Patent ID: 7240943

Claim:
A seat assembly, adapted for use on a passenger vehicle having a passenger area with a floor, the seat assembly comprising: a seat frame including a base portion coupled to a first portion of the floor of the passenger vehicle and a generally horizontal seating surface having a seating width and a seating depth; and a storage assembly configured directly under the seating surface, the storage assembly having a width substantially similar to the seating width and a depth substantially similar to the seating depth, and wherein the storage assembly is coupled to a second portion of the floor of the passenger vehicle such that the storage assembly is substantially isolated from and unaffected by a load imposed on the seat frame, wherein the storage assembly comprises: an assembly mounting portion that couples with the second portion of the floor of the passenger vehicle; and a door assembly, pivotably coupled to the assembly mounting portion independent of the seat frame, and adapted for movement between a closed position to prevent access to a storage location in the storage assembly and an open position to permit access to the storage location; the assembly mounting portion and door assembly being substantially isolated from and unaffected by a load imposed on the seat frame.