Patent Publication Number: US-2004041430-A1

Title: Convertible jump seat for a pickup truck

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to vehicle seating. More specifically, the present invention relates to a removable seat for the bed of a pickup truck.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The pickup truck has become one of the most popular vehicles on the road today. No longer used primarily as a company or work vehicle, the pickup truck is now being purchased as a family vehicle, due to its convenience and the availability of options that make the ride as comfortable as many cars. The use of pickup trucks comes with some drawbacks, however. On average, a non-extended cab pickup truck has the capacity to carry a maximum of only three individuals, whereas an extended cab pickup truck can carry more passengers, but often has a smaller bed and less cargo capacity. Accordingly, the need exists for a means by which the passenger carrying capacity of a pickup truck can be easily temporarily increased without permanently affecting its ability to carry cargo. The present invention fulfills this need.  
       [0003] Previous patents have issued regarding removable pickup truck bed seating. U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,501 issued in the name of White et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,928 issued in the name of Huber, U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,263 issued in the name of Bowden and U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,778 issued in the name of Hoban all disclose a single seat assembly without a frame structure that is mounted facing rearward onto the bed of a pickup truck.  
       [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,179, issued in the name of Tidwell, discloses a truck bed seat wherein the back of the seat is fastened to the frame such that it cannot be easily folded down for storage within the truck bed and the frame disclosed therein does not have rollers for easy installation and removal.  
       [0005] The present invention approves upon the foregoing issued patents.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention, the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck, is an add-on seat for the rear cargo area, or bed, of a pickup truck. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides seating space for three additional passengers. The seats are mounted onto a common frame. The frame has casters on the bottom that allow the seats to be rolled up to and in and out of the truck bed, easing installation and removal. Once in the bed, the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck is bolted into place for safety. Eventhough the seats can be easily removed to increase the truck&#39;s cargo carrying capacity, in the preferred embodiment, the backs of the seats also fold down to provide additional room in the bed of the pickup truck when no additional seating is needed, without removing the entire unit. In addition, a cargo/storage area is provided in front of the seats. The convertible jump seat for a pickup truck can be used in an open bed or with trucks that have bed caps. The use of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck provides additional, comfortable seating in a pickup truck without permanently affecting the cargo carrying capacity of the pickup truck and without increasing the overall size of the pickup truck.  
       [0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide removable seating for the bed of a pickup truck.  
       [0008] It is another object of the present invention to increase the seating capacity of a standard pickup truck.  
       [0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide additional seating capacity for a pickup truck without increasing the overall size of said pickup truck and without permanently reducing the cargo carrying capacity of a standard pickup truck. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is perspective view of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck installed on the tailgate of a pickup truck with a bed cover.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is perspective view of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck installed within the bed of the pickup truck.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0014] The preferred embodiment of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  is shown in FIG. 1. The preferred embodiment of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  has a unit base/frame  20 , seats  30 , a roll bar  40 , a windshield  50  and a storage cabinet  60 . It is preferred that the unit base/frame  20  is molded out of fiberglass. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize, however, that the unit base/frame  20  can be made separately out of a number of different materials, including, but not limited to, wood. In the preferred embodiment, the underside of the unit base  20  has casters  22  securely fastened thereto for easy maneuvering thereof.  
     [0015] In the preferred embodiment, the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  has three seats  30 . The seats  30  preferably have high backs  32  such that the average passenger&#39;s head does not rise above the seat back  32  when seated. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize, however, that a number of different seat designs can be substituted for that described herein, including, but not limited to, low backed seats. The seats  30  are permanently mounted, preferably with bolts, to the unit base  20 . It is preferred that the seat base  34  or legs be mounted to the unit base  20 . One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the way in which the seats  30  are mounted to the unit base  20  will vary depending on the style of the seat being used. The seats  30  in the preferred embodiment are of the kind currently used in fishing boats. Said seats are hinged between the seat back  32  and the sitting portion of the seat  35  such that the seat back  32  can be folded down for storage. Said seats  30  also have a single support member  36  stemming from the sitting portion of the seat  35  to the seat base  34 .  
     [0016] Mounted to the unit base  20  in close proximity to the seats  30  are seatbelt assemblies  38 . In the preferred embodiment, there is one seat belt assembly  38  for each seat  30 . The seat belt assemblies  38  are of the kind currently used in automobiles as are known by one of ordinary skill in the art. Said seat belt assemblies  38  are securely mounted to the unit base  20  for added passenger safety.  
     [0017] Also mounted to the unit base  20  in the preferred embodiment is a roll bar  40 . It is preferred that the roll bar  40  is constructed from steel and is of the type currently used in vehicles such as Jeep Wranglers®, etc. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the roll bar  40  is an added safety feature, the removal of which would not alter the function of the present invention.  
     [0018] The preferred embodiment of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  also has a windshield  50  built into the roll bar  40 . The windshield  50  can preferably be opened and/or closed by the passengers. In the preferred embodiment, the windshield  50  is constructed from a durable, transparent plastic such that if a rock or other debris hit the windshield  50 , it would not shatter. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize, however, that the windshield  50  can be made out of a number of materials, including, but not limited to, plexi-glass or safety glass. The windshield  50  can be tinted. The windshield  50  primarily exists in the preferred embodiment to protect the rear passengers from dirt and debris that may be flying at them and like the roll bar  40 , is not necessary to the functionality of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10 .  
     [0019] Attached to the unit base  20 , or molded as a part thereof in the preferred embodiment, is a storage cabinet  60 . The storage cabinet  60  is devised such that the passengers have a place to secure their belongings while seated on the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10 . As mentioned above, if, as in the preferred embodiment, the unit base/frame  20  is molded from fiberglass, it is preferred that the storage cabinet  60  be molded as part of the unit base/frame  20 . If, however, an alternative embodiment of the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  is constructed wherein the unit base  20  is made out of wood, metal, plastic, etc., then it is preferred that the storage cabinet  60  also be constructed from wood, metal, plastic., etc. and then securely fastened to the unit base  20 .  
     [0020] To install the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10 , the user lowers the tailgate  74  of the pickup truck  70 , rolls the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  over to the edge of the tailgate  74 , lifts the unit  10  up onto the tailgate  74 . The convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  can remain on the tailgate  74  or can be wheeled to sit within the truck bed  72 . If left on the tailgate  74 , it is preferred that a truck bed extender  76  be used for added safety. Truck bed extenders  76  are currently commercially available and any type that extends over the tailgate  74  of the truck  70  is acceptable to use. When the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  is positioned on the tailgate  74 , it can be used while a truck bed cover  78  is also in use.  
     [0021] If, on the other hand, the user decides to roll the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  further into the truck bed  72 , it is preferred that the tailgate  74  be closed for added safety. If the truck owner has a cab cover, he/she will most likely prefer to place the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  on the tailgate  74 . Once the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  is in place, the user then securely fastens the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  in place, preferably by bolting it to the side walls of the pickup truck  70  with the built in steel bolt  80 . One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that there are a number of different ways, including, but not limited to, tying the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  to the pickup truck  70 , for securing the convertible jump seat for a pickup truck  10  to the pickup truck  70 .  
     [0022] Although this invention has certain preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.