U.S. patent application number 11/928587 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for seat back mounted load floor system and method of making the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.. Invention is credited to Paul Rye, Alan Sturt.
Application Number | 20090108639 11/928587 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40581909 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090108639 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sturt; Alan ; et
al. |
April 30, 2009 |
SEAT BACK MOUNTED LOAD FLOOR SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAKING THE
SAME
Abstract
A load floor system for use with a vehicle seat having a seat
bottom and a seat back connected to the seat bottom includes a load
floor member adapted for pivotal connection to the seat back and
configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed
position when the load floor member is pivotally connected to the
seat back. The load floor member may be substantially horizontal
and disposed above and spaced apart from a floor surface of the
vehicle when in the deployed position. A support member supports
the load floor member when the load floor member is in the deployed
position.
Inventors: |
Sturt; Alan; (West
Bloomfield, MI) ; Rye; Paul; (Brighton, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.;INTL. AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Assignee: |
International Automotive Components
Group North America, Inc.
Dearborn
MI
|
Family ID: |
40581909 |
Appl. No.: |
11/928587 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/36 20130101; B60N
2/22 20130101; B60R 5/04 20130101; B60R 13/013 20130101; B60N
2/3011 20130101; B60R 5/045 20130101; B60N 2/3079 20130101; B60R
2011/0015 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/15 |
International
Class: |
A47C 9/06 20060101
A47C009/06 |
Claims
1. A load floor system for use with a vehicle seat having a seat
bottom and a seat back connected to the seat bottom, the load floor
system comprising: a load floor member adapted for pivotal
connection to the seat back and configured to move between a stowed
position and a deployed position when the load floor member is
pivotally connected to the seat back, the load floor member being
substantially horizontal and disposed above and spaced apart from a
floor surface of the vehicle when in the deployed position; and a
support member supporting the load floor member when the load floor
member is in the deployed position.
2. The system of claim 1, the seat back being configured to recline
with respect to the seat bottom, the system further comprising a
hinge connected to an end of the load floor member, the hinge being
configured to pivotally connect the load floor member to the seat
back and further configured to raise the end of the load floor
member as the seat back reclines in a first direction and to lower
the end of the load floor member as the seat back reclines in a
second direction opposite the first direction.
3. The system of claim 2, the seat back being configured to recline
about a pivot point between a plurality of upright positions,
wherein the hinge is disposed rearward of, and a first distance
below the pivot point when the seat back is in a first upright
position and wherein the hinge is disposed rearward of, and a
second distance below the pivot point that is greater than the
first distance when the seat back is in a second upright position
that is reclined rearward of the first upright position.
4. The system of claim 3, the seat back being further configured to
fold onto the seat bottom, wherein the hinge is configured to
position the load floor member substantially flush with the seat
back when the seat back is folded onto the seat bottom while the
load floor member is in the deployed position.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the load floor member is
substantially parallel with the seat back when the seat back is
folded onto the seat bottom while the load floor member is in the
deployed position.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the load floor member is
substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the seat back
when in the stowed position.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the support member is pivotally
connected to the load floor member and is configured to move
between a retracted and a support position.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the support member is
substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the load floor
member when the support member is in the retracted position.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein the support member is
substantially transverse to the load floor member when the support
member is in the support position.
10. The system of claim 7 wherein the support member is a leg
having a width substantially equal to a width of the load floor
member and a length sufficient to support the load floor member at
a substantially horizontal orientation when deployed.
11. The system of claim 7 wherein the support member includes a
securing member that is configured to releasably secure the support
member in a position that is substantially adjacent and
substantially parallel to the load floor member while the support
member is in the retracted position.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the securing member is
configured to releasably attach both the support member and the
load floor member to the vehicle seat while the support member is
in the retracted position and the load floor member is in the
stowed position.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the securing member is a hook
configured to engage a portion of the vehicle seat.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the load floor member defines an
opening extending there through to permit a user to access the seat
back while the load floor member is in the stowed position.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the load floor member includes a
cover member that is configured to move between a cover position
and an exposed position to permit a user to selectively cover the
opening.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein the load floor member is disposed
at least 100 mm above the floor surface when the load floor member
is in the deployed position.
17. A vehicle seat system for use in a vehicle having a tub defined
in a floor surface of the vehicle, the vehicle seat system
comprising: a seat body having a seat back pivotally connected to a
seat bottom and configured to pivot between a plurality of upright
positions and to fold onto the seat bottom, the seat body being
adapted for attachment to the vehicle proximate to, and forward of,
the tub; a load floor member having a hinge, the load floor member
being pivotally connected to the seat back by the hinge and
configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed
position disposed above and substantially covering the tub when the
seat body is attached to the vehicle, the hinge configured to raise
and lower an end of the load floor member as the seat back pivots
between the plurality of upright positions; and a support member
pivotally connected to the load floor member and supporting the
load floor member above the tub while the load floor member is in
the deployed position.
18. The vehicle seat system of claim 17 wherein the load floor
member is disposed substantially adjacent and substantially
parallel to the seat back when in the stowed position.
19. The vehicle seat system of claim 17, the vehicle having a
support member receiver proximate a rear portion of the tub,
wherein the support member has an engagement portion configured to
engage the support member receiver.
20. A method of making a vehicle seat having a retractable load
floor system for use with a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a seat body configured for attachment to the vehicle, the
seat body having a seat back connected to a seat bottom; providing
a load floor system including a load floor member and a support
member pivotally attached to the load floor member; and pivotally
connecting the load floor member to the seat back such that the
load floor system is disposed rearward of the seat body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The field of the present invention relates generally to a
seat back mounted load floor systems which may be selectively
stowed and deployed and a method of making the same.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Load floor systems are known. Examples of load systems are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,207,616; 7,188,881; 7,059,646;
6,698,829; 6,905,155; 6,136,259; and 5,855,310, and also in
Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2006/0108817; and
2004/0105744.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the invention, a load floor system for use
with a vehicle seat is disclosed. In at least a first embodiment,
the load floor system includes a load floor member that is adapted
for pivotal connection to a vehicle seat back. The load floor
member can be configured to move between a stowed position and a
deployed position when the load floor member is pivotally connected
to the seat back. In at least this embodiment, the load floor
member is substantially horizontal and disposed above and spaced
apart from a floor surface of the vehicle when in the deployed
position. A support member supports the load floor member when the
load floor member is in the deployed position. In at least one
implementation of the first embodiment, in instances where the seat
back is configured to recline with respect to the seat bottom, the
system may further include a hinge which may be connected to an end
of the load floor member. The hinge may be configured to pivotally
connect the load floor member to the seat back. The hinge may be
further configured to raise the end of the load floor member as the
seat back reclines in a first direction and to lower the end of the
load floor member as the seat back reclines in a second direction
that is opposite to the first direction. In at least one variation
of this implementation, in instances where the seat back is
configured to recline about a pivot point between a plurality of
upright positions, the hinge may be disposed rearward of and a
first distance below the pivot point when the seat back is in a
first upright position. The hinge may be disposed rearward of, and
a second distance below the pivot point that is greater than the
first distance when the seat back is in a second upright position
that is reclined rearward of the first upright position. In a
further variation of this implementation, in instances where the
seat back may be further configured to fold onto the seat bottom,
the hinge may be configured to position the load floor member
substantially flush with the seat back when the seat back is folded
onto the seat bottom while the load floor member is in the deployed
position. In a further variation of this implementation, the load
floor may be substantially parallel with the seat back when the
seat back is folded onto the seat bottom while the load floor
member is in the deployed position.
[0006] In another implementation of the first embodiment, the load
floor member may be substantially adjacent and substantially
parallel to the seat back when in the stowed position.
[0007] In another implementation of the first embodiment, the
support member may be pivotally connected to the load floor member
and may be configured to move between a retracted position and a
support position. In a variation of this implementation, the
support member may be substantially adjacent and substantially
parallel to the load floor member when the support member is in the
retracted position. In another variation of this implementation,
the support member may be substantially transverse to the load
floor member when the support member is in the support position. In
at least another variation of this implementation, the load floor
member may be a leg having a width that is substantially equal to a
width of the load floor member and a length that is sufficient to
support the load floor member at a substantially horizontal
orientation when deployed. In at least another variation of this
implementation, the support member may include a securing member
that is configured to releasably secure the support member in a
position that is substantially adjacent and substantially parallel
to the load floor member while the support member is in the
retracted position. In a further variation, the securing member may
be configured to releasably attach both the support member and the
load floor member to the vehicle seat while the support member is
in the retracted position and the load floor member is in the
stowed position. In some variations, the securing member may be a
hook that is configured to engage a portion of the vehicle seat. In
the deployed position, the support member may contact the vehicle
floor and may have a depression in the floor for locating a distal
end of the support member.
[0008] In at least another implementation of the first embodiment,
the load floor member may define an opening extending there through
to permit a user to access the seat back while the load floor
member is in the stowed position. In at least one variation of this
implementation, the load floor member may include a cover member
that is configured to move between a cover position and an exposed
position to permit a user to selectively cover the opening.
[0009] In at least another implementation of the first embodiment,
the load floor member may be disposed at least 100 mm above the
floor surface when the load floor member is in the deployed
position.
[0010] In at least a second embodiment, a vehicle seat system may
be used in a vehicle having a tub that is defined in a floor
surface of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the vehicle seat system
includes a seat body that has a seat back pivotally connected to a
seat bottom. The seat back is configured to pivot between a
plurality of upright positions and to fold onto the seat bottom.
The seat body is adapted for attachment to the vehicle proximate to
and forward of the tub. A load floor member having a hinge is
pivotally connected to the seat back by the hinge and is configured
to move between a stowed position and deployed position. When in
the deployed position, the load floor member is disposed above and
substantially covering the tub when the seat body is attached to
the vehicle. The hinge is configured to raise and lower an end of
the load floor member as the seat back pivots between the plurality
of upright positions. A support member is pivotally connected to
the load floor member and supports the load floor member above the
tub while the load floor member is in the deployed position. In at
least one implementation of this embodiment, the load floor member
may be disposed substantially adjacent and substantially parallel
to the seat back when in the stowed position.
[0011] In at least another implementation of the second embodiment,
in instances where the vehicle has a support member receiver
proximate a rear portion of the tub, the support member may have an
engagement portion that is configured to engage the support member
receiver.
[0012] In another aspect of the invention, a method of making a
vehicle seat having a retractable load floor system for use with a
vehicle is disclosed. In a third embodiment, the method includes
providing a seat body that is configured for attachment to the
vehicle. The seat body has a seat back connected to a seat bottom.
A load floor system is provided. The load floor system includes a
load floor member and a support member that is pivotally attached
to the load floor member. The load floor system is pivotally
connected to the seat back such that the load floor system is
disposed rearward of the seat body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a fragmented perspective view illustrating a
vehicle equipped with an embodiment of the seat back mounted load
floor system of the present invention in both a deployed and a
stowed configuration;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a fragmented perspective view illustrating the
seat back mounted load floor system of FIG. 1 in a second deployed
configuration;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a fragmented perspective view illustrating the
seat back mounted load floor system of FIG. 1 in the stowed
configuration with the seat assembly in a folded flat
configuration;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a fragmented cross-sectional view of a portion of
the seat back mounted load floor system of FIG. 1 in a deployed
configuration;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a fragmented cross-sectional view of the seat back
mounted load floor system illustrated in FIG. 4 in an alternate
deployed configuration;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a fragmented cross-sectional view of the seat back
mounted load floor system illustrated in FIG. 4 in a stowed
configuration;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a fragmented cross-sectional view of the seat back
mounted load floor system of FIG. 1 illustrating an embodiment of a
mechanism for releasably connecting the system to the seat back
when stowed;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a fragmented cross-sectional view illustrating an
embodiment of a support member and the vehicle's adaptation to
receive and engage the support member; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
method for manufacturing a vehicle seat assembly equipped with an
embodiment of a seat back mounted load floor system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0022] Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed
herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed
embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be
embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not
necessarily drawn to scale, some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis
for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one
skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
[0023] Referring now to the Figures, FIG. 1 illustrates an
exemplary vehicle 20 having a seat assembly 22 and an embodiment of
a seat back mounted load floor system 24. Vehicle 20 is depicted as
a minivan having a tub disposed rearward of seat assembly 22 to
receive seat assembly 22 in a folded flat condition. It should be
understood that the invention discussed herein is not limited to
use with minivans or to vehicles having seats capable of folding
flat. Rather, this invention may be used in other vehicles
including, but not limited to, passenger cars, pick up trucks and
sport utility vehicles. Such vehicles may or may not be equipped
with a tub or other cavity to receive folded flat seat assemblies.
Additionally, although the seat back mounted load floor system 24
is depicted attached to a rear seat, it should be understood that
an embodiment of this system may be used with a vehicle seat in any
row of a vehicle. The principles of this invention are not limited
to applications in automobiles but may be employed in all types of
vehicles including aircraft, water craft, and other land based
vehicles such as rail-based vehicles. Furthermore, as illustrated
in FIG. 1, seat assembly 22 includes a seat back 26 which is
capable of being reclined to a plurality of varying upright
positions. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in
the art that the seat back mounted load floor system 24 of the
present invention may also be used with vehicle seats having seat
backs that do not recline.
[0024] Seat assembly 22 includes a seat bottom 28 for supporting a
vehicle occupant. Seat back 26 reclines with respect to seat bottom
28 to allow an occupant of seat assembly 22 a range of recumbent
positions to provide for the occupant's comfort.
[0025] In at least the illustrated embodiment, seat back mounted
load floor system 24 includes a load floor member 30 and a support
member 32. Seat back mounted load floor system 24 is depicted in
FIG. 1 in a deployed configuration wherein load floor member 30 is
substantially horizontal and able to receive and support cargo and
other loads. A second seat back mounted load floor system 25 is
illustrated in a stowed configuration. In the illustrated
embodiment, load floor member 30 is substantially planar and has a
perimeter that substantially corresponds with a perimeter of seat
back 26. In other embodiments, load floor member 30 may have a
perimeter that is dissimilar from that of a seat back to which it
is attached. Additionally, the size of load floor member may vary,
depending on the size of the vehicle and the distance between seat
back 26 and a rear of the vehicle. An exemplary dimension for load
floor member may be a width of 18-50 inches and a length of 18-30
inches.
[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, load floor member 30 includes
an opening 34 extending through load floor member 30. Opening 34
can provide a user with access to a rear portion of seat back 26
where seat back and other controls may be located. Opening 34 can
allow an operator to access and engage such controls when the seat
back mounted load floor system 24 is in the stowed configuration.
While opening 34 is generally rectangular and disposed in
approximately the center of load floor member 30, it should be
understood that opening 34 could be disposed anywhere through load
floor member 30 that is necessary to correspond with the position
of the seat back mounted controls discussed above. It should also
be understood that the shape of opening 34 need not be rectangular
but may be any shape that is needed to provide a user with access
to such controls.
[0027] Cover 36 is configured to close opening 34 and may be
positioned over opening 34 when seat back mounted load floor system
24 is in the deployed configuration to prevent cargo items from
falling through opening 34. In the illustrated embodiment, cover 36
is pivotally connected to load floor member 30. In still other
embodiments, cover 36 may be a detached component that may be
assembled to load floor member 30. In other embodiments, cover 36
may slide back and forth between a position that exposes opening 34
and the position that covers opening 34. Cover 36 may be made of
materials including polypropylene, reinforced polypropylene, ABS,
PCABS, and other polymers, aluminum, steel, and/or wood. A bin,
basket or other storage device may be supplied to fit opening 34.
Cover 36 may be used on top of such storage device.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, support member 32 is
pivotally connected to load floor member 30 and engages a rear
portion of vehicle 20. Support member 32 is configured to pivot
between a retracted position substantially adjacent and parallel to
load floor member 30 and a support position substantially
transverse to load floor member 30. As illustrated, support member
22 is substantially perpendicular to load floor member 30. In other
configurations, support member 32 may be disposed at an angle
substantially less than 90.degree. with respect to load floor
member 30, depending upon the configuration of vehicle 20. In other
embodiments, support member 32 need not be pivotally connected to
load floor member 30, but may be a detached component that is
positioned on vehicle 20 and assembled to load floor member 30 when
the seat back mounted load floor system 24 is placed in the
deployed configuration. In other embodiments, support member 32 may
be pivotally connected to a portion of vehicle 20 and rotated into
position to support load floor member 30 as load floor member 30 is
pivoted into a deployed position.
[0029] Load floor member 30 may comprise materials including
polypropylene, reinforced polypropylene, ABS, PCABS, and other
polymers, aluminum, steel and/or wood. Support member 32 may be
made of the same materials. It should be understood that load floor
member 30 and support member 32 need not be made of the same
materials.
[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, vehicle 20 includes a tub 38.
Tub 38 may be used to support cargo when the seat back mounted load
floor system 24 is in the stowed configuration. Additionally, tub
38 may support cargo below load floor member 30 when seat back
mounted load floor system 24 is in the deployed configuration. Tub
38 may also receive seat assembly 22 in a folded state to allow
seat assembly 22 to form a flat cargo surface substantially
contiguous with a floor of vehicle 20. (See FIG. 3.) When deployed,
load floor member 30 substantially covers tub 38 (see FIG. 2.) In
other embodiments, load floor member 30 may only partially cover
tub 38 when seat back mounted load floor system 24 is in the
deployed configuration to provide a user with access to both cargo
storage surfaces (see FIG. 1).
[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, vehicle 20 is equipped with
split folding rear seats. Seat assembly 22 refers to only one
portion of the split folding seat assembly. A separate and
independently operable seat back mounted load floor system may be
mounted and used on the other portion of the split seat assembly.
The two seat back mounted load floor systems may be used in unison
to provide a secondary load floor. When deployed in this manner,
delicate and/or valuable cargo can be placed in tub 30 and
concealed from view and also protected from other cargo items that
might otherwise damage such sensitive cargo.
[0032] When the seat back mounted load floor system is in the
retracted position, a user has access to tub 38. (See seat back
mounted load floor system 25 in FIG. 1.) As illustrated, in the
retracted configuration, the support member is substantially
adjacent and substantially parallel to the load floor member and is
retained in this configuration by latching hook 40 (see FIG. 8).
Latching hook 40 may also be configured to retain the load floor
member in a position that is substantially adjacent to, and
substantially parallel with, the seat back.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, seat back mounted load floor system 24
is illustrated in a second deployed configuration. In this
configuration, seat back 26 is folded forward over seat bottom 28.
An upward facing surface of seat back 26 and an upward facing
surface of load floor member 30 are substantially flush and
substantially aligned to form a substantially contiguous, expanded
load floor.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates seat assembly 22 in a folded flat
configuration wherein seat assembly 22 is stored within tub 38 and
wherein a back portion of seat back 26 is substantially contiguous
and aligned with the floor of vehicle 20 to provide an expanded
cargo receiving surface within vehicle 20. Seat back mounted load
floor system 24 is illustrated in the stowed configuration,
substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel with a back
portion of seat back 26. In this configuration, seat back mounted
load floor system 24 is substantially out of the way and does not
obstruct storage of cargo in vehicle 20 when seat assembly 22 is
folded into the floor of vehicle 20. In some embodiments, seat
assembly 22 may include a recess in a back portion of seat back 26
to receive seat back mounted load floor system 24 so that seat back
mounted load floor system 24 is disposed flush with the floor of
vehicle 20 when seat back mounted load floor system 24 is stowed
while seat assembly 22 is folded into the vehicle floor.
[0035] With reference to FIG. 4, a fragmented cross-sectional view
of load floor member 30 is illustrated. The seat back mounted load
floor system 24 is in the deployed configuration and a hinge 42
pivotally connects load floor member 30 to seat back 26. Hinge 42
is connected to seat back frame 44 by a fastener 46. Examples of
fasteners include threaded fasteners such as nuts and bolts and
also rivets, to name just a few. Hinge 42 includes a substantially
flat portion 48 and a right angle portion 50 containing a
substantially perpendicular bend. Hinge 42 also includes a hinge
pivot point 52 disposed between flat portion 48 and right angle
portion 50.
[0036] A seat back pivot point 54 is also illustrated in FIG. 4.
Seat back 26 pivots about seat back pivot point 54 as seat back 26
reclines or folds forward over seat bottom 28. In the illustrated
embodiment, hinge pivot point 52 is disposed below and rearward of
seat back pivot point 54 when the seat back mounted load floor
system 24 is in the deployed configuration. As seat back 26
reclines forward and rearward, the height of hinge pivot point 52
changes with respect to the height of seat back pivot point 54
above the floor surface of vehicle 20. For instance, when seat back
26 is reclined to its most rearward position, the height above the
vehicle floor of hinge pivot point 52 is at its lowest point with
respect to seat back pivot point 54. As seat back 26 is moved to a
forward position, hinge pivot point 52 rises with respect to seat
back pivot point 54. The upward and downward movement of hinge
pivot point 52 as seat back 26 is reclined forward and rearward
causes the end of load floor member 30, which is supported on right
angle portion 50, to correspondingly move in an upward and downward
direction. This permits a user to control the incline of load floor
member 30. This may be useful when carrying cargo prone to roll or
move when vehicle 20 is in transit. In other embodiments, hinge
pivot point 52 may not move upward and downward with respect to
seat back pivot point 54 as seat back 26 is reclined forward and
rearward. In still other embodiments, hinge pivot point 52 may be
coincident with seat back pivot point 54. Such coincidental
arrangement of pivot points will result in load floor member 30
remaining substantially still as seat back 26 reclines forward and
backwards.
[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates seat back mounted load floor system 24
and seat back 26 with load floor member 30 in the deployed
configuration while seat back 26 is folded forward over seat bottom
28 (not shown). In this configuration, hinge pivot point 52 has
been elevated to a position above seat back pivot point 54. This
causes load floor member 30 to rise to a position substantially
flush and substantially aligned with seat back 26.
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates seat back mounted load floor system 24
and seat back 26 in the stowed configuration. Load floor member 30
is substantially adjacent and substantially parallel with seat back
26. In other embodiments, a gap between load floor member 30 and
seat back 26 may be present. In other embodiments, it may be
desirable for load floor member 30 to rest at an angle with respect
to seat back 26 when in the stowed configuration.
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a fragmented cross-sectional view of an
embodiment of seat back mounted load floor system 24 equipped with
latching hook 40 to retain seat back mounted load floor system 24
in the stowed configuration. As illustrated, latch 40 is attached
to support member 32 by fasteners 56. Fasteners 56 may include
threaded fasteners such as nuts, bolts, and screws to list just a
few. Load floor member 30 includes a latch hook opening 55
extending therethrough to permit latching hook 40 to pass through
load floor member 30 as support member 32 is moved into the
retracted position. Latching hook 40 is also configured to engage a
latch receiver 58 attached to seat back 26. Seat back 26 includes a
bezel 60 to accommodate latching hook 40 as it engages latch
receiver 58. In operation, a user may lift an end of load floor
member 30 and pivot it towards seat back 26. As load floor member
30 pivots towards the stowed configuration, support member 32
pivots towards the retracted configuration. As load floor member 30
and support member 32 approach seat back 26, latching hook 42
enters latch hook opening 55 and further enters bezel 60 to engage
latch receiver 58 to secure the seat back mounted load floor system
24 in the stowed configuration. To deploy seat back mounted load
floor system 24, a user may pull on a lower portion of support
member 32 to disengage latching hook 40 from latch receiver 58 and
deploy seat back mounted load floor system 24.
[0040] With respect to FIG. 8, a fragmented cross-sectional view of
support member 32 and a rear portion of vehicle 20 is illustrated.
In the illustrated embodiment, vehicle 20 includes a support member
receiver 62 configured to engage a bottom portion of support member
32. Support member receiver member 62 is attached via a threaded
fastener to vehicle 20. In other embodiments, support member
receiver 62 may be integrally formed with a component of vehicle 20
or may be attached to vehicle 20 by other means. In the illustrated
embodiment, support member receiver 62 may also be used as a tie
down loop for securing cargo articles stored in vehicle 20.
[0041] With respect to FIG. 9, a method of making a vehicle seat
having a retractable load floor system is illustrated. At reference
numeral 64 the method includes providing a seat assembly 22
configured for attachment to vehicle 20. Seat assembly 22 includes
seat bottom 28 and seat back 26 connected to seat bottom 28. At
reference numeral 66 a seat back mounted load floor system 24 is
provided and includes load floor member 30 and support member 32
pivotally attached to load floor member 30. At reference numeral 68
The seat back method load floor system 24 is pivotally connected to
seat back 26 such that seat back mounted load floor system 24 is
disposed to the rear of seat assembly 22. The pivotal connection
may be effected through the use of a hinge such as 42.
[0042] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and
describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words
used in the specification are words of description rather than
limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *