US3746389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding seats for automotive vehicles
Assignee: Renault SA
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Filing: 1971-02-16
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-02-16
Abstract
Abstract This folding seat structure constituting an auxiliary seat is foldable against an element of the body and comprises a backrest with a shaft axis and seat cushion fulcrumed about this axis, and a mechanism of which the component elements fulcrumed about suitably located axes assist in locking the backrest; at least one pivoted member of the locking mechanism rigid with the backrest and co-acting by means of its cranked end with a retaining member for locking the backrest carries an arm pivoted to a link connecting said arm to a cushion provided with a fulcrum pin for pivoting said link, the arrangement being such that the backrest is locked when it is actuated towards its operative position, and released when the cushion is lifted.
Inventors
- 👤 F Fourrey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:15
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/30; B60N2/3072; B60N2/3075; B60N2/3002; B60N2/3004; B60N2/3009; B60N2/3013; B60N2/3038; B60N2/3063; B60N2/3065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An auxiliary folding seat for automotive vehicles, comprising a backrest section pivotally connected at its lower edge to the vehicle body; a seat section pivotally connected near its rear edge to said backrest section; said seat section supportable by a pair of supporting members pivotally connected to said seat section near its front edge of, and engageable with the vehicle body at points below the front edge of said seat section; a hinge mechanism comprising a fulcrum rod extending horizontally across said backrest section and rotatably mounted therein, the ends of said rod forming means for locking said backrest section in a substantially upright operative position, said rod having a fulcrum arm extending radially therefrom and pivotally connected to one end of a linking arm, the other end of said linking arm being pivotally connected to a side edge of said seat section, for releasing said rod from its locked position when said seat section is lifted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An auxiliary folding seat for automotive vehicles, comprising a backrest section pivotally connected at its lower edge to the vehicle body; a seat section pivotally connected near its rear edge to said backrest section; said seat section supportable by a pair of supporting members pivotally connected to said seat section near its front edge of, and engageable with the vehicle body at points below the front edge of said seat section; a hinge mechanism comprising a fulcrum rod extending horizontally across said backrest section and rotatably mounted therein, the ends of said rod forming means for locking said backrest section in a substantially upright operative position, said rod having a fulcrum arm extending radially therefrom and pivotally connected to one end of a linking arm, the other end of said linking arm being pivotally connected to a side edge of said seat section, for releasing said rod from its locked position when said seat section is lifted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The folding seat of claim 1 wherein the end of said linking arm pivotally connected to the edge of the seat section has an elongated aperture therein which is slidably engaged with a pin extending substantially horizontally from the edge of said seat section; the ends of said fulcrum rod comprise crank Handles, each engageable with a cam-faced locking means attached to the body of the vehicle near the location of the upright position of said backrest section; and the crank arms are biased toward said locking means by a spring connected to said fulcrum rod and said backrest section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The folding seat of claim 2 wherein the camming face of said locking means comprises a resilient, collapsible member which is adapted to retain said crank handles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The folding seat of claim 1 wherein said backrest is pivotally connected to the vehicle body at a floor level therein, and said body comprises a well into which the entire folding seat is foldable to form a flat floor at said floor level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The folding seat of claim 4 wherein the pair of supporting members pivotally connected to the seat section are engageable with said vehicle body at the sides of said well.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The folding seat of claim 4 wherein said backrest section also comprises headrest.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The folding seat of claim 6 additionally comprising a floorboard section pivotally mounted at said floor level at the edge of said well facing the front edge of said seat section, for alternate use as an inclined footrest and a floorboard covering for said headrests when said seat is in its folded position within said well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The folding seat of claim 1 wherein said seat section comprises side members which are pivotally connected to said backrest section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |