Abstract:
This invention relates to vehicle having a conveniently storable passenger seat. The seat is collapsible into an on-floor or stowed position. A user can stow the seat using only one hand. A release member is activated to permit the seat to move from an upright position to the collapsed position. A tub area which stows the seat is concealed by a floor covering member which has flippers that automatically retract upon activation of the release member. The seat is also capable of reclining. Moreover, the seat remains adjustable in the forward and rearward directions with respect to the vehicle cab. This type of arrangement is ideal for passenger vehicles with two or more rows of seating, like SUVs, vans, and minivans.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/626,557 filed Nov. 10, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL 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 passenger seat and thereby expand the cargo area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A stowable passenger seat assembly for a vehicle is provided. The passenger seat assembly includes a lower seat portion and a seatback portion. A rail supports the lower seat portion and defines a first elongated slot. A first slide member is at least partially within the first elongated slot, and is selectively movable within the first elongated slot. A first link is pivotably connected to a first stationary bracket and is pivotably connected with respect to the rail via the first slide member. 
     A second link defines a second elongated slot and is pivotably connected to a second stationary bracket and the rail. A second slide member is at least partially within the second elongated slot, and is selectively movable within the second elongated slot. A third link is pivotably connected to the first link and is pivotably connected with respect to the second link via the second slide member. 
     The first, second, and third link selectively guide the lower seat portion and the seatback portion between a first position in which the lower seat portion is above a vehicle floor and occupiable, a second position in which the lower seat portion is forward of and below the first position in a first stowed configuration, and a third position preferably fully contained in a cavity in the floor of the vehicle body in a second stowed configuration. Preferably, a hinged floor panel covers the cavity when the lower seat portion is in the first position, and is selectively retractable to expose the cavity during movement of the lower seat portion to the second position. 
     The passenger seat assembly of the invention is characterized by its mechanically simple stowage, requiring the use of only one hand and one forward and downward motion, and its adaptable design that easily accommodates the packaging constraints of different vehicles. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side elevation view of a vehicle interior with a stowable seat assembly in an upright, occupiable configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of the stowable seat assembly of  FIG. 1  in the upright, occupiable configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side elevation view of the stowable seat assembly of  FIG. 1  in a first stowed configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the stowable seat assembly of  FIG. 1  in the first stowed configuration; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic side elevational view of the stowable seat assembly of  FIG. 1  in a second stowed configuration. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  includes a body  14 . The body  14  includes a floor  18  that partially defines interior compartment  22 . The vehicle  10  also includes a plurality of passenger seat assemblies including front seat assembly  26 , midsection seat assembly  30  behind front seat assembly  26 , and rear seat assembly  34  behind midsection seat assembly  30 . A tub  31  defines a cavity  32  that is accessible by an opening  33  in the floor  18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1–2 , seat assembly  30  includes a lower seat portion  38  and a seatback portion  42 . A rail  46  supports the lower seat portion  38  and defines a first elongated slot  50 . A first slide member  54  is at least partially within the first elongated slot  50 , and is selectively movable within the first elongated slot  50 . 
     A first set of links on one side of the seat assembly  30  includes a first link  58  that is pivotably connected to a first stationary bracket  62  at one end and is pivotably connected with respect to the rail  46  via the first slide member  54  at the other end. Within the scope of the claimed invention, the first slide member  54  may or may not be an integral part of the first link  58 . The first stationary bracket  62  is rigidly mounted to a rear wall of the tub  31 . A second link  66  defines a second elongated slot  70  and is pivotably connected to a second stationary bracket  74  at one end and to the rail  46  at another end. The second stationary bracket  74  is rigidly mounted to the tub  31  at a location that is lower and further forward than the first bracket  62 . A second slide member  78  is at least partially within the second elongated slot  70 , and is selectively movable within the second elongated slot  70 . 
     A third link  82  is pivotably connected to the first link  58  at one end, and is pivotably connected with respect to the second link  66  via the second slide member  78  at the other end. Within the scope of the claimed invention, the second slide member  78  may or may not be an integral part of the third link  82 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a strut  84  preferably interconnects the second bracket  74  and the first link  58  to provide resistance to the rotation of the first link  58  about the first bracket  62 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the seat assembly  30  includes a second set of links, brackets, etc.  46 ′,  58 ′,  62 ′,  66 ′,  70 ′  74 ′,  78 ′,  82 ′,  84 ′ substantially similar in form and function to links, brackets, etc.  46 ,  50 ,  54 ,  58 ,  62 ,  66 ,  70 ,  74 ,  78 ,  82 ,  84 . Also as shown in  FIG. 2 , side panels  83 ,  83 ′ conceal the links from view. 
     The seat assembly  30  is shown in a first position, in which the seatback portion  42  is generally vertically oriented, and the lower seat portion  38  is in a first position with respect to the vehicle  10 . More specifically, the lower seat portion  38  is supported a distance above the floor  18  by the first link  58  and the second link  66 . A first latch  86 , shown as a hook in the embodiment depicted, is connected to one of the links in the first set of links, specifically the second link  66  in the embodiment depicted. A first complementary latch member  90  is affixed to a side wall of the tub  31 , and is engageable with the latch  86  to retain the lower seat portion  38  in the first position by restricting movement of the link  66 . If desired, a second latch (not shown) similar to the first latch  86  could be positioned to latch one of the links in the second set to a latch member such as  90 ,  102  on the opposite side of the seat assembly  30  or at a bracket such as  62  at the back of the seat assembly  30 . 
     A latch release handle  94  is located on the upper rear portion of the seatback member  42 , and is selectively operable by a cable link  85  to move the latch  86  to a disengaged position (shown in phantom at  86 ′ in  FIG. 1 ). When a latch is disengaged, the seat assembly  30  is free to move from the first occupiable position to a first stowed configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the shown embodiment the latch release handle  94  is operatively connected to the latch  86  via the cable link  85 . Upon lifting the latch release handle  94  again, the cable link  85  translates the latch  86  from the engaged position shown to the disengaged position  86 ′. The latch release handle  94  is configured to allow an individual to actuate the latch  86  and thereby conveniently fold or un-fold the seat assembly  30  using one hand. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3–4 , the seatback portion  42  is pivotably mounted with respect to the lower seat portion  38  at bracket  98 . In the second seat assembly position or first stowed configuration, the seatback portion  42  is pivoted forward about bracket  98  so as to be generally horizontally oriented and to extend above and over the lower seat portion  38 . The lower seat portion  38  is in a second position with respect to the vehicle, wherein the lower seat portion  38  is further forward and downward than in the occupiable seat position shown in  FIGS. 1–2 . During movement of the lower seat portion  38  from the first or occupiable position to the second position or first stowed configuration, the first link  58  is pivoted forward about the first stationary bracket  62 , and the second link  66  is pivoted forward about the second stationary bracket  74 . The first sliding member  54  moves forward with respect to the first slot  50 , the first slot  50  limiting movement of the first sliding member, and accordingly, guiding the relative movement of the rail  46 , lower seat portion  38 , and the first link  58 . The second sliding member  78  moves within the second slot  70 . The struts  84 ,  84 ′ are compressed, storing energy that will assist the seat assembly  30  in returning to the first configuration. The latch  86  is engaged with a second complementary latch member  102  to retain the lower seat portion in the second position or first stowed configuration. 
     In the second position, the lower seat portion  38  remains above the floor  18  and outside the cavity  32 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 3 , a floor panel  106  is pivotably connected to the floor  18  at the opening  33  by a hinge  110 , and is selectively movable between a closed position in which the panel  106  is generally horizontally oriented to cover the forward portion of the cavity  32 , and an open position, shown at  106 ′, in which the panel is pivoted about the hinge  110  to provide selective access to the cavity  32 . A latch (not shown) preferably releasably retains the panel  106  in the closed position, and releases when the release handle  94  is pulled. A spring (not shown) preferably biases the panel  106  in the open position so that when the latch is disengaged, the spring moves the panel to the open position. 
     Panel  114  is slidable with respect to the vehicle floor  18 , and is movable between a closed position in which the panel  114  covers the rearward portion of the cavity  32 , and an open position, shown at  114 ′, in which the panel  114  is rearward of the cavity  32 . Panel  114  includes sufficient slots to accommodate the links  58 ,  66 . In their respective closed positions, panels  106  and  114  contact each other to cooperatively conceal and close the cavity formed by the tub. 
     When panels  106 ,  114  are open, the seat assembly  30  is movable from the second position or first stowed configuration to a third position or second stowed configuration, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the lower seat portion  38  and the seatback portion  42  are entirely located in the cavity  32  formed by the tub  31 . The panels  106 ,  114  are moved back to their respective closed positions to cover the seat assembly  30  and the cavity  32 , and to provide a flat continuous surface with the floor  18  upon which cargo may be placed. In moving from the first stowed configuration to the second stowed configuration, the first and second links  58 ,  66  are further pivoted about the first and second stationary brackets  62 ,  74 , respectively. The lower seat portion  38  is in a third position with respect to the vehicle  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) wherein the lower seat portion  38  is lower and further forward than in the first and second positions. 
     The side panels  83 ,  83 ′ are movable up and down with respect to the lower seat portion  38  so as not to interfere with movement of the lower seat portion  38  into the cavity  32 . The side panels  83 ,  83 ′ are preferably spring-biased in the downward direction so that when the seat assembly  30  is returned to the first configuration, the side panels  83 ,  83 ′ automatically conceal the links and brackets. 
     It may be desirable to provide a seat track (not shown) between the rail  46  and the lower seat portion  38  and seatback portion  42  to provide selective fore/aft adjustment of the seat. Alternatively, the rail  46  may define a track with which the lower seat portion and the seatback portion are slidably engaged to provide selective fore/aft translation of the seat. An exemplary seat track is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,243, issued Jan. 9, 1996 to Minder, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.