Vehicle seating systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11607977-B2
Application number	US-202017027600-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2020
Priority date	Sep 20, 2019
Publication date	Mar 21, 2023
Grant date	Mar 21, 2023

Abstract

An alternative seating arrangement of a vehicle with a variety of vehicle restraints and occupant safety systems that are associated with the alternative seating arrangement. Many embodiments include rear facing and side facing seats.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating system comprising:
a seat having a primary seating element comprising a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the primary seating element is configured to be connected to a base support structure;
a seat back element having (i) an elongated body with a front side and a back side opposite the front side and (ii) a connected end and an unconnected end, wherein the connected end is movably connected to the primary seating element, and wherein the seat back element is configured to be moved to at least a first position and a second position;
a secondary seating element configured to be moved to a stored position and an open position, wherein the stored position coincides with the first position of the seat back element, and wherein the open position coincides with the second position of the seat back element; and
a moveable arm rest;
wherein the secondary seating element is disposed substantially parallel with the back side of the seat back element while in the stored position, and
wherein the secondary seating element extends substantially horizontally away from the primary seating element and the seat back element while in the open position.

2. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one hinge element coupled to the secondary seating element such that the secondary seating element is rotatable between the stored position and the open position.

3. The vehicle seating system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one hinge element comprises at least two hinge elements.

4. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , wherein the moveable arm rest is rotatable.

5. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , wherein the moveable arm rest has a second elongated body extending away from the secondary seating element at a substantially perpendicular angle such that:
when the secondary seating element is in the open position, an end portion of the second elongated body forms a first resting surface; and
when the secondary seating element is in the stored position, a side portion of the second elongated body forms a second resting surface.

6. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary seating element is configured to be removably connected to the base support structure.

7. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , wherein:
the moveable arm rest is rotatably connected to a side portion of the seat back element; and
the moveable arm rest has a second elongated body with an attached end and a free end, wherein the free end is rotatable about an axis located at the attached end such that the moveable arm rest is rotatable from a front to a back of the seat and is usable by an occupant in the primary seating element or in the secondary seating element.

8. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , wherein the seat back element has an arched configuration such that the elongated body forms an arch between the connected end and the unconnected end.

9. The vehicle seating system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle seating system comprises more than one arm rest.

10. A vehicle seating system comprising:
a seat having a primary seating element comprising a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the primary seating element is configured to be connected to a base support structure;
a seat back element having (i) an elongated body with a front side and a back side opposite the front side and (ii) a connected end and an unconnected end, wherein the connected end is movably connected to the primary seating element, and wherein the seat back element is configured to be moved to at least a first position and a second position;
a secondary seating element configured to be moved to a stored position and an open position, wherein the stored position coincides with the first position of the seat back element, and wherein the open position coincides with the second position of the seat back element; and
an occupant position sensor, wherein the occupant position sensor is configured to be connected to a vehicle lock out system such that, when the secondary seating element is in the open position and the occupant position sensor detects a presence of an occupant, the vehicle lock out system will be engaged and prevent movement of a vehicle.

11. A vehicle seating system comprising:
a seat having a primary seating element comprising a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the primary seating element is configured to be connected to a base support structure;
a seat back element having (i) an elongated body with a front side and a back side opposite the front side and (ii) a connected end and an unconnected end, wherein the connected end is movably connected to the primary seating element, and wherein the seat back element is configured to be moved to at least a first position and a second position;
a secondary seating element configured to be moved to a stored position and an open position, wherein the stored position coincides with the first position of the seat back element, and wherein the open position coincides with the second position of the seat back element; and
a side facing seat, wherein the side facing seat comprises a back rest and a base seat that is movably connected to the back rest.

12. An electric vehicle comprising:
a vehicle seating system comprising:
a seat having a primary seating element connected to a base support structure, wherein the base support structure is connected to a vehicle platform of the electric vehicle;
a seat back element having (i) an elongated body with a front side and a back side opposite the front side and (ii) a connected end and an unconnected end, wherein the connected end is movably connected to the primary seating element, and wherein the seat back element is configured to be moved to at least a first position and a second position;
a secondary seating element configured to be moved to a stored position and an open position, wherein the stored position coincides with the first position of the seat back element, wherein the open position coincides with the second position of the seat back element, wherein the secondary seating element is disposed substantially parallel with the back side of the seat back element while in the stored position, and wherein the secondary seating element extends substantially horizontally away from the primary seating element and the seat back element while in the open position; and
a side facing seat, wherein the side facing seat comprises a back rest and a base seat that is movably connected to the back rest.

13. The electric vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising:
an occupant position sensor configured to be connected to a vehicle lock out system such that, when the secondary seating element is in the open position and the occupant position sensor detects a presence of an occupant, the vehicle lock out system will be engaged and prevent movement of the electric vehicle.

14. An electric vehicle comprising:
a vehicle seating system comprising:
a seat having a primary seating element connected to a base support structure, wherein the base support structure is connected to a vehicle platform of the electric vehicle;
a seat back element having (i) an elongated body with a front side and a back side opposite the front side and (ii) a connected end and an unconnected end, wherein the connected end is movably connected to the primary seating element, and wherein the seat back element is configured to be moved to at least a first position and a second position;
a secondary seating element configured to be moved to a stored position and an open position, wherein the stored position coincides with t

Assignees

• Canoo Tech Inc

Inventors

• Lee Gareth
• Anderson Scott
• Merchant Sohel
• Semler Clint
• Kim Richard

Classifications

• B60N2/003

  characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat · CPC title

• B60N2/3011 Primary

  the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement" · CPC title

• B60N2/3047

  the cushion being hinged at the back-rest · CPC title

• B60N2/01 Primary

  Arrangement of seats relative to one another · CPC title

• B60N2/165

  Gear wheel driven mechanism · CPC title