Patent Publication Number: US-2013229045-A1

Title: Seat with stowable securing system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to vehicle seating systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Automobiles and other vehicles include one or more seats for occupants of the vehicles, such as the driver and passengers. Different seating types include bucket seats and bench seats. Numerous features of the seats are configured to promote the function of supporting vehicle occupants in the seats. Seats and seating systems may include belts, latches, or restraints for supporting and holding occupants of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     A seating system or seat is provided. The seat includes a seatback and a head restraint operatively attached to the seatback. A housing area is disposed within either the head restraint or the seatback. 
     A securing member is selectively movable between at least a first position and a second position. An end effector is operatively attached to the securing member. The end effector is substantially adjacent to the housing area when the securing member is in the first position, and is deployed away from the housing area when the securing member is in the second position. 
     The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages, of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the invention, as defined in the appended claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, isometric view of a seating system having a retractable and stowable system for securing handled objects, such as bags; 
         FIG. 2  is another schematic, isometric view of the seating system of  FIG. 1 , shown with a different bag; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, side view of a portion of the seating system shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating components and features disposed within a head restraint; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, plan view of an end effector and securing member from the seating system shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic, plan view of another end effector and securing member usable with the seating system shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic, plan view of another end effector and securing member that are also usable with the seating system shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components wherever possible throughout the several figures, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a schematic, isometric view of a seating system or seat  10 , which may be used in numerous vehicles (not shown). Features and components shown in other figures may be incorporated and used with those shown in  FIG. 1 , and components may be mixed and matched between any of the configurations shown. 
     While the present invention is described in detail with respect to automotive applications, those skilled in the art will recognize the broader applicability of the invention. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” et cetera, are used descriptively of the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. 
     Occupants of the vehicle may be seated in the seat  10 , or it may be vacant, and the seat  10  may be located in the front, back, or intermediate areas of the vehicle. Relative to the seat  10 , the forward direction is the direction toward the occupant, which is often, although not necessarily, also the direction of forward travel for the vehicle. 
     The seating system includes a base  11 , upon which occupants may sit, having a forward end  12  and a rearward end  13 . The base  11  is operatively attached to a seatback  14 . The rearward end  13  of the base  11  is operatively attached to a bottom end  15  of the seatback  14 . 
     A top end  16  of the seatback  14  is operatively attached to a head restraint  18 . In some configurations of the seat  10 , the head restraint  18  may be incorporated or integrally formed as part the top end  16  of the seatback  14 . 
     A securing member  20  is selectively movable between at least a first position  21  and a second position  22 , which are shown very generally and illustratively in the figures. An end effector  24  is attached to the securing member  20 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , the end effector  24  is an open hook. 
     The first position  21  may be referred to as a stowed position for the end effector  24 , and the second position  22  may be referred to as a deployed position. The securing member  20  may move smoothly between the first position  21  and the second position  22  or may be subject to detents or locking positions. 
     A housing area  26  may be disposed within either the head restraint  18  or a portion of the seatback  14  adjacent to the head restraint  18 . The housing area  26  is shown in  FIG. 1  disposed within the head restraint  18 , and an alternative housing area  27  is shown disposed within the top end  16  of the seatback  14  in  FIG. 2 . 
     The end effector  24  is configured to hold, interface, or mate with a bag  28 . In the example shown in this case, the bag  28  is a briefcase or a laptop bag. However, other bags and articles with handles may also be used with the end effector  24  and the seating system shown and described herein. For example, and without limitation, the end effector  24  may be interfaced with backpacks or purses. 
     In the first position  21 , the end effector  24  is substantially adjacent to the housing area  26 , such that the securing member  20  and the end effector  24  are out of the way when not in use. In the second position  22 , the end effector  24  is deployed away from the housing area  26  and may be used to hold the bag  28 . The first position  21  and the second position  22  are illustrated very generally in the figures. The second position  22  may be anywhere within the extended range of the securing member  20 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , and with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , there are shown additional views of the seat  10  or portions thereof.  FIG. 2  shows a rear view of the seat  10  with the securing member  20  extended to a different second position  22  than that shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  shows a side view of a portion of the seat  10  and illustrates components of the seat  10  which are within the head restraint  18 .  FIG. 4  shows a schematic, plan view of the end effector  24  and the securing member  20  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the end effector  24  holding an alternative bag  29 , which is a backpack. Furthermore, the alternative bag  29  is shown disposed behind the seat  10 , because the securing member  20  is configured to extend to multiple second positions  22 , which may be either in front of or behind the seat  10 . 
     As shown in each of the figures, but best viewed in  FIG. 4 , the end effector  24  includes an open hook.  FIG. 4  also shows that the securing member  20  is formed as a belt, and may be a webbed or leather belt. As discussed herein, the securing member  20  and the end effector  24  may take other forms, shapes, or configurations. 
     The seat  10  also includes a retractor  30  operatively attached to the securing member  20  and configured to bias the securing member  20  toward the first position  21 . The retractor  30  may be any suitable device capable of pulling the securing member  20  back into the housing area  26 . For example, the retractor  30  may be a spring-loaded device that passively applies retraction force to the securing member  20  regardless of position, or may selectively lock the position of the securing member  20 . 
     The retraction force applied by the retractor  30  may be sufficient to hold the bag  28  upright. The retractor  30  may be configured to lock or hold the securing member  20  in the first position  21  and the second position  22 . Furthermore, the retractor  30  may be configured to stop the securing member  20  in an intermediate position  23  between the first position  21  and the second position  22 . 
     The seat  10  includes a support member  32  configured to attach the head restraint  18  to the seatback  14 . The retractor  30  may be attached or secured to the support member  32  within the head restraint  18 . The retractor  30  may allow the securing member  20  to be pulled smoothly and continuously from the first position  21  to the second position  22 , or the retractor  18  may have detents or stop positions to iterate from the first position  21  to the second positions  22  (and through the intermediate position  23 ) in steps. 
     The end effector  24  may stow within a portion of the housing area  26 . However, the head restraint  18  or the seatback  14  may have a nesting pocket  34  formed within and configured to at least partially receive the end effector  24 , such that the end effector  24  has a storage location when the securing member  20  is in the first position  21 . The nesting pocket  34  may include clips or resistance features to restrain the end effector  24  from falling out of the nesting pocket  34  unless pulled by an occupant. For example, if the end effector  24  is shaped as an open hook, the nesting pocket  34  may have a matching female receptacle into which the end effector  24  may be snapped. 
     In the seat  10  shown in the figures, both the housing area  26  and the nesting pocket  34  are within the head restraint  18 , but other configurations may be used. For example, both the housing area  26  and the nesting pocket  34  may be within the top end  16  of the seatback  14 . Alternatively, the housing area  26  and the nesting pocket  34  may be separated. For example, the housing area  26  may be in the head restraint  18  and the nesting pocket  34  in the seatback  14 , such that the securing member  20  extends downward from the head restraint  18  and the end effector snaps into the nesting pocket  34  on the adjacent top end  16  of the seatback  14 . 
     When the securing member  20  is deployed away from the first position  21 , the securing member  20  may be suddenly pulled away from or reeled out of the retractor  30 , especially when holding or attached to the bag  28 . For example, if the vehicle suddenly decelerates, the bag  28  may be rapidly accelerated away from the seat  10 . The seat  10  may include a locking mechanism  36  operatively attached to the securing member  20 . 
     The locking mechanism  36  prevents movement of the securing member  20  toward the second position  22  if the securing member  20  is subjected to high acceleration. For example, and without limitation, the locking mechanism  36  may restrain movement of the securing member  20  whenever the seat  10  or the securing member  20  or the seat  10  experiences acceleration greater than a maximum or a threshold acceleration. The locking mechanism  36  may function by inhibiting operation of the retractor  30 . Therefore, the bag  28  is less likely to be moved away from the seat  10  during sudden decelerations of the vehicle. 
     In order to secure objects or articles without a handle, such as a shipping box, the seat  10  may include one or more interface points  38  configured to mate with the end effector  24 . Therefore, the securing member  20  may be attached at two different locations on the seat  10 . For example, if the end effector  24  is shaped as an open hook, the interface point  38  may be an eyelet with which the hook mates and the securing member  20  may hold the shipping box or other article against the seat  10 . Possible locations for the interface points  38  may include, without limitation, the bottom end  15  of the seatback  14  and the forward end  12  of the base  11 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is shown a schematic, plan view of a securing member  120  and an end effector  124  and that are usable with the seating system shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , the end effector  124  is a carabiner. The carabiner-type end effector  124  has a spring catch or arm  125  capable of closing the end effector around a handle or an eyelet. The end effector  124  may or may not include mechanisms to lock the carabiner closed, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Therefore, the end effector  124  has the ability to lock onto, for example, the handles of the bag  28 , bag  29 , or the interface points  38 . Unlike the securing member  20 , which was a belt, the securing member  120  is formed as a cable or rope. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is shown a schematic, plan view of a securing member  220  and an end effector  224  and that are usable with the seating system shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The securing member  220  is again a belt, which may be formed from, for example, webbing, fabric, or leather. In this configuration the end effector  224  is a loop closable with one or more fasteners  225 . For example, and without limitation, the fasteners  225  may be snaps or strips hook-and-loop fastening tape (such as those commonly referred to as VELCRO). 
     The end effector  224  may be formed integrally from a portion of the securing member  220 . For example, the end effector  224  may be woven onto the end of the securing member  220 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the looped end effector  224  may be a separate component attached to the securing member  220 , such that the end effector  224  and securing member  220  are formed separately. In either configuration, the end effector  224  and securing member  220  may be formed from different materials or have different sizes, shapes or width. 
     The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive and descriptive of the invention, but the scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the invention defined in the appended claims.