Underfloor stowage of a folding seat in a vehicle

A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat. The seat is movable transversely in the vehicle in addition to being stowable.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to vehicles, such vans, mini-vans and sport utility vehicles, having a multi-use compartment that can be alternately configured for seating of passengers or carrying cargo, and more particularly to passenger seating that can be optionally stowed on-board such vehicles, for providing expanded cargo carrying capacity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In vehicles such vans, mini-vans and sport utility vehicles, it is desirable that passenger seating arrangements be optionally stowable on-board the vehicle, in a manner that provides a large, unimpeded volume for carrying cargo. It is also desirable that the stowable passenger seating arrangements have cushions that support passengers at a height above the floor that is approximately at the same level as the driver and any front seat passengers, so that the passengers seated on the stowable seats can enjoy the view through vehicle windows and enter and exit the stowable seats, when the stowable seats are deployed, without having to step up out of a seating well in the floor. It is especially desirable that the floor of the cargo area be flat when the seating is stowed, to facilitate loading and carrying large sized cargo, such as sheets of plywood, large cartons, or bulky items such as bicycles or other recreation equipment.

It is further desirable that the stowable seats be readily movable to provide a number of alternate interior configurations allowing optimal utilization of space inside the vehicle. It is highly desirable in this regard that seats be movable transversely across the vehicle, in addition to being stowable on-board the vehicle. In some vehicles it is also desirable and/or necessary that the seats be movable transversely from an outboard, deployed position, to an inboard position for stowage in a storage compartment below the floor in a vehicle where the vehicle frame is too narrow to allow the seat to be stored below the floor in a compartment that is located directly forward or aft of the seat.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,107 B1, to Kanaguchi, et al., discloses a forward facing bench-type seat mounted as the rearmost-row seat on a raised portion of a floor surface extending rearwardly from the rearmost-row seat, toward the rear of a vehicle. A seat receiving recess is formed in and extends downwardly from the raised floor surface extending rearwardly from the rearmost-row seat. The rearmost row seat can be folded in such a manner that a seat back thereof is brought down forwardly to be laid on a seat cushion thereof, and the folded seat can be turned rearwardly about rotation shafts to be received in the seat-receiving recess. The raised floor surface, in which the seat receiving recess is formed, is disposed at a level higher than a foot-resting floor seat for the rearmost-row seat. The rotation shafts on the seat cushion of the rearmost-row seat are disposed at a level that is lower than the floor surface, in which the seat-receiving recess is formed and also is lower than an upper side of the receiving recess.

The approach to providing stowable seating disclosed in Kanaguchi is less than desirable, because the seat must be mounted on a raised floor surface. The raised floor surface consumes space inside the vehicle that could be used for carrying cargo, and results in a floor surface that is stepped up at the rear, rather than being totally flat. Kanaguchi also does not disclose moving the seat transversely in the vehicle.

What is needed, is a new approach to providing passenger seating that can optionally be stowed on-board the vehicle in a manner providing the desired features and functionality described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Our invention provides a stowable, folding seating apparatus, for a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat. The seat may also include a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat in the seat receiving recess.

In one form of our invention, the stowable seating apparatus includes a seat receiving recess in the floor, extending downward from the floor surface and opening upward through the floor surface, and a seat having a seat cushion and a leg operatively attaching the seat cushion to the floor for selective movement of the seat with respect to the seat receiving recess between a deployed position of the seat and a stowed position of the seat in the seat receiving recess.

The seat cushion has an upper surface for receiving the buttocks of a passenger when the seat is in the deployed position, and a lower surface facing the floor surface when the seat is in the deployed position. The seat cushion is inverted when the seat is in the stowed position with the upper surface of the seat cushion facing downward in the seat receiving recess and the lower surface of the seat cushion facing upward in the seat receiving recess.

The leg includes an upper pivot operatively attached to the lower surface of the seat cushion and a lower pivot operatively attached to the floor, for selective pivoting movement of the seat between the deployed and the stowed positions of the seat, by pivoting the seat cushion about the upper pivot, and pivoting the leg about the lower pivot between a substantially vertical deployed position of the leg and a substantially horizontal stowed position of the leg, with the leg in the substantially horizontal stowed position extending into the seat receiving recess in a direction substantially parallel to the floor surface.

In another form of a stowable seating apparatus, according to our invention, the seat receiving recess extends downward from the floor surface and opens upward through the floor surface. The seat has a seat cushion, a foldable seat back, and a leg operatively attaching the seat cushion to the floor for selective movement of the seat, with respect to the seat receiving recess, between a deployed position of the seat, an intermediate position of the seat, and a stowed position of the seat.

The seat cushion includes an upper surface for receiving the buttocks of a passenger when the seat is in the deployed position, and a lower surface facing the floor surface when the seat is in the deployed position. The foldable seat back is pivotably attached to the seat cushion to be foldable upon the upper surface of the seat cushion to a folded position of the seat back, and openable to an open position of the seat back for supporting the back of a passenger seated upon the cushion.

The leg has an upper pivot operatively attached to the lower surface of the seat cushion and a lower pivot operatively attached to the floor for selective movement of the leg between a substantially vertical deployed position of the leg and a substantially horizontal stowed position of the leg, with the leg in the substantially horizontal stowed position extending into the seat receiving recess in a direction substantially parallel to the floor surface. When the leg is in the substantially vertical deployed position of the leg, it supports the seat cushion in both the deployed position and the intermediate position of the seat. The seat cushion extends substantially perpendicular to the leg in the deployed position of the seat, and substantially parallel to the leg in the intermediate position of the seat.

The seat cushion is operatively attached to the upper pivot of the leg for selective movement with respect to both the seat receiving recess and the leg, between the deployed position of the seat, whereat the seat cushion extends substantially perpendicular to the leg with the leg in the deployed position of the leg and the seat back in either the open or the folded position, and the intermediate position of the seat whereat the seat cushion with the seat back folded thereupon extends substantially parallel to the leg with the leg in the deployed position of the leg.

The seat is selectively movable between the intermediate position of the seat and the stowed position of the seat within the seat receiving recess by pivoting the seat about the lower pivot of the leg.

In some forms of our invention, the seat is also selectively movable in a transverse direction with respect to the seat receiving recess. The seat cushion may be operatively attached to the leg and floor for translating movement in a transverse direction with respect to the seat receiving recess, between a first transverse position of the seat whereat the seat cannot be pivoted into the seat receiving recess and a second transverse position of the seat whereat the seat can be pivoted into the seat receiving recess.

In some forms of our invention, the seat does not extend above the floor surface when stowed in the seat receiving recess in the floor. The seating apparatus may include a cover for closing the seat receiving recess, with the cover having an upper surface thereof extending substantially parallel to the floor surface when the cover is closing the seat receiving recess.

A seating apparatus, according to our invention, may include a passenger seat in which the seat cushion, seat back and leg are foldable in a forward direction in the vehicle, for stowage in a seat receiving recess located forward of the deployed position of the seat. In alternate forms of our invention, the seat cushion, seat back and leg are foldable in a rearward direction in the vehicle, for stowage in a seat receiving recess located rearward of the deployed position of the seat. In yet other forms of our invention, the seat cushion, seat back and leg are foldable in a transverse direction in the vehicle, for stowage in a seat receiving recess located beside of the deployed position of the seat.

Our invention may also take the form of a method for operating a seating apparatus according to our invention, as described above or in the subsequent detailed description.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of our invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of our invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1shows a vehicle10having a floor12defining a flat upper surface14of the floor, including a first exemplary embodiment of our invention, in the form of a stowable second row seating apparatus16, and a second exemplary embodiment of our invention, in the form of a stowable third row seating apparatus18.

FIGS. 1,2a–dand3show details of the construction and operation of the stowable second row seating apparatus16. The second row seating apparatus16includes a seat receiving recess20in the floor12of the vehicle10, and a seat22that is stowable on-board the vehicle10, below the floor surface14, in the seat receiving recess20. A cover54, having a surface56extending substantially parallel to the floor surface14, is hinged to the floor12for covering the seat receiving recess20.

The seat receiving recess20, in the floor12, extends downward from the floor surface14and opens upward through the floor surface14.

The seat22includes a seat cushion24, a foldable seat back26, and a pair of legs28operatively attaching the seat cushion24to the floor12, for selective movement of the seat22with respect to the seat receiving recess20, between a deployed position of the seat22, an intermediate position of the seat, and a stowed position of the seat22. The deployed position of the seat22is shown inFIGS. 1, and2a. The intermediate position of the seat is shown inFIG. 2b, and the stowed position of the seat22, in the seat receiving recess20, is shown inFIG. 2c.FIG. 1also illustrates the stowed position of the seat22for both the second row seating apparatus18and third row seating apparatus16.FIG. 2dshows the seat22in a tilted position for facilitating entry into and exit from the third row seating apparatus18.

The seat cushion24has an upper surface30for receiving the buttocks of a passenger (as illustrated inFIG. 1) when the seat22is in the deployed position, and a lower surface32facing the floor surface14when the seat22is in the deployed position. The foldable seat back26is pivotably attached, as indicated at34, to the seat cushion24, to be foldable upon the upper surface30of the seat cushion24to a folded position of the seat back26, as shown in phantom lines inFIG. 2a, and openable to an open position of the seat back26, as shown in solid lines inFIG. 2a, for supporting the back of a passenger seated upon the seat cushion24, as illustrated inFIG. 1.

Each of the legs28has an upper pivot36operatively attached to the lower surface32of the seat cushion24, and a lower pivot38operatively attached to the floor12. The lower pivot38allows the seat22to be moved between the deployed and intermediate positions of the seat22. Having the legs28pivoted in this manner allows the legs28to be selectively moved between a substantially vertical deployed position of the legs28and a substantially horizontal stowed position of the legs28, with the legs28in the substantially horizontal stowed position extending into the seat receiving recess20in a direction substantially parallel to the floor surface14. When the legs28are in the substantially vertical deployed position of the legs28, they support the seat cushion22in both the deployed position and intermediate positions of the seat, as shown inFIGS. 2aand2brespectively, with the seat cushion24extending substantially perpendicular to the legs28in the deployed position of the seat22, and the seat cushion24extending substantially parallel to the legs28in the intermediate position of the seat22.

The seat cushion24is operatively attached to the upper pivot36of the legs28for selective movement with respect to both the seat receiving recess20and the legs28, between the deployed and intermediate positions of the seat22. When the seat22is in the deployed position, as shown inFIG. 2athe seat cushion24extends substantially perpendicular to the legs28with the legs28in the deployed position of the legs28and the seat back26in either the open or the folded position. When the seat22is in the intermediate position, as shown inFIG. 2b, the seat cushion24, with the seat back26folded thereupon, extends substantially parallel to the legs28with the legs in the stowed position of the legs28. The seat22is selectively movable between the intermediate position of the seat22and the stowed position of the seat22within the seat receiving recess20, as shown inFIG. 2c, by pivoting the seat22about the lower pivot of the leg28.

When the seat22is in the stowed position, the seat cushion24is inverted from its position when the seat22is deployed, with the upper surface30of the seat cushion24facing down into the seat receiving recess20and the lower surface32of the seat receiving recess20facing upward.

The stowable seating apparatus16further includes a pair of second legs42pivotably attached to the lower surface32of the seat cushion24for movement between a deployed position of the second legs42and a stowed position of the second legs42. In the deployed position of the second legs42, as shown inFIGS. 1, and2a, the second legs42extend substantially perpendicularly to the seat cushion24for supporting the seat cushion24above the floor12when the seat22is in the deployed position. In the stowed position of the second legs42, as shown inFIGS. 2band2c, the second legs42extend substantially parallel to the seat cushion24. One or more helper links44are operatively connected between the legs28and the second legs42for pivoting the second legs42from the stowed position of the second legs42to the deployed position of the second legs42, as the seat cushion24is pivoted about the upper pivot36from the intermediate position to the deployed position of the seat22, and for pivoting the second legs42from the deployed position of the second legs42to the stowed position of the second legs42as the seat cushion24is pivoted about the upper pivot36from the deployed position to the intermediate position of the seat22.

A releasable latch46is attached to the distal end of each of the second legs42for engaging a seat anchorage48mounted in the floor12, to lock the seat22in the deployed position of the seat22. The seat anchorage48may be of the conventional dog-bone, bar type, located in a small receptacle embedded in the floor12, as is known in the art.

The steps required for stowing the seat22in the seat receiving recess20are shown sequentially inFIGS. 2a–2c. The seat back26is folded down upon the seat cushion, as shown inFIG. 2a, to the folded position of the seat back26. The latches46on the distal ends of the second legs42are released, to disengage the latches46from the seat anchorages48, and the seat cushion22is pivoted about the upper pivot36of the legs28, to move the seat22with the seat back26folded upon the seat cushion24from the deployed position of the seat22, as shown inFIG. 2a, to the intermediate position of the seat22, as shown inFIG. 2b. The cover54is opened to allow the seat22to enter the seat receiving recess20. The seat22is then pivoted around the lower pivot38into the seat receiving recess20, to move the seat22from the intermediate to the stowed position of the seat22, and the cover54is closed. The steps are reversed for moving the seat22from the stowed position to the deployed position of the seat22.

We contemplate that a seating apparatus according to our invention may also include additional latches, and devices known in the art, such as force generating and/or a motion damping devices, for example, operatively attached to assist and facilitate the efforts of a person in moving the seat22between the deployed, intermediate and stowed positions of the seat22. It is contemplated that a force generating/motion resisting device can be provided by any number of suitable devices known in the art, such as a tension pivot having a torsion spring, a tension spring, a compression spring, a gas charged cylinder, or a dashpot. In embodiments of our invention using such devices, it may be desirable to incorporate a force generating/motion resisting device into the lower pivot38, or into other pivoting joints of the mechanism formed by the seat cushion24, leg28, second leg42, helper ling44and floor12.

The second exemplary embodiment of a seating apparatus18, according to our invention, is identical in construction and operation to the first exemplary embodiment16, as described above, except for the location of the seat receiving recess20with respect to the seat22, and the location of attachment of the seat back26to the seat cushion24.

As shown inFIG. 1, in the third row seating apparatus18, the seat receiving recess20is located behind the seat22, and in the seating apparatus16, the seat receiving recess20is located in front of the seat22.

In the third row seating apparatus18, the seat back26is attached to the seat cushion24at the rear (as shown inFIG. 1) of the seat cushion24at a point above the legs28, and the distal end52of the seat back26folds away from the seat receiving recess20, for moving the seat back26to the folded position thereof, when the seat22is in the deployed position.

In the second row seating apparatus16, the seat back26is attached to the seat cushion24at the rear (as shown inFIG. 1) of the seat cushion24, but at a point above the second legs42, rather than above the legs28as was the case in the third row seating apparatus16, and the distal end52of the seat back26folds toward the seat receiving recess20, for moving the seat back26to the folded position thereof, when the seat22is in the deployed position.

In some embodiments of our invention, it may also be desirable that the seat22be movable in a transverse direction with respect to the seat receiving recess20, for allowing the seating configuration in the vehicle to be selectively altered, or for allowing the seat22to be stored in a seat receiving recess22that is offset transversely, i.e. in the cross vehicle direction, from a desired transverse location of the seat22, when the seat22is in the deployed position of the seat22. It may also be desirable to have the seat cushion24, with the foldable back26attached thereto, be operatively attached to the legs28and floor12for translating movement, in a transverse direction with respect to the seat receiving recess20, between one or more non-pivotable transverse positions of the seat22, whereat the seat22cannot be pivoted into the seat receiving recess20, and a pivotable transverse position of the seat22whereat the seat22is properly aligned with the seat receiving recess20for allowing the seat22to be pivoted into the seat receiving recess20.

FIG. 3shows an embodiment of the invention in which the seat22in the second row seating apparatus16is selectively movable transversely along the lower pivot38, between an outboard non-pivotable transverse position, an inboard non-pivotable transverse position, and a pivotable transverse position located between the outboard and inboard non-pivotable transverse positions. As a result of this arrangement, the seating configuration in the vehicle10can be readily changed, as shown inFIGS. 4a–4k, to provide a number of advantageous options for carrying passengers and/or cargo.

FIGS. 4a–4kshow a second row seating apparatus16, according to our invention, having a left and a right seat, designated22L and22R, in a vehicle10, having a front seat60and a flat floor12.

FIG. 4ashows the left and right seats22L,22R deployed in their respective outboard non-pivotable transverse positions, to form a gap62between the seats for facilitating entry into and exit from the rear of the vehicle10through the second row seating apparatus16.

FIG. 4bshows the seats22L and22R in the same position as shown inFIG. 4a, but shows the seat back26reclined, as is known in the art.

FIG. 4cshows the left seat22L rotated to the intermediate position, while still located in the outboard non-pivotable transverse position, to thereby provide additional cargo space behind the left seat22L or to facilitate entry into or exit from the third row seating apparatus18.

FIG. 4dshows the left seat22L moved to its inboard non-pivotable transverse position, to thereby form a bench seat at the right side of the vehicle10, in conjunction with the right seat22R, and move the gap62, for entry into or exit from the rear of the vehicle10, to the left side of the vehicle10. Although not specifically shown it will be understood that by leaving the left seat22L in its outboard non-pivotable transverse position, and moving the right seat22R to its inboard non-pivotable transverse position, the bench seat can be positioned on the left side of the vehicle10, and the gap62for entry into and exit from the rear of the vehicle10through the second row seating apparatus16positioned to the right side of the vehicle10.

FIG. 4eshows the left seat22L rotated to the intermediate position, and shifted transversely to the pivotable transverse position, with the cover54L raised, in preparation for rotating the seat22L forward into the seat receiving recess20. In some embodiments of our invention, it may be necessary to have the front seat60move forward to allow the cover54L to open fully.

FIG. 4fshows both the left and right seats22L,22R stowed beneath their respective covers54L,54R, which lie substantially parallel to the floor12when closed, to provide a flat load floor behind the front seat60.

FIG. 4gshows the left seat22in the outboard non-pivotable transverse position, and tilted forward to facilitate ingress/egress to the third row seating apparatus18.

FIG. 4hshows the seat back26of the left seat22L in the folded position, while the left seat22L is deployed in the outboard non-pivotable transverse position, to illustrate that the back side of the seat backs26of the left and right seats22L,22R may be utilized as tables, in the folded position, as is known in the art.

FIG. 4iillustrates the left seat22L in the process of being shuttled between its transverse positions.

FIG. 4jshows that the seat receiving recess20may be used for on-board storage, accessible from inside of the vehicle10by lifting the cover54L, when the seats22L,22R are not stowed in the seat receiving recess20.

FIG. 4kshows the left seat22L stowed under the cover54L, and the right seat22R deployed in its outboard non-pivoting transverse position.

It will be appreciated the other configurations can also be provided by the second row seating apparatus16illustrated inFIGS. 4a–4k, to accommodate the operational circumstances of the vehicle10.

The manner in which the seat22ofFIG. 3is translated between transverse positions, and prevented from pivoting into the seat receiving recess20except when located in the pivotable transverse position, is illustrated inFIG. 3. The lower pivot38, of the embodiment of the seat22shown inFIG. 3, includes a bar64non-rotatably attached to the floor12and extending transversely to the seat receiving recess20, along the upper rear edge of the opening of the seat receiving recess20. The lower ends of the legs28are attached to slide transversely along the bar64. The bar64includes a flange66, or key, extending upward from the bar64to engage a corresponding slot68in the lower end of the legs28, for preventing rotation of the legs28and seat22about the bar64.

The flange66on the bar64includes a pair of gaps70that are sized and spaced appropriately along the bar64, so that when the seat22is located in the pivotable transverse position, the legs28align with the gaps70, where the flange66is not present, and the seat22can be pivoted about the bar64into the seat receiving recess20for stowage. When the seat22is positioned with the legs28to the left of the gaps70in the flange66, the seat22is in a first non-rotatable transverse position, and when the seat22is positioned with the legs28to the right of the gaps70, the seat22is in a second non-rotatable transverse position.

As shown inFIG. 3, three seat anchorages48are provided in the floor12, for engaging the latches46on the distal ends of the second legs42of the seat, for locking the seat in a deployed position at either the first or the second non-pivotable transverse positions of the seat22. If the seat22shown inFIG. 3were the left seat22L, as shown inFIGS. 4a–k, for example, the latches46on the ends of the second legs42would engage the left and center seat anchorages48, when the seat22L is in the outboard non-pivotable transverse position, and would engage the right and center seat anchorages48, when the seat22L is in the inboard non-pivotable transverse position.

In some embodiments of our invention, it may be desirable to configure the upper pivot36, rather than the lower pivot38, to include a locking mechanism, similar to the one described above with regard toFIG. 3, for locking the seat cushion24against being pivoted about the upper pivot36when the seat cushion24is in a first transverse position of the seat cushion24with respect to the leg28, and allowing the seat cushion24to be pivoted about the upper pivot36when the seat cushion24is in a second transverse position of the seat cushion24with respect to the leg28. One approach to providing such an upper pivot configuration is shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5is a perspective view looking upward from the floor12along the legs28toward a seat frame72to which the lower surface of the seat cushion24would be attached. The seat frame includes a U-shaped rail74configured to extend across the seat cushion24along the front edge of the seat cushion24, and an upper pivot bar76extending transverse to the seat cushion24and seat receiving recess20, when the seat frame72is mounted in a seating apparatus according to our invention.

The upper pivot bar76is non-rotatably attached at each end thereof to one of the legs of the U-shaped rail74. An upper pivot pin78is attached to and extends radially outward from the pivot bar76to engage an L-shaped guide slot80in a pivot tube82fixedly joining the upper ends of the legs28.FIG. 6shows an enlarged view of the upper pivot pin78and the L-shaped slot80. The pivot pin78extends outward from the pivot bar76in a direction generally parallel to the seat cushion24toward the seat receiving recess20, when the seat frame72is mounted in a seating apparatus according to our invention.

The pivot tube82is slidably and rotatably disposed about the pivot bar76. A shorter leg of the L-shaped slot80extends generally circumferentially, partially around the pivot tube82, and joins a longer leg of the L-shaped slot that extends generally parallel to, and faces directly toward, an axis84of the lower pivot38.

The pivot tube82has a length shorter than the pivot bar76so that the seat frame72can be moved transversely with respect to the pivot tube82, when the rear of the seat frame72is rotated upward to place the legs of the U-shaped rail74in a generally parallel orientation to the legs28, so that the pivot pin78can move from the short leg to the long leg of the L-shaped slot80.

By virtue of this arrangement, a seat cushion24attached to the seat frame72is locked in the intermediate position of the seat22, extending parallel to the legs28, at all times that the pivot pin78is in the long leg of the L-shaped slot80. Only when the seat cushion24has been moved transversely with respect to the legs28, and the seat receiving recess20, to a point where the pivot pin78lines up with and can move into the short leg of the L-shaped slot80, can the seat cushion24be rotated into a perpendicular position with respect to the legs28.

Those skilled in the art will also readily recognize that, while the embodiments of our invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, it may not be desired in some embodiments of our invention to include an anti-pivoting mechanism of the type described in relation toFIGS. 3 and 5. In other embodiments of our invention, where it is desired to have a passenger on the seat22facing across the vehicle rather than forward as shown inFIG. 1, it may be desirable to attach the seat back26to a side of the seat cushion24, rather than the rear of the seat cushion24as shown inFIGS. 2a–2d, so that distal edge52of the seat back26folds in a direction parallel to the seat receiving recess20when the seat22is in the deployed position. Those having skill in the art will also recognize that our invention may be practiced in seating arrangements where it is desirable to have the passenger seated on the seat22facing rearward in the vehicle, and in vehicles where it is desirable to have the seat receiving recess20positioned beside the seat22, rather than in front of or behind the seat22, as shown in the second and third row seating apparatuses16,18of the exemplary embodiments shown inFIG. 1.

The cover54can be provided in a number of forms that are entirely removable during deployment and stowage of the seat22, or movable and stowable in many forms including, a roll top cover, or a rigid cover hinged to the floor12as a single cover, a bi-fold cover, or multifold cover. Although we contemplate that it will generally be preferable that the upper surface56of the cover54extend substantially parallel to the floor surface14, when the cover54is closed, so that the floor surface14will be substantially flat when the seats22are stowed beneath the floor12in the seat receiving recesses20, in some embodiments of our invention it may be desirable to have the surface56of the cover54extend above or below the floor surface14, or to not utilize a cover54.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes or modifications within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.