Vehicle seating system for a stationary vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12179635-B2
Application number	US-202217699781-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2022
Priority date	Mar 21, 2022
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

A seating system for a vehicle includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A second sidewall opposes the first sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall at least partially define a cargo space. A first seating assembly is coupled to the first sidewall. A second seating assembly is coupled to the first sidewall. A bench seat is configured to be selectively adjustable between an adjacent support position and a cross support position. The bench seat is coupled to the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly when in the adjacent support position. The bench seat is coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall in the cross support position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a body defining a cargo space, wherein the body includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall that at least partially define the cargo space, and wherein the first sidewall defines a first wheel housing and the second sidewall defines a second wheel housing;
a first seating assembly coupled to the first sidewall on a first side of the first wheel housing;
a second seating assembly coupled to the first sidewall on a second side of the first wheel housing, wherein the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly are each operable between a stowed position abutting the first sidewall and a deployed position extending from the first sidewall; and
a bench seat configured to selectively couple to each of the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly in an adjacent support position and operably coupled to each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall in a cross support position, wherein the bench seat includes a first zipper portion and the first seating assembly includes a second zipper portion, and wherein the first zipper portion selectively engages the second zipper portion to couple the bench seat to the first seating assembly.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bench seat is operable between a retracted position for storage and an extended position for providing a seating space, wherein the bench seat is configured to extend over the first wheel housing when in the adjacent support position to define the seating space between the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third seating assembly coupled to the second sidewall on a first side of the second wheel housing; and
a fourth seating assembly coupled to the second sidewall on a second side of the second wheel housing.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first support feature coupled to the first sidewall; and
a second support feature coupled to the second sidewall, wherein the bench seat is configured to selectively couple to the first support feature between the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly and the second support feature between the third seating assembly and the fourth seating assembly in the cross support position to extend across the cargo space.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bench seat is constructed of a flexible material.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bench seat is configured to selectively couple to the first sidewall adjacent to the first wheel housing and the second sidewall adjacent to the second wheel housing in the cross support position to extend across the cargo space.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
mounting brackets coupled to the first sidewall, wherein a support beam is coupled to each of the mounting brackets, and wherein the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly are coupled to the support beam.

8. A seating system for a vehicle, comprising:
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall at least partially define a cargo space;
a first seating assembly coupled to the first sidewall;
a second seating assembly coupled to the first sidewall;
a bench seat configured to be selectively adjustable between an adjacent support position and a cross support position, wherein the bench seat is coupled to the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly when in the adjacent support position, and wherein the bench seat is operably coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall in the cross support position;
a first support feature coupled to the first sidewall proximate to a first wheel housing; and
a second support feature coupled to the second sidewall proximate to a second wheel housing, wherein the bench seat extends from the first support feature to the second support feature when in the cross support position, and wherein the bench seat is coupled to at least one of the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly when in the cross support position.

9. The seating system of claim 8 , wherein the cargo space is a truck bed.

10. The seating system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly includes:
a seat base rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position; and
a leg support rotatable to the seat base, wherein the leg support is operable between a storage position and a supporting position.

11. The seating system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a support beam coupled to the first sidewall, wherein each of the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly are coupled to the support beam.

12. The seating system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a frame coupled to the first sidewall, wherein the frame defines a receiving aperture configured to receive the first seating assembly when the first seating assembly is in a stowed position.

13. A vehicle seating system, comprising:
a first sidewall at least partially defining a cargo space, wherein the first sidewall defines a wheel housing and includes mounting brackets;
a first support beam coupled to the mounting brackets;
a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall;
a first seating assembly coupled to the first support beam on a first side of the wheel housing;
a second seating assembly coupled to the first support beam on a second side of the wheel housing, wherein each of the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly includes:
a seat base operable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein a bottom surface of the seat base is disposed adjacent to the first sidewall when in the stowed position; and
a leg support operably coupled to the seat base, wherein the leg support is operable between a storage position and a supporting position; and

a bench seat coupled to the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly when in an adjacent support position to define a seating space over the wheel housing between the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly, and wherein the bench seat extends between the first and second sidewalls in a cross support position, a side of the bench seat engaging the first support beam between the first and second seating assemblies when in the cross support position.

14. The vehicle seating system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a third seating assembly coupled to the second sidewall; and
a fourth seating assembly coupled to the second sidewall, wherein the bench seat is coupled to the first sidewall between the first seating assembly and the second seating assembly and coupled to the second sidewall between the third seating assembly and the fourth seating assembly when in the cross support position.

15. The vehicle seating system of claim 13 , wherein the bench seat is operable between a stored position and a use position, wherein the bench seat is rolled in the stored position and extended when in the use position.

16. The vehicle seating system of claim 13 , wherein an end of the leg support is disposed adjacent to the seat base when in the storage position and configured to engage a floor of the cargo space when in the supporting position.

17. The vehicle seating system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second support beam coupled to the second sidewall, wherein the bench seat engages the second support beam between the third and fourth seating assemblies when in the cross support position.

18. The vehicle of claim 1 , further c

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60N2/0292

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

• B60N2/305

  the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame · CPC title

• B60N2/36

  into a loading platform {(B60N2/065 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/01

  Arrangement of seats relative to one another · CPC title

• B60N2/012 Primary

  The seat support being a part of the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title