US 12,654,599 B2 · Foldable vehicle seat and method of assembling the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to a vehicle seat and particularly, but not exclusively, to a foldable vehicle seat with an aperture to provide access to internal components and a method of assembling the same. The present invention includes a vehicle seat comprising: a seat base coupled to a seat back at a hinge, the seat back being configured to pivot about the hinge relative to the seat base between a deployed position and a stowed position; wherein, in the stowed position, the seat back forms at least a part of a load bearing floor of a vehicle loadspace; wherein the seat back comprises: a frame having an aperture for access through the seat back between a rear of the seat back and a front of the seat back; and a removable load bearing aperture cover for covering the aperture.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base coupled to a seat back at a hinge, the seat back being configured to pivot about the hinge relative to the seat base between a deployed position and a stowed position;
wherein, in the stowed position, the seat back forms at least a part of a load bearing floor of a vehicle loadspace;
wherein the seat back comprises:
a frame having an aperture for access through the seat back between a rear of the seat back and a front of the seat back;
a removable load bearing aperture cover for covering the aperture;
and
a carrier board located on the front of the seat back, reducing access to the aperture from the front of the seat back and forming a carrier board cavity between the carrier board and the seat back, wherein, when access to the front of the seat back has been reduced, the aperture provides access to the carrier board cavity through the rear of the seat back.

4 more elements

A method of assembly of a vehicle seat, the method comprising:

coupling a seat back to a seat base via a hinge, the seat back having an aperture for access through the seat back between a rear of the seat back and a front of the seat back and being configured to pivot about the hinge relative to the seat base between a deployed position and a stowed position, wherein, in the stowed position the seat back forms at least a part of a load bearing floor of a vehicle loadspace;
attaching seat foam to the front of the seat back, the seat foam reducing access to the aperture from the front of the seat back;
connecting one or more electronic systems, electrical systems, or pneumatic systems required for seat operation, via the aperture in the rear of the seat back;
and
connecting a load bearing aperture cover to the rear of the seat back, over the aperture, preventing access to the one or more electronic systems, electrical systems, or pneumatic systems, through the aperture in the seat back.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Foldable vehicle seat and method of assembling the same

Life of this patent

Foldable vehicle seat and method of assembling the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15