Hoover Universal, Inc.

Johnson Controls Technology Company

Other

Robert L Demick

Hoon Y Kim

Robert D Elton

Sandra L Smith

Duane E Potes, Jr

Kurt A Bart

Frank Wu

Larry E Halse

Sorin Coman

Mark S Milner

Howard R Nordlund

Steve W Kennel

Daniel J Koester

Benny T Vo

Basil M Freeman

A flexible seating system ( ) for a vehicle ( ) which includes a side wall track ( ) mounted to the vehicle side wall ( ) and extending longitudinally of the vehicle. A cross track ( ) extends laterally across the vehicle. A seat back ( ) of the vehicle seat ( ) is coupled to the side wall track and cross track by slidable bearing ( ) devices so that the seat back can be moved from a laterally extending forward facing position to a stowed position alongside the vehicle side wall. The seat bottom ( ) is rotatably coupled to the seat back by a hinge ( ) mechanism and can extend generally horizontally from the seat back to be rotated to an upright stowed position overlying the seat back. A support extends from the seat bottom to the vehicle floor ( ) to support the seat bottom in a spaced relationship above the floor.

Flexible seat system

A table is contained within the seat bottom of the vehicle seat assembly which includes storage for a portable personal computer on a movable platform. The platform is movable from a stowed position within the horizontal seat bottom to a raised generally horizontal use position for use of the personal computer by an occupant of an adjacent seat assembly within the motor vehicle. When the computer is not in use, the top surface of the computer can be used as a writing surface or alternatively, the platform carrying the personal computer can have a movable lid which can be used as a writing surface. In addition to storing the computer, the seat assembly has spaced shelves for storage of files and other papers.

Vehicle seat with computer storage and work table

A seat back mounted fold down auto office having a bin portion mounted to the seat back of a vehicle seat assembly on the rear side thereof including a recessed storage area therein. A cover is provided for the recessed storage area and is rotatable upon a hinge to move the cover from a closed position to an open position to access the recessed storage area. Additional features include a fold out support panel that can rotate out from the storage bin toward a user after which the storage bin can be closed while the support panel extends from the storage bin. The support panel can be used to attach a notepad or and/or cellular telephone. In addition, the cover can be equipped with a light to illuminate the storage area in the bin.

Seat back mounted fold down auto office

An arrangement for mounting a transmitter unit for a garage door opening system within a vehicle seat armrest having at least one soft side, the armrest including a horizontally extending cavity, with access to the cavity being had by opening a cover flap formed in the trim material of the armrest, the transmitter unit being mounted in an cassette which facilitates inserting the transmitter unit into the cavity and positions the transmitter unit within the cavity with the operating switch of the transmitter unit located at the soft side of the armrest to permit operation of the transmitter unit by squeezing the armrest in the proximity of the transmitter unit operating switch.

Vehicle seat armrest incorporating a transmitter unit for a garage door

A seat back for a motor vehicle having a tower extending upwardly from the seat back upper end along one lateral side of the seat back. The tower contains an inflatable air bag which is deployable to provide head side impact protection for a seat occupant. By mounting the air bag within a raised tower, the air bag is deployed from a higher location in the seat back to reduce the possibility of interference between the air bag and a shoulder belt. Furthermore, by not mounting the air bag to the seat back head restraint, it is possible to provide a fully adjustable head restraint attached to the seat back and extending upwardly from the seat back upper end. A removable side bolster is also provided which covers the air bag canisters mounted to the seat back frame. Following deployment of an air bag, the bolster and air bag canister are removed and replaced with new components. This enables the seat assembly to be repaired without replacement of the entire seat assembly or seat back.

Vehicle seat back with a head side impact air bag

A back panel organizer for van-type motor vehicles having a storage space rearward of the rearmost seat of the vehicle includes a panel adapted to be mounted on the back of the rear seat in place of the seat back panel, a tubular frame pivotally mounted on the back panel for movement between a stored position in which it is received in a recessed portion of the panel and a use position in which the frame extends horizontally into the storage space with the front end of the cantilever mounted frame being supported by a support structure, the frame and panel including handle hooks adapted to have the handles of a plastic shopping bag wrapped therearound, for supporting the shopping bag in an upright position and limiting horizontal movement of the shopping bag within the storage space as the vehicle is driven.

Back panel organizer for van-type motor vehicles

A vehicle seat assembly includes a fixed seat portion which is adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle and a movable seat portion which is mounted on the fixed seat portion and adapted to be moved between a normal use or drive position and an access position where the front edge of the movable seat portion overlies the sill of the vehicle to facilitate egress from the vehicle, the movable seat portion providing substantial support for the occupant at the drive position and during its movement to the access position, the vehicle seat assembly including mechanisms for pivoting and/or sliding movement of the movable seat portion relative to the fixed seat portion and for locking the movable seat portion to the fixed seat portion to prevent unwanted movement of the movable seat portion. Also disclosed are systems wherein the movable seat cushion arrangement is supplemented by hand grips on the vehicle positioned to be grasped by an individual upon ingress into or egress from the vehicle to facilitate the ingress by an individual into and egress out of a vehicle through a door opening of the vehicle.

Pivoting seat cushion arrangement for vehicle seat assemblies

A vehicle seat assembly is disclosed containing an integrated child seat having a child seat cushion and headrest stored within the seat back of the seat assembly. The child seat is deployed by raising the child seat headrest from an upper portion of the seat back and rotating the child seat cushion from the seat back forward to a generally horizontal use position overlying the adult seat cushion. The seat assembly of the present invention includes a floating pivot axis for the child seat cushion to enable the seat cushion attaching hardware to be placed rearward from the face of the seat back to improve adult seating comfort. The buckle for the child seat restraint system is pivotally mounted directly to the child seat cushion enabling a user to easily insert a latch plate of the restraint system into the buckle with one hand freeing the other hand for restraining the child. The child seat further includes a protective flap extending forward from the child seat cushion to protect the upholstery of the adult seat cushion from wear and dirt from the shoes of a child seat occupant.

Vehicle seat assembly with integral child seat

A vehicle seat assembly is disclosed which includes an integral child seat that can be deployed for use in seating a child or maintained in a stowed position enabling the seat to be occupied by an adult. The seat assembly includes a pair of panels movably mounted to the seat back. When the side panels are moved outwardly, they extend forwardly from the seat back forming side bolsters for the child seat. Troughs are revealed adjacent to the side bolsters which contain the shoulder belts of the child restraint system. The child seat back cushion is disposed between the two troughs and is comprised of the same seat back surface as used by an adult when seated in the seat assembly. As a result of using the same seat back surface for both the child seat and an adult, the seating comfort of the adult seat back is maintained at the same level as with a conventional seat assembly not having an integral child seat.

Vehicle seat assembly with integrated child seat

A seat riser integrated with the floor or bed of an automotive vehicle having a removable seat. The integration reduces the height and weight of the seat assembly and allows for the easier use of the vehicle in its full capacity. The seat riser is capable of rotating from a generally vertical operative position to a generally horizontal inoperative position. When in the inoperative position, the seat riser is concealed within a recessed well and has a top portion lying flush with the floor or bed of the vehicle. After rotation, the seat riser is locked into the operative position by a pin and hole locking mechanism. A removable seat, equipped with complimentary retaining elements, is then positioned on the seat risers. Two arms of a spring biased retaining mechanism are then able to engage the retaining elements of the removable seat. The seat riser thus secures and supports the seat in the interior of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Eastpointe, MI, United States of America

Robert L Demick