Vehicle seating systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11738670-B2
Application number	US-202218052460-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2022
Priority date	Sep 20, 2019
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A side facing seat includes a seat back element and a moveable seat base element disposed below the seat back element. The moveable seat base element is moveable at least between a stored position and a seating position. Movement of the moveable seat base element is controlled by an activation element that is configured to engage with a locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism is able to lock the moveable seat base element in the stored position or the seating position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A side facing seat comprising:
a seat back element; and
a moveable seat base element disposed below the seat back element, wherein the moveable seat base element is moveable at least between a stored position and a seating position, and wherein movement of the moveable seat base element is controlled by an activation element that is configured to engage with a locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism is able to lock the moveable seat base element in the stored position or the seating position;
wherein the seat back element is configured to be connected to an interior face of a vehicle door panel having an exterior face with an internal cavity that (i) is disposed between the interior face and the exterior face and (ii) has an open end on the interior face; and
wherein the moveable seat base element is configured to slide into and out of the internal cavity such that (i) in the stored position, a substantial portion of the moveable seat base element is disposed within the internal cavity and (ii) in the seating position, all of the moveable seat base element is disposed out of the internal cavity.

2. The side facing seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sliding rail connected to a bottom portion of the moveable seat base element such that the movement of the moveable seat base element is a sliding motion between the stored position and the seating position.

3. The side facing seat of claim 2 , wherein the side facing seat comprises a plurality of sliding rails.

4. The side facing seat of claim 2 , wherein the at least one sliding rail comprises at least one of aluminum, extruded aluminum, or steel.

5. The side facing seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a structural support element disposed beneath the moveable seat base element and configured to be connected to the interior face of the vehicle door panel.

6. The side facing seat of claim 1 , wherein the activation element comprises a lever configured to engage with a portion of the locking mechanism such that the activation element is configured to move the locking mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position.

7. The side facing seat of claim 1 , wherein the activation element comprises an electronic activation device electronically connected to the locking mechanism.

8. The side facing seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a movement assist mechanism disposed beneath the moveable seat base element and configured to assist the movement of the moveable seat base element between the stored position and the seating position.

9. The side facing seat of claim 8 , wherein the movement assist mechanism comprises a hydraulic piston.

10. A side facing seat comprising:
a seat back element; and
a moveable seat base element disposed below the seat back element, wherein the moveable seat base element is moveable at least between a stored position and a seating position, and wherein movement of the moveable seat base element is controlled by an activation element that is configured to engage with a locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism is able to lock the moveable seat base element in the stored position or the seating position;
wherein the activation element comprises a lever configured to engage with a portion of the locking mechanism such that the activation element is configured to move the locking mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position;
wherein the side facing seat further comprises first and second resilient members;
wherein the first resilient member is connected to the activation element and is configured to allow movement of the activation element between an active position and an inactive position; and
wherein the second resilient member is connected to the locking mechanism and is configured to allow movement of the locking mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position.

11. The side facing seat of claim 10 , wherein the moveable seat base element is configured to move rotationally between the stored position and the seating position.

12. The side facing seat of claim 10 , wherein:
the seat back element is configured to be connected to an interior face of a vehicle door panel having an exterior face with an internal cavity that (i) is disposed between the interior face and the exterior face and (ii) has an open end on the interior face; and
the moveable seat base element is configured to slide into and out of the internal cavity such that (i) in the stored position, a substantial portion of the moveable seat base element is disposed within the internal cavity and (ii) in the seating position, all of the moveable seat base element is disposed out of the internal cavity.

13. A side facing seat comprising:
a seat back element; and
a moveable seat base element disposed below the seat back element, wherein the moveable seat base element is moveable at least between a stored position and a seating position, and wherein movement of the moveable seat base element is controlled by an activation element that is configured to engage with a locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism is able to lock the moveable seat base element in the stored position or the seating position;
wherein the activation element comprises an electronic activation device electronically connected to the locking mechanism; and
wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking pin device.

14. A side facing seat comprising:
a seat back element;
a moveable seat base element disposed below the seat back element, wherein the moveable seat base element is moveable at least between a stored position and a seating position, and wherein movement of the moveable seat base element is controlled by an activation element that is configured to engage with a locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism is able to lock the moveable seat base element in the stored position or the seating position; and
a movement assist mechanism disposed beneath the moveable seat base element and configured to assist the movement of the moveable seat base element between the stored position and the seating position;
wherein the movement assist mechanism comprises a drive gear connected to a drive motor; and
wherein the drive motor is configured to drive the drive gear between the stored position and the seating position.

15. A system comprising:
an electric vehicle; and
a side facing seat within the electric vehicle, the side facing seat comprising:
a seat back element; and
a moveable seat base element disposed below the seat back element, wherein the moveable seat base element is moveable at least between a stored position and a seating position, and wherein movement of the moveable seat base element is controlled by an activation element that is configured to engage with a locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism is able to lock the moveable seat base element in the stored position or the seating position;

wherein the seat back element is connected to an interior face of a door panel of the electric vehicle, the door panel having an exterior face with an internal cavity that is disposed between the interior face and the exterior face, the internal cavity having an open end on the interior face; and
wherein the moveable seat base element is configured to slide into and out of the internal cavity such that (i) in the stored position, a substantial portion of the moveable seat base element is disposed within the internal cavity and (ii) in the seating position, all of the moveable seat base element is disposed out of the internal cavity.

16. The system of

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

• B60N2/305

  the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame · CPC title

• B60N2002/0216

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

• B60N2/0224

  Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation · CPC title

• B60N2/3011 Primary

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