Seat attachment structure for motor vehicles

Details Seat attachment structure for motor vehicles Seat attachment structure for motor vehicles

2000-06-12

2001-09-11

Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Seats with body modifications

C296S065030, C296S065130, C297S344100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06286886

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seat attachment structure for installing at least two passenger's seats juxtaposed transversely across the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent years have seen widespread popularity among car drivers of various types of motor vehicles including wagon-type vehicles and recreational vehicles (RVs). These motor vehicles have a walk-through layout that allows passengers to move easily from the first row to second or third row of passenger's seats along a walk-through passage between laterally spaced passenger's seats.
FIGS. 16 and 17
of the accompanying drawings show proposed structures that allow passengers to move along a walk-through passage between passenger's seats in motor vehicles.
As shown in
FIG. 16
, the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle
1
a
accommodates front seats
2
a
, first rear seats
3
a
, and second rear seats
4
a
that are arrayed successively backward in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle
1
a
indicated by the arrow A. The first rear seats
3
a
are located closely to respective side doors
6
,
7
. A central straight walk-through passage
5
a
is defined continuously between the front seats
2
a
and also between the first rear seats
3
a
, as indicated by the arrow X.
Another motor vehicle
1
b
shown in
FIG. 17
has front seats
2
b
, first rear seats
3
b
, and second rear seats
4
b
that are accommodated in the passenger compartment thereof. The first rear seats
3
b
jointly have a bench seat configuration and are positioned more closely to one side of the motor vehicle
1
b
, i.e., a side door
6
thereof, than to the other side of the motor vehicle
1
b
, i.e., a side door
7
thereof. A tortuous walk-through passage
5
b
is defined continuously between the front seats
2
b
and also between the first rear seats
3
b
and the side door
7
of the motor vehicle
1
b,
as indicated by the arrow Y.
In the motor vehicle
1
a
shown in
FIG. 16
, the first rear seats
3
a
are located closely to the side doors
6
,
7
. Therefore, the first rear seats
3
a
possibly tend to present an obstacle to a passenger who wants to get onto the first rear seats
3
a
by opening the side door
6
or the side door
7
.
The motor vehicle
1
b
shown in
FIG. 17
permits a passenger to get easily onto the second rear seat
3
b
by opening the side door
7
because of the space present between the first rear seats
3
b
and the side door
7
. However, since the walk-through passage
5
b
is tortuous in the passenger compartment, passengers find it awkward to move through along the walk-through passage
5
b.
Users chose between the different vehicle types shown in
FIGS. 16 and 17
taking into account the advantages and disadvantages thereof. However, the advantages and disadvantages vary among users of different ages, physical conditions, etc., and it will be difficult for one vehicle type to satisfy needs of a wide range of various users.
As disclosed in Japanese patent publication No. 7-23071, there has been known a seat assembly for use behind a driver's seat in a motor vehicle, the seat assembly comprising a pair of separate seats independent of each other which are slidable toward and away from each other.
In the disclosed seat assembly, a base frame supports a pair of telescopic guide rails having ends fixed thereto, and each of the independent seats is fixed to other ends of the guide rails. The guide rails are inclined a certain angle to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. The independent seats supported on the telescopic guide rails are each slidable between a front position and a rear position by and along the telescopic rails. Since the guide rails are inclined to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, the independent seats cannot be moved in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle.
With one of the independent seats fixed in position, the other independent seat is slid to establish a walk-through passage selectively between the independent seats and between the other independent seat and a side door of the motor vehicle. In either one of these seat layouts, the independent seats are not aligned with each other in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a motor vehicle seat attachment structure which allows passenger's seats to move transversely of a motor vehicle depending on how the passenger's seats are to be used, and which is highly versatile to meet various different modes of use of the passenger's seats.
According to the invention, there is provided a seat arrangement and attachment structure in a motor vehicle comprising: at least two rows of passenger's seats arranged in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, including one row and another row defined by at least two passenger's seats juxtaposed transversely across a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, wherein one of said passenger's seats is disposed adjacent to a lateral side of the motor vehicle; transverse rails for supporting another of said passenger's seat for movement from a position closely adjacent to said one passenger's seat in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, to a side position in the passenger compartment which is spaced from said one passenger's seat in said transverse direction; a first holder for holding said other passenger's seat in the position closely adjacent to said one passenger's seat; and a second holder for holding said other passenger's seat in said side position in the passenger compartment which is spaced from said one passenger's seat in said transverse direction. The first holder and second holder including engaging members fixed respectively to the transverse rails in predetermined positions, movable guides engaging the transverse rails for sliding movement in the transverse direction, latches angularly movably mounted on the movable guides, for engaging the engaging members, and a control lever coupled through a drive wire to the latches, for releasing the latches out of engagement with the engaging member.
Such seat arrangement and attachment structure according to the invention desirably permits the passenger's seats may be positioned closely to each other to form a bench seat, providing a walk-through passage across the side position of the passenger's compartment, or spaced from each other as captain seats, providing a central walk-through passage between the passenger's seats. Since at least one of the passenger's seats is thus selectively movable depending on the demand of the user, the seat attachment structure of the invention makes the passenger's seats versatile in use.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.


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