Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Auxiliary article compartments
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-29
2001-07-31
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Auxiliary article compartments
C296S066000, C296S069000, C296S065160, C296S065090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267426
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a seat assembly for a vehicle. More specifically, this invention relates to a seat assembly for a vehicle in which a support member and a seat back function between an upright-use position that forms a truss and a horizontal-stored position that forms a continuous load surface.
BACKGROUND
Vehicle seat designers have developed various seat and seat belt arrangements that attempt to provide a convenient seat belt system for a seat occupant. To this end, a more recent seat belt system, herein referred to as the integrated seat system, allows the seat belts to be installed directly on the vehicle seat regardless of the seat position within the vehicle. The integrated seat system thus remains in a constant position relative to the seat occupant, thereby placing the seat belt within easy reach of the seat occupant.
Some seat assemblies have been created that include a support mechanism to provide additional support for the seat assembly. These support mechanisms are intended to divert any loads and their resulting stresses away from the mounting pivots of the seat assembly. Although some of these support mechanisms have increased the structural strength of the seat assembly, to date their configurations have reduced the flexibility of the vehicle to carry cargo, which is a highly valued feature in the automotive industry. Specifically, vehicle manufacturers desire to provide a cargo load surface in the rear of a sedan or hatchback type vehicle by folding the rear seat backs forward into a mutually aligned position with the cargo compartment floor.
Some current support mechanism designs have allowed the seat backs to fold forward. However, these designs create cargo load surfaces that are discontinuous, i.e., there exists a large gap between the seat back and the support mechanism in which objects may inadvertently fall or become stuck. Therefore, there is a need in the automotive industry to provide an integrated seat system that creates a substantially continuous cargo load surface in a sedan or hatchback type vehicle from the rear of the interior compartment forward to the front seats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, this invention provides a seat assembly for a vehicle which overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the conventional techniques in the art. This invention also provides for an integrated seat system for a vehicle in which a support member and a seat back function between an upright-use position that forms a trurss and a horizontal-stored position that forms a substantially continuous load surface.
Briefly, the invention includes a seat assembly for a vehicle having a seat back and a support member. The seat back is connectable to the vehicle for pivotal movement between an upright-use position and a generally horizontal-stored position. The support member is connected to the seat back and attachable to the vehicle. The seat back and the support member are operable to form a truss in an upright-use position and a substantially continuous load surface in a horizontal-stored position.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following discussion and accompanying drawings.
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Becker Steven C.
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
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