Modular passenger seat system

A vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle floor;
• a plurality of bushings coupled to the vehicle floor;
• a modular passenger seat system coupled to the vehicle floor through at least one of the plurality of bushings, wherein the modular passenger seat system includes:
• a passenger seat having a seat leg with a distal end portion, the distal end portion comprising a tube configured to be received in a first bushing of the plurality of bushings, the tube comprising a sidewall having a first aperture and a second aperture;
• a first detent member and a second detent member disposed within the first aperture and the second aperture in the sidewall of the tube, each of the first detent member and the second detent member configured to extend through a respective one of the first aperture and the second aperture and contact a lower portion of the first bushing of the plurality of bushings when the tube is received within the first bushing to retain the tube therein to secure the passenger seat to the vehicle floor;
• a biasing member disposed within the tube;
• and
• a shaft movably disposed within the seat leg, the shaft having a lower end which when displaced against the biasing member enables the first detent member and the second detent member to retract inwardly into the tube to permit release of the tube from the bushing to enable removal of the passenger seat.

A method of installing a modular passenger seat system into a vehicle floor, comprising:

• depressing a depressible button of a passenger seat, wherein the passenger seat includes a seat leg with a distal end portion, the distal end portion comprises a tube configured to be received in a bushing coupled to the vehicle floor, the tube comprises a sidewall having a first aperture and a second aperture, the modular passenger seat system further includes a first detent member and a second detent member disposed within the first aperture and the second aperture in the sidewall of the tube, each of the first detent member and the second detent member is configured to extend through a respective one of the first aperture and the second aperture and contact a lower portion of the bushing when the tube is received within the bushing to retain the tube, the modular passenger seat system comprises a biasing member disposed within the tube and a shaft movably disposed within the seat leg, the shaft has a lower end which when displaced against the biasing member enables the first detent member and the second detent member to retract inwardly into the tube, the depressible button is coupled to an upper end of the shaft, and depressing the depressible button enables each of the first detent member and the second detent member to retract inwardly into the tube;
• inserting the seat leg of the passenger seat into the bushing coupled to the vehicle floor while, at the same time, depressing the depressible button of the passenger seat;
• and
• releasing the depressible button to lock the seat leg to the bushing after inserting the seat leg of the passenger seat into the bushing to allow the first detent member and the second detent member to move outwardly through the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, to firmly secure the passenger seat to the vehicle floor.