Electrification system for removable vehicle seats

An electrification system for a removable vehicle seat comprising:

• a vehicle having a location for the selective installation and removal of a seat, the location including at least one coupling member to which the seat is installed and from which the seat is removed;
• a vehicle seat having at least one coupling member configured to interact with the coupling member on the vehicle to selectively permit installation and removal of the seat;
• first electrical contacts on the vehicle located proximate a well;
• second electrical contacts on the seat;
• the first and second electrical contacts being arranged to engage one another when the seat is installed to the vehicle to provide electrical power to the seat, and to disengage from one another when the seat is removed, without the need for the vehicle user to perform any operations other than those required for seat installation or removal;
• wherein the vehicle seat coupling member is arranged to engage a vehicle coupling member located within a well;
• wherein the second electrical contacts are located proximate the vehicle seat coupling member and are arranged to contact the first electrical contacts as the vehicle seat coupling member and the vehicle coupling member engage one another;
• and
• wherein the first electrical contacts are conductive strips on an interior surface of the well, the second electrical contacts are conductive rods each having a contact tip arranged to contact the strips when the vehicle seat is installed to the vehicle.

A method for supplying power to a removable seat of a passenger vehicle without the need to connect electrical connectors comprising the steps of:

• providing electrical contacts on the vehicle coupled to a vehicle power source;
• providing electrical contacts on the removable seat which are arranged to engage the vehicle electrical contacts when the seat is installed to the vehicle, wherein the electrical contacts are wiped into engagement with one another during the rotation of the seat with respect to the vehicle;
• and
• installing the seat to the vehicle.

An electrification system for second and/or third row removable seats for vehicles comprising:

• coupling components on the vehicle, and on each seat to be powered which permit selective installation and removal of the seats;
• an electrical connector on the seat, wherein the electrical connector on the seat is a conductive rod having an enlarged tip, the area of the rod adjacent the tip being surrounded by an elastomeric, non-conductive material;
• and
• an electrical connector on the vehicle which may be coupled to the seat connector to supply power thereto;
• wherein the electrical connectors are wiped into engagement with one another during the rotation of the seat with respect to the vehicle.