Convertible Seating Unit

• US 20090295201A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Lin, Rex, Hong, Randal, Shivers, Sarah, Klein, Adina, Velez, Juan Carlos Intriago, Chandra, Sujoy
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/188.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/203 taking a position opposite to the original one
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

A convertible seating unit for a motor vehicle is provided. The convertible seating unit comprises a seat having an upper surface, a front edge and a rear edge. The convertible seating unit further includes a back support comprising a first back support panel and a second back support panel. Each of the first and second back support panels has a first edge and a second edge, and an upper surface and a lower surface. The second edge of the first back panel is hingeably connected to the first edge of the second back panel to define a first hinge axis. The first edge of the first back panel is hingeably connected to the seat proximate the rear edge of the seat to define a second hinge axis.

Claims

1. A convertible seating unit for a motor vehicle comprising:

a seat having an upper surface, a front edge and a rear edge;

a back support comprising a first back support panel and a second back support panel, each of the first and second back support panels having a respective first edge and a second edge and a respective upper surface and a lower surface; and

,

wherein the second edge of the first back panel is hingeably connected to the first edge of the second back panel to define a first hinge axis, and wherein the first edge of the first back panel is hingeably connected to the seat proximate the rear edge of the seat to define a second hinge axis.

2. The convertible seating unit of claim 1, wherein the back support is adjustable between at least a first sitting position and a second sitting position, wherein in the first sitting position the first and second panels of the back support are folded about the first hinge axis and extend in a direction generally transverse to the upper surface of the seat.

3. The convertible seating unit of claim 2, wherein in the second sitting position, the first panel of the back support is disposed generally parallel to the upper surface of the seat, and the second panel of the back support extends in a direction generally transverse to the first panel.

4. The convertible seating unit of claim 1, wherein the second hinge axis is disposed on the upper surface of the seat at a predetermined distance D₀ from the rear edge of the seat.

5. The convertible seating unit of claim 4, wherein the second edge of the second panel has a predetermined width W₀, wherein W₀ is less than D₀.

6. The convertible seating unit of claim 4, wherein the second edge of the second panel has a predetermined width W₀, wherein W₀ is equal to D₀.

7. The convertible seating unit of claim 1, further including a seat extension attached to the seat, the seat extension being movable between a closed position and a sitting position, wherein when the seat extension is in the sitting position, the seat extension extends beyond the front edge of the seat.

8. The convertible seating unit of claim 7, wherein the seat extension defines a portion of the upper surface of the seat when the seat extension is in the closed position.

9. The convertible seating unit of claim 7, wherein the seat extension is slidably attached to the seat.

10. The convertible seating unit of claim 7, wherein the seat extension is hingeably attached to the seat proximate the front edge of the seat.

11. The convertible seating unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one lower support extending downward from the seat, the at least one lower support and seat defining a storage cavity beneath at least a portion of the seat.

12. The convertible seating unit of claim 11, further comprising at least one storage receptacle sized to be slidably received by the storage cavity.

13. The convertible seating unit of claim 1, wherein the back support is defined by a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments being independently movable between the first and second sitting positions.

14. A convertible seating unit comprising:

a seat having an upper surface, a front edge and a rear edge;

a back support comprising a first back support panel and a second back support panel, each of the first and second back support panels having a respective first edge and a second edge and a respective upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the second edge of the first back panel is connected to the first edge of the second back panel, and wherein the first edge of the first back panel is connected to the seat proximate the rear edge of the seat;

means for connecting the second edge of the first back panel to the first edge of the second back panel to define a first hinge axis; and

,

means for connecting first edge of the first back panel to the seat proximate the rear edge of the seat to define a second hinge axis.

15. The convertible seating unit of claim 14, wherein the back support is adjustable between at least a first sitting position and a second sitting position, wherein in the first position, the first and second panels of the back support are folded about the first hinge axis and extend in a direction generally transverse to the upper surface of the seat.

16. The convertible seating unit of claim 15, wherein in the second sitting position the first panel of the back support is disposed generally parallel to the upper surface of the seat, and the second panel of the back support extends in a direction generally transverse to the first panel.

17. The convertible seating unit of claim 14, further including a seat extension attached to the seat, the seat extension being movable between a closed position and a sitting position, wherein when the seat extension is in the sitting position the seat extension extends beyond the front edge of the seat.

18. The convertible seating unit of claim 14, wherein the back support is defined by a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments being independently movable between the first and second sitting positions.

19. The convertible seating unit of claim 14, further comprising at least one lower support extending downward from the seat, the at least one lower support and seat defining a storage cavity beneath at least a portion of the seat.

20. A method of adjusting a convertible seating unit for a motor vehicle, wherein the convertible seating unit comprises a seat having an upper surface, a front edge and a rear edge, a back support having a first back support panel and a second back support panel, each of the first and second back support panels having a respective first edge and a second edge and a respective upper surface and a lower surface, the second edge of the first back panel being hingeably connected to the first edge of the second back panel to define a first hinge axis, and the first edge of the first back panel being hingeably connected to the seat proximate the rear edge of the seat to define a second hinge axis, the method comprising:

moving the back support from a first sitting position to a second sitting position, wherein when the back support is in the first sitting position, the first and second panels of the back support are folded about the first hinge axis and extend in a direction generally transverse to the upper surface of the seat, and wherein when the back support is in the second sitting position, the first panel of the back support is disposed generally parallel to the upper surface of the seat, and the second panel of the back support extends in a direction generally transverse to the first panel.