The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 01, 1999
Donald Richard Schaefer, Waterford, MI (US);
Frank Qiukui Liu, Canton, MI (US);
Lucian Bela, Troy, MI (US);
Leon Bruce Liu, Novi, MI (US);
Majid Hammoud, Plymouth, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A seat mounting apparatus for supporting a seat allows the seat to be positioned in three possible positions allowing for improved ingress/egress and cargo carrying. The seat mounting apparatus includes a seat back frame (28), a seat bottom frame (36), a front leg (50), and a rear leg (44). A guide mechanism (59) is disposed between the seat bottom frame and the front leg for guiding the front leg. A reclining mechanism (91) is interposed between the seat back frame and the seat bottom frame for allowing the seat back frame to move between first and second reclined positions and into a first folded position. A front release mechanism (61) is interposed between the seat bottom frame and the front leg for controlling relative motion between the front leg and the seat bottom upon actuation of the front release mechanism. A coupler mechanism (79) is disposed between the seat back frame and the rear leg and is connected to the front leg for positioning the seat back frame into a second folded position over a lowered seat bottom frame. A rear release mechanism (108) is interposed between a bottom end (46) of the rear leg and a floor (20) for releasing the bottom end of the rear leg from being rigidly connected to the floor such that with the seat back frame in the first folded position, the seat can be displaced from a seated position to a tumbled position for improved ingress and egress.