Abstract:
A stowable seat system for a vehicle having a vehicle floor defining a stowage cavity formed therein includes a seat having a seat back hingably coupled to a lower seat portion. The seat back collapses onto the lower seat portion, such that the seat fits entirely within the stowage cavity when stowed. Coupled to the seat is a lift moving the lower seat portion from a stowed position within the stowage cavity to an opened position vertical with respect to the stowed position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to seating in automotive vehicles and, more particularly, to an automobile stowable seat system.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In vehicles, such as vans, mini-vans and sport utility vehicles, stowable passenger seating arrangements are constantly being sought for providing large, unimpeded areas for carrying cargo. It is also a constant goal to provide stowable passenger seating arrangements including comfortable seats supporting passengers at a height above the floor and approximately level with the driver. Further, passengers seated on the stowable seats should be able to enter and exit the seats when they are deployed, without having to step up and out of a seating well in the floor.  
         [0003]     It is also a constant goal to provide cargo areas having floors that are flat when the seating is stowed for facilitating loading and carrying large sized cargo.  
         [0004]     A number of approaches have been taken to provide this additional cargo room through including stowable seating designs. For example, one current solution includes seats detachable from the vehicle. A further example includes seats movable or foldable in a forward direction for creating additional cargo space. Generally, however, current seating designs remain bulky. Seats are not easily removed from the vehicle, and seats folding or moving forward within the vehicle still occupy precious interior space.  
         [0005]     It is a known objective of all vehicle manufacturers to maximize the available storage area within the vehicle without significantly increasing its size. Increasing the size of the vehicle can be disadvantageous in that it can increase its cost as well as its weight and thereby decrease its fuel efficiency. It is also a known objective of these manufacturers to provide vehicles having increased seating capacity. A delicate balance must therefore be struck between increasing the storage capability of a vehicle and increasing the seating capacity of the vehicle. The present invention is directed to these ends.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention overcomes the above-stated disadvantages. In one embodiment of the present invention, a stowable seat system for a vehicle having a vehicle floor defining a stowage cavity formed therein includes a seat having a seat back hingably coupled to a lower seat portion. The seat back collapses onto the lower seat portion, such that the seat fits entirely within the stowage cavity when stowed. Coupled to the lower seat portion is a lift moving the seat from a stowed position within the stowage cavity to an opened position vertical with respect to the stowed position.  
         [0007]     This embodiment of the present invention provides several advantages. One such advantage is that it maximizes vehicle space usage by providing seating stowable flushly with the vehicle floor.  
         [0008]     Another advantage provided by the present invention is that that the stowable seat unstows vertically such that minimal area is required for operation of the seat.  
         [0009]     The present invention itself, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should now be had to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying figures and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a partial cutaway view of an automotive system including a stowable seat system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a partial cutaway side view of the stowed stowable seat system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 2B  is a partial cutaway side view of a partially opened stowable seat system in accordance with  FIG. 2A .  
         [0014]      FIG. 2C  is a partial cutaway side view of a fully opened stowable seat system in accordance with  FIG. 2A .  
         [0015]      FIG. 2   d  is a partial cutaway side view of a fully opened stowable seat system in accordance with  FIG. 1  including a passenger sitting thereon.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the stowable seat in accordance with  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is an operational diagram of the stowable seat system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     While the present invention is described primarily with respect to a stowable seat for an automotive vehicle, the present invention may be adapted to various application requiring stowable seating, as will be understood by one skilled in the art. For example, the present invention may be applied to stadium seating, airplane seating, seating for aerospace or aeronautical vehicles, or any other vehicle or structure requiring stowable seating.  
         [0019]     In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for a number of constructed embodiments. The specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a stowable seat system  10  within a vehicle  12  is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment with the present invention. The vehicle  12  also includes three other stowable seat systems (second stowable seat system  14 , third stowable seat system  16 , fourth stowable seat system  18 ), thereby illustrating that any of the vehicle seats may be stowed for providing increased floor surface area in the vehicle  12 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C,  2   d,  and  3 , a component view of the stowable seat system  10  of  FIG. 1  is illustrated.  FIG. 2A  illustrates a fully stowed stowable seat system  10 ,  FIG. 2B  illustrates a partially opened stowable seat system  10 ,  FIG. 2C  illustrates a fully opened stowable seat system  10 ,  FIG. 2   d  illustrates a fully opened stowable seat system  10  occupied by a vehicle passenger  19 , and  FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of a fully opened stowable seat system  10 .  
         [0022]     The stowable seat system  10  includes a seat  40  having a seat back  26  having an integral headrest portion  27 . The seat back  26  is hingeably coupled to a lower seat portion  28  through a hinge  30 . The stowable seat system  10  further includes a lift  32 , moveably coupled to the lower seat portion  28  for raising and lowering the seat  40 . The lower seat portion  28  is supported by floor panels  34 ,  36 , functioning as seat supports or braces, when the seat  40  is opened and is concealed (along with the rest of the seat  40 ) by the floor panels when the seat  40  is stowed. That is, the stowable seat  40  folds and recedes within a stowage cavity  38 , such that the floor panels  34 ,  36  may be closed, thereby providing a level floor  90  or storage area.  
         [0023]     The seat  40  of the stowable seat system  10  includes the seat back  26  hingeably coupled to the lower seat portion  28 . The seat back  26  and lower seat portion  28  are designed such that the lower seat portion  28  includes a receiving area  42  receiving the seat back  26 , and thereby the height of the combination of these two seat components  26 ,  28  folded together is minimized.  
         [0024]     The aforementioned seat components  26 ,  28  are hingeably coupled through the hinge  30 , which may include a spring mechanism or reactive member  41  (seat actuator system) for springing the seat back  26  into its upright position when the seat  40  is opened. In an alternate embodiment, the hinge  30  includes a lock mechanism  44  coupled thereto or coupled to another portion of the seat  40 . The lock mechanism  44  maintains the seat back  26  in the upright and locked position.  
         [0025]     Coupled to the lower seat portion  28  is the lift  32  including two pairs of lifting arms  46 ,  48  located at opposite sides of the lower seat portion  28  or seat base and slideably coupled thereto. The sets of lifting arms  46 ,  48  are movably coupled together through an axial member  50 . The first set of lifting arms  46  is in parallel relation to the second set of lifting arms  48  and moves relative thereto. Each set of lifting arms  46 ,  48  operates such that each of the lifting arms  52 ,  54  (of the first set  46 ) and  56 ,  58  (of the second set  48 ) rotate at predetermined angles relative to the axial member  50 , thereby moving the seat  40  from a first position, as illustrated in  FIG. 2A  to a second position, as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , and to a third position as illustrated in  FIG. 2C . Each of the arms  52  (first of first set),  54  (second of first set),  56  (first of second set),  58  (second of second set) may include wheels  60  coupled to the upper ends  62 ,  65  thereof and may further include wheels  64  coupled to the lower ends  82 ,  84  thereof.  
         [0026]     The lifting arms  52 ,  54  and  56 ,  58  are positioned relative to the axial member  50 , such that the first arm  52  and the second arm  54  of the first set  46  cross one another in various angles relative to one another during different states of opening and stowing of the seat  40 . Likewise, the first arm  56  and the second arm  58  of the second set  48  also form angles thereby, such that a first predetermined angle is formed when the seat  40  is in one stage of opening, and a second predetermined angle when the seat  40  is in a second state of opening, such as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . When the seat  40  is in a fully stowed position, the first arm  52  and second arm  54  of the first set are almost parallel to one another, and the first arm  56  and second arm  58  of the second set are also almost parallel with one another.  
         [0027]     The lower seat portion  28  includes a top  70 , a bottom  72 , a bottom rear  71 , a bottom front  73 , and a common side  74 . The top  70  is designed such that a passenger may sit thereon. The side  74  is designed with a thickness such that it may fit compactly within the stowage cavity  38 . The bottom  72  includes, coupled thereto, a pair of tracks  76  such that the upper wheels  60  may move along the tracks  76 . Important to note is that alternate embodiments do not include tracks and merely include the upper wheels moving along the bottom  72  of the seat  40 .  
         [0028]     The sets of lifting arms  46 ,  48  may also be coupled together through a first brace  80  coupled to lower portions  82 ,  84  of the first arm  52  of the first set and first arm  56  of the second set respectively. The brace  80  may include hydraulics, pneumatics, or spring mechanisms  88  coupled thereto and also moveably coupled to either the axial member  50 , the arms  46 ,  48 , or to a second brace  89 , such that when the seat  40  is opened, the springs, pneumatics, or hydraulics  88  exert force against the first brace  80  and, for example, the second brace  89 . The second brace  89  then slides along upper portions  62 ,  65  of the first arms  52 ,  56  of the first set and second set. The combination of the first brace  80 , second brace  89 , and springs, pneumatics, or hydraulics  88  form a lift actuator system  91 .  
         [0029]     The seat  40  collapses into the stowage cavity  38  such that when fully stowed, the floor  90  above the stowage cavity  38  appears level. When the seat  40  is opened, the first floor panel  34 , and the second floor panel  36  open outwardly relative to one another and may be partially slided within the stowage cavity  38  either through a track mechanism or floor panel actuator system  95  or through manual adjustment. Once the floor panels  34 ,  36  are partially inserted into the stowage cavity  38 , they act as supports for the lower seat portion  28 , which may rest thereon. The floor panels  34 ,  36  and actuator system  95  collectively form a floor panel system  97 .  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an operational view of the seat  40  is illustrated including arrows  96  demonstrating improvements of components of the seat  40 . The seat  40  may be stowed or unstowed, i.e. opened, as a function of operation of a latch  98 , a control panel  100 , or a push-push system  102 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 4  is an adjacent stowed seat  102 , such that the stowed seat floor panels  104 ,  106  are illustrated as flush relative to the floor  90 . One skilled in the art will recognize that any number of stowable seats may be incorporated in the vehicle having sufficient room for the stowage cavity and seat, as discussed above.  
         [0031]     In operation, for opening the seat, a vehicle operator activates a control device, such as pushing down on a portion of the floor panels for activating the push-push device. In response, the floor panels open and allow the seat, as discussed above, to rise vertically from the stowage cavity. The floor panels move to positions below the seat and provide support therefore. The seat rises through upward force exerted thereon by hydraulics, pneumatics, or springs on the floor lift coupled to the bottom of the seat. Opening of the seat is completed as the back of the seat flips open either automatically or through manual effort.  
         [0032]     While the invention has been described in connection with one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific mechanisms and techniques which have been described are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, numerous modifications may be made to the methods and apparatus described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.