Underseat storage bin

A vehicle seat assembly for use in a vehicle having a cushioned floor surface, the seat assembly comprising:

• a vehicle bench seat pivotable between a horizontal seating position and an upright stowed position for providing access beneath the seat, the bench seat having seat support members at opposing longitudinal ends of the bench seat;
• and
• a unitary blow-molded bin structure having first and second ends removably attached to the seat support members, said bin structure including a plurality of generally vertical compartment walls forming a plurality of storage compartments, at least one of said storage compartments extending substantially the entire length of the bench seat for storing long items;
• wherein said compartment walls form open bottoms therebetween, such that the vehicle floor surface forms the bottom of each said storage compartment for supporting items stored in the storage bin, thereby eliminating potential rattle conditions in the vehicle.

An underseat storage bin and a pivotable vehicle bench seat for a vehicle having a floor surface, the bench seat being pivotable between a horizontal seating position and an upright position for providing access beneath the seat, and the bench seat having seat support members at opposing longitudinal ends of the bench seat, the storage bin comprising:

• a unitary blow-molded bin structure having first and second ends removably attached to the seat support members, said bin structure including a plurality of generally vertical compartment walls forming a plurality of storage compartments, at least one of said storage compartments extending substantially the entire length of the bench seat for storing long items;
• wherein said compartment walls form open bottoms therebetween, such that the vehicle floor surface forms the bottom of each said storage compartment for supporting items stored in the storage bin;
• and
• wherein said bin structure comprises a generally C-shaped outer wall with said compartment walls connected to the outer wall, said generally C-shaped outer wall including a front portion which is slanted rearwardly and downwardly relative to the vehicle to provide heel space for seat occupants.