Rear seat for a vehicle

A pair of foldable rear seats for a vehicle, comprising:

• a support stub fixed to the vehicle;
• left and right elongated support arms, each having a first end operatively connected to and pivotable about said support stub and a second end remote from said first end, wherein each of said arms is pivotable from a position generally parallel to a centerline of the vehicle to a position generally perpendicular to the vehicle centerline;
• left and right seat bottoms, each operatively connected to and pivotable about said second end of said respective left and right elongated support arms, said left and right seat bottoms pivotable between an open horizontal position and a folded vertical position;
• left and right seat backs, each operatively connected to and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said respective left and right seat bottoms, in order to fold into said respective left and right seat bottoms;
• whereby said rear seats are each individually configurable into an open state, for use as a seat, and two folded states, a first folded state in which said seat is stowed in a position generally parallel to the vehicle centerline and a second folded state in which said seat is stowed in position generally lateral to the vehicle centerline.

A pair of foldable rear seats for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a support stub fixed to the vehicle;
• left and right elongated support arms, each having a first end operatively connected to and pivotable about said support stub and a second end remote from said first end, wherein each of said arms is pivotable from a position generally parallel to a centerline of the vehicle to a position generally perpendicular to the vehicle centerline;
• left and right seat bottoms, each operatively connected to and pivotable about said second end of said respective left and right elongated support arms, said left and right seat bottoms pivotable between an open horizontal position and a folded vertical position;
• left and right seat backs, each operatively connected to and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said respective left and right seat bottoms, in order to fold into said respective left and right seat bottoms, each seat back including a headrest slideable upwardly and downwardly from a top of each seat back;
• and
• a pair of seat legs, one each pivotally connected with each of said left and right seat bottoms, at respective outer portion thereof, such that when said seats are in the open state, each seat leg extends between said respective seat bottom and the vehicle floor in order to support said seat bottoms, wherein said seat bottoms each includes an outer shell and an inner cushion, and each of said seat legs is U-shaped, having a bight and opposing support legs, wherein with each opposing support leg thereof is pivotally attached to said outer shell of said respective seat bottom, such that said bight of each U-shaped leg rests on the vehicle floor in said open state,
• whereby said rear seats are each individually configurable into an open state, for use as a seat, and two folded states, a first folded state in which said seat is stowed in a position generally parallel to the vehicle centerline and a second folded state in which said seat is stowed in position generally lateral to the vehicle centerline.

A method of folding up, from an open state, a foldable rear seat of a vehicle, said foldable rear seat including,

• a seat bottom operatively connected to and pivotable about a support arm, said support arm pivotable about a vertical axis of a support stub near a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, such that the seat bottom is pivotable between a vertical folded position and a horizontal open position, and
• a seat back operatively connected to said seat bottom and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said seat bottom in order to fold into said seat bottom from an open position, wherein said seat back includes a headrest slideable upwardly and downwardly from a top of said seat back,
• a seat leg pivotally connected with said seat bottom at an outer portion thereof, such that when said seat is in the open state, said seat leg extends between said seat bottom and the vehicle floor in order to support said seat bottom,
• wherein said method comprises the steps of:
• sliding said headrest downwardly into a nesting position in said seat back;
• folding said seat back into said seat bottom;
• raising said seat bottom, including said seat back and headrest, into a vertical stowed position;
• and
• pivoting said seat leg from its open position to a closed position adjacent said seat bottom.

A method of unfolding a folded rear seat of a vehicle, said foldable rear seat including,

• a seat bottom operatively connected to and pivotable about a support arm, said support arm pivotable about a vertical axis of a support stub near a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, such that the seat bottom is pivotable between a vertical folded position and a horizontal open position;
• and
• a seat back operatively connected to said seat bottom and pivotable about an axis at a rear portion of said seat bottom in order to fold into said seat bottom from an open position, wherein said seat back includes a headrest slideable upwardly and downwardly from a top of said seat back,
• a seat leg pivotally connected with said seat bottom at an outer portion thereof, such that when said seat is in the open state, said seat leg extends between said seat bottom and the vehicle floor in order to support said seat bottom, said seat bottom, seat back and seat leg being in the closed or folded position,
• wherein said method comprises the steps of:
• pivoting said seat leg outwardly into an open position;
• pivoting said seat bottom from a vertical folded position to a horizontal open position;
• pivoting said seat back from a horizontal position to a vertical position;
• and
• sliding said headrest upwardly on said seat back from a nesting position to an extended position.