Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Seats with body modifications
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-02
2002-11-26
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Seats with body modifications
Reexamination Certificate
active
06485080
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the art of motor vehicle seating and more particularly to seats which are powered for various purposes such as heating, ventilation, lighting and many other applications. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to providing power to removable seats without using plug connectors or other wiring systems which can become damaged if the seat is inadvertently removed without uncoupling them.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It would be desirable to provide power to removable seats for such vehicles as SUVs and vans. One way we believe it can be done is by using electrical connectors which are coupled by the operator for the power to flow to the rear seat. To remove the seat, using any of large variety of known removable seat coupling techniques, it would then be necessary to uncouple the electrical connectors. If the operator forgets to disconnect them, damage would result to the wiring system, and power could not flow to the seat until a repair is conducted.
Power in removable seats can be used for a variety of purposes, including providing power ports on the seats, courtesy or task lighting, seat belt indicators, heating the seats, ventilating the seats, powering seat mounted video or speakers, providing lumbar support or massage capabilities, occupant detection, powering an integrated cooler, powering of adjustment mechanisms (such as those which change seat height, tilt and horizontal positioning), the powering of seat back utility modules, powering seat belt pretentioners, and supplying power to communication systems. It would be most desirable to provide power for such applications using an electrification system which does not require coupling and uncoupling of electrical connectors each time the seat is removed. An electrification system having this capability would represent a significant advance in this art.
FEATURES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of the present invention is to provide power to removable vehicle seats.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an electrification system for a removable vehicle seat which does not require the operator to plug and unplug electrical connectors.
A different feature of the present invention is to provide an electrification system for a removable vehicle seat which is automatically connected when the seat is properly installed to the vehicle.
A different feature of the present invention is to provide an electrification system for a removable vehicle seat wherein electrical connection is made in the vicinity of the coupling members used to join the removable seat to the vehicle.
Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide an electrification system for a removable vehicle seat in which the electrical connection is made during the process of installing the seat to the vehicle.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide an electrification system for a removable vehicle seat in which an indicator is provided to alert the operator if the seat is not properly installed to the vehicle and electrification is not present at the seat.
How the foregoing and other features of the invention are accomplished will be described in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken generally with the FIGURES. Generally, however, they are provided by an electrification system which includes electrical contacts mounted to the vehicle and electrical contacts located on the vehicle seat. The respective contacts are arranged in such a manner that they come into electrical engagement with one another when the seat is moved from a disconnected to a fully installed position. In one illustrated embodiment, the vehicle electrical contacts are conductive strips located within the floor wells of the seat coupling members, and the electrical contacts for the seat comprise cylindrical conductive rods which are spring loaded so that a wiping action occurs between the rod tip and the strip as the seat is installed. Alternately, the electrical contacts can be located remotely from the seat coupling members but are still arranged so that contact is made at the time the seat is installed. In either embodiment, covers may be provided for the electrical contacts of the vehicle and/or the seat when the seat is being stored, to prevent contamination of the contacts. In a further embodiment of the invention, an indicator, such as an RF transmitter, can be provided to indicate either the presence or the absence of power in the removable seat. The present specification further identifies a number of electrical devices that may be coupled to the electrical contacts of the vehicle seat to provide enhanced functionality at the rear seat. Other ways in which the features of the invention are accomplished will become apparent to those skilled in the art after they have read the detailed description of the invention which follows. Such other ways are deemed to fall within the scope of the invention if they fall within the scope of the claims which follow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4763360 (1988-08-01), Daniels et al.
patent: 5696409 (1997-12-01), Handman et al.
patent: 5752845 (1998-05-01), Fu
patent: 6050835 (2000-04-01), Henrion et al.
patent: 6199948 (2001-03-01), Bush et al.
patent: 6250703 (2001-06-01), Cisler et al.
patent: 6257641 (2001-07-01), Fritz et al.
patent: 6279981 (2001-08-01), Mesnage
patent: 6343939 (2002-02-01), Inoue
patent: 19743313 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 19737268 (1999-05-01), None
patent: 0855308 (1998-07-01), None
patent: 2776591 (1999-10-01), None
patent: WO9956981 (1999-11-01), None
International Search Report mailed Jun. 13, 2002.
Hansen Scott A.
Smith Nels R.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Johnson Controls Technology Company
Morrow Jason
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