Abstract:
A stowable seating apparatus optimizes vertical space when stowed by positioning its component elements such that their minimum dimensions are vertical, and by avoiding overlapping of component elements. The stowable seating apparatus facilitates avoidance of packaging constraints when stowed because of combined movement of both a seat cushion and a seatback. The design of the stowable seating apparatus is easily modifiable to accommodate the differing packaging constraints of different vehicle interiors.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to seating systems for vehicles that fold or are otherwise configurable to reduce the vertical space that is occupied by the seating system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many vehicles have a cargo area located at the rear of the vehicle. The cargo area is often bordered on one side by a passenger seating apparatus that folds or is otherwise configurable to reduce the vertical space occupied by the seating apparatus and thereby expand the cargo area. 
     The prior art includes seating apparatuses that are removable from the vehicle to expand the cargo area. Removable seating apparatuses maximize cargo space when removed because no space within the vehicle is occupied by the seating apparatus. Removable seating apparatuses are also advantageous because a flat vehicle floor may be exposed when the seating apparatus is removed, thereby facilitating cargo loading and increasing cargo stability during transportation. 
     Removal of a seating apparatus from a vehicle as a means to expand the cargo area may result in certain disadvantages. Seating apparatuses may be heavy or awkward and may therefore require significant physical exertion to remove from a vehicle. A vehicle user must have a place to safely store a seating apparatus when it is removed from a vehicle. The storage problem is exacerbated when a vehicle user must remove a seating apparatus to load cargo at a location remote from the vehicle user&#39;s residence or place of business because inadequate storage means at the remote location may leave the seating apparatus vulnerable to damage or theft. Furthermore, the vehicle user must return to the place of removal to retrieve the seats. 
     The prior art also includes seating apparatuses that are stowable within a vehicle or otherwise configurable to reduce the vertical space occupied by the seating apparatuses and thereby expand the cargo area. Typically, a surface of the stowed seating apparatus will function as a cargo floor for the expanded cargo area. For example, some seating apparatuses have a seatback that rotates forward to lie horizontally above a seat cushion, and the exposed surface of the folded seatback serves as a cargo floor. 
     The prior art stowable seating apparatuses enable expansion of the cargo area without the drawbacks associated with seating apparatus removal, but typically do not optimize vertical cargo space within the vehicle because the seatback does not rest horizontally directly upon the vehicle floor when in its stowed position. Vehicle floor surface area is characterized by protrusions, such as other seating apparatuses and rear lift gates. These protrusions are significant packaging constraints that limit the ability of the seatback to rest directly upon the vehicle floor. Furthermore, if the seatback is folded such that its occupiable surface is exposed, damage could occur to the seating surface by cargo placed upon it. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,834, issued Feb. 19, 2002 to Couasnon, discloses a stowable seating apparatus wherein the seatback rests horizontally along the surface of the vehicle floor. The effects of packaging constraints are alleviated by a seat cushion configured to move forward when the seatback member is placed in its stowed position, and by a seatback member configured to rotate when stowed such that the occupiable surface is juxtaposed to the surface of the vehicle floor when in the stowed position. The invention disclosed and claimed in the &#39;834 patent is mechanically complex, and the design is not easily modifiable by automotive designers for use in vehicles with differing packaging constraints. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     A stowable seating apparatus maximizes vertical cargo space in a vehicle when the seating apparatus is in its stowed position. The seating apparatus is characterized by its mechanical simplicity and adaptable design that easily accommodates differing packaging constraints found in different vehicle interiors. 
     The seating apparatus comprises a first bracket and a second bracket mounted with respect to a vehicle floor a fixed distance apart. A first link with two pivotable connections is pivotably connected at one pivotable connection to the first bracket and is pivotably connected at the other to a seat cushion member at a location on the seat cushion member. A second link with two pivotable connections is pivotably connected at one pivotable connection to the second bracket and is pivotably connected at the other to a seatback member at a location on the seatback member. The seatback member has an occupiable surface against which an occupant of the seating apparatus rests. The pivotable connections of the first and second links to the first and second brackets, respectively, are a fixed and non-adjustable distance apart. 
     The distance between the first bracket and the second bracket; the distance between the pivotable connections on the first link; the distance between the pivotable connections on the second link; the locations on the seat cushion member and the seatback member; and the distance between the pivotable connections of the first and second links to the first and second brackets, respectively, are selected, or predetermined, such that the seating apparatus is moveable between an upright, occupiable configuration and a stowed configuration. 
     In the upright, occupiable configuration, the seatback member is generally upright, with the occupiable surface facing a generally forward direction. The seatback member extends from an upper extent to a lower extent. The lower extent of the seatback member substantially abuts the rear portion of the seat cushion member. 
     In the stowed configuration, the first link is rotated about its pivotable connection to the first bracket, thereby altering the placement of the seat cushion member. The second link is rotated about its pivotable connection to the second bracket and the seatback member is rotated about its pivotable connection to the second link, such that the upper extent of the seatback member is adjacent to the rear portion of the seat cushion member and the occupiable surface is juxtaposed to the vehicle floor. 
     The stowable seating apparatus of the invention maximizes vertical cargo space when in its stowed position by positioning the seatback member such that its smallest dimension, i.e., its thickness, is vertically oriented; by eliminating or minimizing overlap between the seat cushion member and the seatback member; and by positioning the seatback member closely adjacent to the vehicle floor. 
     The combined movements of the seat cushion member and the seatback member enable designers to configure the seating apparatus to avoid packaging constraints such as other seating apparatuses and rear liftgates by increasing vehicle floor surface area available for the seatback member to rest upon. 
     The stowable seating apparatus of the invention also improves upon the prior art because its design is readily and easily reconfigurable to adapt to vehicles of differing design constraints. Modification of the lengths of the links, for example, will yield significant changes in the placement of the seat cushion member and seatback member relative to the vehicle floor. 
     Correspondingly, a method for reconfiguring the design of a stowable seating apparatus for different vehicle interior configurations is provided. The method includes designing a stowable seating apparatus for a first vehicle interior configuration, wherein the stowable seating apparatus includes the elements and characteristics of the seating apparatus described above. 
     The method also includes redesigning the stowable seating apparatus for a second vehicle interior configuration by changing the predetermined distance between the pivotable connections of the first link, the predetermined distance between the pivotable connections of the second link, the predetermined location of the pivotable connection of the first link on the seat cushion member, the predetermined location of the pivotable connection of the second link on the seatback member, or the predetermined distance between the pivotable connection of the first and second links to the first and second brackets, respectively. 
    
    
     The above objects, features, advantages, and other objects, features, and advantages, of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the stowable seating apparatus in an upright, occupiable configuration; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the stowable seating apparatus in a progressive first intermediate configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of the stowable seating apparatus in a progressive second intermediate configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view of the stowable seating apparatus in a stowed configuration; and 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the stowable seating apparatus in a stowed configuration, and a phantom line view showing the effect of varying the lengths of the first and second link. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a stowable seating apparatus  11  is mounted to a vehicle floor  12  and is adjacent to a cargo area  14  within a motor vehicle  16 . The stowable seating apparatus  11  includes a rigid base member  18  mounted to the vehicle floor  12 . The rigid base member  18  includes a first bracket  20  and a second bracket  22  spaced a distance apart. A first link  24  having two pivotable connections  26 ,  28  is pivotably connected at one pivotable connection  26  to the first bracket  20  and is pivotably connected at the other pivotable connection  28  to a seat cushion member  30 . A second link  32  having two pivotable connections  34 ,  36  is pivotably connected at one pivotable connection  34  to the second bracket  22  and is pivotably connected at the other pivotable connection  36  to a seatback member  38 . The pivotable connections  26 ,  34  of the first and second links  24 ,  32  to the first and second brackets  20 ,  22 , respectively, are a fixed and non-adjustable distance apart. 
     The distance between the first bracket  20  and the second bracket  22 ; the distance between the pivotable connections  26 ,  28  of the first link  24 ; the distance between the pivotable connections  34 ,  36  of the second link  32 ; the location of the pivotable connection  28  of the first link  24  on the seat cushion member  30 ; the location of the pivotable connection  36  of the second link  32  on the seatback member  38 ; and the distance between the pivotable connections  26 ,  34  of the first and second links  24 ,  32  to the first and second brackets  20 ,  22 , respectively, are selected, or predetermined, such that the seating apparatus  11  is moveable between an upright, occupiable configuration, as depicted in FIG. 1, and a stowed configuration, as depicted in FIG.  4 . The seating apparatus  11  depicted in FIGS. 1-4 provides one working combination of these predetermined dimensions and locations. Other working combinations of other predetermined dimensions and locations will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. 
     The stowable seating apparatus  11  is depicted in the upright, occupiable configuration in FIG.  1 . The seatback member  38  is generally upright, extending from an upper extent  40  to a lower extent  42 , with an occupiable surface  44  generally facing a forward direction. An occupant of the seating apparatus  11  rests against the occupiable surface  44 . To maximize occupant comfort, the occupiable surface  44  should be a soft, pliant material such as leather or fabric, and be adjacent to springs or padding in the seatback member  38 . 
     A cargo load surface  46  is opposite the occupiable surface  44  and generally faces the cargo area  14  when the seating apparatus  11  is in the upright, occupiable configuration. The cargo load surface  46  faces upward and forms part of the lower surface of the extended cargo area  14  when the seating apparatus  11  is in the stowed configuration. Ideally, the cargo load surface  46  will be a durable material to avoid damage caused by the weight or movement of cargo placed upon it. 
     A rearward portion  48  of the seat cushion member  30  is in close proximity to the lower extent  42  in the occupiable configuration. The pivotable connection  28  between the seat cushion member  30  and the first link  24  is located rearward of the pivotable connection  26  between the first link  24  and the first bracket  20  in the occupiable configuration. A protrusion  50  on the seat cushion member  30  raises the front portion of the seat cushion member  30  for occupant comfort. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art how to employ a releasable locking means for retaining the seat cushion member  30  and seatback member  38  in the occupiable configuration. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a first progressive intermediate configuration of the stowable seating apparatus  11  in transition from the occupiable configuration to the stowed configuration. The seat cushion member  30  is moved forward, away from the seatback member  38 . The first link  24 , which rotates about its pivotable connection  26  to the first bracket  20 , limits the movement of the seat cushion member  30 . The predetermined distance between the pivotable connections  26 ,  28  of the first link  24  therefore determines, in part, the stowed position of the seat cushion member  30 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts a second progressive intermediate configuration of the stowable seating apparatus  11  in transition from the occupiable configuration to the stowed configuration. The seat cushion member  30  is in its stowed position, forward of its occupiable position. The seatback member  38  is rotated about its pivotable connection  36  to the second link  32  such that the occupiable surface  44  faces downward, and the cargo load surface  46  faces upward. The second link  32  rotates about its pivotable connection  34  to the second bracket  22 , and limits the movement of the seatback member  38 . The predetermined distance between the pivotable connections  34 ,  36  of the second link  32  therefore determines, in part, the stowed position of the seatback member  38 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts the stowable seating apparatus  11  in its fully stowed configuration. The seatback member  38  is substantially horizontal. The occupiable surface  44  is juxtaposed to the vehicle floor  12 , and the cargo load surface  46  faces upward and functions as a load floor for the expanded cargo area  14 . The upper extent  40  is adjacent to the rearward portion  48  of the seat cushion member  30 . Vertical cargo space is maximized because the seatback member  38  is positioned closely adjacent to the vehicle floor  12  such that its smallest dimension, its thickness, is vertical. The constraint imposed by the rear liftgate  58  on the placement of the seatback member  38  is minimized because the forward movement of the seat cushion member  30  provides forwardly-located surface area on the vehicle floor  12  upon which the stowed seatback member  38  rests. 
     A flipper panel  52  is connected to the cargo load surface  46  by a hinge  53 . When the seating apparatus  11  is in the upright, occupiable configuration, the flipper panel  52  is stored by laying along the cargo load surface  46 . When the seating apparatus  11  is in the stowed configuration, the flipper panel  52  is rotated or pivoted about the hinge  53  to extend forward from its connection to the cargo load surface  46 . The flipper panel  52  functions to protect the seat cushion member  30  from stored cargo and provides a flat surface that is substantially coplanar with the cargo load surface  46 . The flipper panel  52  may have a fixed length portion  54  and a telescoping portion  55  such that the flipper panel  52  is variably telescopically extendible and retractable to facilitate compact storage. 
     Designers can reconfigure the design of the stowable seating apparatus  11  to accommodate the differing packaging constraints of different vehicle interiors. Factors that affect the final placement of the seat cushion member  30  and the seatback member  38  in the stowed position include the distance between the first bracket  20  and the second bracket  22 , the distance between the pivotable connections  26 ,  28  of the first link  24 , the distance between the pivotable connections  34 ,  36  of the second link  32 , the location of the pivotable connection  28  of the first link  24  on the seat cushion member  30 , the location of the pivotable connection  36  of the second link  32  on the seatback member  38 , and the distance between the pivotable connections  26 ,  34  of the first and second links  24 ,  32  to the first and second brackets  20 ,  22 , respectively. A designer can therefore effectuate a change in the final placement of the seat cushion member  30  or the seatback member  38  by altering or adjusting these factors. 
     For example, FIG. 5 illustrates how changes in the distance between the pivotable connections  26 ,  28  of the first link  24  and the distance between the pivotable connections  34 ,  36  of the second link  32  alter the final placement of the seat cushion member  30  and seatback member  38  in the stowed configuration. Such changes may be used to avoid constraints such as those imposed by an intermediate seating apparatus  56  or a rear liftgate  58 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the packaging constraints of a first vehicle interior, represented by the rear liftgate  58 , do not result in interference between the seatback member  38  in the stowed position and the rear liftgate  58 . However, if the seating apparatus  11  is installed in a second vehicle interior having different packaging constraints, represented in phantom by a more forwardly-located rear liftgate  58 ′, the more forwardly-located rear liftgate  58 ′ interferes with the final placement of the seatback member  38  in the stowed position. A shortened second link  32 ′ with reduced distance between its pivotable connections  34 ,  36 ′ will result in a more forwardly-placed seatback member  38 ′ in the stowed configuration. Interference between the more forwardly-placed seatback member  38 ′ and the seat cushion member  30  is avoided with a lengthened first link  24 ′ with increased distance between its pivotable connections  26 ,  28 ′. The lengthened first link  24 ′ results in a more forwardly-placed seat cushion member  30 ′. 
     Similarly, an intermediate seating apparatus  56  may interfere with the placement of the seat cushion member  30 . This situation is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein in phantom, a more rearwardly-placed intermediate seating apparatus  56 ′ interferes with the more forwardly-placed seat cushion member  30 ′. Interference is avoided by using a shorter first link  24 . 
     Although the description of this invention has been given with reference to a particular embodiment, it is not to be construed in the limiting sense. Many variations and modifications will now occur to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to the appended claims.