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US 5,039,155 AGranted
Vehicle seating system
AssigneePrince Corporation
InventorsMichael J. Suman, David A. Muyres, Kenneth M. Lindberg, Nathan W. Young, Mark R. Litke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seating system includes a load bearing shelf which is provided for carrying seats, cargo and the like. The shelf is slideably supported on opposite ends in spaced, parallel, horizontally extending tracks mounted longitudinally in the vehicle. Seats may be removably and lockably mounted to the shelf which, upon removal, allows use of the shelf for storage and other functions. The shelf is removable, and may be reversibly reinstalled in a front-to-rear reversed orientation and locked into various positions. Further, the shelf may include upper and lower convenience structural features such as pockets, sliding trays, and compartments.
Claims54
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and track means for slidably supporting said shelf in for movement in the fore/aft direction in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removably mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removably mounting said seat to said shelf;
- and
- said track means for slidably supporting said shelf permitting said shelf to extend outwardly of a vehicle when the vehicle access door is opened.
2 more elements
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and means for lockable supporting said shelf in at least one predetermined fore/aft position in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removably mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removably fastening said seat to said shelf;
- and
- said fastening means includes a quick disconnect fitting.
2 more elements
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and means for lockably supporting said shelf in at least one predetermined fore/aft position in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removably mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removably fastening said seat to said shelf;
- and
- said fastening means includes a quick disconnect fitting and further includes a lip spaced from said quick disconnect fitting and wherein said shelf includes a groove for receiving said lip.
2 more elements
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and means for lockable supporting said shelf in at least one predetermined fore/aft position in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removable mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removable mounting said seat to said shelf;
- said means for lockably supporting said shelf includes at least one track for mounting to a vehicle and wherein said shelf includes shelf supporting means adapted to slideably engage said track;
- and
- said track and shelf supporting means permit said shelf to extend outwardly of a vehicle when the vehicle access door is opened.
3 more elements
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and means for lockably supporting said shelf in at least one predetermined fore/aft position in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removably mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removably fastening said seat to said shelf;
- and
- said seat includes a seat back and a seat bottom and a hinge operably connecting said seat back to said seat bottom wherein said hinge supports said seat back in at least one upright position and allows said seat back to tilt rearwardly to a substantially flat position;
- said seat back including support means for supporting said seat back in said flat position.
3 more elements
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and means for lockably supporting said shelf in at least one predetermined fore/aft position in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removably mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removably fastening said seat to said shelf;
- and
- said seat includes a pair of seat sections each with a seat back and a seat bottom.
2 more elements
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and means for lockably supporting said shelf in at least one predetermined fore/aft position in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removably mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removably fastening said seat to said shelf;
- and
- said seat includes a seat back including a compartment mounted on said seat back by a hinge mounted to the bottom of said compartment such that said compartment folds rearwardly open to form a generally horizontal surface, wherein said compartment is supported by a cord attached to said back and compartment to hold said compartment in its open position;
- and a latch on said seat back to hold said compartment in its closed position.
3 more elements
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and means for lockably supporting said shelf in at least one predetermined fore/aft position in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removably mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removably fastening said seat to said shelf;
- and
- said shelf has a tubular frame and a top surface;
- and
- said top surface includes depressions for holding articles therein.
4 more elements
A weight bearing slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generally rectangular weight bearing shelf and means for lockably supporting said shelf in at least one predetermined fore/aft position in spaced relationship above the floor of a vehicle;
- said shelf further including means for removably mounting at least one seat thereto;
- a seat including fastening means cooperating with said shelf for removably fastening said seat to said shelf;
- and
- said shelf includes underside tray support means;
- and
- at least one tray removably mounted on said underside tray support means.
4 more elements
A seating and storage system for the interior of a vehicle having opposing tracks mounted horizontally and longitudinally along the interior sidewalls of the vehicle and locking receiving means associated with at least one of said tracks comprising:
- a generally rectangular shelf including a support means, a locking means, and a seat attachment receiving means wherein said support means slideably engages the opposing tracks and wherein said locking means operably and adjustably engage the locking receiving means to hold said shelf securely in at least one fore/aft position;
- and
- at least one seat detachably mounted to said seat attachment receiving means.
An improvement in a vehicle having a longitudinally extending interior tunnel area, the improvement comprising:
- support tracks for mounting horizontally and longitudinally along the interior sidewalls of the vehicle;
- a weight bearing shelf including a support means which slideably engages said tracks;
- said shelf further including locking means for adjustably engaging said tracks to hold said weight bearing shelf securely in place;
- and
- at least one seat detachably mounted to said shelf.
2 more elements
A slideable shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a shelf of generally rectangular shape including slideable support receiving means and further including locking receiving means;
- means for slidably supporting said shelf cooperating with said slideable support receiving means to allow said shelf to slidingly move within a vehicle;
- means for locking said shelf cooperating with said locking receiving means to secure said shelf in at least one position;
- said shelf further including a means for attaching at least one seat thereto;
- and
- at least one seat including attaching receiving means cooperating with said attaching means on said shelf for mounting said seat to said shelf.
3 more elements
A shelf system for a vehicle comprising:
- a shelf of generally rectangular shape including support receiving means and further including locking receiving means;
- track means positioned in the vehicle and cooperating with said support receiving means for supporting said shelf within a vehicle;
- locking means on said track means and cooperating with said locking receiving means on said shelf to secure said shelf in at least one position;
- at least one seat;
- and
- attaching means and attaching receiving means extending between said seat and said shelf for detachably mounting said seat to said shelf.
3 more elements
A method of supporting a seat in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
- positioning a track means in a vehicle for spacially supporting a shelf a distance above the floor or a vehicle;
- slideably and lockably mounting a weight bearing shelf in said track means;
- and
- detachably positioning at least one seat on said shelf by use of at least one quick disconnect fitting.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.