Vehicle seating apparatus
View Patent ↗This invention relates to vehicle having a conveniently storable passenger seat. The seat is collapsible into an on-floor or stowed position. A user can stow the seat using only one hand. A release member is activated to permit the seat to move from an upright position to the collapsed position. A tub area which stows the seat is concealed by a floor covering member which has flippers that automatically retract upon activation of the release member. The seat is also capable of reclining. Moreover, the seat remains adjustable in the forward and rearward directions with respect to the vehicle cab. This type of arrangement is ideal for passenger vehicles with two or more rows of seating, like SUVs, vans, and minivans.
1. A vehicle seating and storage system, comprising:
a seat assembly, having a lower seat portion and a seatback portion pivotably connected with respect to said lower seat portion, said lower seat portion including a rail member;
a vehicle floor defining a cavity, said seat assembly collapsible and fittable with respect to said cavity upon activation of a release handle;
a plurality of linkages to support said lower seat portion and pivotable with respect to said cavity, the plurality of linkages including a first link, a second link, and a third link, the first link having a first end that slides with respect to the rail member, the second link having a slot along which an end of the third link slides;
a latch mounted to a first end of the second link to selectively prevent said plurality of linkages from pivoting with respect to said cavity; and
a plurality of brackets pivotably connected to at least one of said plurality of linkages and securely mounted with respect to said cavity.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said seat assembly is configured to collapse into a stowed configuration.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said release handle is mechanically linked to said latch via a cable.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said latch is securable at a plurality of complementary latch members into a plurality of positions in a manner to prevent said plurality of linkages from rotating with respect to said cavity at each of said plurality of positions.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein said vehicle floor includes a floor panel that covers said cavity.
6. The seating and storage system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of brackets includes a first bracket rigidly mounted with respect to said cavity defined by the vehicle floor and a second bracket rigidly mounted with respect to said cavity forward of and lower than the first bracket; and
wherein the first link having a second end that is pivotably connected to said first bracket and the second link having a second end that is pivotably connected to said second bracket.
7. The seating apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a strut interconnecting said second bracket and said first link to provide resistance to a rotation of said first link about said first bracket.