Combination structure of storage box and center seat for vehicle

A combination structure of storage box and center seat for use with a vehicle equipped with a first seat having a first seat cushion and a first seatback, and a second seat having a second seat cushion and a second seatback, said first and second seats being arranged in the width direction of said vehicle while leaving a given space therebetween, said combination structure of storage box and center seat comprising:

• a storage box having a box body with a top opening, said storage box being formed in a configuration capable of being disposed between said first and second seats in said width direction;
• a first support mechanism supporting said storage box in such a manner that said storage box can selectively take either one of a use position where said storage box is located between said first and second seats and a retracted position where said storage box is located below said first seat cushion;
• a center seat having a seat body for supporting an occupant seated thereon, said center seat being formed in a configuration capable of being disposed between said first and second seats in said width direction;
• and
• a second support mechanism supporting said center seat in such a manner that said center seat can selectively take either one of a use position where said center seat is located between said first and second seats and a retracted position where said center seat is located below said second seat cushion,
• wherein each of said first and second seats includes a base member, and a seat cushion body which is positioned on the base member to cover said base member from above said base member and support an occupant seated thereon, and the base member of said first seat includes a receiving space with a top opening to receive said storage box therein while the base member of said second seat includes a receiving space with a top opening to receive an auxiliary seat therein;
• the first support mechanism is mounted on the base member of the first seat to support the storage box allowing the storage box to move rotatably about an axis provided on said base member in the width direction of said vehicle between the use position and the retracted position;
• and
• the second support mechanism is mounted on the base member of the second seat to support the center seat allowing the center seat to move rotatably about an axis provided on said base member of the second seat in the width direction of said vehicle between the use position and the retracted position.

A storage box structure for use with a vehicle equipped with first and second seats, each of which has a seat cushion and a seatback and which is arranged in the width direction of said vehicle while leaving a given space therebetween, sad storage box comprising:

• a storage box having a box body with a top opening, said storage box being formed in a configuration capable of being disposed between said first and second seats in said width direction;
• and
• a first support mechanism supporting said storage box in such a manner that said storage box can selectively take either one of a use position where said storage box is located between said first and second seats and a retracted position where said storage box is retracted to provide a space between said first and second seats,
• wherein each of said first and second seats includes a base member, and a seat cushion body which is positioned on the base member to cover said base member from above said base member and support an occupant seated thereon, and the base member of said first seat includes a receiving space with a top opening to receive said storage box therein;
• the base member of said first seat includes a wall formed at the end on an inner side in the width direction of said vehicle so that an upper end of said wall is positioned above a lower end of said storage box in said retracted position;
• the first support mechanism supports the storage box allowing the storage box to move rotatably about an axis provided on said wall in the width direction of said vehicle between the use position and the retracted position;
• the second seat comprises a support portion formed on the side facing the first seat, said support portion projecting toward the first seat and extending along longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
• the storage box comprises a positioning member formed on the side, which is supported on said support portion in said use position;
• and
• the base members of said first and second seats are connected to a floor panel via slide rails allowing said first and second seats to move slidably along longitudinal direction of the vehicle.