Seat assembly for a motor vehicle retractable below the vehicle floor
AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorsVictor Pone, Robert E. Schroder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable seat assembly for a motor vehicle is fully retractable below the level of the vehicle's floor. Typically, the invention involves a bench-type seat which is located behind the driver and passenger seats of a minivan or other vehicle. In an operative position, the seat has a generally upright seatback which cooperates with a lower horizontal member to provide the seating portion. In the non-operative or stored position, the entire seat is positioned below the level of the vehicle's floor. Preferably, the front and rear edges of the seat are interconnected to the vehicle body for pivotal movement about translatable axes.
Claims17
A seat storage system in combination with a motor vehicle, having a body defining an interior floor and a rear storage area, the seat storage system comprising:
- a storage tub located below the interior floor of the rear storage area;
- a retractable seat having a generally horizontal member and a generally upright seatback member pivotally attached thereto, said retractable seat being movable between an operative condition and a stored condition;
- and
- first and second guide tracks;
- and
- first and second pairs of swing arms each including first and second ends, said first end of each of said first and second pairs of swing arms being pivotally attached to said retractable seat, said second ends received by said first and second guide tracks, respectively, so as to permit movement therealong and pivoting of each swing arm about its second end.
A method of adjusting a seat for a motor vehicle having a body and a rearwardly located tub between an operative position and a stowed inoperative position below a floor of the vehicle, the method including the steps of:
- mounting a front edge of the seat to the body for pivotal movement about a first translatable axis;
- mounting a rear edge of the seat to the body for pivotal movement about a second translatable axis;
- translating said first and second translatable axes;
- and
- pivoting the front and rear edges of the seat about said first and second translatable axes, respectively, to thereby lower the seat into the tub;
- wherein the step of translating said first and second translatable axes includes the step of moving the seat between a fore position and an aft position.
A seat storage system in combination with a motor vehicle having a body defining an interior floor and a rear storage area, the seat storage system comprising:
- a retractable seat movable between an operative condition and a stored condition;
- first and second guide tracks attached to the motor vehicle;
- and
- first and second pairs of swing arms each including first and second ends, said first end of each of said first and second pairs of swing arms being pivotally attached to said retractable seat, said second ends received by said first and second guide tracks, respectively, so as to permit horizontal movement therealong and pivoting of each swing arm of said first and second pairs of swing arms about its second end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.