SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECLINING A VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20150231995A1
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative At Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative JK Products, LLC
• Inventors: LaRuffa, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,796,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/005 Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles , e.g. dismountable auxiliary seatsB60N2/02 takes precedence ; for railway vehicles B61D1/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/015 Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/30 Non-dismountable or dismountable seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats

Abstract

A system for reclining a vehicle seat is provided. The system comprises a plurality of seat bracket spacers adapted to be secured between a seat mounting bracket and a vehicle floor. A plurality of leg spacers is adapted to be secured between a seat leg and the vehicle floor. The seat bracket spacers create a fixed seat recline while the leg spacers accommodate a gap between respective seat legs and the vehicle floor caused by the fixed seat recline. Each of the seat bracket spacers has a thickness which allows for the maximum amount of seat recline without any modification to factory brackets, legs, or mounting bolts. Additionally, the fixed seat recline does not impact operation of factory safety restraining devices; nor does it impact the ability of the vehicle seat to fold forward.

Claims

1. A system for reclining a vehicle seat, the system comprising:

a) a plurality of seat bracket spacers adapted to be secured between a seat mounting bracket and a vehicle floor; and

b) a plurality of leg spacers adapted to be secured between a seat leg and the vehicle floor;

wherein the seat bracket spacers create a fixed seat recline and wherein the leg spacers accommodate a gap between respective seat legs and the vehicle floor caused by the fixed seat recline.

2. The system for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of seat bracket spacers has a different thickness than each of the plurality of leg spacers.

3. The system for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of seat bracket spacers has a thickness which allows the maximum amount of seat recline without any modification to factory brackets, legs, or mounting bolts.

4. The system for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 3, wherein said thickness is from about 0.5 inches to about 1.0 inches.

5. The system for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the fixed seat recline does not impact operation of factory safety restraining devices.

6. The system for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the fixed seat recline does not impact an ability of the vehicle seat to fold forward.

7. The system for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of seat bracket spacers and each of the plurality leg spacers is constructed of a material selected from:

aluminum, an aluminum alloy, steel, a steel alloy, a polymer or a composite.

8. The system for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of seat bracket spacers and each of the plurality leg spacers includes a hole through which a factory bolt may be threaded when each spacer is fixedly secured between its respective bracket or leg and the vehicle floor.

9. A method for reclining a vehicle seat having a seat platform and seat back, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a vehicle seat reclining system, the vehicle seat reclining system comprising;

i) a plurality of seat bracket spacers adapted to be secured between a seat mounting bracket and a vehicle floor; and

ii) a plurality of leg spacers adapted to be secured between a seat leg and the vehicle floor;

wherein each of the plurality of seat bracket spacers and each of the plurality leg spacers includes a hole;

b) removing seat leg bolts which secure the seat legs of the vehicle seat to vehicle floor;

c) pivoting seat platform to lie against the seat back;

d) removing bracket mounting bolts which secure the seat mounting bracket to the vehicle floor;

e) lifting the vehicle seat so as to provide sufficient clearance to allow said plurality of seat bracket spacers and said plurality of leg spacers to be positioned beneath their respective seat mounting bracket or respective seat leg;

f) positioning a respective seat bracket spacer and a respective leg spacer beneath their respective seat mounting bracket or respective seat leg such that the hole within the respective spacer overlaps a hole within the bracket or seat leg and the vehicle floor;

g) positioning each of the seat leg bolts and bracket mounting bolts within a respective overlapped hole such that a spacer is positioned between its respective bracket or leg and the vehicle floor; and

h) rethreading each of the seat leg bolts and bracket mounting bolts to fixedly secured the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor.

10. The method for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of seat bracket spacers has a different thickness than each of the plurality of leg spacers.

11. The method for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of seat bracket spacers has a thickness which allows the maximum amount of seat recline without any modification to factory brackets, legs, or mounting bolts.

12. The method for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 9, wherein said thickness is from about 0.5 inches to about 1.0 inches.

13. The method for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 9, wherein the fixed seat recline does not impact operation of factory safety restraining devices.

14. The method for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 9, wherein the fixed seat recline does not impact an ability of the vehicle seat to fold forward.

15. The method for reclining a vehicle seat of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of seat bracket spacers and each of the plurality leg spacers is constructed of a material selected from:

aluminum, an aluminum alloy, steel, a steel alloy, a polymer or a composite.