Vehicular seat assembly and vehicles including same

A vehicle comprising:

• a body structure defining a floor;
• a cargo surface supported with respect to the floor;
• and
• a vehicular seat assembly comprising:
• a left leg member attached to the floor, the left leg member comprising a central portion, an upper flange, and a lower flange, the upper flange and the lower flange each extending transversely relative to the central portion;
• a right leg member spaced from the left leg member and attached to the floor, the right leg member comprising a central portion, an upper flange, and a lower flange, the upper flange and the lower flange each extending transversely relative to the central portion;
• a center leg member spaced from the left and right leg members and attached to the floor;
• a support member extending between a left end and a right end, the support member attached to the upper flange of the left leg member adjacent to the left end, the support member attached to the upper flange of the right leg member adjacent to the right end, and the upper flange of the left leg member and the upper flange of the right leg member cooperating to provide underlying support for the support member;
• a left seat back portion pivotally supported directly by each of the left leg member and the center leg member and pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position;
• a right seat back portion pivotally supported directly by each of the right leg member and the center leg member and pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position;
• a left cover panel coupled with the support member and associated with the left seat back portion, the left cover panel being pivotable with respect to the support member between a stowed position and a bridging position;
• and
• a right cover panel coupled with the support member and associated with the right seat back portion, the right cover panel being pivotable with respect to the support member between a stowed position and a bridging position;
• wherein:
• the left cover panel is movably coupled with the left seat back portion such that movement of the left seat back portion between the upright position and the cargo support position facilitates movement of the left cover panel between the stowed position and the bridging position;
• the right cover panel is movably coupled with the right seat back portion such that movement of the right seat back portion between the upright position and the cargo support position facilitates movement of the right cover panel between the stowed position and the bridging position;
• and
• when the left seat back portion and the right seat back portion are in the respective cargo support positions with the respective left cover panel and the right cover panel in the respective bridging positions, the support member provides underlying support for each of the left cover panel and the right cover panel and the cargo surface, the left cover panel, the right cover panel, the left seat back portion, and the right seat back portion cooperate to provide a generally planar load support surface.

A vehicular seat assembly comprising:

• a left leg member for attachment to a vehicle floor, the left leg member comprising a central portion, an upper flange, and a lower flange, the upper flange and the lower flange each extending transversely relative to the central portion;
• a right leg member spaced from the left leg member for attachment to a vehicle floor, the right leg member comprising a central portion, an upper flange, and a lower flange, the upper flange and the lower flange each extending transversely relative to the central portion;
• a support member extending between a left end and a right end, the support member attached to the upper flange of the left leg member adjacent to the left end, the support member attached to the upper flange of the right leg member adjacent to the right end, and the left leg member and the right leg member cooperating to provide underlying support for the support member;
• a seat back having a left seat back portion pivotally supported directly by the left leg member, and a right seat back portion pivotally supported directly by the right leg member, the seat back being pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position;
• and
• a cover panel coupled with the support member and pivotable with respect to the support member between a stowed position when the seat back is in the upright position, and a bridging position when the seat back is in the cargo support position;
• wherein the seat back and the cover panel are configured to pivot forwardly into the cargo support position and the bridging position, respectively, and pivoting the seat back between the upright position and the cargo support position facilitates pivoting of the cover panel between the stowed position and the bridging position, respectively.

A vehicular seat assembly comprising:

• a left leg member for attachment to a vehicle floor, the left leg member comprising a central portion, an upper flange, and a lower flange, the upper flange and the lower flange each extending transversely relative to the central portion;
• a right leg member spaced from the left leg member for attachment to a vehicle floor, the right leg member comprising a central portion, an upper flange, and a lower flange, the upper flange and the lower flange each extending transversely relative to the central portion;
• a support member extending between a left end and a right end, the support member attached to the upper flange of the left leg member adjacent to the left end, the support member attached to the upper flange of the right leg member adjacent to the right end, and the respective upper flanges of the left leg member and the right leg member cooperating to provide underlying support for the support member;
• a seat back having a left seat back portion pivotally supported directly by the left leg member, and a right seat back portion pivotally supported directly by the right leg member, the seat back being pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position;
• a cover panel coupled with the support member and movable with respect to the support member between a stowed position when the seat back is in the upright position, and a bridging position when the seat back is in the cargo support position;
• and
• a seat bottom fixed with respect to the left leg member and the right leg member;
• wherein:
• when the seat back is in the cargo support position with the cover panel in the bridging position, the support member provides underlying support for the cover panel;
• the cover panel is movably coupled with the seat back;
• the cover panel automatically moves to the bridging position when the seat back is moved to the cargo support position, such that the cover panel and the seat back cooperate to provide a generally planar load support surface;
• and
• when the seat back is moved to the upright position, the cover panel automatically moves to the stowed position and the seat back cooperates with the seat bottom to facilitate support of a passenger.