Patent ID: 7188883
Filing Date: 2007-03-13
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a seating position and a collapsed position, the seat assembly comprising: a seat bottom operably connected to a floor of the motor vehicle, the seat bottom having a front portion, a rear portion spaced apart from the front portion, and a seating surface provided therebetween facing away from the floor in a seating position for receiving and supporting a seat portion of a passenger thereon, the seat bottom having a load surface provided upon an underside thereof spaced apart from the seating surface and generally facing the floor in the seating position; a seat back having a lower portion oriented proximate to the seat bottom rear portion in the seating position, an upper portion spaced apart from the lower portion, and a back supporting surface provided therebetween generally facing a forward direction relative to the seat bottom in the seating position for receiving and supporting a back portion of the passenger thereon, the seat back having a load surface formed upon a backside thereof spaced apart from the back supporting surface and generally facing a direction away from the seat back in the seating position; and a linkage assembly mounted to the vehicle floor and operably connected to the seat back and the seat bottom for supporting and positioning the seat back and the seat bottom relative to the vehicle floor; wherein the seat bottom is translatable to an orientation such that the seat bottom back portion is spaced apart from the seat back lower portion with the seat bottom front portion disposed therebetween such that the seat bottom load surface is spaced apart and facing away from the floor in a collapsed position of the seat assembly; and wherein the seat back is translatable to an orientation such the seat back upper portion is adjacent to the seat bottom front portion such that the seat back load surface is spaced apart and facing away from the floor in the collapsed position of the seat assembly, and the seat back load portion and the seat bottom load portion collectively provide a load floor within the vehicle for receiving cargo.