Transformable seat back for forming armrests
Assemblies, components, and methods are presented herein for a transformable seat. The seat includes a seat back. The seat back incorporates a frame and frame is rotatably coupled at one end to a seat base. The frame at least partially defines an opening in the seat back and two panels are each rotatably coupled to respective sides of the frame.
1 . A seat back, comprising:
a frame rotatably coupled at one end to a seat base, wherein the frame at least partially defines an opening in the seat back; and
left and right panels rotatably coupled to respective sides of the frame, wherein:
when the seat back is in a folded down position and when the left and right panels are rotated outward, the left and right panels form respective armrests.
2 . The seat back of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame is rotatably coupled to the seat base by a hinge assembly; and
the hinge assembly is configured to enable the seat back to rotate between an upright position and a folded position where the frame is arranged horizontally above the seat base.
3 . The seat back of claim 1 , further comprising left and right detent features arranged along respective sides of the frame for respective left and right panels.
4 . The seat back of claim 1 , wherein when the left and right panels are in a closed position, the left and right panels cover the opening.
5 . The seat back of claim 1 , wherein when the seat back is arranged in an upright orientation and when the left and right panels are rotated outward about respective sides of the frame, the opening is exposed.
6 . The seat back of claim 1 , further comprising a storage bin configured to be removably coupled to a perimeter of the opening, wherein when the seat back is in the folded down position and when the left and right panels are rotated outward, the opening is capable of receiving the storage bin.
7 . The seat back of claim 1 , wherein when the seat back is in the folded down position and when the left and right panels are rotated outward to a second position, the left and right panels are horizontally arranged and form respective work surfaces.
8 . The seat back of claim 1 , further comprising a head rest rotatably coupled to a second end of the seat back arranged opposite the one end rotatably coupled to the seat base.
9 . The seat back of claim 1 , wherein the frame is comprised of a plurality of tubular members fixedly attached to ends of each other.
10 . A vehicle assembly comprising:
a vehicle cabin; and
a row of seats arranged within the vehicle cabin, the row of seats comprising at least one seat back comprising:
a frame rotatably coupled at one end to a seat base, wherein the frame at least partially defines an opening in the seat back; and
left and right panels rotatably coupled to respective sides of the frame, wherein:
when the seat back is in a folded down position and when the left and right panels are rotated outward, the left and right panels form respective armrests.
11 . The vehicle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the row of seats comprises three seats.
12 . The vehicle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one seat back comprises a seat belt retractor coupled to the frame.
13 . The vehicle assembly of claim 10 , wherein:
the frame is rotatably coupled to the seat base by a hinge assembly; and
the hinge assembly is configured to enable the frame to rotate between an upright position and a folded position where the frame is arranged horizontally above the seat base.
14 . The vehicle assembly of claim 10 , wherein when the left and right panels are in a closed position, the left and right panels cover the opening.
15 . The vehicle assembly of claim 10 , wherein when the seat back is arranged in an upright orientation and when the left and right panels are rotated outward about respective sides of the frame, the opening is exposed.
16 . The vehicle assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a storage bin configured to be removably coupled to a perimeter of the opening, wherein when the seat back is in the folded down position and when the left and right panels are rotated outward, the opening is capable of receiving the storage bin.
17 . The vehicle assembly of claim 10 , wherein when the seat back is in the folded down position and when the left and right panels are rotated outward to a second position, the left and right panels are horizontally arranged and form respective work surfaces.
18 . A method of transforming a seat back, the method comprising:
rotatably articulating a top end of a frame of the seat back from an upright orientation to a folded down orientation via a hinge assembly at a bottom end of the frame; and
rotating left and right panels about respective sides of the frame to expose an opening at least partially defined by the frame, wherein the left and right panels form respective armrests when rotated outward to expose the opening.