Abstract:
Seat devices, apparatus, systems and methods for converting vertical single jump seats into bench seats and vice versa, without removing and replacing the seats inside of vehicles, such as in trucks, vans, station wagons, sport utility vans (SUVs), and automobiles. The mechanisms allow for converting the vehicle seats from vertical to bench seats and vice versa without having to physically remove and install different seat arrangements within the vehicles. The conversion between the jump seats with vertical backs and bench seats uses the same seat components and parts. The conversion can take place in seconds and at most a few minutes without using tools.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to vehicle seats, and in particular to devices, apparatus, seat systems and methods for converting vertical single jump seats into bench seats and vice versa, without removing and replacing the seats inside of vehicles, such as in trucks, vans, station wagons, sport utility vans (SUVs), and automobiles. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Seating arrangements in the backs of vehicles such as trucks or vans is often limited to either or both fixed single seats or fixed bench seats. In order to change a vertical seat to a bench seat would require taking apart the seat to remove it from the vehicle followed by installing a different seat inside such as a bench seat. This amount of work and labor and time would not be desirable for changing out one type of seat arrangement for another. In addition a good amount of tools, such as but not limited to wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, and loose fasteners would have be to used which would also not be desirable. 
     Some vehicles allow for a bench seat or single seat to fold down to increase floor space. However, the back of the bench seat is being folded down, so that no back remains. As such the folding down bench or single seat also does not turn the bench into a single seat or turn a single seat into a bench seat. The user would still need to dismantle and remove the existing vertical seat to put in a bench seat with a back, and vice versa. As such, the work, labor, time tools and parts would not be desirable. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, seat systems and methods for converting vertical single seats into bench seats and vice versa, without removing and replacing the seats inside of vehicles, such as in trucks, vans, station wagons, sport utility vans (SUVs), and automobiles. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, seat systems and methods for converting vertical single seats into bench seats and vice versa, inside of vehicles, such as in trucks, vans, station wagons, sport utility vans (SUVs), and automobiles, by using the same seat components and parts. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, seat systems and methods for converting vehicle vertical single seats into vehicle bench seats and vice versa, within minutes without needing tools, extra equipment, loose fasteners, such as screws, nuts, bolts, washers, etc., and the like. 
     A preferred embodiment of a seat conversion system for converting a vertical jump seat inside of a vehicle into a bench seat, can include a vertical frame adapted to attach to a floor surface inside of a vehicle, a first rectangular platform having a front side with a width and length, a rear side with an upper end and a lower end, the rear side being pivotally attached to the vertical frame, the front side adaptable for being used as a single jump seat inside of the vehicle when the first platform is in a horizontal orientation, a second rectangular platform having a front side with a width and length, a rear side with an upper end and a lower end, the front side width of the first platform being substantially identical to the front side width of the second platform, the front side length of the second platform being longer than the front side length of the first platform, the front side of the second platform adaptable for being used as a single seat back surface when the second platform is in a vertical orientation with the lower end of the second platform adjacent to the upper end of the first platform, and wherein the second platform is moveable from the vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation with the upper end is supported at a lower position on the vertical frame, and the lower end of the second platform is supported by a support member, the support member being horizontally spaced apart from the vertical frame so that the second platform in the horizontal orientation is used as a bench seat inside of the vehicle. 
     The hinge can include a pair of hinges, each attached to the vertical frame and to a portion of the rear end of the first platform, the hinges for allowing the first platform to pivotally move from the horizontal orientation to a folded orientation adjacent to the vertical frame. 
     The seat conversion system can further include a telescoping post under the first platform located between the pair of the hinges, the telescoping post having an extended position when the first platform is in the horizontal orientation and a retracted position wherein the first platform is in a folded orientation. 
     The telescoping post can include an upper end with a first pivot bracket attached to the rear side of the first platform and a lower end with a second pivot bracket attached to the floor surface inside of the vehicle. 
     The seat conversion system can further include a seat retainer bracket attached to the vertical frame, the seat retainer bracket positioned at a height above the floor surface, and a ledge as the support member, the ledge being spaced horizontally apart from both the seat retainer bracket and the vertical frame, the ledge positioned at an identical height above the floor surface as the seat retainer bracket, wherein the upper end and the lower end of the rear side of the second platform are supported by the seat retainer bracket and the ledge when the second platform is in the horizontal orientation when the second platform is used as a bench seat. 
     The seat retainer bracket can include a pair of seat retainer brackets attached to the vertical frame. 
     The seat conversion system can further include a fixed seat on the floor surface spaced apart from the vertical frame, wherein the ledge is an upper edge on the fixed seat. 
     The seat conversion system can further include a bracket mounting assembly for attaching the rear side of the second platform to the vertical frame when the second platform is in the vertical orientation. 
     The bracket mounting assembly can include a first bracket attached to the vertical frame, a second bracket attached to the rear side of the second platform, and a fastener for locking the first bracket to the second bracket when the second platform is in the vertical orientation. 
     The first bracket can include a horizontal member with bent ends that form a U shape, with the horizontal member attached to the vertical frame, and the second bracket includes flanges perpendicularly attached to the rear side of the second platform, wherein the flanges of the second bracket lock with the bent ends of the first bracket by the fastener. 
     The fastener can include a pair of spring loaded fasteners having a compressed position which locks the first bracket to the second bracket, and an extended position which allows the second bracket to separate from the first bracket. 
     The spring loaded fasteners can include knobs with stems having springs for holding the fasteners in the compressed position. 
     The seat conversion system can include an upper horizontal beam on the vertical frame, wherein the bracket mounting assembly is attached to the horizontal beam. 
     The seat conversion system can include a lower horizontal beam on the vertical frame, and a hinge on the lower horizontal beam for pivotally attaching the rear side of the first platform to the vertical frame. 
     The hinge can include a pair of hinges, each attached to the lower horizontal beam on the vertical frame and to a portion of the rear end of the first platform, the hinges for allowing the first platform to pivotally move from the horizontal orientation to a folded orientation adjacent to the vertical frame. 
     The seat conversion system can include a seat retainer bracket attached to the lower horizontal beam on the vertical frame, the seat retainer bracket positioned at a height above the floor surface, and a ledge spaced horizontally apart from both the seat retainer bracket and the vertical frame, the ledge positioned at an identical height above the floor surface as the seat retainer bracket, wherein the upper end and the lower end of the rear side of the second platform are supported by the seat retainer bracket and the ledge when the second platform is in the horizontal orientation when the second platform is used as a bench seat. 
     The seat retainer bracket can include a pair of seat retainer brackets attached to the lower horizontal beam on the vertical frame. 
     The seat conversion system can include a second vertical frame adapted to attach to the floor surface inside of a vehicle spaced apart from the first vertical frame, a third rectangular platform having a front side with a width and length, a rear side with an upper end and a lower end, the rear side being pivotally attached to the vertical frame, the front side adaptable for being used as a second single jump seat inside of the vehicle when the third platform is in a horizontal orientation, a fourth rectangular platform having a front side with a width and length, a rear side with an upper end and a lower end, the front side width of the third platform being substantially identical to the front side width of the fourth platform, the front side length of the fourth platform being longer than the front side length of the third platform, the front side of the fourth platform adaptable for being used as a single seat back surface when the fourth platform is in a vertical orientation with the lower end of the fourth platform adjacent to the upper end of the third platform, and wherein the fourth platform is moveable from the vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation with the upper end supported at a lower position on the second vertical frame, and the lower end of the fourth platform is supported by a second support member, the second support member being horizontally spaced apart from the second vertical frame member so that the fourth platform in the horizontal orientation is used as a second bench seat inside of the vehicle. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a seat conversion system with a first platform as the seat for a jump seat and a second platform as the back of the jump seat. 
         FIG. 1B  is another perspective view of the seat conversion system of  FIG. 1A  second platform moved to be a bench seat. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the seat conversion system of  FIG. 1B  with the bench seat supported by a vertical frame and a second seat. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side perspective view of the preceding FIGURES with the first platform folded against the vertical frame and the second platform removed. 
         FIG. 3B  is another perspective view of  FIG. 3A  with the second platform used as a bench seat supported by the vertical frame and the second seat. 
         FIG. 4A  is a rear perspective view of the first and second platforms of the preceding FIGURES attached to the vertical frame being used as a jump seat. 
         FIG. 4B  is a rear view of the jump seat of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5A  is a side view of the first and second platforms and vertical frame of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  used as a jump seat. 
         FIG. 5B  is another side view of  FIG. 5A  with the seat portion starting to be folded against the vertical frame. 
         FIG. 5C  is another side view of  FIG. 5B  with the seat portion in a folded position against the vertical frame. 
         FIG. 6A  is an enlarged front view of the hinges for the folding seat portion of  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 6B  is another enlarged view of the folding seat portion of  FIGS. 5B and 5C . 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting bracket assembly that attaches the rear side flanges of the second platform to the vertical frame in a lock position. 
         FIG. 8A  is a rear view of the bracket assembly of  FIG. 7  in a locked position. 
         FIG. 8B  is another rear view of the bracket assembly of  FIG. 8A  in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of two seat conversion systems inside of a vehicle in jump seat configurations. 
         FIG. 9B  is another perspective view of the seat conversion systems of  FIG. 9A  in bench seat configurations inside the vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification does not include all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
     In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
     A list of components will now be described.
       1  First seat conversion system     10  First Vertical frame (mounted inside of a vehicle)     12  Left vertical leg     14  Right vertical leg     16  Upper horizontal beam     18  Lower horizontal beam     20  First platform (seating portion of jump seat)     22  Front end     24  Rear end     26  Top     28  bottom     30  Second platform (back rest of jump seat &amp; bench seat)     32  Front side     34  Top end     36  Bottom end     38  Rear side     40  hinges for jump seat     42 ,  44  Telescoping members under jump seat     45  lock knob     46  Upper pivot bracket     48  Lower pivot bracket     50  first L bracket to support bench seat     56  second L bracket to support bench seat     58  hinge for second L bracket     60  Mounting bracket assembly     62  U-bracket     64  Horizontal member     66  Bent ends     70  First L bracket with perpendicular flange     74  Second L bracket with perpendicular flange     80  Spring loaded lock fasteners ( 2 )
 
Each with knob and spring
     90  Second seat inside of vehicle     92  Ledge on second seat (support for end of bench seat)     93  faster for bench edge (post(s), bolt(s))     95  sockets (openings) for fasteners     96  floor of vehicle     100  Second seat conversion system   

       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a seat conversion system  1  with a first platform  20  as the seat for a jump seat and a second platform  30  as the back of the jump seat that are initially mounted to a vertical frame  1  inside of a vehicle. The vehicle can be selected from trucks, vans, station wagons, sport utility vans (SUVs), and automobiles, which will be described later in regard to  FIGS. 9A-9B . 
       FIG. 1B  is another perspective view of the seat conversion system  1  of  FIG. 1A  with the second platform  30  moved to be a bench seat.  FIG. 2  is a side view of the seat conversion system  1  of  FIG. 1B  with the bench seat  30  supported by a vertical frame  10  and a second seat  90  which can also be mounted inside of a vehicle. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side perspective view of the preceding FIGURES with the first platform  20  folded against the vertical frame  10  and the second platform  30  removed.  FIG. 3B  is another perspective view of  FIG. 3A  with the second platform  30  used as a bench seat supported by the vertical frame  10  and the ledge  92  on the second seat  90 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a rear perspective view of the first platform  20  and second platform  30  of the preceding FIGURES attached to the vertical frame  10  being used as a jump seat.  FIG. 4B  is a rear view of the jump seat (both  20 ,  30 ) of  FIG. 4A . 
       FIG. 5A  is a side view of the first platform  20  and second platform  30  and vertical frame  10  of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  used as a jump seat.  FIG. 5B  is another side view of  FIG. 5A  with the seat portion  20  starting to be folded against the vertical frame  10 .  FIG. 5C  is another side view of  FIG. 5B  with the seat portion  20  in a folded position against the vertical frame  10 . 
       FIG. 6A  is an enlarged front view of the hinges  40  for the folding seat portion  20  of  FIG. 5B .  FIG. 6B  is another enlarged view of the folding seat portion  20  of  FIGS. 5B and 5C . 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting bracket assembly  60  that attaches the rear side facing flanges  70  of the second platform  30  to the vertical frame  10  in a mounted lock position.  FIG. 8A  is a rear view of the U bracket  62  of the bracket assembly  60  of  FIG. 7  in a locked position.  FIG. 8B  is another rear view of the U bracket  62  of the bracket assembly  60  of  FIG. 8A  in an unlocked position. 
     The first seat conversion system  1  can be installed by an installer into a vehicle, selected from trucks, vans, station wagons, sport utility vans (SUVs), and automobiles. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , the seat conversion system  1  can include a seat foldable seat portion  20  (first platform) and removable vertical backrest  30  (second platform) that are attached to a vertical frame  10 . The vertical frame  10  can include left vertical leg  12  and right vertical leg  14  that are mounted to a floor surface  96  inside of a vehicle, with a top portion mounted to an interior ceiling portion (not shown) inside of the vehicle. The vertical frame  10  can include an upper horizontal beam  16  above a lower horizontal beam  18  which extend between the vertical legs  12 ,  14 . 
     Once installed, the seat conversion system can initially have a jump seat configuration with a seat portion  20  and backrest  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A, 5A and 9A . The method and process steps of converting the system  1  from a jump seat configuration to a bench seat configuration will now be described. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A-6B , the installer can start converting the jumper seat configuration into a bench seat configuration, by unlocking fastener  45 . Fastener  45  can be a spring loaded knob fastener, which can be spring biased in an extended position, with a plunger extended outward, and retracts against a spring by rotating the knob and/or pulling the knob outward, which would retract the plunger. Such as rotatable spring loaded knob fastener can be such as but not limited to a Plate-Mount Retractable Spring Plunger, Part#8478A6, by McMaster-Carr Supply Company, Atlanta, Ga. 
     Such types of spring loaded knob fasteners are shown and described, in various patents, such as but not limited to U.S. Pat. No. 1,154,074 to Strong; U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,150 to Bills and U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,720 to Rampen, which are each incorporated by reference in their entirety. Other types of locking fasteners can be used, such as insertable and retractable L shaped latches, large bolts, screws, and the like, with or without turn knob ends as the bolt heads. 
     Once fastener  45  is moved to an unlock position, upper telescopic member  42  can slide into lower hollow telescopic member  44 , as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C  while the upper telescopic member  42  rotates against the bottom  28  of seat portion  20  by mounted upper pivot bracket  26 , and the bottom of lower telescopic member  44  rotates against the floor  96  inside of a vehicle by lower floor mounted pivot bracket  48 . The seat portion  20  folds downward from a horizontal orientation to be eventually generally against a lower portion of vertical frame  10  by hinges  40  that are mounted to both the seat bottom  28  and lower horizontal beam  18  on the vertical frame  10 . The installer can push down on the top  26  of front end  22  which rotates relative to rear end  28  in order to fold the front seat portion  20  relative to the vertical frame  10 . 
     After seat portion  20  is folded downward, the backrest  30  (second platform) is intended to be removed. Referring to  FIGS. 1A, 3A, 4A, 4B .  7 ,  8 A,  8 B, a pair of L shaped brackets  70 ,  74  with rearwardly extending perpendicular flanges can be initially mounted to a rear side  38  of the backrest (second platform)  30  between the top end  34  and the bottom end  36 . Additionally, a U-bracket  62  can be mounted to the vertical frame by having a horizontal member  64  mounted on top of the upper horizontal beam  16  of the vertical frame  10 . Extending upward from the horizontal member  64  can be bent ends  66  each having through-holes therethrough. The backrest rear side  38  mounted L brackets  70 ,  74 , with the vertical frame horizontal beam  16  mounted U bracket  62  together is a mounting bracket assembly  60 . 
     Fasteners  80 , can be similar to fastener  45  previously described. Fasteners  80  can each be a spring loaded knob fastener, which can be spring biased in an extended position, with a plunger extended outward, and retracts against a spring by rotating the knob and/or pulling the knob outward, which would retract the plunger. Such as rotatable spring loaded knob fastener can be such as but not limited to a Plate-Mount Retractable Spring Plunger, Part#8478A6, by McMaster-Carr Supply Company, Atlanta, Ga. 
     Such types of spring loaded knob fasteners  80  are shown and described, in various patents, such as but not limited to U.S. Pat. No. 1,154,074 to Strong; U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,150 to Bills and U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,720 to Rampen, which are each incorporated by reference in their entirety. Other types of locking fasteners can be used, such as insertable and retractable L shaped latches, large bolts, screws, and the like, with or without turn knob ends as the bolt heads. 
     When fasteners  80  are moved to an unlock position, backrest (second platform)  30  can be removed from a vertical orientation against vertical frame  10 , and moved to a horizontal bench configuration. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1B, 2, 3A, 3B, 4B, 5C, 6A, 6B , on the left leg  14  of vertical frame  10  there can be a first L-bracket  50  mounted thereon. Bracket  50  can have a perpendicular flange portion with a through-hole therethrough. Rotatably mounted to the lower horizontal beam  18  between hinges  40  can be a hinge  58  for a second L bracket  56  that also has a perpendicular flange portion with a through-hole there through. Across the top end  34  and bottom end  36  on the rear side  38  of the second platform  30  can be male shaped fastener(s)  93  protruding outwardly. 
     When the second platform  30  is moved into a horizontal position, a set of male fasteners  93  can be positioned into the through-holes in the perpendicular flanges of the vertical frame mounted L brackets  50 ,  56 . The opposite end of the second platform  30  can be placed on ledge  92  extending off of second vehicle mounted seat  90 , and similarly held in place by male fasteners  93  mounted into female sockets (openings)  95  in the ledge  92 . 
     The bench seat configuration can be moved back to a jump seat configuration by reversing the above process, and conversion method steps. 
       FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of two seat conversion systems  1  and  100  inside of a vehicle with the jump seat configuration initially attached to a vertical frame  1  (here two vertical frame(s)  1  are inside the vehicle.  FIG. 9B  is another perspective view of the seat conversion systems  1 ,  100  of  FIG. 9A  in bench seat configurations inside the vehicle. Converting from jump seat to bench seat configurations, can follow the steps shown and described in reference to  FIGS. 1-8B , and the bench seat configurations can be converted back to jump seat configurations by reversing the steps. 
     The invention can be used with on seating arrangement being a jump seat configuration and the other in a bench seat configuration. Also the conversion systems can be mounted between the left and right sides inside of a vehicle as well as extending behind the front seats inside of the vehicle. 
     Although the preferred embodiments show and describe the invention for use inside of a vehicle the seat conversion systems can be used inside of other structures, such as but not limited to inside buildings, homes, and the like. Additionally, the seat conversion systems can be used in other applications, such as outdoors, and the like, both attached to vehicles, or not part of vehicles. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.