Patent US6076880A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6076880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vehicular seat system and method of folding
Assignee: Lear Corp
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Filing: 1998-04-03
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Granted: 2000-06-20
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Expires: 2018-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A seat system for a passenger vehicle includes a foldable rear seat and a foldable front seat. The rear seat includes a removable seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back. An approximately horizontal rear support surface is formed by a surface of the rear seat back when the rear seat back is folded forward. The front seat includes a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back. An approximately horizontal front support surface is formed by a surface of the front seat back when the front seat back is folded forward. An extended support surface is formed by the rear support surface and the front support surface. If desired, the front seat can be mounted on a track assembly so that the front and rear support surfaces can be placed in close proximity to each other. If desired, a workstation can be formed in the front support surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian J. Coffer
- 👤 Paul S. Severinski
- 👤 Christopher G. Durham
- 👤 Donald H. Bernhardt
- 👤 Mark E. Rodgers
- 👤 Michael David Kolosick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:27
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R5/00; B60R5/006; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/30; B60N2/3002; B60N2/3004; B60N2/3009; B60N2/3011; B60N2/3013; B60N2/3038; B60N2/304; B60N2/3045; B60N2/305; B60N2/32; B60N2/36; B60N2/366; B60N2205/00; B60N2205/30; B60N2205/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A passenger vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment and a trunk compartment, the trunk compartment including a trunk support surface; a rear seat mounted in the passenger compartment adjacent the trunk compartment, the rear seat including a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back, the rear seat back forming a rear support surface cooperating with the trunk support surface when the rear seat back is positioned in a folded position, the rear seat back including a frame assembly having a head panel that frames an opening into the trunk compartment; and a front seat mounted in the passenger compartment forward of the rear seat, the front seat including a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back, the front seat back forming a front support surface when the front seat back is positioned in a folded position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A passenger vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment and a trunk compartment, the trunk compartment including a trunk support surface; a rear seat mounted in the passenger compartment adjacent the trunk compartment, the rear seat including a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back, the rear seat back forming a rear support surface cooperating with the trunk support surface when the rear seat back is positioned in a folded position, the rear seat back including a frame assembly having a head panel that frames an opening into the trunk compartment; and a front seat mounted in the passenger compartment forward of the rear seat, the front seat including a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back, the front seat back forming a front support surface when the front seat back is positioned in a folded position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the rear seat bottom is removable from the passenger compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 2 including an extended support surface formed by the rear support surface cooperating with the front support surface when the rear seat bottom is removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 3 wherein the rear support surface is approximately level with the trunk support surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 4 wherein the front support surface is provided at a predetermined height to cooperate with the rear and trunk support surfaces to support an item extending from the trunk compartment into the passenger compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the rear seat bottom is divided into a first portion and a second seat portion, wherein at least one of the portions is removable from the passenger compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the rear seat back is divided into a first panel and a second panel, wherein at least one of the panels is forwardly foldable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the rear seat bottom is pivotable along a front edge to an upright position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein a storage compartment is provided beneath the rear seat bottom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein a workstation is formed in the front support surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 10 wherein the workstation is oriented to accommodate use by an occupant of a front driver seat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The passenger vehicle defined in claim 10 wherein the workstation is oriented to accommodate use by an occupant of the rear seat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
A seat system for a passenger vehicle comprising: a rear seat having a seat bottom, a forwardly folding seat back, and a frame assembly having a head panel that frames an opening into a trunk compartment; an approximately horizontal rear support surface formed by a surface of the rear seat back when the rear seat back is folded forward; a foldable front seat having a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back; and an approximately horizontal front support surface formed by a surface of the front seat back when the front seat back is folded forward.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
A seat system for a passenger vehicle comprising: a rear seat having a seat bottom, a forwardly folding seat back, and a frame assembly having a head panel that frames an opening into a trunk compartment; an approximately horizontal rear support surface formed by a surface of the rear seat back when the rear seat back is folded forward; a foldable front seat having a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back; and an approximately horizontal front support surface formed by a surface of the front seat back when the front seat back is folded forward.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The seat system defined in claim 13 wherein an extended support surface is formed by the rear support surface and the front support surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The seat system defined in claim 13 wherein the front seat is mounted on a track assembly to permit the front seat to be moved in close proximity to the folded rear seat panel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The seat system defined in claim 13 wherein the rear seat bottom is pivotable along a front edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The seat system defined in claim 16 wherein a dual pivoting linkage pivotally connects the rear seat bottom to a shell.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of forming an extended support surface in a passenger vehicle having a passenger compartment and a trunk compartment, the trunk compartment including a trunk support surface, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a rear seat in the passenger compartment adjacent the trunk compartment, the rear seat including a seat bottom, a forwardly folding seat back, and a frame assembly having a head panel that frames an opening into the trunk compartment; mounting a front seat in the passenger compartment forward of the rear seat, the front seat including a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back; folding the rear seat back forwardly to provide a rear support surface cooperating with the trunk support surface; and folding the front seat back forward to provide a front support surface cooperating with the rear support surface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of forming an extended support surface in a passenger vehicle having a passenger compartment and a trunk compartment, the trunk compartment including a trunk support surface, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a rear seat in the passenger compartment adjacent the trunk compartment, the rear seat including a seat bottom, a forwardly folding seat back, and a frame assembly having a head panel that frames an opening into the trunk compartment; mounting a front seat in the passenger compartment forward of the rear seat, the front seat including a seat bottom and a forwardly folding seat back; folding the rear seat back forwardly to provide a rear support surface cooperating with the trunk support surface; and folding the front seat back forward to provide a front support surface cooperating with the rear support surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method defined in claim 18 including the steps of mounting the front seat on a track assembly; and sliding the folded front seat adjacent the folded rear seat so that the front support surface is in close proximity to the rear support surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 18 including the step of removing the rear seat bottom to provide an extended support surface including the rear support surface and the front support surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-20 | 2003-12-20 | 2004-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-20 | 2007-12-20 | 2008-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-20 | 2011-12-20 | 2012-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |