Abstract:
A vehicle seat with an integral, retractable step. A generally hollow base is secured to a floor of a vehicle, the base having a pair of opposing, spaced-apart side walls. A generally horizontal seat cushion is attached atop the base. A generally vertical seatback is attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion. A step is coupled to the base, the step being selectively positionable between a stowed position, closing off an open base portion, and a deployed position wherein the step extends at least partially outwardly through the open base portion. In the deployed position the step is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed step riser.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/849,401, filed Sep. 4, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to vehicle seats, and in particular to a vehicle seat having an integral, retractable step to aid ingress and egress therefrom. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Child safety seats typically rest upon, and are anchored to, an existing standard seat in a vehicle. Older children are often able to climb into and out of the safety seat themselves rather than being lifted into and out of the seat by an adult. This is desirable, as the task of lifting a child into and out of a safety seat can be cumbersome for many adults. However, the relatively high position of the safety seat upon the standard vehicle seat can make it difficult for many children to climb into and out of the safety seat unaided. 
         [0004]    Child safety seats having a fixed step are disclosed in the art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,387 to Kolpasky. However, such child safety seats typically are designed to replace a standard vehicle seat. Consequently, the child safety seat must be removed and the standard vehicle seat must be re-installed if adult seating is needed, which can be both time-consuming and laborious. An alternative solution is to utilize separately attachable steps for a child safety seat. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,557 to Jonasson teaches a step apparatus that fits between a child safety seat and a standard vehicle seat. While the step of Jonasson fulfills its intended purpose, the device must be installed before the child seat is attached to the vehicle. Furthermore, both the step disclosed by Jonasson and the seat of Kolpasky include devices (i.e., a seat and a step apparatus, respectively) that must be stored either in the vehicle cargo space or elsewhere when not needed. 
         [0005]    Seats having built-in footrests are also shown in the art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,341 to Behnert and 5,997,083 to Ono. However, such footrests are not intended to be used as steps. Accordingly, they are often not oriented sufficiently horizontally for use as a step. In addition, a footrest is not typically designed to bear the weight of a child for use as a stop and can collapse if used in such a manner, with the risk of injury to the child. Furthermore, footrests are typically spaced apart from the seat, leaving a gap between the footrest and the seat that a child can fall through during ingress and egress. 
         [0006]    Lacking other solutions, parents often simply place a stepping device such as a box or crate on the floor of the vehicle, forward of the standard seat to which the child safety seat is attached. This approach also suffers from a number of drawbacks. Firstly, such a stepping device is typically not secured to the vehicle and can move or tip during use. In addition, the stepping device consumes space that could otherwise be used to carry cargo. Furthermore, depending upon the size and shape of the stepping device, there may be insufficient space on the floor of the vehicle for the child to place his or her feet when climbing on or off the stepping device. In addition, an unsecured stepping device could become a hazardous projectile if the vehicle is involved in an accident. Lastly, the stepping device must be stored either in the vehicle or elsewhere when not needed. 
         [0007]    There is a need for a step apparatus that allows a child to safely climb into and out of a child seat that is anchored to a standard vehicle seat. There is a further need for an integral step apparatus that does not consume vehicle floor space when not in use, and does not require installation, removal or separate storage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A vehicle seat having an integral retractable step is disclosed according to the present invention. In various embodiments of the present invention the retractable step may slide, rotate or pivot from a stowed position within a floor riser of the vehicle seat. The step can be deployed to assist a child climbing into or out of a safety seat installed upon the vehicle seat, then stowed within a generally hollow base of the vehicle seat when not needed. 
         [0009]    An object of the present invention is a vehicle seat having a generally hollow base secured to a floor of a vehicle. The base includes a pair of opposing, spaced-apart base side walls. A generally horizontal seat cushion is attached atop the base. The seat cushion is fixedly coupled to the base and has a fixed orientation with respect to the floor. An open base portion is bounded by the floor, the seat cushion and the base side walls. A generally vertical seatback is attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion. A step comprises a pair of opposing, spaced-apart step side walls and a generally vertical front wall extending between the step side walls. The step further includes at least two pegs, a peg being mounted to each step side wall and extending outwardly from the step side walls, into slidable engagement with a facially adjacent slot of the base side wall. Alternatively, a peg is mounted to each base side wall and extends inwardly, into slidable engagement with a slot of a facially adjacent step side wall. A generally horizontal top portion is fixedly coupled to both the front wall and the step side walls. The step is slidable upon the pegs in cooperation with the slots and is selectively positionable between a stowed position substantially within the base and a deployed position extending at least partially outwardly through the open base portion. The front wall of the step closes off the open base portion when the step is in the stowed position. In the deployed position the step is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed step riser. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is a vehicle seat having a generally hollow base secured to a floor of a vehicle. The base has a pair of opposing, spaced-apart base side walls. A generally horizontal seat cushion is attached atop the base. The seat cushion is fixedly coupled to the base and has a fixed orientation with respect to the floor. An open base portion is bounded by the floor, the seat cushion and the base side walls. A generally vertical seatback is attached at a lower end to at least one of the floor, the base and the seat cushion. A step is pivotably coupled to the base side walls and is selectively positionable between a generally vertical stowed position that substantially closes off the open base portion and a generally horizontal deployed position extending at least partially outwardly through the open base portion. In the deployed position the step is generally proximate a front surface of the seat cushion such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a step riser. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Further features of the inventive embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the embodiments relate from reading the specification and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle seat showing the general arrangement of an integral slidable, retractable step in a stowed position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a vehicle seat showing the general arrangement of the slidable, retractable step of  FIG. 1  in a deployed position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing details of a configuration of the slidable, retractable step of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing details of another configuration of the slidable, retractable step of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing details of yet another configuration of the slidable, retractable step of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a vehicle seat showing the general arrangement of an integral pivotable, retractable step in a stowed position according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a vehicle seat showing the general arrangement of the pivotable, retractable step of  FIG. 6  in a deployed position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing details of the configuration of the pivotable, retractable step of  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a vehicle seat showing the general arrangement of an integral pivotable, retractable step in a stowed position according to another alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a vehicle seat showing the general arrangement of the pivotable, retractable step of  FIG. 9  in a deployed position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing details of the configuration of the pivotable, retractable step of  FIG. 9  according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing details of a configuration of the pivotable, retractable step of  FIG. 6  according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    In the discussion that follows, like reference numerals are used to indicate like structures in the various figures. In addition, child safety seats and associated anchors are not shown in the various figures, as the present invention is usable with a wide variety of types of such devices within the scope of the invention and thus is not limited thereby. 
         [0025]    The general arrangement of a retractable step  10  for a vehicle seat  12  is shown in a stowed condition in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Seat  12  comprises a generally hollow base  14  that is detachably secured to a floor  16  of a vehicle. A seat cushion  18  is attached to base  14  and is oriented generally horizontally. A seatback  20  is oriented generally vertically and is pivotably or rigidly attached at a lower end to at least one of base  14 , floor  16  and the seat cushion. A fixed, pivotable or detachable headrest  22  may be attached to an upper end of seatback  20 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows the retractable step  10  of  FIG. 1  in a deployed condition. Retractable step  10  comprises a top  24 , a front wall  26  and a pair of side walls  28 . Step  10  may also include a rear wall and/or a bottom (not shown), if desired, to close off the step. A grip  30  such as a handle, handhold or aperture may be formed in or attached to front wall  26  to aid in deploying and stowing step  10 . Front wall  26  may further include a covering  32  such as a fabric, leather or plastic material that matches or complements seat  12 . 
         [0027]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  step  10  is slidable with respect to base  14 . Step  10  may be slidably coupled to base  14  in any conventional manner, such as with a pair of rails  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Rails  34  each include facially adjacent first and second rail portions  34   a  and  34   b , first rail portions  34   a  being attached to each side wall  28  of step  10  and corresponding facially adjacent second rail portions  34   b  being attached to adjacent side walls  36  of base  14 . Rails  34  are preferably configured so that step  10  is able to bear the weight of an occupant of seat  12  during ingress and egress therefrom. For example, rails  34  may be made of a relatively high-strength material, such as metal. In addition, rail portions  34   a ,  34   b  may each be secured to step side walls  28  and base side walls  36 , respectively, at a plurality of mounting points in order to distribute loading forces imposed upon step  10 . Likewise, rail portions  34   a ,  34   b  may have sufficient engagement with each other in a deployed condition of step  10  so that the loading forces imposed upon the step are sufficiently distributed along the engaged rail portions. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , step  10  may comprise pegs  38 , each peg extending outwardly from opposing outer surfaces  40  of step side walls  28  of the step, the pegs being configured to travel slidably along corresponding slots  42  formed in facially adjacent inner surfaces  44  of base side walls  36 . Alternatively, slots  42  may be formed in the outer surfaces  40  of step side walls  28  of step  10 , the pegs extending inwardly from adjacent inner surfaces  44  of base side walls  36 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In either slot-and-peg configuration step  10  is slidably movable between a stowed position substantially within base  14  ( FIG. 1 ) and a deployed position wherein the step extends at least partially outwardly from the base ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). In some embodiments slots  42  may further include one or more notched detents  45  at the deployed and/or stowed positions. A corresponding peg  38  engages each notched detent  45 , the pegs and notched detents cooperating to act as a travel limiter for step  10 . 
         [0029]    In operation, step  10  is normally stowed within base  14  when not in use, as shown in  FIG. 1 . In this state front wall  26  of step  10  generally closes off the front of base  14 , concealing the step. When step  10  is to be deployed grip  30  is grasped and pulled, causing the step to move slidably and outwardly, away from base  14  as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , thereby exposing top  24  of the step for use. In the deployed condition step  10  is generally proximate a front surface  46  of seat cushion  18  such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a substantially closed riser for the step, thereby avoiding a gap between the step and seat  12  that a child could fall through during ingress and egress. 
         [0030]    Top  24  of step  10  may optionally include a non-skid tread  48  as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  to help deter the foot of a user from slipping. Tread  48  may comprise any conventional material including, without limitation, gritted surfaces, molded rubber and tread lugs. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments step  10  may further include a lower support  50  configured to contact floor  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . Lower support  50  provides additional support for step  10  to support the weight of an occupant of the seat  12  during ingress and egress therefrom. 
         [0032]    The general arrangement of a retractable step  100  for a vehicle seat  12  is shown in  FIG. 6  in a stowed condition according to another embodiment of the present invention. Seat  12  comprises a generally hollow base  14  that is detachably secured to a floor  16  of a vehicle. A seat cushion  18  is attached to base  14  and is oriented generally horizontally. A seatback  20  (such as shown in  FIG. 1 ) is oriented generally vertically and is pivotably or rigidly attached at a lower end to at least one of base  14 , floor  16  and the seat cushion. A fixed, pivotable or detachable headrest  22  (such as shown in  FIG. 1 ) may be attached to an upper end of seatback  20 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows step  100  of  FIG. 6  in a deployed condition. Step  100  comprises a rear surface  102 , a pair of side walls  104  and a front surface  105 . A grip  30  such as a handle, handhold or aperture may be formed in or attached to step  100  to aid in deploying and stowing the step. 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  together, in one configuration step  100  is attached to base side walls  36  with a pair of pivots  106 . Non-limiting examples of pivots  106  include generally cylindrical pins  108  rotatably fitted into corresponding sockets  110 . Pins  108  may extend inwardly and away from base side walls  36  toward facially adjacent step side walls  104 , while corresponding sockets  110  are formed in the step side walls. Conversely, pins  108  may extend outwardly and away from step side walls  104  toward facially adjacent base side walls  36 , while corresponding sockets  110  are formed in the base side walls. Pivots  106  may also be formed with other conventional structures, such as hinges and bearings. 
         [0035]    Step  100  is normally stowed in a generally vertical orientation when not in use, as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 8 . A first releasable latch  112  such as, without limitation, a magnetic latch, hook-and-loop latch and spring-biased latch, holds step  100  in the stowed position. In this state step  100  generally closes off the front of base  14  as shown in  FIG. 6 . When step  100  is to be deployed grip  30  is grasped and pulled, overcoming the holding force of first latch  112  and causing the step to pivotably move outwardly from base  14  and downwardly, thereby exposing rear surface  102  of the step for use as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 8 . A second releasable latch  114  such as, without limitation, a magnetic latch, hook-and-loop latch and spring-biased latch, holds step  100  in a generally horizontal deployed position and limits downward travel of the step. With reference to  FIG. 7 , in the deployed condition step  100  is generally proximate a front surface  46  of seat cushion  18  such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a riser for the step, thereby avoiding a gap forward of seat  12  and between the step and seat that a child could fall through during ingress and egress. 
         [0036]    Rear surface  102  of step  100  may optionally include a non-skid tread such as tread  48  shown in  FIG. 7  to help deter the foot of a user from slipping. In addition, front surface  105  of step  100  may optionally include a covering such as covering  32  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0037]    In another embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 , a step  200  is normally stowed in a generally vertical orientation when not in use, as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 11 . A first releasable latch  112  holds step  200  in the stowed position. In this state step  200  generally closes off the front of base  14  as shown in  FIG. 9 . When step  200  is to be deployed grip  30  is grasped and pulled, overcoming the holding force of first latch  112  and causing the step to pivotably move outwardly from base  14  and upwardly, thereby positioning a front surface  105  of the step for use as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 11 . A support latch  202  releasably holds step  200  in a generally horizontal deployed condition, preventing downward movement of the step. Support latch  202  may be any conventional type of latch capable of preventing downward movement of step  200  when the step is under load, bearing the weight of an occupant climbing into or out of seat  12 . Suitable support latches include, without limitation, electric solenoids and biased mechanical latches. A stop  204  may additionally be positioned proximate step  200  in the deployed condition, thereby retaining the step between support latch  202  and the stop to limit movement of the step when deployed. With reference to  FIG. 10 , in the deployed condition step  200  is generally proximate a front surface  46  of seat cushion  18  such that the front surface of the seat cushion forms a riser for the step, thereby avoiding a gap forward of seat  12  and between the step and seat that a child could fall through during ingress and egress. 
         [0038]    Front surface  105  of step  200  may optionally include a non-skid tread similar to tread  48  of  FIG. 7  to help deter the foot of a user from slipping. Alternatively, front surface  105  may optionally include a covering similar to covering  32  of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIG. 12 , in yet another embodiment of the present invention a step  300  may further comprise a support leg  302  that is attached to the step and either manually or automatically telescopes or pivots from a stowed position within base  14  and generally parallel to the step to a deployed position generally perpendicular to the step. In the example embodiment of  FIG. 12  support leg  302  is pivotably attached to step  300  with a hinge  304 . A releasable latch  306  such as, without limitation, a magnetic latch, hook-and-loop latch and spring-biased latch, may be included between step  300  and support leg  302  to retain the support leg while in the stowed position. Additionally, a stop  204  may be positioned proximate step  300  in the deployed position as shown in  FIG. 12  to limit movement of the step. 
         [0040]    Although steps  10 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  are shown with a bucket seat in the various figures, it is understood that vehicle seat  12  may also be configured as a bench-type seat within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, all references to a vehicle seat herein are to be interpreted as referring to both a bucket-type and a bench-type seat. 
         [0041]    While this invention has been shown and described with respect to a detailed embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the claims of the invention.