Stowable seats
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsCharles S. Hansen, Todd R. Muck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle seat assembly is provided having a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom by a bracket where the bracket has a seat bottom portion and a seat back portion. The seat bottom portion is arranged at an angle θ with respect to the seat back portion so as to generally form a right angle. A main pivot axis extends through the seat bottom. The distal end of the seat bottom portion of the bracket is pivotally connected to the main pivot. The distal end of the seat back portion of the bracket is connected to the seat back so as to pivot the seat back with respect to the seat bottom. The seat back is configured to rotate on top of the seat bottom to a stowed position.
Claims20
A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
- a seat bottom that includes a seat cushion connected to the seat bottom;
- and
- a seat back, the seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom by a bracket, the bracket having a seat bottom portion and a seat back portion, the seat bottom portion arranged at an angle θ with respect to the seat back portion, the seat bottom portion providing a main pivot axis extending through the seat bottom;
- and
- a distal end of the seat back portion of the bracket connected to the seat back so as to pivot the seat back with respect to the seat bottom along the main pivot axis, the seat back configured to rotate to a position on top of the seat bottom to a forward and stowed position,
- wherein the seat cushion is secured to the seat bottom such that a position of the seat cushion with respect to the seat bottom is maintained as the seat back rotates between the position on top of the seat bottom and the forward and stowed position.
A bracket for a vehicle seat, the bracket used to connect a seat bottom to a seat back, the seat bottom includes a seat cushion connected to the seat bottom, the seat bottom having a main pivot axis extending therethrough, the bracket comprising:
- a seat bottom portion and a seat back portion, the seat bottom portion arranged at an angle θ with respect to the seat back portion;
- and
- a distal end of the seat bottom portion of the bracket pivotally connected to the main pivot axis, the distal end of the seat back portion of the bracket connected to the seat back so as to pivot the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, the seat back configured to rotate to a position on top of the seat bottom to a forward and stowed position,
- wherein the seat cushion is secured to the seat bottom such that a position of the seat cushion with respect to the seat bottom is maintained as the seat back rotates between the position on top of the seat bottom and the forward and stowed position.
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle floor having a bucket;
- and
- a seat having a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat bottom includes a seat cushion connected to the seat bottom, and the seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom by a bracket, the bracket having a seat bottom portion and a seat back portion, the seat bottom portion arranged at an angle θ with respect to the seat back portion, a main pivot axis extending through the seat bottom, the main pivot axis spaced apart from an edge of the seat bottom, a distal end of the seat bottom portion of the bracket pivotally connected to the main pivot axis, the distal end of the seat back portion of the bracket connected to the seat back so as to pivot the seat back with respect to the seat bottom, the seat back configured to rotate to a use position on top of the seat bottom to a forward and stowed position;
- wherein the seat is configured to move from the use position to the forward and stowed position, the forward and stowed position where the seat back is rotated over and onto the seat bottom, the forward and stowed position further defined when the seat is positioned within the bucket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.