Method for converting a fixed seat back to a seat back/console

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for converting a fixed middle portion of a vehicle seat into a selectable seat back or arm rest. The apparatus is a "t-bar" which is inserted into the hollow tubing which supports the seat back. Once the t-bar is inserted, one leg is inserted into the remaining tubing sticking up from the lower seat portion to place the seat back in an upright position; another leg of the t-bar is inserted into the upright tubing to place the seat back in the arm rest position. A method is provided for converting the fixed seat back into a selectable upright or arm rest type device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
a. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to seating devices for vehicles. More particularly, 
the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for converting 
vehicle seats as they are provided by the manufacturer into alternative 
forms. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide 
an apparatus and method for converting a middle section of a vehicle seat 
from a fixed backrest into a convertible back rest/arm rest. 
b. Description of the Prior Art 
It is well known that a seat back portion between the driver's seat and a 
passenger's seat in a vehicle can be converted into a console-type device. 
U.S. Des. Pat. No. 356,693 to Meier, illustrates a combined truck seat, 
center console, and cup holder unit. Many vehicles are provided from the 
factory with such seat backs which are capable of conversion to a console. 
However, some vehicles are provided with a fixed seat back. Manufacturers 
provide this as an option to allow customers to purchase vehicles at lower 
costs. They often require customers to purchase a more expensive seating 
package to obtain the desired seat which is convertible from a seat back 
to a console unit. The present device addresses this issue without 
requiring removal of the entire original equipment seating set up. 
Replacement of the entire original equipment seating surface is expensive 
and time consuming. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
seating devices for vehicles, it is an object of the invention to provide 
an apparatus and method which overcomes the various disadvantages of the 
prior art. 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and 
method for converting the factory vehicle seating surfaces from a fixed 
center rear seat portion to one that is reversibly convertible to either a 
seat back or a console. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method 
for accomplishing that objective which is both inexpensive and simple. 
Accordingly, an apparatus and method are described herein for simply and 
efficiently converting a fixed center seat portion to a selectable 
console/center seat portion. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in 
this application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of 
the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in 
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those 
skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this 
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing 
of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several 
purposes of the present invention. Additional benefits and advantages of 
the present invention will become apparent in those skilled in the art to 
which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the 
preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with 
the accompanying drawings. It is important, therefore, that the claims be 
regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not 
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals represent like or parts, 
vehicle seats 10 of the type in which the present invention is used are 
illustrated generally in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. A passenger seat 12 having a 
back portion 14 and a headrest 16 adjoins a middle section 26 which is 
adjoined by a driver's seat 18 having a back portion 20 and a headrest 22. 
A seating surface 24 is located near a lower portion of the above-noted 
seating surface 24. A middle section 26 is fixed. It has a front surface 
28 and a back surface 29. It also has sides 30 and a lower surface 32. 
Generally, the front and back surfaces 28 and 29, the sides and the lower 
surface 30 and 32, respectively, cooperate to define a cavity therein 
which is filled with stuffing 34. The stuffing 34 is shown in the partial 
cross-sectional view in FIG. 9. Generally, the front surface 28 is 
comprised of a material matching the seating surface 24 on the passenger 
and driver seat. The back surface 29 is generally comprised of a vinyl 
material, or other material not matching the seating surface 24. The 
middle section 26 is supported by a tubular support member 36. A first 
protruding tube 38 and a second protruding tube 40 extend outwardly 
through the lower surface 32 of the middle section 26 the first and second 
protruding tubes 38 and 40, to be referred to as the support means 
hereinafter. The arrangement of the tubular support member 36 is generally 
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
The apparatus, a "t-bar" 42 used to accomplished the present invention is 
illustrated generally in FIGS. 6 through 8. The t-bar 42 is comprised of 
an elongate leg 44, and a cross leg 46 having a shorter portion 48 and a 
longer portion 50. The diameter of the elongate leg 44 and the cross leg 
46 are identical and are such that they are able to be removably received 
within the tubular support member 36 as it is cut. FIGS. 9 and 10 show the 
installation of the t-bar 42 into the tubular support member 36. The 
shorter portion 48 is inserted into a first protruding tube 38 and a 
second protruding tube 40. This leaves the longer portion 50 protruding 
from the first and second protruding tubes 38 and 40, in a direction 
parallel to that of the tubular support member 36. The elongate leg 44 is 
protruding in a direction perpendicular to that of the tubular support 
member 36. The elongate leg 44 extends beyond the back surface 29. 
The placement of the middle section 26 in the upright position is 
illustrated in FIG. 11. For placement in the upright position, the longer 
portion 50 is inserted into a third protruding tube 52 and a fourth 
protruding tube 54 extending upwardly from the seating surface 24. The 
elongate leg 44 extends outwardly through the back of the seat. The 
placement of the middle section 26 in the down position is illustrated in 
FIGS. 12 and 13. The elongate leg 44 is inserted into the third and fourth 
protruding tubes, 52 and 54. This allows the middle section 26 to be laid 
down on the seating surface 24. Thus, the front surface 28 of the middle 
section becomes an arm rest. 
OPERATION 
In operation, the present invention must first be installed. The first step 
to installing the present invention is cutting the first and second 
protruding tubes, 38 and 40, as they extend beyond the lower surface 32 of 
the middle section 26. These tubes can be cut with tubing cutters, saws, 
or the like. The cutting of the tubular support member 36 creates the 
first and second protruding tubes, 38 and 40, with open ends extending 
beyond the lower surface 32. The cutting also creates a third and fourth 
protruding tubes, 52 and 54, extending upwardly from the seating surface 
24. Preferably, the t-bar 42 is then permanently installed into the first 
and second protruding tubes, 38 and 40. A t-bar 42 is installed into each. 
The shorter portion 48 is pushed into the protruding tube. The shorter 
portion 48 is then permanently attached to the protruding tubes 38 and 40 
by welding, gluing or the like. This permanently affixes the t-bar 42 in 
place on the middle section. The elongate leg 44 has been set so that it 
extends in a direction perpendicular to and beyond the back surface 29. In 
order to insure that the t-bars are in an appropriate position, it may be 
desirable to insert both elongate legs 44 into the third and fourth 
protruding tubes, 52 and 54, before welding the first and second 
protruding tubes, 38 and 40, to the shorter portion 48. Thus, it is 
insured that the spacing of the elongate legs 44 is accurate. 
It may be required to accomplish the cutting of the tubular support member 
36 to remove the front and back surface, and the stuffing from the middle 
section. If required, this step is incorporated herein by reference. It is 
a rather simple process of removing the fabric covering, then removing the 
stuffing. Once the tubing cut has been accomplished, the stuffing and 
fabric are then replaced. 
With the t-bar 42 in place, the operation of the device is simple. A user 
simply pulls upwardly on the middle section to disengage the middle 
section from the third and fourth protruding tubes, 52 and 54. If it is 
desired to use the middle section 26 as a console, the elongate legs 44 
are inserted into the third and fourth protruding tubes, 52 and 54. 
Alternatively, if it is desired to use the middle section as a seat back 
rest, the longer portions 50 are inserted into the third and fourth 
protruding tubes, 52 and 54.