U.S. patent application number 10/939032 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-19 for seat assembly for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Park, Sang Do.
Application Number | 20050104424 10/939032 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34567728 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050104424 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park, Sang Do |
May 19, 2005 |
Seat assembly for vehicles
Abstract
A seat assembly of a vehicle includes a folding seat furnished
on a side of a main seat that is mounted on a floor panel. A pair
of guide rails are furnished on top of the floor panel so as to
allow sliding thereon, a main frame is fixed on top of the guide
rails, and a first seat is mounted on one side of the top of the
main frame such that a first seat cushion may rotate thereon. Also,
a second seat, whose second seat cushion is mounted on top of the
main frame in a folding fashion, is provided so that the seat
cushion may be folded to be substantially parallel with the first
seat.
Inventors: |
Park, Sang Do;
(Seongnam-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP (SF)
2 PALO ALTO SQUARE
PALO ALTO
CA
94306
US
|
Family ID: |
34567728 |
Appl. No.: |
10/939032 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/3011 20130101;
B60N 2/307 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/232 |
International
Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2003 |
KR |
10-2003-0080420 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A seat assembly for vehicles, comprising: a pair of guide rails
configured for placement on top of a floor panel so as to allow
sliding; a main frame fixed on top of the guide rails; a first seat
mounted on one side of a top of the main frame so that a first seat
cushion may rotate; and a second seat whose second seat cushion is
mounted on top of the main frame in a folding fashion so as to make
it substantially parallel with the first seat.
2. The seat assembly recited in claim 1, wherein regardless of a
rotational location of the first seat, the second seat is located
at an identical direction with respect to the first seat.
3. The seat assembly recited in claim 2, wherein regardless of a
rotational location of the first seat, the second seat may be
folded and unfolded so that it may be used as a table.
4. The seat assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said assembly has
a center of gravity positioned between said rails.
5. A seat assembly for a vehicle, comprising: at least two guide
rails; a main cross frame rail slidably coupled with said at least
two guide rails, where said main cross frame rail crosses said at
least two guide rails substantially perpendicularly and slides on
said at least two guide rails; a revolving member movably coupled
with said main cross frame rail; a first seat coupled with said
revolving member such that said first seat can revolve in a front
or rear direction of a vehicle on top of said main cross frame
rail; a folding member foldably coupled with said main cross frame
rail; and a second seat coupled with said folding member such that
said second seat can be raised and folded with respect to said main
cross frame rail.
6. The seat assembly as in claim 5, wherein said assembly has a
center of gravity positioned between said guide rails.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of Korean Application No.
10-2003-0080420, files Nov. 14, 2003, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a seat assembly for
vehicles. More specifically, the seat assembly includes a folding
type seat furnished on a side portion of a main seat that is
mounted on a floor panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A variety of seat arrangements are furnished for vehicles to
improve on passenger comfort. An example of such is disclosed in
the Korea Utility Model Gazette No. 96-21413 (dated Jul. 18, 1996)
which concerns a folding jump seat system. A jump seat in this case
refers to a folding type auxiliary seat furnished in the passage
compartment between passenger seats. If a passenger changes seats
within the vehicle the jump seat is often folded to secure a
passage.
[0004] Such existing seat assemblies include a rail part that is
furnished on a floor panel of a vehicle so as to allow sliding. A
main seat cushion is furnished at the top of the rail part so as to
allow rotation. A jump seat is connected to one side of the seat
cushion with a folding member. A cushion frame is furnished within
the seat cushion and the cushion frame and rail part are furnished
with a rotation part so that the seat cushion may rotate. The seat
cushion is also furnished with a seat lumbar support that can be
folded.
[0005] In addition, the jump seat itself includes a seat cushion
and a lumbar support (seat back) that fold together. A folding
member is furnished at the bottom of the jump seat cushion so that
it is fixed at and supported by a cushion frame of the seat cushion
of a main seat. A tray or table is furnished on the back of the
seat lumbar support of the jump seat so that objects may be placed
on it when the seat lumbar support is in a folded position.
[0006] However, such an existing seat assembly causes the problem
of not being able to use the jump seat when the main seat is
rotated. Specifically, if the main seat cushion is rotated, the
jump seat rotates with it. Since the jump seat must be manipulated
in a folded state, it results in the inconvenience of not being
able to use the jump seat as a table at this time. In addition,
with the jump seat mounted on one side of the main seat cushion,
the seat assembly is mounted on the floor panel in an eccentric
position, thus the width of the rail part is narrower compared with
the size of the seat assembly so as to be unstable. Moreover, the
jump seat causes noise generation during operation. Furthermore, to
rotate the seat cushion of the main seat, the jump seat must be
folded and a car door near the main seat opened. As a result, it is
inconvenient to rotate the seat cushion of the main seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention a seat
assembly for vehicles is provided wherein a foldable jump seat is
furnished on a side of a rotating main seat mounted on a floor
panel. Such a seat assembly is accomplished with a pair of guide
rails that are furnished on top of a floor panel so as to allow
sliding. A main frame is fixed on top of the guide rails and a
rotating main seat is mounted on one side of the top of the main
frame so that the first seat cushion may rotate. A second seat
includes a second seat cushion mounted on top of the main frame in
a folding fashion such that it is parallel with the first seat.
[0008] It is preferable that, regardless of the rotated position of
a first seat, the second seat is located at the identical direction
with respect to a first seat. It is also preferable that,
regardless of the rotated position of the first seat, the second
seat may be folded and unfolded so that it may be used as a
table.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] For better understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view of a seat assembly for vehicles
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a seat arrangement of a vehicle in which
a seat assembly is mounted according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a seat assembly for vehicles
includes a pair of guide rails 110 furnished on a floor panel so as
to allow sliding. A main frame 120 is fixed on top of the guide
rails 110 and a first seat 130 is mounted on one side of the top of
the main frame 120 so that a first seat cushion 131 may rotate. A
jump seat or second seat 140 is provided with a seat cushion 141
mounted on top of the main frame 120 in a folding fashion such that
it can be positioned parallel with the first seat 130.
[0013] A rail structure is additionally installed on a car body
floor panel so that the guide rails 110 may slide thereon. On top
of the main frame 120 are furnished a revolving member 121 and a
folding member 122. The revolving member 121 and folding member 122
are combined with the first seat cushion 131 and the jump seat
cushion 141, respectively. A revolving member 121 allows the first
seat 130 to revolve in the front or rear direction of the vehicle
on top of the main frame 120. A folding member 122 allows the jump
seat 140 to be raised and folded.
[0014] The first seat 130 preferably includes a first seat cushion
131 and a first lumbar support part 132. An angle of the lumbar
support part 132 may be adjusted with respect to the first seat
cushion 131. The jump seat 140 includes a seat cushion 141 and a
lumbar support part 142 whose angle may be adjusted with respect to
the seat cushion 141.
[0015] According to the seat assembly for vehicles of the present
invention, guide rails 110 are fixed at a bottom of a main frame
120 to manipulate the seat in front and rear directions. Thus, the
width between guide rails may be established to be wider in
comparison to the prior art designs. Also, the center of gravity of
the combined seats is located horizontally between the guide rails,
preferably as close as possible to a center point between the
rails. Thus, due to the wider guide rail stance and center of
gravity position, seat rigidity and reduction of noise generation
can be promoted.
[0016] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the first seat 130 and the
jump seat 140 are mounted on the main frame 120 independently from
each other. Therefore, the first seat 130 alone may be rotated with
the location of the jump seat 140 being fixed. As a result, the
lumbar support of the jump seat 140 alone may be folded and used as
a table.
[0017] In addition, since rotation of the first seat 130 may be
manipulated without a car door being opened, it is convenient to
use. The seat assembly for vehicles improves rigidity of the seat
assembly because a revolving first seat and a folding second seat
are mounted so as to allow independent manipulation on the main
frame so as to allow sliding in front and rear directions. The
present invention enables various seat arrangements and effectively
increases convenience for use.
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