Removable seat

[0002] This application claims the benefit of prior provisional application No. 60/052,901, filed Jul. 16, 1997.

[0003] 1. Technical Field

[0004] This invention generally relates to a seat which is removable from a vehicle and, more particularly. to a seat which engages a track aligned with and generally perpendicular to a door opening which allows the seat to be removed through the door opening when extended beyond the end of the track.

[0005] 2. Discussion

[0006] Seats which are removable from a vehicle are known in the industry within certain vehicle types. Particularly, removable seats have been incorporated in vans which are intended to serve a dual purpose, that of cargo carrying and that of passenger transport. While some advancements have been made to improve the ease with which the seats may be removed, the task is still often difficult and awkward. Typically, the person removing the seats must release a latch mechanism mounted to the seat which engages a striker bar connected to a recess in the vehicle floor. Once released. the seat is lifted from the recesses and is free from the vehicle at that point. The seat must then be lifted by the person removing the seat as they exit the vehicle. The lifting motion is often difficult because the person must bend to avoid hitting the roof of the vehicle as they lift the seat. Some manufacturers have reduced the difficulty of removing the seat by placing rollers on the bottom of the seat stations, however, the seat must still be lifted out of the recesses and angled such that the wheels contact the floor of the vehicle while rolling them toward the opening.

[0007] The present invention is intended to provide a user friendly removable seat which minimizes the operator's difficulty during removal.

[0008] In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is provided a removable seat slidably engaging a track mounted to the vehicle. The track is generally perpendicular to and aligns with the door opening of the vehicle such that the operator is able to remove the seat while primarily standing on the exterior of the vehicle. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seat can be folded to a more compact configuration than when in the normal use position. Once the seat is in the folded configuration it can pass through the door opening of the vehicle with relative ease.

[0009] The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the following specification and by reference to the drawings in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a removable seat made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and shown in the normal use position;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the removable seat in a first folded position;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the removable seat in a vertically rotated position; and

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the removable seats when removed through the door opening of a vehicle.

[0015] The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, or its application, or uses.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, seat assembly 10 is shown with a vehicle body 12. Seat assembly 10 is shown as a 60/40 split seat having a driver side seat portion 14 and a passenger side seat portion 16. Each seat portion, 14 and 16, includes a seat cushion 18 and 20, respectively, and seat backs 22 and 24, respectively. While the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described as a 60/40 split bench seat, other seating arrangements such as a full width bench seat, separate and individual seating units (typically referred to as bucket seats), and seats having three or more sections are also specifically included within the scope of the present invention.

[0017] Portions 14 and 16 are shown in a normal use position wherein an occupant would normally be seated in the seat while in this configuration. A track 26 is provided in or on the floor pan 28 of the vehicle body 12. Track 26 in the preferred embodiment is shown to be mounted on, or provided in, a generally vertical portion of floor pan 28. Further, track 26 can be located on a generally horizontal portion of floor pan 28, or at some inclined angle between horizontal and vertical surfaces of floor pan 28.

[0018] Track 26 can be secured to floor pan 28 by a number of methods known in the industry. Such methods include, but are not limited to: screws; bolts; welding; bonding; and the like. Further, track 26 can be mounted or secured below the surface of floor pan 28 with a coordinated slot or groove provided to enable track 26 to properly interface with connecting pieces as described below.

[0019] With additional reference to FIG. 2, an interconnecting assembly 30 is shown attached to seat cushion 20 and engaging track 26. Assembly 30 includes a first segment 32 connected to a forward lower edge 34 of seat cushion 20. First segment 32 is pivotally connected to a second segment 36 about hinge 38 having axis 40 running therethrough. A distal end 42 of second segment 36 provides attachment for track engagement member 44. Engagement member 44 in the preferred embodiment includes a roller 46 mounted for rotation about a shaft 48 having a threaded portion 50 thereon. A radially extending shoulder 52 is located on shaft 48 and acts in conjunction with retainer 54 to secure second segment 36 to the shaft. While track engagement member 44 in the preferred embodiment is as described. Other engagement member structures can be used with equal result. Sliding block type members made of steel or plastic, particularly a self-lubricating type plastic, can be utilized in place of the above described engagement member as one non-limiting example. Further, engagement member structures using a plurality of rollers which are either oriented to coordinate with one another or are oriented to provide retention and reduce frictional resistance, can also be utilized. The track can also provide bearings to support and reduce friction when a sliding block member is used.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, seat backs 22 and 24 are shown in a first folded position in which seat backs 22 and 24 pivot about axis 56 and overlie seat cushions 18 and 20, respectively. Seat backs 22 and 24 are pivotally connected to seat cushions 18 and 20 about axis 56 and may include a recline mechanism (not shown) allowing the angle of the seat backs to be varied when in the normal use position. One of many lock devices known within the industry can be used to retain seat backs 22 and 24 in their upright position relative to seat cushions 18 and 20 and such a device can be incorporated in the recline mechanism as known in the industry.

[0021] With reference to FIG. 4 driver side seat portion 14 and passenger side seat portion 16 are shown rotated upwardly and forwardly about axis 40 (shown in FIG. 2) to a generally vertical position. As a result, the seat backs 22 and 24 are now inverted with the headrest 60 and 62 directed toward floor pan 28. Once seat portions 14 and 16 have been folded to the position shown in FIG. 4, seat portions 14 and 16 can be moved laterally along track 26 as shown by arrows “A” and “B” in FIG. 5. As each track engagement member 44 exits a distal end 66 and 68 of track 26, seat portions 14 and 16 are removed through an opening 72 (passenger side body opening not shown for simplicity) of vehicle body 12. In the preferred embodiment, each seat portion 14 and 16 includes a handle 70 along an outboard side for ease in handling the seat portion during removal and for carrying the seat portions following removal.

[0022] Reinstalling the seat portions into the vehicle can be accomplished by reversing the process described above. Further, while a single interconnecting assembly 30 was shown for each seat portion it is within the scope of the present invention to provide multiple interconnecting assemblies. For example, one interconnecting assembly could be located on an inboard corner of each seating portion with a second interconnecting assembly located on each outboard comer of the seat portion. Further, a lateral retention device can be incorporated in the interconnecting assembly or can be separate from the seating portion and attached to the vehicle body in proximity to track 26. The lateral retention device inhibits or prevents the seat portion from lateral movement within the track when engaged, and allows for movement of or removal of the seat portion when disengaged.

[0023] While the preferred embodiment is described as allowing the seats to be removed from openings located in the side of the vehicle, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide tracks extending longitudinally in the vehicle if an opening is provided at a front or rear end of the vehicle. One particular non-limiting example is if the present invention is incorporated in a van having an opening at the rear of the van.

[0024] The foregoing discussion discloses and describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications, and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.