Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/273 142 filed on Nov. 14, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,424. The content of the U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 11/273,142 is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to motor vehicle accessories and more particularly to a seating accessory which may be used in association with a horizontal support surface of a motor vehicle, such as a lowered tailgate, to provide comfortable outdoor seating. 
   This invention relates to motor vehicle accessories and more particularly to a seating accessory which may be used in association with a horizontal support surface of a motor vehicle, such as a lowered tailgate, to provide comfortable outdoor seating. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is common practice at outdoor activities, such as sporting events, to lower the tailgate of a truck to provide a horizontal support surface for dining, seating, game playing or the like. However, for purposes of seating, the surface of a lowered tailgate is not comfortable, especially for extended periods of usage. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a seating accessory for motor vehicles. 
   More particularly, this invention relates to a seating accessory for use in association with a horizontal support surface of a motor vehicle, such as the inside of a lowered tailgate, to provide comfortable seating. According to the invention, the accessory is made of sheet material such as plastic to define a base, a raised deck and, within the deck, at least one recess defining an upwardly-opening, concave seating surface configured to accommodate a human posterior and, optionally, one or more other recesses to receive, for example, drink containers. The base area around the seating surface or surfaces is grounded to the support surface, but the seating surface or surfaces are not grounded to the support surface, but lie above the plane of the supporting surface to lend resilience to the seating surface or surfaces when under load. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the base member defines two side-by-side, upwardly-opening seating surfaces formed in a raised deck to accommodate two side-by-side seated persons, and additional recesses defining drink holders and the like between the seating surfaces. 
   Also, in the preferred embodiment, the base member is separate from the support surface and is attached thereto by screws or plastic “clips.” However, the base may be original equipment to, for example, a pickup truck and may be made of metal as well as plastic. 
   According to an optional feature of the invention, backrests are provided for the seating surfaces. The backrests may be made, for example, of plastic and are sized and shaped to conform generally to the seating surface recesses so that the backrests may be stowed in and over the seating recesses when not in use. 
   In the preferred form, the backrests include a main body defining the backrest surface and an integral connector tab, and the base member further defines a slot or socket proximate the rear of the seating surface to receive the connector tab. The tab is joined to the backrest body in such a way as to form a living hinge which allows each backrest to be raised for use and lowered for storage. 
   According to a further optional feature, the backrests include flexible straps extending from each backrest to the base member and operative to support the backrest in its raised position. The straps may, for example, be made of Nylon webbing. 
   In the specific and illustrative embodiment hereinafter described, the seating accessory is used with the tailgate of a pickup truck, the inboard wall of the tailgate defining the generally flat support surface, and the base member being positioned in overlying, covering relation to the inboard wall of the lowered tailgate. 
   The invention also provides a methodology for providing a seating surface on a vehicular support surface. 
   According to the invention methodology, a cover sheet is provided substantially conforming in size and shape to the vehicular support surface; the sheet is shaped to provide an upwardly-opening, concave seating surface configured to accommodate a human posterior; and the sheet is removably attached to the vehicular support surface. 
   According to a further feature of the invention methodology, the vehicular support surface is defined by the inboard wall of a tailgate of a pickup truck with the tailgate in a lowered position. 
   According to a further feature of the invention methodology, the cover sheet is provided in a size providing excess area adjacent the seating surface and the excess area is selectively cut away to conform the cover sheet to various tailgate sizes corresponding to various sizes of pickup trucks. 
   According to a further feature of the invention methodology, a backrest member is provided defining a backrest surface and the backrest member is pivotally mounted on the cover sheet for movement between an upstanding operative position providing back support for a person positioned on the seating surface and a lowered, stowed position in overlying relation to the seating surface. 
   According to a further feature of the invention methodology, the cover sheet is shaped to provide side-by-side seating surfaces, each configured to accommodate a human buttock. 
   Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a truck, showing a seating accessory embodying the invention installed on the inside surface of a lowered tailgate; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the seating accessory; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of the seating accessory of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are cross-sectional views taken on lines  4 - 4  and  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a top view of a backrest employed in the invention seating accessory; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken on line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view showing the manner in which the seating accessory of the invention may readily accommodate the tailgates of various size trucks; and 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken on line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  shows a seating accessory  10  installed on the inside surface of a tailgate  14  hingedly installed on a truck  12 . The inside surface  14   a  of the tailgate  14  is the support surface for the accessory  10 . 
   The seating accessory  10 , broadly considered, includes a rectangular plastic base member  16  and a pair of hinged backrests  18 . 
   Base member  16  is formed as a molded sheet of plastic material having a generally rectangular configuration. Base member  16  may be formed, for example, of a polypropylene UV stabilized material and may be formed in an injection molding operation. Plastic is mentioned by way of example, i.e., the base member may alternatively be made of metal such as aluminum or steel. 
   Base member  16  defines a flat planar base  16   a  which, when the accessory is installed, is grounded on the support surface  14   a . The base member defines a raised deck  16   b  and, within the deck portion, a pair of spaced-apart recesses  16   c  defining seating surfaces sized and shaped to receive a human posterior. The bottoms of the seating surfaces  16   c  lie above the plane of the base  16   a  and, therefore, are not grounded to the support surface  14   a  but lie above it to provide resilience for comfort and to provide a cushioning effect. A central convenience section  16   d  is positioned between the seating surfaces  16   c  and includes additional recesses of varying shapes as hereinafter described to accommodate drinks, ice, cigarette packs and other items. The recesses of the convenience section are preferably grounded, i.e., the bottoms lie against surface  14   a . Each seating surface  16   c  is defined as an upwardly-opening, concave area configured to accommodate a human posterior. Surrounding the seating surfaces  16   c  are U-shaped surrounds  16   e  which join the seating surfaces  16   c  to the deck  16   b . The surrounds  16   e  blend into the convenience section  16   d  at the front of the base member  16  as shown. 
   The seating surfaces  16   c  are contoured to receive and conform generally to a human posterior. In the front center of each surface  16   c  is a raised wedge-shaped portion  16   f  which lies between the contact points of a human posterior with the surface  16   c  to provide a feeling to the user similar to that of a motorcycle seat. The front edges of the surfaces  16   c  are grounded, as are the outsides of the surrounds  16   e . However, the majority of the seating surfaces  16   c  lie above the ground plane as shown in  FIG. 4  to provide flexing under load. 
   Central convenience section  16   d  defines a pair of cupholders  16   j , an umbrella holder  16   k , an all purpose tray  16   l , and cigarette pack holders  16   t.    
   Each surround  16   e  has formed in the rear portion thereof a laterally extending slot or socket  17  to receive a backrest  18  as hereinafter described. 
   A backrest member  18  is provided in association with each seating surface  16   c . Each backrest member  18  is pivotally mounted on the base member  16  for movement between an upright operative position in which it defines a backrest surface to support the back of a person positioned on a seating surface  16   c , and a stowed position in which is overlies the seating surface. In the stowed position, the backrest  18  is positioned in the concavity defining a seating surface  16   c.    
   A pivotal connection of each backrest member  18  to the base member  16  is provided by a tab  18   a  connected to a rear edge of the main body  18   b  of the backrest via a living hinge  18   c  (see  FIG. 7 ). Tab  18   a  is sized to fit into a respective slot  17  with a snap fit employing a bulbous end edge  18   d  contacting with integral ribs  16   n  ( FIG. 4 ). The tab may be easily inserted, will stay in place so long as a backrest support is desired, and may be readily removed to separate the backrest  18  from the base member  16 . 
   Backrest main body  18   b  is preferably formed of a polypropylene plastic material in a blow molding operation using a suitable parison or may be formed of EPP foam. The main body  18   b  of each backrest includes a generally planar back portion  18   d  and a cushion portion  18   e . The cushion portion  18   e  is configured to be positioned within the concavity of the base member defining the respective seating surface  16   c  with the rear central portion  18   f  of the cushion portion  18   e  suitably bowed to accommodate the raised central plateau portion  16   f  of the seating surface. The cushion portion  18   e  will be seen to be inset with respect to back portion  18   d  along the side and front edges of the backrest to define a peripheral flange  18   g  which may seat along the upper edges of the respective seating surface  16   b  with the cushion portion  18   de  positioned in the concavity of the seating surface. 
   The movement of each backrest between its upright operative position and its stowed position proximate the base member  16  is provided by the living hinge  18   c  in coaction with the tab  18   a  received in the slot or socket  17 . In the upright position, each backrest is further supported by a pair of flexible straps  20  extending from the backrest to the base member. The straps may be made of Nylon webbing and are connected to the accessory structure by rivets or snaps or the like. 
   The seating accessory  10  is secured to the support surface  14   b  of the lowered tailgate  14  utilizing fasteners  22  extending through suitable apertures  16   n  provided in main body portion  16   a  for engagement with suitable apertures in the tailgate surface  14 . The apertures in the tailgate surface  14  may be preexisting or may be formed in the surface  14   a  in a drilling operation. 
   Fasteners  22  may, for example, comprise “Christmas tree” type fasteners extending, as seen in  FIG. 10 , through respective apertures  16   n  in the planar portion  16   a  of the base member for engagement with suitable apertures in the tailgate. 
   According to an invention methodology, and as best seen in  FIG. 9 , the plastic cover sheet forming the base member  16  may be provided in a size providing excess planar area  16   a  adjacent the seating surfaces  16   c  whereby the excess area may be selectively cut away to conform the cover sheet to various tailgate sizes corresponding to various sizes of trucks. Specifically, with the continued reference to  FIG. 9 , sheet  16  may retain the illustrated, full size solid line configuration to accommodate the tailgate of a full size pickup truck or may be cut along the line  24  to accommodate the tailgate of a mid size pickup truck. 
   The invention seating accessory will be seen to provide many important advantages. Specifically, the invention accessory device provides a means of providing ready, comfortable seating in an outdoor environment utilizing the horizontal support surface provided by the lowered tailgate of a truck; the seating accessory may be readily attached to the tailgate; and the accessory, by virtue of its light weight and compact size, may be readily stowed when not in use. As indicated above, the accessory may be an aftermarket item added to a pre-existing tailgate. Alternatively, it may be integrated into the tailgate by the vehicle manufacturer as original equipment. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Technology Category: b