In-floor track system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569669-B2
Application number	US-201815906037-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2018
Priority date	Feb 27, 2018
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle includes first and second rows of seats and a rail system. The rail system includes lateral and longitudinal tracks. First, second, and third seating assemblies are each coupled to the rail system. The first and third seating assemblies are actuatable along the rail system to be positioned between a pair of rearward wheel wells.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
first and second rows of seats;
a rail system having a longitudinal track;
a floor covering having a bridge that spans an opening defined by the rail system, wherein the bridge contacts first and second sides of the rail system when the bridge is in a lowered position such that the bridge covers the opening defined by the rail system; and
first, second, and third seating assemblies each coupled to the rail system, wherein the first and third seating assemblies are actuatable along the rail system to be positioned between a pair of rearward wheel wells.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and third seating assemblies are positioned to be entirely between the pair of rearward wheel wells.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the actuation of the first and the third seating assemblies results in a translation of the first and the third seating assemblies in a rearward direction of at least about 25 cm.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rail system is positioned in a floor pan of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein actuation of the first and the third seating assemblies to between the rearward wheel wells maintains functionality of the second seating assembly.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the second seating assembly is actuated toward the first row of seats, and wherein the second seating assembly is utilized as a center console for the first row of seats.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the second seating assembly is utilized as a seating position by an occupant.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the second seating assembly is utilized by occupants of the first and the third seating assemblies as at least one of an ottoman, a work surface, an entertainment interface, and a storage area.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third seating assemblies are each coupled to the rail system by one or more anchors.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the one or more anchors each comprise:
a post that is surrounded by a main body, wherein the post extends above and below the main body and terminates in an upper head and a lower head.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the one or more anchors each further comprise:
a locking pin that is surrounded by the post, wherein the locking pin can be vertically actuated within the post.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a conductor positioned between the rail system and the floor covering, wherein the conductor comprises a housing that is equipped with a living hinge such that the housing permits access to the conductor by at least a portion of the anchor.

13. A vehicle, comprising:
first and second rows of seats;
a rail system having a longitudinal track; and
first, second, and third seating assemblies each coupled to the rail system by one or more anchors, wherein the one or more anchors each comprise a post that is surrounded by a main body, the post extending above and below the main body and terminating in an upper head and a lower head, and wherein the first and third seating assemblies are actuatable along the rail system to be positioned between a pair of rearward wheel wells.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first and third seating assemblies are positioned to be entirely between the pair of rearward wheel wells.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the one or more anchors each further comprise:
a locking pin that is surrounded by the post, wherein the locking pin can be vertically actuated within the post.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein actuation of the first and the third seating assemblies to between the pair of rearward wheel wells maintains functionality of the second seating assembly.

17. A vehicle, comprising:
first and second rows of seats;
a rail system having a longitudinal track;
first, second, and third seating assemblies each coupled to the rail system by one or more anchors, wherein the first and third seating assemblies are actuatable along the rail system to be positioned between a pair of rearward wheel wells; and
a conductor positioned between the rail system and a floor covering, wherein the conductor comprises a housing that is equipped with a living hinge such that the housing permits access to the conductor by at least a portion of the anchor.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein actuation of the first and the third seating assemblies to between the pair of rearward wheel wells maintains functionality of the second seating assembly, and wherein the second seating assembly is utilized as at least one of an ottoman, a work surface, an entertainment interface, a center console, and a storage area.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the one or more anchors each comprise:
a post that is surrounded by a main body, wherein the post extends above and below the main body and terminates in an upper head and a lower head.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the one or more anchors each further comprise:
a locking pin that is surrounded by the post, wherein the locking pin can be vertically actuated within the post.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dry Alan George
• Line Johnathan Andrew

Classifications

• B60N2/067

  by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms · CPC title

• B60N2/01 Primary

  Arrangement of seats relative to one another · CPC title

• B60N2/0292 Primary

  Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses · CPC title

• B60N2/07

  Slide construction · CPC title

• B60N2/919

  Positioning and locking mechanisms (B60N2/16, B60N2/18, B60N2/22, B60N2/225 take precedence) · CPC title