Seating solutions for a stationary vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12139047-B2
Application number	US-202217700081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2022
Priority date	Mar 21, 2022
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a first seat including a first seat base coupled with a backrest. A second seat includes a seat back and a second seat base pivotably coupled with the seat back and moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A locking feature between the second seat base and the seat back is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking feature engages the second seat base in the locked position. The locking feature is disengaged from the second seat base in the unlocked position. A connection interface between the backrest and the seat back includes an engaging member and a receiving member. The engaging member selectively engages the receiving member to secure the second seat to the first seat in an attached configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seating assembly for a vehicle, the seating assembly comprising:
a first seat including a first seat base coupled with a backrest, wherein the backrest extends between a first surface corresponding to the first seat and a second surface opposite the first surface;
a second seat including a seat back and a second seat base pivotably coupled with the seat back and moveable between a stowed position in which the second seat base engages the seat back and a deployed position in which the second seat base is folded outwardly from the seat back;
a locking feature between the second seat base and the seat back moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locking feature engages the second seat base in the locked position to maintain the second seat base in the stowed position, and wherein the locking feature is disengaged from the second seat base in the unlocked position to allow the second seat base to move toward the deployed position; and
a connection interface between the backrest and the seat back including an engaging member and a receiving member, the engaging member selectively engaging the receiving member to secure the second seat to the first seat in an attached configuration of the second seat.

2. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking feature includes a zipper, and wherein the engaging and receiving members are clasps of the zipper.

3. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connection interface includes a zipper, wherein the engaging and receiving members are clasps of the zipper, wherein disengagement of the clasps defines a detached configuration of the second seat.

4. The seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the backrest defines a notch extending into the second surface toward the first surface, and wherein the second seat is disposed in the notch in the attached configuration.

5. The seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of support arms extending between the seat back and the second seat base along sides of the second seat, the second seat base suspending from the seat back in the deployed position via the pair of support arms.

6. The seating assembly of claim 5 , wherein the backrest defines a pair of slits for receiving the pair of support arms in the stowed position to conceal the support arms from a side view of the seating assembly.

7. The seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a support leg pivotally connected to a distal end of the second seat base, the support leg pivotable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the support leg extends generally parallel to the second seat base in the retracted position and extends generally orthogonal to the second seat base in the extended position.

8. The seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the support leg engages a floor of the vehicle in the extended position for supporting an occupant of the vehicle in the second seat.

9. The seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second seat base extends between a seating surface and an underside surface, the second seat base defining a recess extending into the underside surface toward the seating surface, and wherein the support leg is disposed in the recess in the stowed position.

10. The seating assembly of claim 9 , wherein the support leg includes a planar extent extending between sides of the second seat along the distal end of the second seat base.

11. The seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second seat base includes a handle formed on the planar extent operable to move the second seat base between the stowed position and the deployed position.

12. The seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein a first rotational direction of the second seat base is opposite a second rotational direction of the support leg from the stowed position toward the deployed position.

13. A seating assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a seat including a backrest extending between a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface;
a seat base pivotally coupled with the backrest via a pivot member, wherein the seat base is rotatable about the pivot member between a stowed position in which the seat base is housed in the backrest and a deployed position in which the seat base is folded outwardly from the backrest, wherein the seat base includes a seating surface extending between a proximal end adjacent the backrest in the deployed position, a distal end spaced from the backrest in the deployed position, and across a pair of sides extending between the proximal end and the distal end,
wherein the backrest defines a slot that receives the pivot member, wherein the pivot member is translatable along the slot between an upper position corresponding with the stowed position and a lower position corresponding with the deployed position; and
a stopping feature adjacent the slot and selectively engaging the pivot member in the deployed position to secure the seat base in the deployed position.

14. The seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the stopping feature includes a biasing member operable to allow movement of the pivot member past the stopping feature toward the lower position and limit movement of the pivot member past the stopping feature toward the upper position.

15. The seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the stopping feature includes a tapered surface facing the upper position and a stopping surface facing the lower position.

16. The seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the backrest defines a notch extending into the second surface toward the first surface for housing the seat base in the stowed position.

17. The seating assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
a support arm extending between the backrest and the seat base, wherein the support arm includes a hinged connection between a first member of the support arm and a second member of the support arm.

18. The seating assembly of claim 17 , wherein the hinged connection allowing the second member to rotate relative to the first member between a folded position corresponding to the stowed position and an unfolded position corresponding to the unfolded position.

19. A vehicle comprising:
a primary seat coupled with a floor of the vehicle and facing a vehicle forward direction, the primary seat including a backrest;
an auxiliary seat selectively coupled with the primary seat and facing a vehicle rearward direction, the auxiliary seat including a seat back and a seat base pivotably coupled with the seat back and moveable between a stowed position in which the seat base engages the backrest and a deployed position in which the seat base is folded outwardly from the seat back;
a locking feature between the seat base and the seat back moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locking feature engages the seat base in the locked position to maintain the seat base in the stowed position, and wherein the locking feature is disengaged from the seat base in the unlocked position to allow the seat base to move toward the deployed position; and
a connection interface between the backrest and the seat back including an engaging member and a receiving member, the engaging member selectively engaging the receiving member to secure the second seat to the primary seat in an attached configuration of the auxiliary seat.

20. The seating assembly of claim 18 , wherein the support arm includes a sleeve operable to cover the hinged connection in the unfolded position to lock the hinged connection.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Bastuba Jr Robert Allen
• Smith Collin Joshua
• Shipley Robert Charles
• Guizar Francisco Edgar
• Anderson Scott Culver

Classifications

• B60N2/0264

  characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB · CPC title

• B60N2/0722

  Constructive details · CPC title

• B60N2/427

  Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash · CPC title

• B60N2/20

  the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/143

  taking a position opposite to the original one · CPC title