Movable vehicle module system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10800293-B2
Application number	US-201816145450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2018
Priority date	Aug 17, 2018
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle module system is disclosed. The system includes a track assembly operably coupled with a body of a vehicle. One or more modules may be removably and slidably coupled with the track assembly. The modules include base structure defining an attachment point. A rail feature is disposed along a bottom portion of the base structure. An attachment feature having a retainer for removably coupling to the attachment point to the base structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a first track assembly comprising a first pair of parallel rails;
a first module operably coupled to the first pair of parallel rails;
a first seat cushion disposed on top of the first module and configured to provide seating for a forward-facing occupant;
a second track assembly comprising a second pair of parallel rails disposed rearward of the first track assembly;
a second module operably coupled to the second pair of rails;
a second seat cushion disposed on top of the second module and configured to provide seating for a rearward-facing occupant;
a floor surface, wherein the first pair of parallel rails and the second pair of parallel rails are disposed lower than the floor surface; and
a seatback assembly common to both the first seat cushion over the first module and the second seat cushion over the second module, the seatback assembly disposed longitudinally between the first module and the second module.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
each rail of the first pair of parallel rails and the second pair of parallel rails defines a channel;
the first module comprises a rail feature that is disposed within one of the channels of the first pair of parallel rails; and
the second module comprises a rail feature that is disposed within one of the channels of the second pair of parallel rails.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
one of the parallel rails of the first track assembly further includes a channel and a plurality of locking pin apertures;
one of the parallel rails of the second track assembly further includes a channel and a plurality of locking pin apertures;
the first module comprises a rail feature that is disposed within the channel of the first track assembly and a locking pin that can be actuated to selectively engage or disengage with the plurality of locking pin apertures of the first track assembly; and
the second module comprises a rail feature that is disposed within the channel of the second track assembly and a locking pin that can be actuated to selectively engage or disengage with the plurality of locking pin apertures of the second track assembly.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein
the locking pin of the first module extends through the rail feature of the first module; and
the locking pin of the second module extends through the rail feature of the second module.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first pair of parallel rails and the second pair of parallel rails extend latitudinally.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
the first module and the second module each comprise a bottom portion, an upper portion, and two opposing sidewalls extending between the bottom portion and the upper portion.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second module comprises an electronic port.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
the first module and the second module each comprise a bottom portion, an upper portion, and two opposing sidewalls extending between the bottom portion and the upper portion, together forming a longitudinally extending cavity.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the second module is aligned rearward of the first module, and the opposing sidewalls of the first module are generally coplanar with the opposing sidewalls of the second module.

10. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein
the rail feature of the first module comprises a cylinder through which the locking pin extends, the cylinder including an outwardly extending circular flange, a portion of which flange is disposed within the channel of one of the rails of the first track assembly and rests upon the rail, with the locking pin extending downward from the cylinder into one of the plurality of apertures of the first track assembly; and
the rail feature of the second module comprises a cylinder through which the locking pin extends, the cylinder including an outwardly extending circular flange, a portion of which flange is disposed within the channel of one of the rails of the second track assembly and rests upon the rail, with the locking pin extending downward from the cylinder into one of the plurality of apertures of the second track assembly.

11. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein
the first module further comprises a handle operably coupled to the locking pin to actuate the locking pin to selectively engage or disengage with the plurality of locking pin apertures of the first track assembly; and
the second module further comprises a handle operably coupled to the locking pin to actuate the locking pin to selectively engage or disengage with the plurality of locking pin apertures of the second track assembly.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
the seatback assembly extends lower than the first seat cushion over the first module, and lower than the second seat cushion of the second module.

13. The vehicle of claim 5 further comprising:
a third track assembly including a third pair of parallel laterally extending rails, the third pair of parallel laterally extending rails disposed co-linearly with the first pair of parallel laterally extending rails and forward of the second track assembly; and
a third module releasably coupled with the third pair of parallel laterally extending rails.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising:
the second module is aligned rearward behind the third module.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 ,
the second module is positioned latitudinally between the first module and the third module.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Prozzi Anthony
• Carpenter Tyler
• Malick Jeremy John
• Galin John
• Westfall Christopher Robert
• Senatore Andres Almeida
• Boccuccia Daniel
• Selvasekar Siddharthan

Classifications

• B60R7/04 Primary

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/062 Primary

  transversally slidable · CPC title

• B60N2/015 Primary

  Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis · CPC title

• B60N2002/0216

  the seat or seat part turning about or moving along a transversal axis · CPC title

• B60N2/307

  in a transversal-vertical plane · CPC title