Patent · US Expired

Foldable automotive seat

US6012755A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
12References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1997
Grant dateJan 11, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60N2/01508
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An automotive seat assembly for accommodating rear passengers in a passenger compartment. The seat assembly includes a base that may be secured to the vehicle floor structure and an articulated seat frame that supports a lower seat portion, a back portion of the seat assembly being foldable forward. The articulated frame includes forward and rearward legs, one leg being biased by a spring toward a normal passenger supporting position and the other leg being biased by a spring towards a folded position of the seat assembly. The spring force acting on one leg acts on a variable moment arm so that the force moment created by the spring force on the other leg is opposed, the seat assembly assuming a folded position as an over center position of the forward arm is reached, the variable moment arm of the spring force acting on the one arm maintaining the legs in a normal upright position when the seat assembly is in use.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.