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:
May. 15, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 15, 1999
Gerald Lee Elson, Rochester, MI (US);
Elisabeth B. Nevitt, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Gregory J. Cenzer, Warren, MI (US);
James A. Watson, Madison Heights, MI (US);
Michael A. Jones, Oak Park, MI (US);
Robert W. Smith, Troy, MI (US);
Nancy M. Simioni, Troy, MI (US);
Michael H. Bates, Oxford, MI (US);
Francis Nile Smith, Clarkston, MI (US);
Juan M. Capo, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A foldable motor vehicle seat including a horizontal seat cushion and a vertical seat back joined at a horizontal hinge for pivotal movement of the seat cushion from a horizontal position to a vertical position folded against the seat back. The seat back is connected to a side wall of a body of the motor vehicle for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between a seating position in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the motor vehicle and a cargo position in a plane parallel to the longitudinal centerline. With the seat cushion folded vertically against the seat back and the seat back in its cargo position, the floor of the motor vehicle under the seat is exposed for cargo. With the seat cushion horizontal and the seat back in its seating position, a passenger may sit on the foldable seat. A strut pivotally supported on the seat cushion has a raised position against a side of the seat cushion and a lowered position when the seat cushion is horizontal defining a vertical brace between the seat cushion and the floor. A latch releasably secures the strut to the floor of the motor vehicle.