# US 11,999,274 B2 · Vehicle having a folding mid-gate with an integrated seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,274 B2 - Document ID: US11999274B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/713,445 - Filed: 2022-04-05 - Published: 2023-10-05 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-04-05 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Douglas Anthony Grant - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999274B2 ## CPC - B60N 2/36: into a loading platform {(B60N2/065 takes precedence)} - B60J 1/1884: {about a horizontal axis} - B60N 2/3013: {the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame} - B60N 2/305: {the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame} - B60N 2/3072: {on a lower level of a multi-level vehicle floor} - B60N 2/3002: {back-rest movements} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## Abstract A vehicle including a passenger compartment and a cargo area extending from the passenger compartment. The cargo area includes a cargo bed having a support surface. A mid-gate includes a first surface exposed to the passenger compartment and a second surface exposed to the cargo area. The mid-gate is pivotally connected relative to the cargo bed between a first position wherein the mid-gate separates the cargo area from the passenger compartment and a second position wherein the second surface forms part of the support surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment including a ceiling supporting a latch; a cargo area extending from the passenger compartment, the cargo area including a cargo bed having a support surface; a mid-gate including a first surface exposed to the passenger compartment and a second surface exposed to the cargo area, the mid-gate being pivotally connected relative to the cargo bed between a first position wherein the mid-gate separates the cargo area from the passenger compartment and a second position wherein the second surface forms part of the support surface, wherein when in the second position the support surface and the second surface of the mid-gate form a substantially continuous co-planar surface; and a window arranged adjacent the mid-gate separating the passenger compartment and the cargo area, the window having a first end section and a second end section having a mid-point that is opposite the first end section, the second end section being arranged adjacent the mid-gate, wherein the first end section of the window is pivotally mounted relative to the passenger compartment, the window being shiftable between a closed configuration and an open configuration in the open position, the latch engages the mid-point of the second end section to secure the window in the open configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the mid-gate includes a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end, the second end being pivotally connected relative to the support surface through a hinge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the support surface includes a first end portion arranged at the passenger compartment and a second end portion, the second end of the mid-gate being pivotally connected to the first end portion of the support surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the hinge comprises a piano hinge connecting the second end of the mid-gate with the first end portion of the support surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the mid-gate overlaps the second end section of the window. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a mid-gate motor operatively connected to the mid-gate, the mid-gate motor selectively pivoting the mid-gate about the second end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a window motor operatively connected to the window, the window motor selectively rotating the window about the first end section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising a controller operatively connected to the mid-gate motor and the window motor, the controller sequentially shifting the mid-gate about the first end and the window about the first end section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the controller, the actuator being activated to signal the controller to shift the mid-gate and the window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is mounted to the mid-gate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a seatback mounted to the first surface of the mid-gate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the mid-gate includes a first section supporting a first portion of the seatback and a second section supporting a second portion of the seatback. ### Claim 13 A method of configuring a passenger compartment of a vehicle including a cargo bed having a support surface comprising: folding a rear window upwardly; folding a mid-gate downwardly such that a rear surface of the mid-gate and the support surface of the cargo bed form a substantially continuous co-planar surface; and securing a mid-point of the window with a latch mounted to a ceiling of the passenger compartment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising folding a seat base forward. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: activating a mid-gate motor and a window motor to fold the rear window and the mid-gate. ### Claim 16 A vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment including a ceiling supporting a latch; a cargo area extending from the passenger compartment, the cargo area including a cargo bed having a support surface; a mid-gate arranged between the cargo area from the passenger compartment; and a window arranged adjacent the mid-gate separating the passenger compartment and the cargo area, the window having a first end section and a second end section having a mid-point that is opposite the first end section, the second end section being arranged adjacent the mid-gate, wherein the first end section of the window is pivotally mounted relative to the passenger compartment, the window being shiftable between a closed configuration and an open configuration in the open position, the latch engages the mid-point of the second end section to secure the window in the open configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the mid-gate includes a first surface exposed to the passenger compartment and a second surface exposed to the cargo area, the mid-gate being pivotally connected relative to the cargo bed between a first position wherein the mid-gate separates the cargo area from the passenger compartment and a second position wherein the second surface forms part of the support surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the mid-gate includes a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end, the second end being pivotally connected relative to the support surface through a hinge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the support surface includes a first end portion arranged at the passenger compartment and a second end portion, the second end of the mid-gate being pivotally connected to the first end portion of the support surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the hinge comprises a piano hinge connecting the second end of the mid-gate with the first end portion of the support surface.