Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Seats with body modifications
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-04-03
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Seats with body modifications
C296S065050, C296S065160, C296S037100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209943
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Technical Field
The subject invention relates to an automotive seat assembly which is retractable and stored within an interior space of a passenger vehicle.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Removable seat assemblies for automotive vehicles and the like are well known in the art. As appreciated, cargo space in a rear compartment of the vehicle can be maximized by removing the seat assembly. The removable seat is typically a third row bench type seat which is removed from the vehicle through a rear opening in the vehicle. The prior art removable seats have four locking points which secure the seat to a floor of the vehicle. The locking points are usually latch assemblies mounted to a seat riser on the seat assembly which lock into a pin recessed within the floor. Some of the removable seats include wheels or rollers for assisting in removing the seat from the vehicle. These prior art removable seat assemblies work relatively well when space and/or weight constraints are not a primary concern. The primary deficiencies with these seat assemblies relates to the size and weight of the seats. These removable seats can weigh up to 115 pounds which can create great difficulty in removing the seat from the vehicle. Also, the recessed pins create a cavity within the floor which may cause any number of problems for a user of the vehicle.
One solution contemplated by the prior art is to have a retractable seat assembly which stows the entire seat within a cavity in the floor of the vehicle. There are a number of deficiencies with these known retractable seats. One such deficiency is that the seat assembly must include a relatively complicated retracting mechanism in order to move the seat assembly between a seating and a retracted position. Also the cavity within the floor must be of considerable size and depth in order to accommodate the entire seat assembly along with the retracting mechanism. Finally, these prior art retractable seats typically have thin, unattractive and uncomfortable seating surfaces.
Another contemplated solution is to have the seat back portion of the seat assembly stow against a roof or rear window of the vehicle with the seat cushion remaining stationary or flipping forward to a vertical position. These known retractable seats also suffer from a number of deficiencies such as not having adequate retaining latches to secure the seat back and seat cushion and the seat cushion is not completely stowed away within the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
A retractable automotive seat assembly moveable within an interior of a vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back pivotable between a seat back operative position with at least a portion of the seat back abutting the seat cushion and a roof storing position with the seat back disposed above the seat cushion. At least one upper retaining latch is mounted to the interior of the vehicle for securing the seat back in the roof storing position disposed above the seat cushion. At least one lower retaining latch is mounted to the interior of the vehicle below the upper retaining latch for securing the seat back in the seat back operative position abutting at least a portion of the seat cushion.
More specifically, the retractable automotive seat assembly is moveable within the interior of the vehicle between an operative position for supporting an occupant and a stowed position partially stored against a headliner of the vehicle and partially recessed within a floor of the vehicle. The seat back is pivotally mounted to the headliner of the vehicle for movement between the seat back operative position and the roof storing position with the seat back disposed above the seat cushion adjacent the headliner. At least one seat cushion bracket is mounted to the seat cushion for supporting and pivoting the seat cushion independently from the seat back between a seat cushion operative position with at least a portion of the seat cushion abutting the seat back when the seat back is in the seat back operative position and a floor storing position with the seat cushion pivoting downwardly recessed within the floor of the vehicle.
Accordingly, the present invention incorporates a completely retractable seat assembly wherein the seat back is locked into both the seating and stowed positions and the seat cushion is independently stowed within a cavity in the vehicle floor. The subject seat assembly maximizes the available cargo space in the vehicle without having to remove the entire seat assembly from the vehicle. The lightweight and sturdy construction of the seat assembly allows safe and easy storage of the seat assembly while being commensurate with good safety practices.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1894103 (1933-01-01), Kuenzel
patent: 2357729 (1944-09-01), De Fries
patent: 3431018 (1969-03-01), Caron
patent: 3807790 (1974-04-01), Erard
patent: 4133573 (1979-01-01), Zur
patent: 4609221 (1986-09-01), Bottcher
patent: 5195795 (1993-03-01), Cannera et al.
patent: 5269581 (1993-12-01), Odagaki et al.
patent: 6073986 (2000-06-01), Neale et al.
patent: 19622146 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 0804890 (1997-11-01), None
patent: 2668990 (1990-11-01), None
patent: 2748241 (1997-11-01), None
PCT International Search Report dated Dec. 7, 1999.
Langensiepen Eric M.
Neale Colin G.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Howard & Howard
Magna Interior Systems Inc.
Murray Mickki D.
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