Abstract:
A vehicle seat includes a backrest and a seat base with a fitting with pivot connections for pivoting relative to the backrest. The seat base pivots between a seating position and a stadium flipped up position. A storage hoop has ends pivotably connected to an underside of the seat base at hoop pivot connections. The storage hoop pivots between a stowed position—with the hoop extending along a seat underside—and a hoop deployed position—with the hoop extending outwardly from the seat underside. The fitting with pivot connection has an inertial load lock to maintain the seat base in the stadium flipped up position upon exposure to inertial loads above a crash threshold. A cable is moved upon moving the hoop to the deployed position to move a latching cam, associated with the fitting, to prevent the seat base from pivoting.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application 62/132,030 filed Mar. 12, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a vehicle seat and more particularly to a rear vehicle seat or middle vehicle seat and a vehicle seat arrangement, particularly for a pickup truck. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Pickup trucks and vehicles with a cab having a rear wall may have a rear seat behind the row with the driver seat. The rear seat is close to or at the rear cab wall. This presents a trade-off with regard to storage space behind the front row of seats and the provision of seats for rear seat passengers. Although pickup trucks with additional seating in the cab, behind the front row of seats, may have an extended cab, the rear most seats occupy space that could otherwise be used for storing items. 
         [0004]    Some pickup trucks have rear seat arrangements with a rear seat row having only limited room and storage space. To allow for a changeover between a seating arrangement and an arrangement which provides more stowage space, the rear seats may be so-called stadium seats that allow the seat base to be folded up and or other positions/configurations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle rear seating configuration which provides support for stored items with the vehicle seat bottom in a stadium flipped up position and also for items hung under the seat in a seated position. 
         [0006]    According to the invention, a vehicle rear seat is provided with a backrest and with a seat base (also known as a cushion). The seat base is connected to the backrest such that the seat base can pivot up to a stadium flipped up position. At an underside of the seat base a storage hoop is pivotably connected to the seat base at hoop pivot connections. The hoop pivot connections have pivot locations that are toward or near to the seat base pivot of the seat base. With the seat base in a stadium flipped up position and with the hoop in a pivoted out state, the hoop extends outwardly and substantially horizontally from the seat base. 
         [0007]    The hoop is pivotably connected to the seat base, at the hoop pivot connections, so as to enable a locking cam feature of the seat base when the seat is in the stadium flipped up position and the hoop is in a pivoted out state (hoop deployed position). The locking feature prevents the seat base (seat cushion) from pivoting down when the load is applied to the pivot through the hoop pivot. Advantageously the hoop pivot pulls a cable that rotates a cam to a position to lock with (engage) a detented region on the seat base pivot (cushion pivot). 
         [0008]    The hoop may include features such that when the hoop is pivoted down, it may extend outwardly or forward. This may be provided based on telescopic arms of the storage hoop. 
         [0009]    The hoop can also act as support for a shelf surface for an extra level of storage. This may be a ridged covering which is directly supported by the hoop or supported by a frame on the b-side of the seat base (underside of the cushion). Such a support frame allows movement of the rigid covering to change the position of the surface of the rigid covering. The covering may also be flexible and may be, for example, supported by the hoop and extend between edges of the hoop. 
         [0010]    The hoop may have attachment features for adhering straps, bungees, ropes and other items, inside and outside of the hoop. The hoop may have additional hoop loops or hooks. 
         [0011]    The b-surface of the seat base (underside of the cushion) advantageously may have straps acting as or forming modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (M.O.L.L.E). This may advantageously cooperate with a hard panel surface or other surface of the seat base under side. For example, the seat base underside may have grooves and ridges or recesses cooperating with the straps for further storage possibilities. 
         [0012]    Any seat that has a configurable cushion (seat base) or backrest can utilize the features according to the invention. Additionally, a seat that fully pivots backwards can also utilize such a pivoting storage hoop. In the embodiments, the hoop acts as a structural support, can extend out, and has attachment points for straps, nets, bags, pockets etc. The lock mechanism allows the hoop to be used without the seat base (cushion) being closed and to prevent the seat base (cushion) from moving. The hoop provides a storage shelf or storage wall at the b-surface, particularly with the M.O.L.L.E attachment. 
         [0013]    The seatback may also have similar features and be folded rearwardly, in the case of a rear seat row with cargo space behind the rear seat. The hoop and other features noted above may be provided based on a rearward pivoting. 
         [0014]    The invention provides a seating system and a vehicle seating arrangement and vehicle seats that maximize the utilization of storage space. The invention provides a storage system that secures and protects items, including potentially both short and long term storage items. The invention provides good accessibility to stored items as well as ease of reconfiguring, intuitive use and user mode adaptability. 
         [0015]    The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective schematic view showing a vehicle seat configuration with rear stadium flip up seats flipped up and with storage hoops in a stowed position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective schematic view showing the vehicle seat configuration of  FIG. 1A  with storage hoops in a deployed position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat according to the invention with stadium seating feature and with a storage hoop; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the vehicle seat of  FIG. 2  with the bottom seat flipped up and with the storage hoop in a stowed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the vehicle seat of  FIG. 2  with the seat base flipped up and with the storage hoop in a hoop deployed position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a front perspective view of a 60/40 rearward vehicle seat arrangement of seat bases of vehicle seats with the stadium seating feature showing the seat base flipped up and with storage hoops in a stowed position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  is a front perspective view of the seat bases of the vehicle seat arrangement of  FIG. 5A  with storage hoops in a deployed position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a view showing steps in a process for manufacturing a seat assembly with seat bases according to the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a base structure with added pivot brackets; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the base structure with hoop pivot structure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cutaway perspective view showing a cable assembly connected to the hoop pivot structure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the base structure with hoop pivot structure and cable assembly and with trim and foam shown in a partially transparent manner; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the hard panel assembly with M.O.L.L.E. attachments connected with bottom seat base structure of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of a hoop assembly; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an inertial lock of the seat base fitting (pivot structure) with added cable actuated latch; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the seat base structure of  FIG. 11  with connected hoop assembly; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a perspective schematic view showing an alternative embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show several features of rear vehicle seats (rearward seats) according to the invention. A seat arrangement generally designated  10  includes two seats generally designated  12 . The arrangement could have a single bench seat and advantageously includes two seats such as a 50/50 seat arrangement or a 40/60 arrangement of two seats  12 . Each seat  12  includes a backrest  13  and a seat base (cushion)  16 . Each seat base  16  has an underside (b-side)  9  with a storage hoop  20 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 1A  shows the two seat bases  16  in a stadium flipped up position and with the storage hoops  20  in a stowed position.  FIG. 1B  shows the storage hoops  20  in a hoop deployed position, pivoted relative to the underside  9 . The storage hoop  20  has attachment features such as additional loops or pass-through slots  22  that can receive one or more straps  24 . In addition, a shelf surface  26 , for an extra level of storage, is supported by the storage hoop  20 . The shelf surface  26  may be flexible and attached to the storage hoop  20  at various points. The shelf surface  26  may be retractable and stored in a role. The shelf surface or tray  26  may also be rigid and be connected and disconnected as necessary. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows one of the seats  12  with stadium seating feature and with storage hoop  20 . The seat base  16  is shown in a seated position. The seat base  16  is connected to supporting structure and to the backrest  13  by a pivot structure (fitting part) generally designated  18 , with an inertial latch. The adjacent seat  12 , whether it is a 50%, 40% or 60% sized seat, will have similar features. The features of the two seats are essentially mirrored with the pivot structures (fitting)  18 ,  18 ′ on opposite sides. The seat base  16  is biased into a flipped position by a spring associated with the pivot structure  18 . The seats can normally be pivoted down (against the spring bias). The inertial latch associated with the pivot structure  18  holds the position of the seat base  16  in the case of an inertial load (a crash situation). 
         [0036]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show the seat  12  in a flipped up position. At the underside  9 , a hardshell (plastic, metal, textile)  32  is provided. The seat with the connected hardshell  32  supports the storage hoop  20 . The hardshell  32  supports storage features, particularly in the form of a plurality of support points  37  with nylon bands  38  for supporting various items. This may be in the form of a modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (M.O.L.L.E) and is referenced hereinafter as M.O.L.L.E  36 . Other pockets and support structures may also be provided attached to the hardshell  32 . In  FIG. 4  the storage hoop  20  is in a hoop deployed position. From this view it can also be seen that the hardshell  32  includes a receiving groove  33  to accommodate the storage hoop  20 . In  FIG. 4  it can also be seen that the storage hoop  20  includes loop structures  22  for attaching items or attaching items via bungee cords or straps or the like. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5A  shows a seat arrangement  90  with a seat base  16 ′ and an adjacent seat base  16 , providing a 60/40 arrangement.  FIG. 5A  shows the opposite pivot structures (fitting part)  18  and  18 ′ as well as the hardshell  32  and  32 ′ and M.O.L.L.E  36  and  36 ′. In  FIG. 5B  the two storage hoops  20  and  20 ′ are shown in the hoop deployed position. Although the dimensions and shapes of the two seat bases  16  and  16 ′ are different, the construction is essentially the same. Accordingly in the following the construction of one of the seats is described with it being appreciated that other seats of other relative dimensions can be provided in a similar manner. 
         [0038]    Particular steps for manufacturing a seat according to the invention are shown in  FIG. 6 . The process starts at  100  with a base (frame) structure  40 . Hoop pivot brackets  2  are added, such as by welding. As shown at step  110  a cable assembly  3  and bolt bracket  8  are attached. Trim and foam  30  are added to the base structure  40  as shown at step  120 . The hardshell (plastic panel assembly)  32  is added, including M.O.L.L.E  36 . The hoop tube assembly  70  is connected as shown at step  140 . The cable  56  of the cable assembly  3  is connected to the latch cam locking feature at the pivot arrangement  18  as shown in step  150 . The full assembly with seat base  16 ′ and seat base  16  is provided as shown at step  160 . 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the base structure  40  includes two hoop pivot plates  1  and  2  as well as the cross tube  42  with feature  45 . The cross tube  42  is connected by brackets  46  to the base support tube  44 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the hoop bracket  8  is connected by a bolt  15  to the pivot plate  1 ,  2  to allow the hoop bracket  8  to pivot along guide  6 . The hoop bracket  8  has an end  7  for connection to the cable assembly  3 . The cable assembly  3  is shown in  FIG. 9  with a connection end  58  of the cable  56  connected to the end  7  of the hoop bracket  8 . After these features are connected, the foam and trim  30  is connected to the base structure  40  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0040]    After the foam and trim  30  have been connected, the hard panel  32  is fixed to the foam  30  and the base structure  40 . The bracket  8  passes through the hard panel assembly  32 . The hard panel assembly  32  includes recessed portions  33  and  34  that accommodate features of the storage hoop  20 . The hard panel assembly  32  may also include grooves or channels or are protruding parts  39  that cooperate with the features of the M.O.L.L.E  36 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 12  shows the assembly  70  in an exploded form. The hoop tube  11  is connected to brackets  5  and  8  via opening passages in the tube  11  and nut and bolts sets  14 . Bolt sets  14  pass through respective opening passages in the tube  11  to fix the tube  11  to the respective brackets  5  and  8 . The hoop tube  11  may be a multi part construction with two side arms  11   a  and  11   b  respectively extending from brackets  5  and  8  to connection ends connecting with an outer U-shaped hoop part  11   c.  The outer U-shaped hoop part  11   c  is mounted in the respective connection ends of side arms  11   a  and  11   b  to slide outwardly relative to the two side arms  11   a  and  11   b  in a telescoping manner. The telescoping U-shaped hoop part  11   c  and side arms  11   a  and  11   b  allow the hoop  11  to extend further outwardly.  FIG. 12  also shows the brackets  1  and  2  as well as the cable assembly  3 . 
         [0042]    After the tube  11  is connected to the base structure  40  and hence to the remainder of the seat base  16 , the cable  56  can be connected to a latch cam (cable actuated latch)  65  of the inertial lock  60  associated with the pivot arrangement  18 . As is generally known, a latch lock such as latch lock  60  of the seat fitting  18  may include a locking cam  62  that moves into a locked state when the seat base is subjected to an inertial load that exceeds a crash threshold. The invention provides a latch cam  65  that is moved into a locked state, as shown in  FIG. 13 , when the storage hoop  20  is moved from the stowed position to the deployed position. This occurs as the hoop bracket  8  pivots with the tube  11  and pulls cable  56 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , cable  56  is connected to the latch cam  65 , which then rotates into the locked position. With the latch cam  65  in a locked position the seat base  16  is prevented from pivoting down when a load is applied to the pivot bracket  8  via the storage hoop  20 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 14  shows the seat base structure connected with the hoop tube assembly  70 . The hoop tube assembly  70  is connected via cap nuts  14  to the bracket  8 . The pivoting motion of the storage hoop  20  brings about the locking of the seat base  16 , as noted above. During the pivoting motion, features stored with the M.O.L.L.E  36  are not interfered with. 
         [0044]      FIG. 15  schematically shows an alternative seat arrangement and seat embodiment in which the seat base  16  is constructed essentially in the same way as discussed above. However, the hard panel assembly  32  includes a guide frame structure  27  defining a support guideway for holding a tray or shelf surface  26 ′. In this embodiment, the shelf surface  26 ′ is rigid or is fabric or a net and which may be supported in a stretched taught state. Preferably, the attachment to the guide frame  27  allows the tray to be raised and lowered and set, such as by pins or posts cooperating with a set of setting detents, in position in any location along the guide frame  27 . The attachment to the guide frame  27  may be a detachable connection. The tray/shelf surface  26 ′ may also be fixed to move along the guide frame  27  and to be positionable flush with the storage hoop  20  for pivoting up with the storage hoop  20 , from a deployed position to a stowed position. 
         [0045]    Although the examples shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 15  relate to a pickup truck type cab, particularly with a rear seat that is adjacent to a rear wall of the pickup truck cab, the invention may be used for other arrangements, including middle seats and rear most seats which are not at a cab rear wall. Further, where there is space behind the seat, the backrest and the seat base may be rotated over backwards, such that the hoop attached to the seat base extends rearwards instead of forwards. 
         [0046]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.