Chairs and seats – Movable bottom – Tiltable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-11
2001-04-24
Cranmer, Laurie K. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Movable bottom
Tiltable
C297S238000, C297S336000, C296S065030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220665
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The subject invention relates to an automotive seat assembly having an integrated child seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tumble seats for automotive vehicles are well known in the art and permit the seat to be rotated forward to facilitate easier access to the cargo or passenger area of the vehicle. A latch mechanism may be actuated to lock the seat down to the vehicle or to permit the tumble seat to rotate forward. Tumble seats without a safety mechanism are capable of being inadvertently actuated thereby rotating forward. Integrated child seats are also well known in the art. Integrated child seats are integral with typical passenger seats and permit the elimination of a separate child car seat which must be installed and removed from the vehicle. The integrated child seat may be positioned flush within a seat back so that an adult occupant may use the seat and then the child seat may be folded down so that it is generally parallel with a lower seat portion, or seat cushion, for suitable use by a child. Combining an integrated child seat with a tumble seat poses a potentially serious safety hazard in that it possible that the tumble seat may be inadvertently actuated thereby rotating forward while a child is seated on the child seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a tumble seat for use in a vehicle which has a frame with a seat attached thereto. The seat includes a seat cushion supported on the frame and a seat back connected to the seat cushion. An integrated child seat is pivotally connected to the seat back and is rotatable between an adult position at least partially abutting the seat back and a child position substantially parallel with the seat cushion. First supports depend from the frame and have a first pivot connection for pivotally attaching the frame to the vehicle. The seat may be rotated about the first pivot connection between an operative position in which the seat cushion is generally horizontal so that an occupant may be seated on the seat and a nonoperative position in which the seat is rotated from the operative position about the first pivot connection. Second supports depend from the frame in spaced relation from the first supports and include ends for attaching to the vehicle when the seat is in the operative position. A latch mechanism is operatively attached to the frame for securing and unsecuring the ends to and from the vehicle when the seat is in the operative position. A lockout mechanism prevents the seat from rotating about the first pivot connection from the operative position to the nonoperative position when the child seat is in the child position.
Accordingly, the tumble seat and integrated child seat of the present invention provides a lockout mechanism that improves the safety of the child by preventing the tumble seat from rotating forward in undesirable situations. The lockout mechanism prevents the tumble seat from inadvertently rotating while the child is seated on the child seat.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5224756 (1993-07-01), Dukatz et al.
patent: 5380060 (1995-01-01), Sponsler et al.
patent: 5383707 (1995-01-01), Osenkowski et al.
patent: 5449216 (1995-09-01), Gierman et al.
patent: 5472260 (1995-12-01), Czapski et al.
patent: 5476305 (1995-12-01), Corkins et al.
patent: 5558403 (1996-09-01), Hammoud et al.
patent: 5707112 (1998-01-01), Zinn
patent: 19514380 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 650864 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 0803398 (1997-04-01), None
Dingel Douglas A.
Tame Omar D.
Cranmer Laurie K.
Howard & Howard
Magna Interior Systems Inc.
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