US5868451A — Storage structure for motor vehicle seat

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

A storage structure for storing a motor vehicle seat which has a seat cushion and a seatback foldable against the seat cushion and is movable in a longitudinal direction of a motor vehicle, comprising: a fixed rail fixed to the motor vehicle; a movable rail movable along said fixed rail; holding means disposed on a longitudinal end of said movable rail and the seat cushion, for selectively fixing said seat cushion to said movable rail; and a pivot hinge disposed between an opposite longitudinal end of said movable rail and an engaging portion of said fixed rail, for allowing said seat cushion to swing thereabout with said seat cushion being released by said holding means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 115 words

A storage structure for storing a motor vehicle seat which has a seat cushion and a seatback foldable against the seat cushion and is movable in a longitudinal direction of a motor vehicle, comprising: a fixed rail fixed to the motor vehicle; a movable rail movable along said fixed rail; holding means disposed on a longitudinal end of said movable rail and the seat cushion, for selectively fixing said seat cushion to said movable rail; and a pivot hinge disposed between an opposite longitudinal end of said movable rail and an engaging portion of said fixed rail, for allowing said seat cushion to swing thereabout with said seat cushion being released by said holding means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A storage structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a floor on which said fixed rail is mounted; and a seat storage cavity defined near said pivot hinge in a position lower than said floor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 76 words

A storage structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a bracket fixed to said seat cushion; said bracket has an extension extending outwardly transversely of the motor vehicle from an end of said seat cushion, and a turn arm integral with an end of said extension and supported by said pivot hinge such that said turn arm extends downwardly when said seat cushion is kept in a position in which a passenger can be seated thereon.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

A storage structure according to claim 3, wherein said pivot hinge includes a sleeve fitted in said turn arm and said movable rail.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 106 words

A storage structure according to claim 1, wherein said holding means engages a front end of said seat cushion in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, said pivot hinge being positioned near a rear end of said seat cushion in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, said storage structure further comprising: a floor on which said fixed rail is mounted; and a seat storage cavity defined behind said seat cushion for storing the motor vehicle seat such that a bottom of the seat cushion lies flush with said floor when the seat cushion with the seatback folded thereon is swung backward into the cavity.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 108 words

A storage structure according to claim 1, wherein said holding means engages a rear end of said seat cushion in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, said pivot hinge being positioned near a front end of said seat cushion in the longitudinal direction of a motor vehicle, the storage structure further comprising: a floor on which said fixed rail is mounted; and a seat storage cavity defined in front of said seat cushion for storing the motor vehicle seat such that a bottom of the seat cushion lies flush with said floor when the seat cushion with the seatback folded thereon is swung forward into the cavity.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 117 words

A storage structure according to claim 1, wherein said holding means engages a front end of said seat cushion in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, said pivot hinge being positioned near a rear end of said seat cushion in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, the storage structure further comprising: a floor on which said fixed rail is mounted; and a seat storage cavity defined below a position of the seat cushion in which a passenger can be seated thereon, for storing the motor vehicle seat such that a bottom of the seat cushion lies flush with said floor when the seat cushion with the seatback folded thereon is swung backward into the cavity.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 46 words

A storage structure according to claim 1, further comprising a side panel and a side lining on the motor vehicle, said side panel and said side lining jointly defining therebetween a housing space accommodating said fixed rail and said movable rail therein in covering relation thereto.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 46 words

A storage structure according to claim 1, wherein said holding mechanism comprises: a striker connected to said movable rail; a latch angularly movably mounted on said seat cushion for disengageably engaging said striker; and a lever for selectively angularly moving said latch to disengage the striker.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

A storage structure according to claim 1, further comprising lock means mounted on said movable rail for fixing said movable rail to said fixed rail at a given position thereon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 133 words

A storage structure for storing a motor vehicle seat which has a seat cushion and a seatback foldable against the seat cushion, into a seat storage cavity defined in a floor of a motor vehicle, comprising: a bracket fixed to the seat cushion; a housing space defined by a side lining in a passenger's compartment of the motor vehicle; and support means disposed in said housing space for supporting said bracket; said bracket having an extension extending outwardly transversely of the motor vehicle from an end of said seat cushion, and a turn arm integral with an end of said extension and angularly movably supported by said support means such that said turn arm extends downwardly when said seat cushion is kept in a position in which a passenger can be seated thereon.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 133 words

A storage structure for storing a motor vehicle seat which has a seat cushion and a seatback foldable against the seat cushion, into a seat storage cavity defined in a floor of a motor vehicle, comprising: a bracket fixed to the seat cushion; a housing space defined by a side lining in a passenger's compartment of the motor vehicle; and support means disposed in said housing space for supporting said bracket; said bracket having an extension extending outwardly transversely of the motor vehicle from an end of said seat cushion, and a turn arm integral with an end of said extension and angularly movably supported by said support means such that said turn arm extends downwardly when said seat cushion is kept in a position in which a passenger can be seated thereon.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

A storage structure according to claim 11, further comprising holding means for selectively, securely holding said seat cushion in an inoperative seating position thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 46 words

A storage structure according to claim 12, wherein said holding means comprises: a striker disposed on the motor vehicle; a latch angularly movably mounted on said seat cushion for disengageably engaging said striker; and a lever for selectively angularly moving said latch to disengage the striker.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

A storage structure according to claim 11, wherein said support means includes a sleeve as a pivot hinge by which said turn arm is angularly movably supported.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

A storage structure according to claim 11, wherein said seat storage cavity is defined behind said seat cushion and arranged such that a bottom of the seat cushion lies flush with said floor when the seat cushion with the seatback folded thereon is swung backward into the cavity.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 46 words

A storage structure according to claim 11, wherein said support means comprises: a fixed rail fixed to the motor vehicle; a movable rail movable along said fixed rail; and a pivot hinge mounted on said movable rail for allowing said turn arm to move angularly thereabout.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 160 words

A storage structure for selectively storing within a motor vehicle a seat having a seat cushion and a seatback selectively foldable against the seat cushion, the storage structure comprising: a seat storage cavity defined in a floor of the motor vehicle; a bracket fixed to the seat cushion; support means for supporting said bracket in operative and storage positions of said bracket; said bracket having a terminal extension pivotally connected to said support means for being rotated thereabout such that a bottom of said seat cushion is disposed in a spaced relationship above the floor of the motor vehicle substantially parallel thereto when the seat is disposed in said operative position thereof, and such that the bottom of the seat cushion is disposed flush with said floor when said seat is moved into said storage cavity in said storage position thereof; and holding means for selectively, securely holding said seat cushion when said seat is in said operative position thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 160 words

A storage structure for selectively storing within a motor vehicle a seat having a seat cushion and a seatback selectively foldable against the seat cushion, the storage structure comprising: a seat storage cavity defined in a floor of the motor vehicle; a bracket fixed to the seat cushion; support means for supporting said bracket in operative and storage positions of said bracket; said bracket having a terminal extension pivotally connected to said support means for being rotated thereabout such that a bottom of said seat cushion is disposed in a spaced relationship above the floor of the motor vehicle substantially parallel thereto when the seat is disposed in said operative position thereof, and such that the bottom of the seat cushion is disposed flush with said floor when said seat is moved into said storage cavity in said storage position thereof; and holding means for selectively, securely holding said seat cushion when said seat is in said operative position thereof.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 57 words

A storage structure according to claim 17, wherein said support means comprises a fixed rail fixed to the motor vehicle and a movable rail selectively movable along said fixed rail for adjusting a longitudinal disposition of said seat when the seat is in said operative position thereof; and said bracket is pivotally mounted to said movable rail.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 46 words

A storage structure according to claim 18, further comprising a side panel and a side lining on the motor vehicle, said side panel and said side lining jointly defining therebetween a housing space accommodating said fixed rail and said movable rail therein in covering relation thereto.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

A storage structure according to claim 18, wherein said storage cavity is disposed rearwardly or forwardly of said seat.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-02-08	2002-08-10	2003-02-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-02-08	2006-08-10	2007-02-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-02-08	2010-08-10	2011-02-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Storage structure for motor vehicle seat

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