Multi-position vehicle seat

Claim 2

A three-position seat for a vehicle including two cushions each of which can serve as a seat back or a seat bottom, a linkage supportinG said seat and providing a first position wherein said seat faces forwardly, a second position wherein said seat faces rearwardly, and a third position wherein one of said cushions is folded over the other of said cushions to provide a cargo area, said linkage comprising a first link member having the opposite ends thereof pivotally interconnecting said cushions at first and second pivot points, a second link member having the opposite ends thereof pivotally interconnecting said cushions at third and fourth pivot points, a pair of horizontally spaced pivot shafts laterally spaced from said link members and connected to the vehicle, means connecting said first link member to one of said pivot shafts for pivotal movement about a second transverse pivot axis passing through the center of said one of said pivot shafts, means connecting said second link member to the other of said pivot shafts for pivotal movement about a second transverse pivot axis passing through the center of said other of said pivot shafts, said first and second link members adapted to pivot about the first and second transverse pivot axes when said seat is moved from said first position to said second position and vice versa, and lock means carried by one of said link members and adapted to release one end of said one of said link members from pivotal connection with one of said cushions to permit the latter to move to said third position.

Claim 3

The seat of claim 1 wherein said links are so located that when the seat is in the second position a line passing through the first and second pivot points intersects an extension of the line passing through the third and fourth pivot points at a point located between said first and second pivot points.

Claim 4

The seat of claim 1 wherein said pivot shafts are so located that when the seat is in the second position an extension of the line interconnecting the centers of said pivot shafts passes between the first and second pivot points and the third and fourth pivot points.

Claim 5

A linkage for supporting a seat assembly having a seat back and a seat cushion in a vehicle body for movement from a forwardly facing seat arrangement to a rearwardly facing seat arrangement; said seat back and said seat cushion each being defined by a pair of side portions, a front surface, a rear surface, top edge and a bottom edge; the linkage comprising a first interconnecting link member having one end pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat back by a first pivotal connection located at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second pivotal connection joining the other end of the first interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat cushion at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second interconnecting link member pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat cushion by a third pivotal connection located adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a fourth pivotal connection joining another part of the second interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat back adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a pair of pivot shafts mounted on the vehicle body adjacent said linkage, a link having one end pivotally supported by one of said pivot shafts and the other end pivotally connected to one of said interconnecting link members by one of the pivotal connections associated therewith, the other of said pivot shafts serving to pivotally connect the other of the interconnecting link members to the vehicle body, said pivot shafts serving as a pair of stationary points about which said first, second, third and fourth pivotal connections are rotatable so that said seat assembly is movable from the forwardly facing seat arrangement to the rearwardly facing seat arrangement when a downwardly directed force is applied to the top edge of the seat back, and a lock lever carried by one of said interconnecting link members and adapted to engage one of said pivot shafts to lock the seat assembly in one of said seat arrangements aNd adapted to cooperate with one of said pivotal connections to lock said seat assembly in the other of said seat arrangements.

Claim 6

A linkage for supporting a seat assembly having a seat back and a seat cushion in a vehicle body for movement from a forwardly facing seat arrangement to a rearwardly facing seat arrangement; said seat back and said seat cushion each being defined by a pair of side portions, a front surface, a rear surface, top edge and a bottom edge; the linkage comprising a first interconnecting link member having one end pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat back by a first pivotal connection located at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second pivotal connection joining the other end of the first interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat cushion at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second interconnecting link member pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat cushion by a third pivotal connection located adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a fourth pivotal connection joining another part of the second interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat back adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a pair of pivot shafts mounted on the vehicle body adjacent said linkage, a link having one end pivotally supported by one of said pivot shafts and the other end pivotally connected to one of said interconnecting link members by one of the pivotal connections associated therewith, the other of said pivot shafts serving to pivotally connect the other of the interconnecting link members to the vehicle body, said pivot shafts serving as a pair of stationary points about which said first, second, third and fourth pivotal connections are rotatable so that said seat assembly is movable from the forwardly facing seat arrangement to the rearwardly facing seat arrangement when a downwardly directed force is applied to the top edge of the seat back, and a lock lever carried by one of said interconnecting link members and adapted to engage one of said pivot shafts to lock the seat assembly in one of said seat arrangements aNd adapted to cooperate with one of said pivotal connections to lock said seat assembly in the other of said seat arrangements.

Claim 7

A linkage for supporting a seat assembly having a seat back and a seat cushion in a vehicle body for movement between a forwardly facing seat forming position, a rearwardly facing seat forming position, and a cargo-carrying position; said seat back and said seat cushion each being defined by a pair of side portions, a face surface, a rear surface, a top edge and a bottom edge; said linkage comprising a first interconnecting link member having one end pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat back by a first pivotal connection located at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second pivotal connection joining the other end of the first interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat cushion at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second interconnecting link member pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat cushion by a third pivotal connection located adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a fourth pivotal connection joining another part of the second interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat back adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a pair of spaced pivot shafts mounted on the vehicle body adjacent said linkage, a link having one end pivotally supported by one of said pivot shafts and the other end connected to one of said interconnecting link members by one of the pivotal connections associated therewith, the other of said pivot shafts serving to pivotally connect the other of the interconnecting link members to the vehicle body, said pivot shafts serving as a pair of stationary points about which said fist, second, third and fourth pivotal connections are rotatable so that said seat assembly is movable as a unit from the forwardly facing seat forming position to the rearwardly facing seat forming position and vice versa, a first lock member carried by one of said interconnecting link members and adapted to engage one of said pivot shafts to lock the seat assembly in one of said seat forming positions and adapted to cooperate with one of said pivotal connections to lock said seat assembly in the other of said seat forming position, and a second lock member carried by the other of said interconnecting link members and adapted to cooperate with the latter for releasing said seat cushion and permitting the latter to be folded forwardly to said cargo-carrying position.

Claim 8

A linkage for supporting a seat assembly having a seat back and a seat cushion in a vehicle body for movement between a forwardly facing seat forming position, a rearwardly facing seat forming position, and a cargo-carrying position; said seat back and said seat cushion each being defined by a pair of side portions, a face surface, a rear surface, a top edge and a bottom edge; said linkage comprising a first interconnecting link member having one end pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat back by a first pivotal connection located at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second pivotal connection joining the other end of the first interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat cushion at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second interconnecting link member pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat cushion by a third pivotal connection located adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a fourth pivotal connection joining another part of the second interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat back adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a pair of spaced pivot shafts mounted on the vehicle body adjacent said linkage, a link having one end pivotally supported by one of said pivot shafts and the other end connected to one of said interconnecting link members by one of the pivotal connections associated therewith, the other of said pivot shafts serving to pivotally connect the other of the interconnecting link members to the vehicle body, said pivot shafts serving as a pair of stationary points about which said fist, second, third and fourth pivotal connections are rotatable so that said seat assembly is movable as a unit from the forwardly facing seat forming position to the rearwardly facing seat forming position and vice versa, a first lock member carried by one of said interconnecting link members and adapted to engage one of said pivot shafts to lock the seat assembly in one of said seat forming positions and adapted to cooperate with one of said pivotal connections to lock said seat assembly in the other of said seat forming position, and a second lock member carried by the other of said interconnecting link members and adapted to cooperate with the latter for releasing said seat cushion and permitting the latter to be folded forwardly to said cargo-carrying position.

Claim 9

A linkage for supporting a seat assembly having a seat back and a seat cushion in a vehicle body for movement between a forwardly facing seat forming position, a rearwardly facing seat forming position, nd a cargo-carrying position; said seat back and said seat cushion each being defined by a pair of side portions, a face surface, a rear surface, a top edge and a bottom edge; said linkage comprising a first interconnecting link member having one end pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat back by a first pivotal connection located at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second pivotal connection joining the other end of the first interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat cushion at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second interconnecting link member pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat cushion by a third pivotal connection located adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a fourth pivotal connection joining another part of the second interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat back adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a pair of horizontally spaced pivot shafts mounted on the vehicle body adjacent said linkage, a link having one end pivotally supported by one of said pivot shafts and the other end connected to said first interconnecting link member by the first pivotal connection, the other of said pivot shafts serving to pivotally connect the second interconnecting link membeR to the vehicle body at a point spaced from said third and fourth pivotal connections, said pivot shafts serving as a pair of stationary points about which said first, second, third and fourth pivotal connections are rotatable so that said seat assembly is movable as a unit from the forwardly facing seat forming position to the rearwardly facing seat forming position and vice versa, a first lock member carried by one of said interconnecting link members and adapted to engage one of said pivot shafts to lock the seat assembly in one of said seat forming positions and adapted to cooperate with one of said pivotal connections to lock said seat assembly in the other of said seat forming position, and a second lock member carried by the other of said interconnecting link members and adapted to cooperate with the latter for releasing said seat cushion and permitting the latter to be folded forwardly to said cargo-carrying position.

Claim 10

A linkage for supporting a seat assembly having a seat back and a seat cushion in a vehicle body for movement between a forwardly facing seat forming position, a rearwardly facing seat forming position, nd a cargo-carrying position; said seat back and said seat cushion each being defined by a pair of side portions, a face surface, a rear surface, a top edge and a bottom edge; said linkage comprising a first interconnecting link member having one end pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat back by a first pivotal connection located at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second pivotal connection joining the other end of the first interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat cushion at a point intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge thereof, a second interconnecting link member pivotally connected to the side portion of the seat cushion by a third pivotal connection located adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a fourth pivotal connection joining another part of the second interconnecting link member to the side portion of the seat back adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a pair of horizontally spaced pivot shafts mounted on the vehicle body adjacent said linkage, a link having one end pivotally supported by one of said pivot shafts and the other end connected to said first interconnecting link member by the first pivotal connection, the other of said pivot shafts serving to pivotally connect the second interconnecting link membeR to the vehicle body at a point spaced from said third and fourth pivotal connections, said pivot shafts serving as a pair of stationary points about which said first, second, third and fourth pivotal connections are rotatable so that said seat assembly is movable as a unit from the forwardly facing seat forming position to the rearwardly facing seat forming position and vice versa, a first lock member carried by one of said interconnecting link members and adapted to engage one of said pivot shafts to lock the seat assembly in one of said seat forming positions and adapted to cooperate with one of said pivotal connections to lock said seat assembly in the other of said seat forming position, and a second lock member carried by the other of said interconnecting link members and adapted to cooperate with the latter for releasing said seat cushion and permitting the latter to be folded forwardly to said cargo-carrying position.