Abstract:
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat member, a back member, and a base having a track and a guide with horizontal and vertical portions. The seat member is connected to the base by scissors linkage engaging the track to provide vertical and rearward translation of the seat member between use and stowed positions. The back member has a lower portion engaging the guide and providing horizontal and vertical translation of the lower portion of the back member, and rotation of the back member between upright and stowed positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/869,880, filed on Aug. 26, 2013, entitled “CENTER SECOND ROW FOLDING VEHICLE SEAT,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to motor vehicles, and more particularly, to a vehicle seat that shifts between a compact stowed position and a use position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of folding vehicle seats have been developed. Such seats may be utilized in a second row of seats in a motor vehicle. However, known folding or stowable seat designs may suffer from various drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is a stowable or folding vehicle seat including a base structure and a linkage including first and second links. The vehicle seat also includes a seat defining a seating surface, wherein the seat is movably connected to the base structure by the linkage for movement between a use position wherein the seating surface faces upwardly, and a stowed position. The first link has a first portion that is pivotably connected to the base structure, and a second portion that is pivotably connected to the seat. The second link has a first portion that is slidably and pivotably connected to the base structure, and a second portion that is pivotably connected to the seat. The first and second links may include central portions that are pivotably interconnected with one another to form a scissors linkage. The first and second links provide upward and rearward movement of the seat relative to the base structure as the seat moves from the stowed position to the use position. The vehicle seat further includes a back defining a back support surface. The back has a lower portion that is movably connected to the base structure by a connector whereby the back moves between a generally upright use position wherein the back support surface faces forwardly, in a generally horizontal stowed position. The connector provides pivoting of the back relative to the base structure, and also provides horizontal and vertical movement of the lower portion of the back relative to the base structure such that during movement from the upright position to the stowed position the back rotates downwardly and forwardly, and the lower portion moves forwardly and then downwardly. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a vehicle seat including a base having a track and a guide with horizontal and vertical portions. A seat is connected to the base by scissors linkage engaging the track to provide vertical and rearward translation of the seat between use and stowed positions. The vehicle seat further includes a back having a lower portion engaging the guide and providing horizontal and vertical translation of the lower portion of the back, and rotation of the back between upright and stowed positions. 
     These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a motor vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially fragmentary isometric view of a second row of seats of a motor vehicle showing a center seat in a folded position; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially fragmentary isometric view of a second row of seats of a motor vehicle showing the center seat moving from a stowed position to a use position; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially fragmentary isometric view of a second row of seats of a motor vehicle showing a center seat in a use position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the folding or stowable seat in a stowed position; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the folding or stowable seat in a use position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  1  according to one aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle structure  2  forming a vehicle interior  4  having front seats  6 A and  6 B defining a front row  8  of seats. The vehicle also includes a second row of seats  14  including rear seats  10 A and  10 B, and an assembly  15  that is foldable or stowable to provide access to a third row of seats  12  disposed in a rear interior space  16  of vehicle  1 . The stowable seat assembly  15  may be positioned between seats  10 A and  10 B, or in virtually any other position as may be required for a particular application. The vehicle may include front doors  18 A,  18 B, and rear doors  20 A,  20 B, and a rear hatch  22 . It will be understood that the third row of seats is optional. The third row of seats  12  may include three individual seats, or it may include two seats that are positioned directly adjacent one another as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the third row of seats may comprise a bench seat configured to seat two or three people. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 2-4 , the seat  15  may be shifted from a stowed or folded configuration ( FIG. 2 ) to a use position ( FIG. 4 ). Seat assembly  15  includes a seat  24  and a back  26 . The seat  24  includes a seating surface  28  that generally faces upwardly when the seat  24  is in a stowed position ( FIG. 2 ), an intermediate position ( FIG. 3 ), and a use position ( FIG. 4 ). As discussed in more detail below, the seat  24  is movably interconnected to a base or floor structure  32  by a linkage  30  that causes seat  24  to translate upwardly and rearwardly as it moves from the stowed position ( FIG. 2 ) to the use position ( FIG. 4 ). As also discussed in more detail below, the back  26  is movably interconnected to a base or floor structure  32  such that the back  26  rotates as it moves from the stowed position ( FIG. 2 ) to the upright use position ( FIG. 4 ). A lower portion  36  of the seat back  26  translates upwardly and then rearwardly as the seat back  26  moves from the stowed position ( FIG. 2 ) to the use position ( FIG. 4 ). The back  26  includes a back support surface  34  that generally faces downwardly when the back  26  is in a stowed configuration ( FIG. 2 ), and faces forwardly when the seat back  26  is in an upright use position ( FIG. 4 ). 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , linkage  30  comprises a scissors linkage having first and second links  38  and  40  having intermediate portions  42  and  44 , respectively, that are pivotably interconnected at a pivot  46 . Upper end  48  of first link  38  is pivotably connected to seat  24  at pivot  50 , and lower end  52  is pivotably connected to brackets  56 A,  56 B of base structure  32  at a pivot  54 . 
     Upper end  58  of second link  40  is pivotably connected to seat  24  at an upper pivot  60 , and a lower end  62  of second link  40  is pivotably and slidably connected to a track  66  of base or floor structure  32  at a lower pivot  64 . Lower end  62  of second link  40  may be pivotably connected to a slide member  68 , and the slide member  68  slidably engages the track  66 . The track  66  may comprise an elongated guide structure that extends in a fore-aft direction such that the lower end  62  of second link  40  translates in a fore-aft direction as the seat  24  moves between the stowed position ( FIG. 5 ) and the upper, use position ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2-4 , first link  40  may comprise a H-shaped portion with elongated side portions  40 A and  40 B having lower ends  62 A and  62 B, respectively that are pivotably and slidably interconnected with track member  66  by a pivot pin  64  and slide member  68 . It will be understood that the linkage  30  and track  66  may have a variety of configurations as required for a particular application. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bracket portions  56 A,  56 B include lower portions  72  that are configured to be secured to a vehicle floor  32 , and upper ends  74  including slots  76 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the bracket portions  56 A,  56 B are disposed on opposite sides  15 A and  15 B of the seat  24  and back  26 . The bracket portions  56 A,  56 B are identical to one another or mirror images of one another. The bracket portions  56 A,  56 B may comprise separate structures that are secured to floor structure  32 , or they may comprise parts of a single base structure that is secured to (or part of) floor structure  32 . A pair of connector brackets  78 A,  78 B are connected to lower portion  36  of back  26 . Each bracket  78 A,  78 B includes a lower end  80  that slidably and pivotably engages the slots  76 . The slots  76  include a horizontal portion  82  and a vertical portion  84 . When the back  26  is in a stowed position ( FIG. 5 ), the end or pin  80  of brackets  78 A,  78 B are disposed in vertical portions  84  of slots  76 . As the back  26  is moved to the upright or use position ( FIG. 6 ), the pin or end  80  first travels upwardly in vertical portions  84  of slots  76 , and then translates rearwardly along the horizontal portions  82  of slots  76 . The back  26  also pivots about the ends or pins  80  of connector brackets  78 A,  78 B as the back  26  moves from the stowed position ( FIG. 5 ) to the upright or use position ( FIG. 6 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the seat  24  and back  26  are in the stowed position, the seat  24  is in a lowered position directly adjacent the floor  32  with the seating surface  28  facing upwardly. When the back  26  is in the stowed position ( FIG. 5 ), the back support surface  34  generally faces downwardly, and the back support surface  34  may contact the seating surface  28  to thereby support the back  26  in the stowed position. The rear surface  86  of back  26  faces upwardly when the back is in the stowed position of  FIG. 5 . Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the rear surface  86  of back  26  is relatively low when the back  26  is in a stowed configuration. Specifically, the rear surface  86  may be at about the same height as the adjacent seating surfaces  90 A and  90 B of rear seats  10 A and  10 B, respectively. Alternatively, the rear surface  86  may be somewhat lower or somewhat higher than the seating surfaces  90 A and  90 B. The rear surface  86  of back  26  may include openings  88  forming cup holders for use by occupants of the seats  10 A and  10 B when seat assembly  15  is stowed. When the seat assembly  15  is in the stowed configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 , users can readily access the rear space  16  through the space  92  between the backs  94 A and  94 B of seats  10 A and  10 B, respectively. As discussed above, vehicle  1  may optionally include a third row of seats  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The third row of seats  12  (if present) may be readily accessed through the space  92  between backs  94 A and  94 B of seats  10 A and  10 B. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , as the seat  24  moves from the stowed position ( FIG. 5 ) to the use position ( FIG. 6 ), the seat  24  translates upwardly and rearwardly due to the linkage  30 . This causes the rear edge  96  of seat  24  to shift from a position in front of the bracket portions  56  as shown in  FIG. 5 , to a position wherein the rear edge  96  of seat  24  is positioned rearwardly of the bracket portions  56  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As the seat back  26  shifts from the stowed position of  FIG. 5  to the upright use position of  FIG. 6 , the lower end or pins  80  of brackets  78  move upwardly along vertical portions  84  of slots  76 , and then translate rearwardly along the horizontal portions  82  of slots  76 . The back  26  also pivots about the lower end or pins  80  of brackets  78 , such that the back  26  rotates as it shifts from the stowed position of  FIG. 5  to the upright position of  FIG. 6 . 
     The stowable or folding seat assembly  15  of the present invention stows or folds to a very compact position to permit access to a rear space or third row of seats of a motor vehicle. When the seat assembly  15  is an upright or use position/configuration, the seat  15  is generally positioned at the same height as the adjacent rear seats  10 A and  10 B to provide comfortable seating. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.