stowable seat for a vehicle of claim 15 wherein a bar linkage system is configured to move the extendable portion.