# US 11,897,370 B2 · Seating solutions for a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,370 B2 - Document ID: US11897370B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/699,981 - Filed: 2022-03-21 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-21 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line; Robert Allen Bastuba, Jr.; Collin Joshua Smith; Robert Charles Shipley; Francisco Edgar Guizar; Scott Culver Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897370B2 ## CPC - B60N 2/0292: {Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses} - B60N 2/203: {taking a position opposite to the original one} - B60N 2/3043: {about longitudinal axis} - B60N 2/3047: {the cushion being hinged at the back-rest} - B60N 2/305: {the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame} - B60N 2/34: into a bed - B60N 3/002: {of trays} - B60N 2/01508: {using quick release attachments} - B60N 2/143: {taking a position opposite to the original one} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle includes a passenger compartment. A wall is positioned within the passenger compartment. A support structure is positioned on the wall. The support structure defines a series of slots. A seating assembly engages at least one of the slots of the series of slots such that the seating assembly is suspended above a floor of the passenger compartment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle, comprising: a passenger compartment; a wall positioned within the passenger compartment; a support structure positioned on the wall, wherein the support structure defines a series of slots; and a seating assembly that engages at least one of the slots of the series of slots such that the seating assembly is suspended above a floor of the passenger compartment; wherein the seating assembly comprises a seat, wherein the seat comprises a seat engagement member that is received within one of the slots of the series of slots; and wherein the seat engagement member is configured for coupling to a rear side of a primary seating assembly, and wherein such coupling of the seat to the rear side of the primary seating assembly enables an auxiliary seating assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat of the seating assembly is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the stowed position of the seat and the deployed position of the seat are displaced from one another by a rotation of the seat about an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the seat is rotated by at least about ninety degrees when the seat is transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the seat is rotated by about one-hundred-eighty degrees when the seat is transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a surface of the wall provides a seatback of the seating assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises an upper support structure and a lower support structure, and wherein the series of slots are defined by each of the upper support structure and the lower support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the seating assembly comprises a seat, and wherein the seat comprises a seat engagement member that is received within one of the slots of the series of slots defined by the lower support structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the seating assembly comprises a seatback, and wherein the seatback comprises a seatback engagement member that is received within one of the slots of the series of slots defined by the upper support structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the seat and the seatback are each independently suspended above the floor of the passenger compartment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat engagement member is configured for coupling to a location on the vehicle that is remote from the passenger compartment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary seating assembly comprises an auxiliary seatback. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the auxiliary seating assembly comprises auxiliary side bolsters that extend from an upper edge of the auxiliary seatback downwardly along at least a portion of right and left sides of the auxiliary seatback. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: an accessory that is configured for engagement with at least one of the slots of the series of slots. ### Claim 15 A vehicle, comprising: a passenger compartment; a wall positioned within the passenger compartment; a support structure positioned on the wall, wherein the support structure defines a series of slots; and a seating assembly that engages at least one of the slots of the series of slots such that the seating assembly is suspended above a floor of the passenger compartment, wherein the seating assembly comprises a seat, wherein the seat comprises a seat engagement member that is received within one of the slots of the series of slots, wherein the seat of the seating assembly is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the stowed position of the seat and the deployed position of the seat are displaced from one another by a rotation of the seat about an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein the seat engagement member is configured for coupling to a rear side of a primary seating assembly, and wherein such coupling of the seat to the rear side of the primary seating assembly enables an auxiliary seating assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the seat is rotated by about one-hundred-eighty degrees when the seat is transitioned between the stowed position and the deployed position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the seat engagement member is configured for coupling to a location on the vehicle that is remote from the passenger compartment.