Towel bar for motor vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9919623-B2
Application number	US-201615064194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 8, 2016
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A rail and carrier system for a removable seat of a motor vehicle includes two lower rails fixedly attached laterally along a floor of the motor vehicle. a first upper rail is nested with and laterally slidable within the first lower rail, and a second upper rail is nested with and laterally slidable within the second lower rail. First and second cross brackets are laterally spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the first and second upper rails are connected to the first and second upper rails. A cover is connected to and extends between the first and second cross brackets. A spring-loaded lock holds the first upper rail in place with the first lower rail, and a towel bar releases the lock, enabling the first and second upper rails to slide within the first and second lower rails.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rail and carrier system for a removable seat of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a first lower rail fixedly attached to and positioned laterally along a floor of the motor vehicle;
a first upper rail nested with and laterally slidable within the first lower rail;
a second lower rail positioned laterally along the floor of the motor vehicle parallel to the first lower rail and longitudinally rearward of the first lower rail;
a second upper rail nested with and laterally slidable within the second lower rail;
first and second cross brackets laterally spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the first and second upper rails, the first and second cross brackets being connected to the first and second upper rails;
a cover connected to and extending between the first and second cross brackets;
a spring-loaded lock that holds the first upper rail in place with the first lower rail; and
a towel bar that releases the lock, enabling the first and second upper rails to slide within the first and second lower rails.

2. The rail and carrier system of claim 1 wherein the towel bar comprises:
a towel bar grip portion having a first end and a second end;
a first perpendicular bar extending laterally inward from the first end of the towel bar grip;
a second perpendicular bar extending laterally inward from the second end of the towel bar grip; and
wherein the first perpendicular bar and second perpendicular bar actuate the spring-loaded lock to when the towel bar grip is gripped upward and outward.

3. The rail and carrier system further comprising:
a bracket having a first opening and a second opening;
a first pin located on the first perpendicular bar, the first pin inserted into the first opening;
a second pin located on the first perpendicular bar, the second pin inserted into the second opening.

4. The rail and carrier system of claim 3 wherein the first opening has an obtuse triangular shape with an rounded obtuse corner and two rounded acute corners.

5. The rail and carrier system of claim 4 wherein a tangent of an apex of the rounded obtuse corner is 45° from horizontal.

6. The rail and carrier system of claim 5 wherein the second opening has an oval shape.

7. The rail and carrier system of claim 6 wherein the second opening is angled laterally outwardly and upwardly.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Supernavage Peter A
• Ishikawa Tetsuya
• Scheurer Ii Jeffrey H

Classifications

• B60N2/0715 Primary

  C or U-shaped · CPC title

• B60N2/07 Primary

  Slide construction · CPC title

• B60N2/0881

  Activation of the latches by the control mechanism · CPC title

• B60N3/06

  of footrests · CPC title

• B60N2/0843

  about a longitudinal axis · CPC title