# US 8,465,077 B2 · Adjustable seating assemblies for vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,077 B2 - Document ID: US8465077B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/243,447 - Filed: 2011-09-23 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2005-07-12 - Assignees: Polaris Industries Inc. - Applicants: Scott Ostroski; Roy Sunsdahl; Scott Taylor - Inventors: Scott Ostroski; Roy Sunsdahl; Scott Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465077B2 ## CPC - B62K 5/01: Motorcycles with four or more wheels (specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003) - B62J 1/12: Box-shaped seats; Bench-type seats, e.g. dual or twin seats - B62J 1/28: Other additional equipment, e.g. back-rests for children - B62K 2204/00: Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS ## Abstract A vehicle having an adjustable seating assembly and related method. One member of the seating assembly may be adjusted to provide a backrest to a straddle type seat of the vehicle. As such, when a carrier bed having an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, the one member may optionally be used to provide a wall portion of the carrier bed. The one member may also be adjusted to provide an extension to the straddle type seat. When an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, an additional member of the seating assembly may be adjusted to provide a backrest to one or more of the straddle type seat or an extended straddle type seat. The additional member may also be adjusted to form a segment of the accessory platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle with an adjustable seating assembly, the vehicle comprising: a chassis carrying a straddle type seat; at least one steerable front wheel and at least two rear wheels operably coupled to the chassis; a steering member for steering the at least one front wheel; an engine carried by the chassis for powering the vehicle; an accessory platform positioned rearward of the straddle type seat; and a first seating structure including a support portion having a back plate, a pad coupled to the support portion, a channel extending through a lower portion of the support portion, and a rod extending through the channel for coupling the first seating structure to the vehicle, the first seating structure being adjustable between a first position wherein the pad is generally upright relative to the accessory platform and facing toward the straddle type seat, and a second position wherein the pad is positioned within an opening of the accessory platform and the back plate of the support portion is generally flush with a top surface of the accessory platform to define a segment of the accessory platform, the first seating structure being pivotable between the first and second positions such that the support portion, the pad, and the channel are pivotable about a common axis, and the first seating structure being spaced apart from the straddle type seat in the first and second positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the support portion of the first seating structure includes sliding tracks and the pad is movable along the sliding tracks to adjust the position of the pad relative to the support portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second seating structure positioned intermediate the straddle type seat and the first seating structure, the second seating structure including a cushion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the second seating structure is pivotable between a first position generally upright with respect to the straddle type seat and a second position oriented generally flat with respect to the straddle type seat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the second seating structure further includes a support portion coupled to the cushion, a channel extending through a lower portion of the support portion, and a rod extending through the channel for coupling the second seating structure to the vehicle, the second seating structure being pivotable between the first and second positions such that the cushion, the support portion, and the channel are pivotable about a common axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the accessory platform includes a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls generally extending around the top surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the first seating structure is positioned rearward of the front wall and forward of the rear wall of the accessory platform. ### Claim 8 A vehicle with an adjustable seating assembly, the vehicle comprising: a chassis carrying a straddle type seat; at least one steerable front wheel and at least two rear wheels operably coupled to the chassis; a steering member for steering the at least one front wheel; an engine carried by the chassis for powering the vehicle; an accessory platform extending rearward of the straddle type seat and including a wall extending generally vertically from a top surface of the accessory platform, the wall including a front portion having opposing sides defining a central opening, a rear portion, and a first side portion and second side portion extending between the front and rear portions; and a detachable pad operably coupled to the chassis, the pad being cg to couple with the chassis in a rear position in which the pad is supported within the accessory platform, and being configured to be uncoupled from the chassis and move to a forward position in which the pad is coupled to the chassis directly behind the straddle type seat such that a back plate of the pad is received within the central opening of the front portion of the wall to form a generally continuous wall surrounding the top surface of the accessory platform. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the pad is removably coupled to the chassis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the straddle type seat accommodates two riders. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the forward position of the pad provides a backrest for one of an operator and a passenger of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the pad is adjustable in the rearward position such that the pad is pivotable between a generally vertical orientation and a generally horizontal stored orientation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the pad is coupled to a support portion, a channel extending through a lower portion of the support portion, and a rod extending through the channel for pivoting the pad between the generally horizontal rear position and the generally vertical forward position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the pad, the support portion, and the channel are pivotable about a common axis. ### Claim 15 A vehicle with an adjustable seating assembly, the vehicle comprising: a chassis carrying a straddle type seat; at least one steerable front wheel and at least two rear wheels operably coupled to the chassis; a steering member for steering the at least one front wheel; an engine carried by the chassis for powering the vehicle; a cushion positioned rearward of the straddle type seat, wherein the cushion is adjustable between a first position generally upright relative to the straddle type seat and a second position generally horizontal with the straddle type seat and extending rearward from the straddle type seat, the cushion forming a backrest for an operator of the vehicle when in the first position; and a pad positioned rearward of the cushion, wherein the pad is adjustable between a first position generally upright relative to an accessory platform and a second position wherein the pad is received within an opening in a top surface of the accessory platform, the first position of the pad forming a backrest for one of the operator and a passenger when the cushion is in the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the accessory platform extends rearward of the cushion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the pad is operably coupled to the accessory platform. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the accessory platform further includes a bottom surface coupled to the chassis and extending away from the top surface, and a substantially vertical wall extending above the top surface and generally extending around the top surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the cushion forms a portion of the wall of the accessory platform when in the first position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a support portion for the pad, and the support portion includes sliding tracks for adjusting the position of the pad relative to the support portion.