Seat attachment structure for motor vehicles

A seat arrangement and attachment structure in a motor vehicle comprising:

• at least two rows of passenger's seats arranged in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, defined by at least two passenger's seats juxtaposed transversely across a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, wherein one of said passenger's seats is disposed adjacent to a lateral side of the motor vehicle;
• transverse rails for supporting another of said passenger's seat for movement from a first seat position closely adjacent to said one passenger's seat in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, to a second seat position in the passenger compartment which is spaced from said one passenger's seat in said transverse direction;
• a first holder for holding said other passenger's seat in the first seat position closely adjacent to said one passenger's seat;
• and
• a second holder for holding said other passenger's seat in the second seat position in the passenger compartment which is spaced from said one passenger's seat in said transverse direction;
• said first holder and second holder including engaging rail members respectively engaging the transverse rails at predetermined positions, movable guides engaging said transverse rails for sliding movement in said transverse direction locks urged toward the engaging rail members, for engaging said engaging rail members, and a control lever coupled to said locks for releasing said locks out of engagement with said engaging rail members.

A motor vehicle comprising:

• at least three rows of passenger's seats arranged in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, including a front row for a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, a middle row for at least one movable seat and at least one fixed seat juxtaposed transversely, and a rear row, a first central walkthrough passage being formed between said driver's seat and said passenger's seat in the front row;
• a pair of transverse rails extending in parallel to each other in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle for supporting said movable seat in said middle row such that said movable seat is slidable on said transverse rails between a first position and a second position, said movable seat being positioned close to said fixed seat in said middle row in said first position for making a side walkthrough passage between said movable seat and a side door of the motor vehicle, said movable seat being positioned close to said side door in said second position for making a second central walkthrough passage between said movable seat and said fixed seat;
• a substantially planar vehicle floor extending from said front row to said rear row, said transverse rails being positioned as low as possible on said vehicle floor and being received in respective recesses defined in said floor and extending is said transverse direction of the motor vehicle;
• and
• movable guide members attached to a bottom of said movable seat, said movable guide members being slidable on said transverse rails;
• wherein, when said movable seat is positioned in said first position, a non-straight walkthrough passage is formed by a connection of said first central walkthrough passage and said side walkthrough passage for allowing passengers to get on and get off the vehicle from any of said seats in said front row, said middle row and said rear row through said side door, and when said movable seat is positioned in said second position, a straight walkthrough passage is formed by a connection of said first central walkthrough passage and said second central walkthrough passage for allowing passengers to move to and form any of the seats between said front row and said rear row.