Stowable seat

• US 5,492,389 A
• Filed: 03/23/1994
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
• Original Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
• Inventors: McClintock, Brian W., Moffa, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/216,930
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 297/378.14, 297/378.12, 297/378.1, 297/14, 297/325, 297/326, 297/463.1, 248/293, 248/286, 296/65.1
• US Class Current: 297/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3043 about longitudinal axis

Abstract

A stowable seat for mounting to a support member of a vehicle wherein a space may be selectively provided for positioning a wheelchair article adjacent to the stowed seat which includes a frame attached to the support member, a cantilevered seatbase and a seatback. The cantilevered seatbase has a free end, a pivotable end rotatably associated with the frame for providing the seatbase with a range of motion extending from a horizontally deployed position to a vertically stowed position, a diagonal support truss supporting the seatbase in the deployed position with a movable end of the support truss sliding within a runner track and a fixed end journalled with said frame. The seatback is rotatably associated with the seatbase and has a range of motion extending from an unfolded position to a folded position where the range of motion of the seatback is perpendicular to the range of motion of the seatbase where the seatback in the unfolded position is adapted to be at a predetermined angle with respect to the seatbase in said deployed position to provide seating and the seatback in the folded position is adapted to fold flat against the seatbase for stowing to provide the space for the wheelchair.

Claims

1. A stowable seat for mounting to support member of a vehicle wherein a space may be selectively provided for positioning an article adjacent to the stowable seat, when stowed the seat comprising:

a frame attached to a support member;

a cantilevered seatbase having a free end, a pivotable end including a pivot mounted thereto for rotatably associating said pivotable end with said frame and for providing said seatbase with a range of motion extending from a horizontally deployed position to a vertically stowed position, a support member for supporting said seatbase in said deployed position including a moveable end slidably mounted to said seatbase and a fixed end journalled with said frame, and a first lock near said free end for releasably locking said movable end to maintain said seatbase in said deployed position;

and

a seatback having a pivot for rotatably associating said seatback with said seatbase and for providing said seatback with a range of motion extending from an unfolded position to a folded position, said range of motion of said seatback being perpendicular to said range of motion of said seatbase, said seatback in said unfolded position adapted to be at a predetermined angle with respect to said seatbase in said deployed position to provide seating and said seatback in said folded position adapted to be adjacent said seatbase for stowing to provide the space for the article.

2. The stowable seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said seatbase includes a second lock between said first lock and said pivotable end for releasably locking said movable end within a guide member to retain said seatbase in said stowed position.

3. The stowable seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said seatbase includes a biasing device attached to said seatbase and said frame for providing a lifting force to assist in positioning said seatbase in said stowed position.

4. The stowable seat as defined in claim 3, wherein said biasing device is a pressurized cylinder.

5. The stowable seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot of said seatback includes a dump mechanism for selectively and releasably locking said seatback in either said unfolded position or said folded position.

6. The stowable seat as defined in claim 5, wherein said dump mechanism operably communicates with said seatback and said seatbase and is positioned near said free end of said seatbase.

7. The stowable seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said movable end of said support member is slidably mounted to said seatbase by being slidably received by a longitudinal guide member on an underside of said seatbase.

8. The stowable seat as defined in claim 7, wherein said guide member includes an adjustment member in threading engagement with said guide member near said free end selectively threaded into position for limiting sliding of said movable end toward said free end for adjusting a horizontal elevation of said seatbase in said deployed position.

9. A stowable seat for mounting to a support member of a vehicle wherein a space may be selectively provided for positioning an article adjacent to the stowable seat when stowed, the seat comprising:

a frame attached to a support member;

a cantilevered seatbase having a free end, a pivotable end including a pivot mounted thereto for rotatably associating said pivotable end with said frame and for providing said seatbase with a range of motion extending from a horizontally deployed position to a vertically stowed position, a support member for supporting said seatbase in said deployed position including a movable end slidably mounted to said seatbase and a fixed end journalled with said frame near said frame attached support member, and a first lock near said free end for releasably locking said movable end to maintain said seatbase in said deployed position and a second lock between said first lock and said pivotable end for releasably locking said movable end to maintain said seatbase in said stowed position; and

a seatback having a pivot for rotatably associating said seatback with said seatbase and for providing said seatback with a range of motion extending from an unfolded position to a folded position, said range of motion of said seatback being perpendicular to said range of motion of said seatbase, said pivot including a lock for selectively and releasably locking said seatback in said unfolded position or said folded position, said seatback in said unfolded position adapted to be at a predetermined angle with respect to said deployed position of said seatbase to provide seating and said seatback in said folded position adapted to be flat against said seatbase for stowing to provide the space for the article.

10. The stowable seat as defined in claim 9, wherein said movable end of said support member is slidably mounted to said seatbase by being slidably received by a longitudinal guide member on an underside of said seatbase.

11. The stowable seat as defined in claim 10, wherein said guide member includes an adjustment member in threading engagement with said guide member near said free end selectively threaded into position for limiting sliding of said movable end toward said free end for adjusting a horizontal elevation of said seatbase in said deployed position.

12. The stowable seat as defined in claim 9, wherein said seatbase includes a biasing device attached between said seatbase and said frame for providing a lifting force to assist in positioning said seatbase in said stowed position.

13. The stowable seat as defined in claim 12, wherein said biasing device is a pressurized cylinder.

14. The stowable seat as defined in claim 9, wherein said pivot of said seatback includes a dump mechanism for selectively and releasably locking said seatback in either said unfolded position or said folded position.

15. The stowable seat as defined in claim 14, wherein said dump mechanism operably communicates with said seatback and said seatbase and is positioned near said free end of said seatbase.

16. A stowable seat for mounting to a support member of a vehicle wherein a space may be selectively provided for selectively positioning a wheelchair or other article adjacent to the stowable seat when stowed, the seat comprising:

a frame attached to a support member;

a cantilevered seatbase having a free end, a pivotable end journalled with said frame near said support member for providing said seatbase with a range of motion extending from a horizontally deployed position to a vertically stowed position, a diagonal support member for supporting said seatbase in said deployed position including a movable end slidably received by a longitudinal guide member affixed to an underside of said seatbase and a fixed end journalled with said frame near said support member, and a first lock near said free end for releasably locking said movable end within said guide member to support said seatbase in said deployed position and a second lock between said first lock and said pivotable end for releasably locking said movable end within said guide member to retain said seatbase in said stowed position, said seatbase having a pressurized biasing means attached between said seatbase and said frame for providing a lifting force to assist in positioning said seatbase in said stowed position; and

a seatback having a pivot for rotatably associating said seatback with said seatbase and for providing said seatback with a range of motion extending from an unfolded position to a folded position, said range of motion of said seatback perpendicular to said range of motion of said seatbase, said pivot including a dump mechanism selectively actuated for selectively and releasably locking said seatback in either said unfolded position or said folded position, said seatback in said unfolded position adapted to be at a predetermined angle with respect to said seatbase in said deployed position to provide seating and said seatback in said folded position adapted to be flat against said seatbase for stowing to provide the space for the wheelchair or other article.

17. The stowable seat as defined in claim 16, wherein said guide member includes an adjustment member in threading engagement with said guide member near said free end selectively threaded into position for limiting sliding of said movable end toward said free end for adjusting a horizontal elevation of said seatbase in said deployed position.

18. The stowable seat as defined in claim 16, wherein a tether may be removably secured between said seatbase in said deployed position and a floor of the vehicle for downwardly securing said seatbase to maintain said seatbase in said deployed position.

19. The stowable seat as defined in claim 16, wherein said dump mechanism operably communicates with said seatback and said seatbase and is positioned near said free end of said seatbase.