Folding vehicle seat
View Patent ↗A seat assembly includes a track mount configured to shift along a track and a platform configured to selectively latch to, unlatch from, and pivot relative to the track mount. The assembly also includes a seat-back and a seat-cushion, each connected to the platform and configured to selectively latch to, unlatch from, and pivot relative to the platform. The assembly additionally includes a first mechanism configured to selectively operate the seat assembly in a first mode and a second mode. The first mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-back and unlatching and pivoting the platform such that the seat assembly tumbles relative to the track. The second mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-cushion and unlatching and pivoting the seat-back such that the seat-back comes to rest substantially parallel to the track mount. A vehicle having the seat assembly is also provided.
1. A seat assembly for mounting on a track, the seat assembly comprising:
a track mount configured to shift along the track;
a platform configured to selectively latch to, unlatch from, and pivot relative to the track mount;
a seat-back pivotably connected to the platform and configured to selectively latch to the platform in a first seat-back position, unlatch from the platform, and pivot to a second seat-back position;
a seat-cushion pivotably connected to the platform and configured to selectively latch to the platform in a first seat-cushion position, unlatch from the platform, and pivot to a second seat-cushion position; and
a first mechanism configured to selectively operate the seat assembly in a first mode and a second mode;
wherein:
in the first seat-back position the seat-back stands free of the seat-cushion and in the second seat-back position the seat-back rests against the seat-cushion;
in the first seat-cushion position a height of the seat-cushion is greater relative to the platform as compared to the second seat-cushion position;
the first mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-back from the first seat-back position to the second seat-back position, and unlatching and pivoting the platform relative to the track mount such that the seat assembly tumbles relative to the track; and
the second mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-cushion from the first seat-cushion position to the second seat-cushion position, and unlatching and pivoting the seat-back from the first seat-back position to the second seat-back position such that the seat-back comes to rest substantially parallel to the track mount.
2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first release device configured to unlatch the platform from the track mount.
3. The seat assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a second release device configured to unlatch the seat-back from the platform.
4. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second mechanism configured to return the seat-cushion to the first seat-cushion position after the seat-back is returned to the first seat-back position following operation in the first mode.
5. The seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second mechanism includes a pre-loaded cable spool configured to pull the seat-cushion to the first seat-cushion position.
6. The seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second mechanism is configured to latch the seat-cushion to the platform in the first seat-cushion position prior to latching the seat-back in the first seat-back position.
7. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanism includes a device configured to provide an assist force for pivoting the platform relative to the track mount in the first mode.
8. The seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first mechanism includes a damper configured to control the assist force provided by the device.
9. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanism includes at least one pull cable configured to unlatch the platform from the track mount and at least one pull cable configured to unlatch the seat-cushion from the platform.
10. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first spring member and a second spring member, wherein the pivoting of the seat-back to the second seat-back position is urged by the first spring member and the pivoting of the seat-cushion to the second seat-cushion position is urged by the second spring member.
11. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle structure;
a track fixed to the vehicle structure; and
a seat assembly mounted on the track, the seat assembly including:
a track mount configured to shift along the track;
a platform configured to selectively latch to, unlatch from, and pivot relative to the track mount;
a seat-back pivotably connected to the platform and configured to selectively latch to the platform in a first seat-back position, unlatch from the platform, and pivot to a second seat-back position;
a seat-cushion pivotably connected to the platform and configured to selectively latch to the platform in a first seat-cushion position, unlatch from the platform, and pivot to a second seat-cushion position; and
a first mechanism configured to selectively operate the seat assembly in a first mode and a second mode;
wherein:
in the first seat-back position the seat-back stands free of the seat-cushion and in the second seat-back position the seat-back rests against the seat-cushion;
in the first seat-cushion position a height of the seat-cushion is greater relative to the platform as compared to the second seat-cushion position;
the first mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-back from the first seat-back position to the second seat-back position, and unlatching and pivoting the platform relative to the track mount such that the seat assembly tumbles relative to the track; and
the second mode includes unlatching and pivoting the seat-cushion from the first seat-cushion position to the second seat-cushion position, and unlatching and pivoting the seat-back from the first seat-back position to the second seat-back position such that the seat-back comes to rest substantially parallel to the track mount.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a first release device configured to unlatch the platform from the track mount.
13. The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising a second release device configured to unlatch the seat-back from the platform.
14. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a second mechanism configured to return the seat-cushion to the first seat-cushion position after the seat-back is returned to the first seat-back position following operation in the first mode.
15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the second mechanism includes a pre-loaded cable spool configured to pull the seat-cushion to the first seat-cushion position.
16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the second mechanism is configured to latch the seat-cushion to the platform in the first seat-cushion position prior to latching the seat-back in the first seat-back position.
17. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first mechanism includes a device configured to provide an assist force for pivoting the platform relative to the track mount in the first mode.
18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the first mechanism includes a damper configured to control the assist force provided by the device.
19. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first mechanism includes at least one pull cable configured to unlatch the platform from the track mount and at least one pull cable configured to unlatch the seat-cushion from the platform.
20. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a first spring member and a second spring member, wherein the pivoting of the seat-back to the second seat-back position is urged by the first spring member and the pivoting of the seat-cushion to the second seat-cushion position is urged by the second spring member.