# US 8,783,754 B1 · Vehicle having utility bed and retractable seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,754 B1 - Document ID: US8783754B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/753,822 - Filed: 2013-01-30 - Published: 2014-07-31 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-30 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Michael Vincent Peterson; Darin D. King - Inventors: Michael Vincent Peterson; Darin D. King - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783754B1 ## CPC - B60N 2/3013: {the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame} - B60N 2/3056: {along longitunal axis} - B60N 2/3079: {in a recess} - B60N 2/36: into a loading platform {(B60N2/065 takes precedence)} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An MUV having a utility bed including a bed floor having at least one panel. The bed floor panel is convertible between a planar storage surface and at least one passenger seat back by displacement of a lever. The bed floor being devoid of a latch handle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a utility bed including a bed floor comprised of a cover panel, a seat back panel and a seat bottom panel, said cover panel and said seat back panel each including a cam element; a slidable lever rail including at least two cam engaging members; wherein sliding of said lever rail raises an edge of said cover panel adjacent said seat back panel and raises an edge of said seat back panel adjacent said seat bottom panel, said raised edge of said seat back panel being rotatable to position said seat back panel in an at least generally vertical orientation; and said seat bottom panel being movable into a seat forming relationship with said vertically oriented seat back panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said seat bottom panel and said seat back panel are divided into a driver side and a passenger side and wherein each side is independently convertible into a seat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said seat back panel and said cover panel include an overlapping mating edge in a floor closed condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said cam elements are positioned proximate a forward edge of said panels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said lever rail is located adjacent a side region of said seat back and cover panels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein during activation of said lever rail, the cover panel cam engaging member engages said cover panel cam element before said seat back panel cam engaging member engages said seat back panel cam element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle of claim 6 wherein said cover panel cam engaging member is positioned a distance X from said cover panel cam element and said seat back panel cam engaging member is positioned a distance of at least about 3X from said seat back panel cam element in a bed floor closed condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said seat back panel cam engaging member is positioned a distance between about 5X and 10X from said seat back panel cam element in a bed floor closed condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said seat bottom panel is movable by one of sliding or rotation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said cover panel mating edge overlaps said seat back panel mating edge in a bed floor closed condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said seat back panel includes an edge overlapping an edge of said seat bottom panel in a bed floor closed condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said seat back panel and said seat bottom panel include contoured seating surfaces on a side opposed to a side forming the bed floor in a bed floor closed condition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said lever includes projections engaging each of said seat back panel and said seat bottom panel in a bed floor closed condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said lever includes projections engaging an edge of said seat back panel and an edge of said seat bottom panel in a seat deployed condition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said projections are spring loaded or compressible. ### Claim 16 An MUV including a utility bed comprising a bed floor having at least one panel, said panel being convertible between a planar storage surface and at least one passenger seat back by displacement of a lever, the lever further comprising a handle configured to initiate displacement of said lever and release of said at least one passenger seat, said lever handle being located on an exterior surface of the MUV, said lever including a first cam member cooperative with a second cam member disposed on the panel, said first and second cam members interacting to cause dislocation of the planar storage surface, and said bed floor being devoid of a latch handle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The MUV of claim 16 wherein said lever handle is within arms length of said panel to facilitate rotation of said panel into said passenger seat configuration. ### Claim 18 An MUV comprising: a utility bed comprised of a bed floor including at least one panel, said panel having an at least substantially planar side and an opposed first cam element inclusive side; a slidable lever disposed externally to said utility bed and adjacent said at least one panel, said lever including a second cam element cooperative with said first cam element to displace an edge of said panel from alignment with said bed floor; said edge of said panel being rotatable to position said panel in an at least substantially vertical orientation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The MUV of claim 18 further comprising a seat base hingedly affixed to a side wall of said utility bed, said seat base configured for rotation into association with said panel to form a seat. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The MUV of claim 16 wherein said utility bed further includes sidewalls and at least one sidewall includes a door.