Convertible seat apparatus and method
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorRichard G. Plavetich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a convertible seat apparatus and method of utilizing the same for a vehicle seat having two major alternative positions. The seat can be converted to a compact forward generally vertical position utilizing the back of the upper seat member as a cargo barrier. The seat member can also be folded into a another alternative position to utilize the back of the seat as a floor extension within the vehicle. By the use of the present invention the seat back can serve both as a cargo barrier as well as a floor extension depending upon the configuration desired.
Claims13
A vehicle convertible seat comprising in combination:
- an upper seat member having a back in a generally vertical orientation;
- a femur member adjacent said upper member extending forward in a generally horizontal orientation;
- means for angularly displacing said upper member to mate with said femur member in a first horizontal position wherein said upper member back is above said femur member;
- means for angularly displacing said mated seat members to a first generally vertical position forward of said first horizontal position wherein said upper seat back is rearward of said femur member;
- and
- means for displacing said mated seat members from said first horizontal position to a second generally horizontal position forward and lower than said first horizontal position.
A vehicle convertible seat comprising in combination:
- an upper seat member having a back in a generally vertical orientation;
- a femur member adjacent said upper member extending forward in a general horizontal orientation;
- means for angularly displacing said upper member to mate with said femur member in a first horizontal position wherein said upper member back is above said femur member;
- means for angularly displacing said mated seat members from said first horizontal position to an intermediate vertically extended position wherein said seat back is rearward of said femur member;
- means for displacing downward from said intermediate vertical position said mated seat members to a first generally vertical position;
- means for angularly displacing said mated seated members from said first vertical position to a second horizontal position forward and lower than said first horizontal position wherein said seat back is above said femur member;
- means for forwardly displacing said mated seated members from said first horizontal position to a forward intermediate horizontal position;
- and
- means for forwardly displacing said mated seat members from said intermediate horizontal position to said second horizontal position.
A vehicle convertible seat comprising in combination:
- an upper seat member having a back in a generally vertical orientation;
- a femur member adjacent said upper member extending forward in a general horizontal orientation;
- a first link with a forward end and a rearward end, said first link forward end being pivotally connected with said vehicle and said first link extending rearwardly from said pivotal connection with said vehicle;
- a second link pivotally connected with said first link adjacent said rearward end of said first link, said second link being pivotally connected with said femur member at an end of said second link opposite said second link pivotal connection with said first link;
- a third link having first and second ends and said third link first end being pivotably connected with said vehicle rearward of the pivotal connection of said forward end of said first link with said vehicle and said third link having means of pivotable connection with said femur member and said upper seat member and wherein said seat has a first horizontal position wherein said upper seat member mates with said femur seat member and said upper seat back is above said femur member and said seat being convertible to a first vertical position from said first horizontal position wherein said seat back is rearward of said femur member and said seat being convertible to a second horizontal position wherein said mated seat members are forwardly and lowerly displaced from said first horizontal position and wherein said seat back is above said femur member.
A method of adjusting a vehicle convertible seat from a regular seating position to a generally horizontal position forward and lower than said regular seating position, said seat having in said regular seating position an upper seat member with a back in a generally vertical orientation and a femur member adjacent said upper member extending forward in a generally horizontal orientation, said method including:
- angularly displacing said upper member to mate with said femur member in a first horizontal position wherein said upper member back is above said femur member;
- angularly displacing said mated seat members to a generally first vertical position forward of said first horizontal position wherein said upper seat back is rearward of said femur member;
- and
- forwardly displacing said mated seat members from said first vertical position to a second generally horizontal position forward and lower than said first horizontal position and said regular seating position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.