MXPA00010966A - Fold and tumble seat support assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A fold and tumble seat support assembly (10) for removably securing a vehicle seat to a pair of front and rear strikers (12, 14) on the floor (16) of a vehicle. The seat support assembly includes a riser (20) having a pair of forward (32) and rearward (34) legs. A rear latch (36) is pivotally connected to each of the rearward legs (34) and operable by a first linkage mechanism (40) to latch and unlatch with the rear strikers (14). A front latch (64) is pivotally connected to each of the forward legs (32) and operable by a front latch handle (68) to latch and unlatch with the front strikers. A rear support leg (74) supports the rearward legs (34) of the riser above the vehicle floor (16). A foot bracket (56) is pivotally connected to each of the forward legs (32) for supporting the riser (20) above the vehicle floor (16) between both a generally horizontal use position and a forwardly pivoted tumbled position. A second linkage mechanism (72) is connected between the foot brackets (56) and the rear support legs (74) for automatically retracting the rear support legs (74) against the riser (20) in response to pivotal movement of the seat about the foot bracket (56) from the use position to the tumbled position. A pair of front (92) and rear (96) wheels are connected to the foot brackets (56) and rearward legs (74), respectively, for providing rolling support of the seat when removed from the vehicle in a roll-away position.

Description

ASSEMBLY FOR THE SUPPORT OF A FOLDING SEAT ACOS ABLE 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The subject invention refers to a mounting for the support of a seat, foldable and adjustable to removably secure a vehicle seat to the floor of a vehicle. 2. Background of the Invention The rear seats of an automotive vehicle often include a mounting for the support of a seat to removably support the seat to the floor of a vehicle. Mounts for supporting a seat also frequently provide for pivoting or pivoting of the seat between a position of use to hold an occupant on the seat and a pivoted or rotated for position or a lying down or overturned position. These mountings for the support of a seat are often referred to as folding, seat mechanisms for a seat. The backrest portion of the seat can be folded over the seat bearing and then the entire seat can lie for from the position of use to the lying position. These mechanisms REF. : 124223 provide an entry / exit way for a passenger to or from the back of the seat, and provide additional cargo space, quickly by folding the seat back horizontally to the seat bearing before turning or pivoting for to the lying position. One type of mechanism for a foldable and comfortable seat uses four floor hooks for attaching the seat to the floor as shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,238,285. The seat rotates for, when the rear retention or clamping mechanisms are released from the two rear hooks, when pivoting on the two front hooks. Once the two posterior fasteners are released, the seat rotates for by an applied force, supplied by a spring-loaded leg which is attached to the base of the mechanism for a seat or the elevator at one end and which acts against the floor at the other end. The end of the leg acting against the floor contains a wheel that spins on the floor as the mechanism for a seat rotates for. The rear retention areas of the mechanism may or may not be designed to be folded into the seat mechanism when the seat is tilted for. Once the seat rotates to its full for position, the two front fasteners can be released to disassemble the vehicle seat. The backrest of the seat may or may not need to: be folded horizontally to the seat bearing before disassembly of the proposed seat. There is a minimum, if any, storage under the seat made on purpose due to the selected design. Another type of mechanism for a seat, folding or bedding uses six floor hooks to attach the seat to the floor. There are two latches for each front retention mechanism and one latch for each subsequent retention mechanism. The seat rotates for, when the rear retention mechanisms are released from the two rear hooks, by pivoting on the two front retention legs of the mechanism for a seat which are attached to the front hooks. Once the two rear fasteners are released, the seat rotates for by an applied force, supplied by a spring load between the front retainer legs and the elevator. The retention areas of the rear of the mechanism are designed to be folded into the mechanism for a seat, by a link connected from the front retainer leg to the rear retainer leg, when the seat is tilted for. Once the seat rotates to its full for position, the two front fasteners can be released to disassemble the vehicle seat. The backrest of the seat may or may not need to be folded horizontally to the seat bearing before disassembly of the proposed seat. Again, there is a minimum, if any, storage under the seat made on purpose due to the selected design. There are several deficiencies of each of the designs mentioned above. No design provides any storage under the seat and when the seats are removed from the vehicle and placed on the floor, the restraint mechanisms support the weight of the seat which could damage the mechanism or the surface during rest. The first type of folding and user-friendly mechanism uses the roller leg to supply the load for the seat to rotate. This makes the reinstallation of the seat to the vehicle more difficult for the customer. Additionally, the roller can create a wear pattern on the floor. Finally, debris on the floor can interfere with the proposed function of the roller leg. The second type of foldable and comfortable mechanism uses six hooks to mount the seat, which is an additional cost to the vehicle. The fastening and release of the seat of the front hooks is more difficult for the passenger because the front retention mechanisms are hooked on one of the front hooks and fastened to the other. Additionally, the visibility to perform this process is poor, creating some difficulty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A mounting for the support of a seat for removably securing a vehicle seat to a pair of the front and rear hitches on the floor of a vehicle comprises an elevator having a front leg and a rear leg for Support the seat on the floor of the vehicle. A rear fastener is pivotally coupled to the rear leg of the elevator to releasably secure the seat to the rear hitch. A first link mechanism extends between the elevator and the rear holder to move the rear holder between a hooked position for coupling the rear linkage and a disengaged position for uncoupling the rear linker. A base support is pivotally coupled to the front leg of the elevator to support the seat on the vehicle floor between a generally horizontal position of use with the rear holder in the engaged position and a lying position with the elevator pivoted forwardly around the base support with the back fastener in the unhooked position. A rear support leg is pivotally coupled to the rear leg of the elevator and pivotal between a support position to support the seat on the vehicle floor and a stowed position, folded back against the elevator. A front fastener is pivotally coupled to the base support to releasably secure the seat to the front hitches. Finally, a second link mechanism is coupled between the base support and the rear support leg to automatically retract the rear support leg from the support position to the stowed position, while the first link mechanism automatically rotates or pivots the back fastener of an extended position for movement between the hooked and unlocked positions and a stowed position, folded against the lift, in response to the pivotal movement of the lift around the base support from the position of use to the lying position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated when it becomes better understood with reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view in lifting, front of the support assembly for a seat, foldable and movable of the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevation, side view of the support assembly for a seat of Figure 1, illustrated in a use and engaged position; Figure 3 is an elevation, side view of the support assembly for a seat of Figure 1, illustrated in a lying position; and Figure 4 is an elevation, side view of the support assembly for a seat of Figure 1, illustrated in a displaced condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to Figure 1, a mounting for the support of a foldable and adjustable seat of the present invention is shown generally at 10. The mounting for the support of a seat 10 removably secures a seat of vehicle to a pair of front and rear hitches 12, 14 on the 16th floor of a vehicle. The seat includes a seat bearing structure 18 and a seat backrest mounted to the top of an elevator 20 to support the seat on the floor of the vehicle 16 in a manner well known in the art. The elevator 20 generally has an inverted U-shaped configuration, when viewed from the front or back of the mounting for the support of a seat 10. The elevator 20 has front and rear fasteners, as will be discussed later in greater detail hereinabove, which releasably connect the mounting for the support of a seat 10 to the 16th floor of the vehicle. The floor 16 has a channel 22 that has a recessed basement 24 in which the hooks 12 are mounted, 14. The use of the hooks mounted in the channels is described more fully in the US patent No. 5,372,398, the complete contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The lifter 20 includes an upper platform 26 for supporting the structure of the seat bearing 18, which extends between the first side 28 and the second side 30 on each side thereof, which significantly separates the upper platform 26 on the floor of the vehicle 16 providing storage under the seat. The sides 28, 30 are generally the same on each side of the elevator 20 and, thus, only one side needs to be described. Each side 28, 30 comprises a front leg 32 and the rear leg 34. A rear fastener 36 is pivotally connected in the bolt 38 to the rear leg 34 of the elevator 20 to releasably secure the seat to the rear hitch 14. A first mechanism link 40 extends between the elevator 20 and the rear fastener 36 to move the rear fastener 36 between an engaged position for coupling the rear hitch 14, as shown in Figure 2, and a disengaged position for disengagement of the rear hitch 14, as shown in the transparency of Figure 2. The first link mechanism 40 includes a handle of the back fastener 42 pivotally secured by the bolt 44 to the side 28,30 of the riser 20 and coupled to the rear fastener 36 to move the fastener rear 36 between the hooked and unhooked position. The first link mechanism 40 further includes a fixed link 46 fixedly secured to the back fastener 36 for rotation therewith, a first link 48 secured securely to the grip of the back fastener 42, and a second link 50 having opposite ends pivotally connected to it. the bolts 52,54 between the fixed link 46 and the first link 48, respectively. The links 46, 48, 50 transfer the pivotal movement of the handle of the rear fastener 42 to the pivotal movement of the rear fastener 36 during movement between the engaged and disengaged positions. A coiled spring 39 is secured between the bolt 38 and the fastener 36 to continuously deflect the fastener 36 in the dextrotorse or fastening direction by engaging the back engager 14. A base support 56 is pivotally connected in the bolt 88 to the front leg 32 to support the seat on the floor of the vehicle 16 between a generally horizontal position of use with the rear fastener 36 in the engaged position, as shown in figure 2, and a lying position with the elevator 20 pivoted forward above the support of base 56 with the back fastener 36 in the unlatched position, as shown in Figure 3. The base support 56 generally has a triangular configuration with the pivot in the pin 88 slightly offset from the center thereof. A lower, front corner of the base support 56 has a pad 60 for contacting the subfloor 24. The base support 56 further includes an open slot 62 adjacent the pad 60 for receiving the front hook 12. A front fastener 64 pivotally connects on the bolt 66 to the base support 36 to releasably secure the seat to the front latch 12. A handle of the front fastener 68 is fixedly secured to the front fastener 64 to move, or pivot, the fastener 64 between a latched position for the coupling of the front hitch 12 when the lift 20 is in each of the use and lying positions, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and a disengaged position for uncoupling the front hitch 12 and dismantling the floor seat of the vehicle in a displaced position as shown in Figure 4. The handle of the front fastener 68 is a wire or tubular member which interconnects the Both front fasteners 64 for an operation engaged in grouping. The front fastener 64 includes a J-shaped hook portion 70 for closing the open slot 62 of the base support 56, capturing the front latch 12 therein and securing the elevator 20 to the front latch 12 in the engaged position. A rear support leg 74 is pivotally connected to the rear leg 34 of the elevator 20 and pivotally between a support position for supporting the seat on the floor of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 2, and a stowed position, folded against the elevator 20, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. More specifically, the rear support leg 74 is pivotally connected to both the rear leg 34 and the rear holder 36 by the bolt 38 for coupling the rear hitch 14 and the support of the elevator 20 on the floor of the vehicle 16 in the position of use. The back fastener 36 is continuously deflected against a detent projecting outward from the rear support leg 74 or other portion of the rear support leg 74 by the coil spring 39. The rear support leg 74 includes an open slot 76 for receiving the rear latch 14 and supporting the elevator 20 on the floor of the vehicle 16. The rear fastener 36 includes a J-shaped hook portion 78 for closing the open slot 76, capturing the rear latch 14, and securing the elevator 20 to the rear hitch 14 in the engaged position. A second link mechanism 72 engages between the base support 56 and the rear support leg 74 to automatically retract the rear support leg 74 from the support position to the stowed position, while the first link mechanism 40 automatically pivots. the back clip 36 of an extended position for movement between the hooked and unhooked positions, as shown in Figure 2, and a retracted, folded position against the lift 20, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, in response to the pivotal movement of the elevator 20 around the base support 56 from the position of use to the lying position. 21 second link mechanism 72 includes a longitudinally extending link bar 80 having a first end pivotally connected to the pin 58 on the base support 56 and a second end pivotally connected to the pin 84 to the rear support leg 74 to automatically retract the rear support leg 74 against the elevator 20 in response to the pivotal movement of the elevator 20 around the base support 56 from the use position to the lying position. A spiral spring 86 is fixedly secured between the base support 56 by a bolt 88 and the front leg 32 of the elevator 20 by a bolt 90 to continuously deflect the elevator 20 to the lying position. A front wheel 92 is rotatably connected by an axis 94 to the rear corner of the base support 56 to further support the elevator 20 in each of the use and lying positions and to movably support the front leg 32 when the seat is ginning the floor of the vehicle 16 in the displaced position. That is, in the position of use and the lying position, both the pad 60 of the base support 56 and the front wheel 92 make contact with the subfloor 24 for the support of the elevator 20. A rear wheel 96 is rotatably joined by the shaft 98 to the rear leg 34. The rear wheel 96 is separated above the floor of the vehicle 16 when the rear clip 36 is in the extended position and extends down the rear clip 36 in the retracted position to movably support the rear leg 34 of the elevator 20 when the seat is shifted from the floor of the vehicle 16 in the displaced position. The rear wheel 96 also separates above the floor of the vehicle 16 when the rear support leg 74 is in the support position and extends down the leg 74 in the stowed position. In operation, to move the seat from the use position to the lying position, the user simply rotates the handle of the rear fastener 42 in the sinister direction. The first link mechanism 40 transfers the rotational movement of the grip 42 for rotation of the back grip 36 to release the position of the hook 78 from the base support 14. The continuously deflecting force of the spiral spring 86 will push the seat to pivot forward to the lying position. Obviously, depending on the resistance of the spring 86, some help from the user may be necessary for the seat to lie flat. The seat will rotate around the bolt 88 of the base bracket 56. Since the base support 56 is stationary and the pivot 88 is traversed by the pivot 58, the link bar 80 of the second link mechanism 72 will automatically force the rear support leg. 74 to retract from the support position to the stowed position. Also, the spiral spring 39 of the first link mechanism 40 will automatically force the back clip 36 to rotate about the pin 38 to the retracted position against the riser 20 as shown in Figure 3. More specifically, as the leg back support 74 is forced to rotate to the retracted position, coiled spring 39 forces back fastener 36, which is biased against retainer 75 by spring 39, to rotate with leg 74 to the retracted position. The retraction of both the rear support cap 74 and the rear holder 36 optimizes the entry and exit, as well as the storage, behind the seat in the lying position. The handle of the back fastener 42 maintains orientation with respect to the elevator 20 by means of the first link mechanism 40 having pivot pins 52, 54 connecting the second link 50 between the first link 48 and the fixed link 46.

When the seat is rotated back from the lying position to the use position, the rear support leg 74 automatically returns to its extended position for the support against the rear hitch 14 and simultaneously forces the back grip 36 to return to its extended position for the automatic coupling with the back engager 14. More specifically, when the link bar 80 forces the rear support leg 74 to rotate in the sinister direction, from the retracted position to the support position, the rear support leg 74 is engages with a portion of the back fastener 36 and forces the back fastener 36 to rotate about the bolt 38 against the biasing force of the spring 39 from its retracted position to the extended position, ready for engagement with the rear engager 14. In the position lying down, the seat can also be completely disengaged from the floor of the vehicle 16 and it can be ginned from the vehicle. In the lying position, the front fastener handle 68 is pivoted or rotated to disengage the front fastener 64 from the front latch 12. When the entire seat is shifted and lowered to a horizontal position in general, the front wheels 92 support the front legs 32 and the rear wheels 96 support the rear legs 34 to provide the rolling movement of the seat in the displaced position. The rear support leg 74 and the rear holder 36 are retained in the stowed and retracted positions, respectively, against the riser 20 to expose the rear wheels 96 and prevent contact of all the wheels 92,96 with the seat support floor or damage to it by the weight of the seat. In this way, the entire seat can be moved for easy disassembly and storage. The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it should be understood that the terminology used is proposed to be something like the words of the description, preferably a limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in view of the above teachings. Therefore, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (14)

1. A mounting for the support of a seat for releasably securing a vehicle seat to a pair of front and rear hitches on the floor of a vehicle, the mounting for the support is characterized in that it comprises: an elevator to support the seat, on the floor of the vehicle, the elevator that has a front leg and a rear leg; a back fastener pivotally coupled to the rear leg of the elevator to releasably secure the seat to the rear hitch; a first link mechanism extending between the elevator and the rear holder to move the rear holder between the engaged position to engage the rear engager and a disengaged position to disengage the rear engager; a base support pivotally coupled to the front leg of the elevator to support the seat on the floor of the vehicle between a generally horizontal position of use with the rear holder in the engaged position and a lying position with the elevator pivoted forwardly around the support of base with the back clip in the unhooked position; a rear support leg pivotally coupled to the rear foot of the lift and pivotal between a support position for supporting the seat on the floor of the vehicle and a stowed position, folded back against the lift; a front fastener pivotally coupled to the base support to releasably secure the seat to the hooks; and a second link mechanism coupled between the base support and the rear support leg to automatically retract the rear support leg from the support position to the stowed position, while the first link mechanism automatically pivots or rotates the rear support of an extended position for movement between the latched and unlatched positions and a retracted position, bent against the elevator, in response to the pivotal movement of the elevator around the base support from the position of use to the lying position.

2. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 1, characterized in that it also includes a spring connected between the base support and the elevator to continuously divert the elevator to the lying position.

3. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 2, characterized in that it also includes a handle of the front fastener for moving the front fastener between a hooked position for coupling the front hook when the lift is in each of the positions of use and lying down and a disengaged position to uncouple the front hitch and gin the seat of the vehicle floor.

4. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 3, characterized in that it also includes a front wheel rotatably attached to the base support to support the lift in the use and lying position and to movably support the front leg of the elevator when the seat is shifted from the floor of the vehicle.

5. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 4, characterized in that it also includes a rear wheel rotatably connected to the rear leg of the elevator where the rear wheel is separated on the floor of the vehicle when the rear bra is in place. extended position and extends down the rear clip in the retracted position to movably support the rear leg of the elevator when the seat is shifted from the floor of the vehicle.

6. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 5, characterized in that the rear wheel is separated on the floor of the vehicle when the rear support leg is in the support position and extends below the rear support leg in the stowed position to movably support the rear leg of the elevator when the seat is removed from the floor of the vehicle.

7. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 6, characterized in that the rear support leg includes a first portion pivotally coupled to the rear foot of the elevator and the rear fastener and an open slot for coupling the rear hitch and supporting the elevator on the floor of the vehicle in the position of use.

8. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 7, characterized in that the second link mechanism includes a link bar pivotally coupled between the base support and the rear support leg to automatically retract the rear support leg and the back fastener against the elevator and on the rear wheel in response to the pivotal movement of the elevator around the base support from the position of use to the lying position.

9. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 8, characterized in that the first linking mechanism includes a grip of the rear fastener secured to the elevator and coupled to the rear fastener to move the rear fastener between the engaged and disengaged position.

10. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 9, characterized in that the first link mechanism includes a fixed link fixedly fastened to the rear fastener and pivotally connected to the rear leg of the lift, a first link fixedly secured to the grip of the fastener and a second link having opposite ends pivotally connected between the fixed link and the first link to transfer the pivotal movement of the rear grip handle to the pivotal movement of the rear clip during movement between the latched or unlatched positions.

11. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 10, characterized in that the first linking mechanism includes a spring coupled between the rear leg and the rear holder to retract the rear holder from the extended position to the retracted position.

12. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 11, characterized in that the base support includes an open slot to receive the front hook and the front clip includes a hook for closing the open slot and securing the front hook elevator in the hooked position.

13. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 12, characterized in that the rear fastener includes a hook for closing the open slot in the rear support leg and securing the elevator to the rear hitch in the engaged position.

14. A mounting for the support of a seat according to claim 13, characterized in that the elevator is generally U-shaped and includes an upper platform for supporting the seat and extending between the first and second sides where each from the sides form the front and rear legs of the elevator. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A mounting for the support of a foldable and adjustable seat (10) for releasably securing a vehicle seat to a pair of front and rear latches (12, 14) on the floor (16) of a vehicle. The mounting for the support of a seat includes an elevator (20) having a pair of front (32) and rear (34) legs. A back fastener (36) is pivotally connected to each of the rear legs (34) and operable by a first link mechanism (40) to engage or disengage the rear hooks (14). A front fastener (64) is pivotally connected to each of the front legs (32) and operable by a handle of the front fastener (68) to engage or disengage the front hooks. A rear support leg (74) supports the rear legs (34) of the elevator on the floor of the vehicle (16). A base hitch (56) is pivotally connected to each of the front legs (32) to support the lifter (2) on the floor of the vehicle (16) in between a horizontal use position in general and a lying position, pivoted or rotated forward. A second link mechanism (72) is connected between the base supports (56) and the rear support legs (74) to automatically retract the rear support legs (74) against the elevator (20) in response to the pivotal movement of the vehicle. seat around the base support (56) from the position of use to the lying position. A pair of front (92) and rear (96) wheels are connected to the base supports (56) and the rear portions (74), respectively, to provide a rolling seat support when the vehicle is shifted in a displaced position .