U.S. patent application number 10/904554 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for under seat cargo management system for a vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEAR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Won-Tai Kim, Alan Sturt.
Application Number | 20060103186 10/904554 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36385497 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060103186 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sturt; Alan ; et
al. |
May 18, 2006 |
UNDER SEAT CARGO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
Abstract
A selectively deployable cargo management system for a vehicle
includes at least one cargo attachment device positioned on an
underside of a foldable vehicle seat. The cargo attachment device
may include a plurality of cargo hooks or projections attached to a
seat cover on the underside of a vehicle seat so that the hooks may
be manually or automatically deployed when the vehicle seat is
placed in its folded position. Manually deployable hooks may be
concealed beneath a foldable panel having one side removably
secured to the seat underside so that the hooks may remain
concealed when the foldable seat is in either position. The system
may also include a storage compartment disposed beneath a foldable
vehicle seat with one or more cargo hanging projections attached
thereto. A device to secure the cargo management devices to a
second vehicle seating component may also be provided.
Inventors: |
Sturt; Alan; (West
Bloomfield, MI) ; Kim; Won-Tai; (Macomb, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIR LAW, PLC
45094 MIDDLEBURY CT.
CANTON
MI
48188-3215
US
|
Assignee: |
LEAR CORPORATION
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield
MI
|
Family ID: |
36385497 |
Appl. No.: |
10/904554 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/188.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 3/103 20130101;
B60N 2002/905 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/188.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/62 20060101
A47C007/62 |
Claims
1. A cargo management system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a cargo hanging device disposed beneath and secured to an underside
of a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat being pivotable between a
deployed seating position and a stowed position, the cargo hanging
device being substantially hidden from view when the vehicle seat
is in the deployed seating position.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cargo hanging device comprises
a plurality of hooks.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the cargo management system
further comprises a retention device secured to the vehicle seat
and adapted for removable attachment to a secondary vehicle
component to retain the vehicle seat in the stowed position.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the retention device comprises an
elastic strap having a hook at one end for securing to a vehicle
seat head restraint post.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the cargo hanging device comprises
a foldable flap having a first end permanently secured to the
underside of the vehicle seat and a second end attachable to a
secondary vehicle component to expose the cargo hanging device when
the vehicle seat is in the stowed position.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the second end of the foldable
flap includes a hook adapted for attachment to a head restraint
post.
7. The system of claim 5 wherein the second end of the foldable
flap is attachable to the underside of the vehicle seat to conceal
the cargo hanging device when the vehicle seat is in either one of
the seating position and the stowed position.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the cargo hanging device comprises
a storage compartment having an access opening to stow and retrieve
cargo and at least one protrusion extending from the storage
compartment adapted to hang cargo.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the storage compartment includes a
door to selectively cover the access opening.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the storage compartment includes
collapsible sides and a collapsible bottom.
11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a retention device
fixable to the vehicle seat and a secondary vehicle component to
secure the vehicle seat in a stowed position.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the access opening is along an
upper edge of the storage compartment when the vehicle seat is in
the stowed position.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the access opening is disposed in
a lateral face of the compartment and the at least one protrusion
extends from an upper edge of the storage compartment when the
vehicle seat is in the stowed position.
14. A cargo management device for a vehicle, the cargo management
device comprising: a storage compartment securable to an underside
of a foldable vehicle seat having an open seating position and a
folded position, the storage compartment including an access
opening to stow and retrieve cargo, the storage compartment having
a plurality of projections extending therefrom and adapted to hang
cargo when the vehicle seat is in the folded position.
15. The cargo management device of claim 14 wherein the storage
compartment further includes a cover for the access opening to
facilitate retention of cargo in the storage compartment.
16. The cargo management device of claim 14 wherein the storage
compartment includes collapsible sides.
17. The cargo management device of claim 14 wherein the storage
compartment is made of flexible material.
18. A cargo management system for a vehicle, the cargo management
system comprising: a vehicle seat pivotable between a seating
position generally parallel to a vehicle floor and a cargo position
generally perpendicular to the vehicle floor; and a cargo hanging
device secured to an underside of the vehicle seat to be
substantially concealed from view when the vehicle seat is in the
seating position and substantially exposed when the vehicle seat is
in the cargo position.
19. The cargo management system of claim 18 wherein the cargo
hanging device comprises a storage compartment having a plurality
of projections extending therefrom to accommodate hanging cargo,
the storage compartment including a door to provide access to an
interior portion of the compartment for stowing and retrieving
cargo.
20. The cargo management system of claim 18 wherein the cargo
hanging device comprises a foldable panel permanently secured to a
seat cover of the vehicle seat along one edge of the panel and
including an integral hook adapted for securing to a head restraint
post of a second vehicle seat, the foldable panel including a
plurality of projections extending therefrom and adapted to hang
cargo.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to devices disposed under a
folding vehicle seat used to manage cargo.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Flexibility in configuring a vehicle interior to accommodate
a varying number of passengers in addition to cargo of different
shapes and sizes is a feature that consumers demand in various
types of vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, and watercraft,
for example. Reconfigurable seating options often provide for a
significant increase in the area available to transport cargo when
needed. However, cargo restraint or management systems are
typically not provided for this reconfigurable space. Various types
of OEM and after-market accessories have been developed for use in
organizing and securing cargo. However, currently available cargo
management, organization, and/or restraint systems, may also occupy
significant space when not in use, or may be removed from the
vehicle so that they are not available when needed. A number of
cargo management systems provide storage compartments, netting,
pockets, or hooks on various interior trim panels, such as seat
backs or door panels for example, to secure various types of cargo.
However, these systems may detract from the aesthetic appeal of the
vehicle interior as they are always exposed whether or not they are
being used. In addition, positioning of cargo management devices on
the back of vehicle seats may not be an available option for
various vehicle seating configurations that include fold-down
and/or back-to-back seating, i.e. a rearward facing seat against a
forward facing seat, as often found in small trucks, aircraft, and
watercraft, for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention includes a selectively deployable
cargo management system for a vehicle including at least one cargo
attachment device positioned on an underside of a foldable vehicle
seat. The cargo management system may include one or more types of
cargo management devices to secure cargo when the seat is in its
folded position and/or when the seat is being used.
[0004] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a
plurality of cargo hooks attached to a seat cover on the underside
of a foldable vehicle seat so that the hooks may be manually or
automatically deployed when the vehicle seat is placed in its
folded position. Manually deployable hooks may be concealed beneath
a foldable panel having one side removably secured to the seat
underside so that the hooks may remain concealed when the seat is
in either position. The present invention may also include a device
to secure the plurality of cargo hooks to a second vehicle seating
component to secure the foldable seat in its folded position and/or
accommodate heavier cargo. In one embodiment, the securing device
includes a strap to hold the seat in its folded position. Another
embodiment includes an integrated hook to secure a foldable panel
in an open position to a second seating component.
[0005] Embodiments of the present invention may also include a
cargo management system having a storage compartment or box
disposed under a foldable vehicle seat with an opening positioned
to be accessible at least when the seat is moved from a seating
position to a folded position. The storage compartment may include
a substantially solid bottom surface that includes one or more
integral cargo hooks that may extend from the bottom surface to the
interior and/or exterior of the storage compartment. Alternatively,
one or more discrete or connected cargo hooks may be secured to a
storage compartment or pocket comprised at least partially of a
flexible material, such as fabric or netting.
[0006] The present invention provides a number of advantages. For
example, the present invention provides a flexible cargo management
feature that is concealed beneath a vehicle seat and is therefore
more aesthetically pleasing. In addition, the present invention may
include various cargo management devices that remain concealed from
view until manually deployed, regardless of whether the vehicle
seat is in a seating (deployed) position or folded position. The
invention may be used to secure cargo beneath the seat when in its
deployed position in addition to being used when the seat is in a
folded position. Various embodiments of the invention provide cargo
management hooks positioned beneath a foldable vehicle seat that
offer additional support for heavier cargo and secure the seat in
the folded position using an associated strap. A cargo management
system according to the present invention may be integrated into
the underside of a vehicle seat cover to facilitate a
running-change implementation rather than making relatively costly
changes to vehicle trim panels.
[0007] The above advantage and other advantages and features of the
present invention will be readily apparent from the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a partial view of a representative application for
an under seat cargo management system according to one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a manually deployed cargo management
system according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a cargo management system having
automatically deployed cargo hooks with a seat support strap
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a cargo management system having a
storage compartment with integrated hanging cargo management
devices according to one embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a cargo management system having an
open-ended storage compartment with collapsible side panels and
attached cargo hooks according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0013] As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand,
various features of the present invention as illustrated and
described with reference to any one of the Figures may be combined
with features illustrated in one or more other Figures to produce
embodiments of the present invention that are not explicitly
illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated
provide representative embodiments for typical applications.
However, various combinations and modifications of the features
consistent with the teachings of the present invention may be
desired for particular applications or implementations.
[0014] Referring now to FIG. 1, an under seat cargo management
system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention
includes foldable seats 12, 14 with seat 12 in a deployed or
seating position and seat 14 in the folded position, also referred
to as the stowed or cargo position. Foldable seats 12, 14 include a
seat cushion and cover 18 and a back cushion and cover 20, 22,
which may include one or more sections or portions as illustrated
by the two-part back cushion and cover in FIG. 1. In the
illustrated representative application, foldable seats 12, 14 are
positioned in a pick-up truck cab arrangement with a secondary
vehicle component represented by a divider panel or the back of a
forward facing bench seat 16. Of course, the present invention may
be used in a variety of seating configurations and is not limited
to individual folding seats, a back-to-back seating arrangement, or
multiple forward facing seats or rows of seats. For example, the
present invention may also be applied to vehicles having a foldable
seat attached to a bulk head, side panel, vehicle floor, or other
portion of a vehicle rather than to another seat or seating
component. Additional representative applications may include
vehicles having a second or third row bench seat or split bench
seat having a seat cushion that folds or pivots from a deployed or
seating position generally parallel to the vehicle floor to
accommodate an occupant, to a stowed or folded position generally
perpendicular to the vehicle floor to accommodate cargo. A cargo
management system according to the present invention is removably
or preferably fixedly attached to the bottom of the seat to be
substantially hidden from view when the seat is in the deployed or
seating position.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom or seat portion 18 of
foldable or pivotable vehicle seats 12, 14 is connected to back
portion 20 via one or more hinges 24, 26 or similar devices that
allow bottom portion 18 to move between a seating position as
represented by seat 12 to a stowed or cargo position as represented
by seat 14. In a representative application, the front portion of
seats 12, 14 is supported by a seat riser or raised area of the
vehicle floor when in the seating position. Seats 12, 14 include a
cargo hanging device 28 implemented by a foldable flap 30 in this
embodiment. Foldable flap 30 includes a first end 32 preferably
permanently secured to the underside of seat 14, such as by
stitching to the seat cover, to facilitate pivoting or folding.
Flap 30 has a second end that includes an integrated retention
device 34 adapted for attachment to a secondary vehicle component
or device. In the illustrated embodiment, retention device 34 is
implemented by an integrated hook adapted for removable attachment
to a head restraint post 36 or similar device. Retention device 34
and/or another portion of the second end of flap 30 may include one
or more cooperating latching devices 40, 42 to removably secure the
second end to the underside of seat 18 and maintain flap 30 in the
stowed position. In one embodiment, latching devices 40, 42 are
implemented by a hook-and-loop closure.
[0016] The cargo management system in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and
2 is manually deployed from the stowed position in FIG. 1 to the
deployed position in FIG. 2 by releasing the latching device 40, 42
and securing the retaining element 34 to a secondary vehicle
component, such as head restraint post 36 as shown in FIG. 2. The
deployed position of cargo management device 28 exposes one or more
devices 44 having protrusions, projections, hooks, hangers, or the
like represented by reference numerals 46, 48, 50 adapted for
hanging various types of cargo. Devices 44 may be advantageously
positioned relative to first end 32 of foldable flap 30 on the
underside of seat 18 such that in the stowed position illustrated
in FIG. 1, devices 44 are positioned so they do not interfere with
the seat riser or raised area of the vehicle floor (not shown) when
seats 12, 14 are in the seating position. When the cargo management
system is deployed, device 44 pivots about first end 32 to a higher
position on seat bottom 18 to better accommodate hanging cargo. As
such, in this embodiment, cargo hanging device 44 moves from a
first position closer to hinges 24, 26 to provide clearance for a
seat support when in the stowed position to a second position
farther from hinges 24, 26 to better accommodate hanging cargo when
cargo hanging device 44 is in the deployed position and seats 12,
14 are in the folded position. In the deployed position illustrated
in FIG. 2, any load placed on device 44 may be distributed between
the fastener or seam along first end 32, and retention device 34.
As shown in FIG. 1, the stowed position of cargo management device
28 conceals devices 44 from view when the vehicle seats are in
either the seating position represented by seat 12 or the stowed
position represented by seat 14.
[0017] An alternative embodiment of a cargo management system
according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. This
embodiment is similar to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
2 in that it includes a vehicle seat 18 pivotable via hinges 26
between a seating position (not specifically shown) generally
parallel to a vehicle floor and the illustrated cargo or stowed
position generally perpendicular to the vehicle floor. Seat 18
includes a cargo hanging device 58 disposed beneath and secured to
the underside of the seat such that cargo hanging device 58 is
substantially hidden from view when seat 18 is in the deployed
seating position. Unlike the device 44 (FIG. 2), cargo hanging
device 58 is automatically deployed or accessible for use when seat
18 is placed in the stowed position, i.e. no additional action is
required by the user to reveal cargo hanging device 58. This
feature also allows hanging device 58 to be used when seat 18 is in
its seating or deployed position.
[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 3, cargo hanging device 58 includes a
base portion 60 that may be permanently fixed to the underside of
seat 18. A plurality of hangers, hooks, or similar protrusions 62
extend from base portion 60 to accommodate various types of hanging
cargo. Although protrusions 62 are illustrated as being similar in
shape and generally equally spaced, various configurations may be
used depending upon the particular application and implementation.
An optional retaining element implemented by an elastomeric cord 64
and hook 66 may be provided to secure seat 18 in the stowed
position and accommodate a heavier hanging load on cargo hanging
device 58 without unintentionally deploying seat 18. Hook 66 or a
similar device may be adapted for securing to a secondary vehicle
component, such as head restraint post 36. Of course, those of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize various other methods of
securing seat 18 in a stowed position other than using an auxiliary
retention or securing device as illustrated. For example, hinges 26
may include a locking or latching mechanism to secure seat 18 in
the stowed position, or one or more straps may be provided to
secure the bottom cushion to the back cushion of the seat 18,
etc
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a cargo management
system for a vehicle according to the present invention. In the
embodiment of FIG. 4, a cargo hanging device 68 secured to the
underside of foldable seat 18 includes a storage compartment 70. An
access opening is provided with an optional cover or door 72 to
facilitate retention of cargo within storage compartment 70 when
seat 18 is in either the deployed position or folded position.
Access cover 72 may be attached in any suitable manner including a
hinged arrangement as illustrated or a sliding arrangement, for
example, to provide access to an interior portion of the
compartment for stowing and retrieving cargo. Similarly, access
cover 72 may be made of a flexible material, netting, or cloth, for
example, to retain and conceal cargo stowed within storage
compartment 70. Similarly, one or more access openings may be
provided in various positions and configurations on storage
compartment 70 depending upon the particular application and
configuration. For example, storage compartment 70 may be divided
into two sections with access opening provided on each side for a
corresponding section rather than a single door on the face of the
compartment.
[0020] In the representative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4,
storage compartment 70 includes at least one protrusion,
projection, hanger, or hook represented by reference numeral 74
that may be integrally formed with storage compartment 68.
Projections 74 are adapted to accommodate hanging cargo,
particularly when the vehicle seat is in the folded position as
shown.
[0021] Another embodiment of a cargo management system for a
vehicle according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG.
5. A cargo hanging device 78 is disposed beneath and secured to
foldable vehicle seat 18. Cargo hanging device 78 is preferably
positioned to be substantially concealed from view when seat 8 is
in the seating position and substantially exposed or accessible
when seat 18 is in the folded or cargo position as illustrated. In
this embodiment, cargo hanging device 78 includes a storage
compartment 80 having a plurality of hooks 82 adapted to
accommodate hanging cargo secured to the face of storage
compartment 80 with an access opening 84 to facilitate storage and
retrieval of cargo. Appropriate positioning of access opening 84
facilitates retention of cargo stowed within storage compartment 80
when seat 18 is in either the deployed position or the folded
position illustrated. Although not required, a cover or flap (not
shown) may be provided with an appropriate latching device to cover
access opening 84 and optionally conceal and retain any contents.
Storage compartment 80 includes collapsible sides 86 and a
collapsible bottom (not shown) made of flexible material or fabric
so storage compartment 80 may be folded substantially flat to
increase available vehicle interior space when storage compartment
80 is not being used to stow cargo.
[0022] As can be seen from the various embodiments, the present
invention provides a flexible cargo management feature that is
concealed beneath a vehicle seat and is therefore more
aesthetically pleasing. In addition, the present invention may
include various cargo management devices that remain concealed from
view until manually deployed, regardless of whether the vehicle
seat is in a seating (deployed) position or folded position. The
invention may combine a storage compartment and hooks or other
hanging devices that can be used to secure cargo beneath the seat
when the seat is in a folded position as well as when the seat is
in the deployed position. In addition, a cargo management system
according to the present invention may be integrated into the
underside of a vehicle seat cover to facilitate a running-change
implementation rather than making relatively costly changes to
vehicle trim panels.
[0023] While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been
described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this
invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and
embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the
following claims.
* * * * *