GB2412849A

GB2412849A - Vehicle seat assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2412849A
Application number: GB0408071A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart Callegari; Norman Snowdon; Tim Disney; Phil Dickens
Original assignee: Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2004-04-08
Filing date: 2004-04-08
Publication date: 2005-10-12
Also published as: GB0408071D0

Abstract

A seat assembly 10 for a vehicle comprises a seat back 22, a seat squab 20, and a storage volume 30, wherein the seat squab includes a portion 18A which is movable via a parallelogram mechanism 24 between a raised opened position in which access to the storage volume is permitted, and a lowered stowed position in which the scat portion defines part of the seat surface [Figure 1].

Description

SEAT ASSEMBLY

FOR USE IN A VEHICLE

The invention relates to an adaptable seat assembly for use in a vehicle and, in particular, to a seat assembly for use in an automobile vehicle. The invention also relates to a vehicle provided with such a seat assembly.

One of the concerns for vehicle designers currently is to maximise the storage space available for carrying items of luggage within the vehicle. For vehicles lo intended for family use, it is a particular requirement to maximise the storage space available in the rear of the vehicle where child passengers are usually carried and, thus, where there is a need to accommodate children's books, games and toys, for example. It is another concern of vehicle designers to provide vehicle users with the option of carrying multiple passengers in the rear of the vehicle, or at least to provide a versatile seating arrangement which provides the vehicle user with the option to do so.

By way of background to the invention, it is acknowledged that it is known to provide a so-called centre-console in the front of vehicle, where an arm rest for so the driver and/or front seat passenger doubles as a storage container. When in a closed position, a flip-up lid of the console closes a container volume for storing smaller items of luggage and defines a surface upon which the driver and/or front seat passenger can rest his or her arm. When the flip-up lid is opened, the arm rest facility disappears and the container volume can be accessed. Such console :5 arrangements can be accommodated relatively easily between the front driver and passenger seats of a vehicle. However, due to their bulk and volume they cannot be accommodated conveniently in the rear of family vehicles, in particular, where there is often a requirement to accommodate at least two passengers on the rear vehicle seat.

The concern to maximise storage space in the rear of the vehicle is thus currently not compatible with the desire to maximise vehicle seating space. It is an object of the present invention to provide a seat assembly which addresses this incompatibility.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a seat assembly lo suitable for use in a vehicle, the seat assembly including: a seating member which defines a seating surface for a vehicle passenger and a seat back member, or seat backrest, which defines a back rest surface for the vehicle passenger, and a storage volume for storing luggage, wherein the seating member includes a seat portion, such as a seat cushion, which is movable between a raised, opened position in which the storage volume is open so as to permit access thereto, and a lowered, stowed position in which the movable seat portion defines a part of the seating surface for the passenger and wherein the movable seat portion forms a part of a parallelogram mechanism for permitting movement of the movable seat portion between the opened and stowed positions.

The parallelogram mechanism is configured to ensure that the movable seat portion remains substantially horizontal through all stages of movement between the opened and stowed positions.

s The invention is particularly suitable for use in a family vehicle, and more particularly as a rear seat assembly of the vehicle. The seat assembly allows convenient interchange between a rear bench-style seat, in which at least three passengers can be seated, and a two-passenger seat in which an arm rest facility is provided between the two seats by virtue of the movable seat portion being raised lo or 'opened'. Furthermore, the storage volume can be accessed easily by raising the seat portion, or can be covered by the seat portion when lowered to hide objects stored therein from view. The storage volume is particularly suitable for carrying smaller items of luggage, such as toys, books, sweets, CDs, tapes or a personal stereo.

The storage volume is preferably defined by a storage container located beneath the movable seat portion of the seating member, when stowed. The storage container is preferably detachably mounted upon the seat assembly to locate within the storage volume, in use, but to allow convenient unloading and loading of items stored therein.

By way of definition, it is noted that more preferably the seating member and the seat back member will be arranged to meet at a rear side of the seat assembly so that seated passengers travel in a forward-facing position.

In a preferred embodiment, the seating member includes first and second outer seat portions and an intermediate or middle seat portion.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the middle seat portion is comprised of the movable seat portion which forms a part of the parallelogram mechanism.

Preferably, the movable seat portion itself forms an upper link of the parallelogram mechanism. Alternatively, the movable seat portion may be s mounted upon, or otherwise coupled to, an upper link of the parallelogram mechanism.

The middle seat portion may be a front-middle seat portion (i.e. at a front side of the seat assembly) or alternatively may be a rear-middle seat portion (i.e. at a rear lo side of the seat assembly).

In one embodiment, the parallelogram mechanism is further comprised of a left- side link means in pivotal connection with a left side of the movable seat portion and a right-side link means in pivotal connection with a right side of the movable Is seat portion, thereby to allow pivotal forwards and rearwards movement of the movable seat portion.

In one particular embodiment, the left-side link means may include front and rear left-side arms, the right-side link means may include front and rear right-side go arms and wherein a lower end of each front arm is pivotally mounted to a lower, front pivot mount, an upper end of each front arm is pivotally mounted to an upper, front pivot mount, a lower end of each rear arm is pivotally mounted to a lower, rear pivot mount and an upper end of each rear arm is pivotally mounted to an upper, rear pivot mount. The link means therefore includes four support arms as upon which the movable seat portion is mounted.

In a preferred embodiment, the lower front and rear pivot mounts are defined by, or mounted upon, a seat support frame.

If the movable seat portion is a front-middle seat portion, the seat portion is caused to move rearwards as it is moved between the stowed and opened s positions. Conversely, if the seat portion is a rear-middle seat portion then it is caused to move forwards as it is moved between the stowed and opened positions.

In a preferred embodiment, the storage volume is defined by a storage container lo or receptacle located beneath the movable seat portion when in its stowed position. In conventional vehicles, that space beneath the middle region of the rear seat assembly is often unused, whereas the present invention allows for effective use of this space.

The seat assembly may be manufactured to include the seat support frame for supporting the seating member. Conveniently, a storage container is detachably mounted upon the seat support frame to locate within the storage volume, in use.

The seat assembly may further comprise retaining means for securing or fixing ho the seat portion in the opened position, thereby to prevent inadvertent lowering thereof. For example, in the event of vehicle acceleration and deceleration, the retaining means serves to maintain the movable seat portion in a locked, raised position.

:5 In one embodiment, the retaining means includes a catch member and a co- operable recess provided on one of the support arms. In this embodiment, the catch member may be engageable within the recess when the movable seat podion is in a vertically-lowered position, thereby to retain the movable seat portion in its opened position. The movable seat portion is movable into a vertically-raised position to disengage the catch member from the recess, thereby to permit lowering of the movable seat portion into the stowed position.

For example, the support arms may be provided with elongate slots for co operating with a respective one of the lower pivot mounts to allow movement of the movable seat portion between the vertically-lowered and vertically-raised positions.

In another embodiment, the retaining means may include a compressible pad for co-operation with an opening or aperture provided in one of the support arms, whereby compression of the pad serves to dislodge the pad from the opening to permit movement of the movable seat portion between the opened and stowed positions.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle having a seat assembly of the first aspect of the invention.

For the purpose of this specification, references to the 'front' and 'rear' of the vehicle shall be taken to mean, respectively, that part of the vehicle where a seat for the vehicle driver is provided and that part of the vehicle behind the vehicle driver's seat (that is, either immediately behind the driver's seat or separated therefrom by means of an intermediate seat or other assembly).

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat assembly of a first embodiment of the invention when in a first position in which a bench-style seat is provided, s Figure 2 is a similar view of the seat assembly to that shown in Figure 1, but in which a movable seat cushion thereof is partially raised, Figure 3 is a perspective view, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but with the movable seat cushion fully raised (opened), Figure 4 is perspective view of a seat support frame for the seat assembly in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the movable seat cushion to illustrate a means for Is retaining the seat portion in the fully raised position of Figure 3, Figures 6 is a view of the movable seat cushion, similar to that shown in Figure 5, but in which the seat cushion is de- coupled from the retaining means, Figure 7 is a similar view of the movable seat cushion to those shown in Figures and 6, to illustrate pivotal lowering thereof; Figure 8 is an exploded view of a support arm for the movable seat cushion to illustrate an alternative type of retaining means to that shown in Figures 5 to 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a part of the seat assembly in Figures 1 to 3 to show a storage container thereof in situ, and Figure 10 is a perspective view of the storage container in Figure 9 when removed from the seat assembly altogether.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a seat assembly, referred to generally as 10, takes the s form of a so-called 'bench seat' which is commonly provided in the rear of automobile vehicles. The bench-type seat assembly 10 is suitable for accommodating two passengers, at least, and is thus particularly suitable for use as a rear seat assembly in a family vehicle where child passengers often occupy the seats. The seat assembly 10 includes a seat support assembly or frame (not lo shown in Figure 1) for supporting a seating member, referred to generally as 12.

The seating member 12 defines seating surfaces for the rear seat occupants.

The seat support frame 11 is shown in more detail in Figure 4 and is of the type commonly found in vehicles. The seat support frame 11 includes a frame Is periphery 1 1 a, rear-to-front cross members 1 1 b and a plurality of seat belt clasps llc.

The seat assembly 10 includes a front or forward side lOa which is located further towards the front of the vehicle, compared with a rear side lOb of the go assembly 10 which is located further towards the vehicle rear. That part of the seating member 12 towards the rear side lob of the assembly connects, or otherwise meets, with a generally upright seat back member 22. The seat back member 22, or seat backrest, defines a back rest surface for one or more seated passengers and, preferably, is in hinged or pivotal connection with the seating as member 12 so as to allow folding or lowering of the seat backrest 22 onto the seating member 12, as is commonly known in vehicles.

In the seat configuration shown in Figure 1, three possible seat positions are provided by means of respective first and second outer seat portions 16, 20 and a third portion 1 8a, 18b which forms a middle seat portion. The seat portions 16, 18, 20 take the form of seat cushions, for reasons of comfort. In an alternative s configuration, the seating member 12 may accommodate just two seated passengers, one being seated on each of the outer seat cushions 16, 20 with each sharing the middle seat cushion 1 8a, 1 8b to provide an enlarged seating surface area for each passenger.

lo The middle seat cushion is formed from two distinct parts: a frontmiddle seat cushion 18a (i.e. part of the middle seat cushion at the front side lea of the assembly) and a rear-middle seat cushion 1 8b (i.e. part of the middle seat at the rear side lob of the assembly). For the purpose of the following description, the front-middle seat cushion will be referred to as the movable seat cushion 18a.

The movable seat cushion 1 8a rests upon a front, lower support piece 26 which forms a part of, or is mounted upon, the seat support frame 11. Similarly, the rear-middle seat cushion 1 8b rests upon a rear, lower support (not shown) located rearwards of the front support piece 26 and also forming part of, or being mounted upon, the seat support frame 11. Both the movable seat cushion 18a and the rear-middle seat cushion 1 8b are of reduced depth compared to that of the outer cushions 16, 20 of the seating member 12. Typically, for example, the movable and rear-middle seat cushions l 8a, 1 8b are of approximately half the depth of the outer seat cushions 16, 20. 2s

It is one purpose of the invention to provide a movable arm rest facility for the seat assembly, whilst also providing an increased storage space within the rear of the vehicle. For this purpose, the movable seat cushion 18a is movable between two different positions: an opened or raised position in which the movable seat cushion 18a provides a surface upon which a passenger may rest his or her arm, and a stowed position in which a uniform and continuous seating surface is s defined across the seating member 12.

It is another purpose of the invention to provide a convenient storage volume for carrying smaller items of luggage, such as books, games, CDs, sweets and other items which child passengers may typically have with them in a vehicle. For this lo purpose, the front support piece 26 of the seat support frame 11 is shaped to define a storage volume within which a storage container 30 is received. The storage container 30 is detachably mounted to the seat assembly 10, as will be described in further detail later, so as to allow convenient loading and unloading of items stored therein. It will be appreciated that the storage container 30 is only is visible in Figures 2 and 3 when the movable seat cushion 18a is opened, as in Figure 1 the container 30 is covered.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the movable seat cushion 18a itself forms an upper link' of a parallelogram mechanism, referred to generally as 24. The no parallelogram mechanism 24 also includes a front pair of support arms 24a, 24b and a rear pair of support arms 24c, 24d. One arm of the front- and rear- arm pairs (arms 24a, 24c) is mounted to the left side of the movable seat cushion 18a to define a left-side link means of the parallelogram mechanism 24. The other arm of each pair (arms 24b, 24d) is mounted to the right side of the movable seat Is cushion 18a to define a right-side link means of the parallelogram mechanism 24.

The rear-middle seat cushion 18b defines the lower link of the parallelogram mechanism 24.

A parallelogram mechanism, in its simplest form, includes four interconnected link elements or 'arms'; wherein a first pair of arms are in plane-parallel alignment with one another and a second pair of arms are in plane-parallel alignment with one another as the parallelogram mechanism is folded and unfolded. It will be appreciated that the parallelogram mechanism of the present invention is a slightly more complex mechanism, in that it effectively comprises two 'adjacent' parallelogram mechanisms of the aforementioned type, with arms 24a, 24c and seat cushions 18a, 18b forming the first parallelogram and arms lo 24b, 24d and seat cushions 18a, 18b forming the second parallelogram. The upper and lower parallelogram links l 8a, 18b are therefore shared by both mechanisms.

It will be appreciated from the following description that the mechanism 24 can be considered as a parallelogram-type mechanism as, for all positions thereof, the movable seat cushion 18a is aligned in parallel with the rear-middle seat cushion Is 18b and the left-side link means 24a, 24c is in parallel with the right-side link means 24b, 24d.

Each of the front arms 24a, 24b has a lower region in pivotal connection with a respective left- or right-side lower, front pivot mount (not shown in Figures 1, 2 So and 3) defined or mounted upon the seat support frame 11. Typically, for example, the front, lower pivot mounts are defined by pivot pins mounted upon a cross member (such as 1 lb in Figure 4) of the seat support frame 11 which extends between front and rear sides thereof. Similarly, a lower region of each of the rear arms 24c, 24d is in pivotal connection with a respective left- or right-side :5 lower, rear pivot mount (not shown) which is defined or mounted upon the seat support frame 11. Typically, for example, the rear, lower pivot mounts are defined by pivot pins mounted in the region of coupling between the seat backrest 22 and the seating member 12.

An upper end of each of the front arms 24a, 24b is in pivotal connection with a s respective left- or right-side upper, front pivot mount defined on the left- or right- side, respectively, of an outer side wall of the movable seat cushion 18a.

Similarly, an upper end of each of the rear arms 24c, 24d is in pivotal connection with a respective left- or right-side upper, rear pivot mount defined on the left- or right-side, respectively, of the outer side wall of the movable seat cushion 18a. In lo Figure 4, for example, left-side, upper front and rear pivot mounts 28a, 28b are visible on the outer surface of the movable seat cushion 18a for connection with the upper ends of the arms 24a, 24c respectively. The right-side support arms 24b, 24d are mounted in a similar fashion.

Is The lower, front pivot mounts (not visible in Figures 1 to 3) are located approximately half way between the front and rear sides lea, 1 Ob of the assembly 10. The parallelogram mechanism 24 is configured so as to allow the movable seat cushion 18a thereof to be moved between lowered and raised positions as the front and rear arm pairs, 24a, 24b and 24c, 24d respectively, are caused to pivot so about their respective mounts. The arms 24a-24d are sized and mounted so that during all stages of said pivotal movement they are maintained in substantially parallel alignment with one another (i.e. each arm is in alignment with both the other arm of its pair and with the two arms of the other pair). For example, the arms 24a-24d may be of substantially the same length with their respective pivot as mounts located in the same horizontal plane on the seat support frame 11.

The steps involved in moving the seat cushion 18a between the stowed and opened positions will now be described in further detail. In Figure 1, the movable seat cushion 18a is shown in the lowered position in which the support arms 24a- 24d (not visible in Figure 1) are pivoted fully forwards so that the front middle s seat cushion 18a locates between the outer seat cushions 16, 20 upon the front support piece 26. In this situation the parallelogram mechanism 24 is 'collapsed' or 'folded' so that the upper surface of the middle seat cushion 18a is substantially flush with upper surfaces of the outer cushions 16, 20 of the seating member 12, and also with that of the rear-middle seat cushion lab.

If the front side of the movable seat cushion 18a is lifted by pulling upwards (i.e. as indicated by arrow X in Figure 2), the support arms 24a24d are caused to pivot rearwards about their respective pivot mounts so that the movable seat cushion 18a is elevated out of the lowered position. Figure 2 shows the movable seat cushion 18a when in a partially-elevated position, in which the movable seat cushion 18a part-covers the rearmiddle seat cushion 18b with a relatively small clearance being defined therebetween. Throughout the aforementioned movement, due to the parallelogram nature of the mechanism 24 the movable seat cushion 18a is maintained substantially horizontally (and parallel with the rear JO seat cushion lab).

As shown in Figure 3, when the movable seat cushion 18a is fully raised, the support arms 24a-24d extend substantially vertically downwards, with the movable seat cushion 18a overlaying, but vertically spaced above, the rear-middle as seat cushion 18b by a relatively large amount. When in this position, the movable seat cushion 18a is in an opened position and defines an arm-rest facility for a seated passenger.

It is desirable to ensure that the movable seat cushion 18a can be retained in a secure position when fully raised so as to prevent inadvertent lowering thereof.

For this purpose, the front and rear arm pairs, 24a, 24b and 24c, 24d, are adapted to include a locking or retaining means for retaining the arms in a fixed position s when the movable seat cushion 18a is fully raised. Said retaining means is illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, where the left-side links means 24a, 24c is illustrated.

The left-side, lower pivot mounts 29a, 29b for the left-side support arms 24a, 24c are also visible in Figures 5 to 7. Each of the support arms (e. g. 24a, 24c) is also provided with an elongate aperture (e.g. 31a, 31c respectively) within which a lo respective one of the lower pivot mounts 29a, 29b locates. The provision of the elongate apertures 31a, 31c permits a small degree of vertical, upwards and downwards movement of the parallelogram mechanism 24 i.e. between vertically-raised and verticallylowered positions. It will be appreciated that movement of the seat cushion 18a between the vertically-raised and vertically- lowered positions differs from pivotal movement of the seat cushion 18a between its opened and stowed positions, as allowed by folding and unfolding the parallelogram mechanism 24.

The lower end of each support arm 24a, 24c is provided with a recess, 35a, 35c so respectively, within which a respective one of first and second catch members 33a, 33b engages in a catched fashion. In the position shown in Figure 5, the catch members 33a, 33b are engaged within their respective recesses 35a, 35c.

Through co-operation between the catch members 33a, 33b and their recesses 35a, 35c, inadvertent lowering of the parallelogram mechanism 24 is prevented, :5 even if the movable seat cushion 18a is 'pushed' forwards or lent upon.

In Figure 6, the movable seat cushion 18a is shown in a position in which it has been raised slightly in a vertical direction (i.e. the verticallyraised position), causing the catch members 33a, 33b to disengage from their recesses 35a, 35c at the lower ends of the arms 24a, 24c. The parallelogram mechanism 24 can then s be moved forwards in a pivotal fashion, collapsing the parallelogram mechanism 24 to allow lowering of the seat cushion 18a into the stowed position (as indicated by arrow Y in Figure 7).

In an alternative embodiment to that described previously, the catch members lo 33a, 33b and recesses 35a, 35c shown in Figures 5 to 7 may be replaced with an alternative retaining means for holding the parallelogram mechanism 24 in the raised position. Referring to Figure 8, one of the support arms 24c is shown to be provided with upper and lower circular apertures, 37, 39 respectively. The upper pivot mount 28b is mounted to a fixing plate 41, which in turn is mounted upon Is the movable seat cushion 18a. The upper aperture 37 is of enlarged diameter and is shaped so as to receive the respective one of the upper pivot mounts 28b, which thus projects through the aperture 37 to be secured to the support arm 24c by means of a washer 45 and a fixing screw 43. The upper pivot mount 28b is received within the upper aperture 37 in such a manner as to allow pivotal movement of the arm 24c about the mount 28b.

The lower aperture 39 is of reduced diameter and is shaped to receive a compressible button or pad 47, which is also mounted on the seat cushion fixing plate 41. If the pad 47 is not compressed, so as to project through the lower As aperture 39, it co-operates therewith so as to prevent pivotal movement of the support arm 24c. If it is required to lower the movable seat cushion 18a into the stowed position, the pad 47 is compressed or pushed by a user so as to de-couple the pad 47 from the lower aperture 39, thus freeing the support arm 24c for pivotal movement.

It is only necessary for one of the support arms (e.g. 24c) to be provided with the s retaining means 47, 39, although other embodiments envisage a similar retaining means 47, 39 being provided on another one of the arms. In this case it is necessary to compress both pads simultaneously when it is required to pivotally raise or lower the seat cushion 1 8a.

lo Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the storage container feature of the invention can be seen more clearly. A peripheral edge of the front support piece 26 defines a supporting edge for a rim 30b of the storage container 30 when located within the storage volume. The storage container 30 also includes a platform or handle 30a at its front side which is shaped to rest upon a front edge of the support piece 26.

is The storage container 30 is detachably mounted to the seat assembly 10 to enable removal from the vehicle altogether (as in Figure 10) for loading and unloading purposes, if required, by pulling on the handle 30a. The storage container 30 provides a particularly suitable storage area for children's toys, books or other items of luggage which, by virtue of the movable seat cushion 18a, can be hidden from view when the seat cushion l 8a is stowed.

In an alternative embodiment to that described previously, the movable seat cushion of the seating member 12 may be one of the outer seat cushions 16, 20 and instead the middle seat cushion 1 8a may be fixed to the seat support frame Is 11. In another embodiment, the seating member 12 may have only two seat cushions, one being fixed to the underlying seat support frame 11 and the other being split to define a rear seat cushion and a front seat cushion, whereby either the front or rear cushion of the split-seat forms part of the parallelogram mechanism 24 to allow raising thereof in the aforedescribed manner.

In another embodiment, the parallelogram mechanism 24 need not include the s four-bar support structure 24a-24d, but may have only one left-side link arm and one right-side link arm, so that the parallelogram is defined by the movable seat cushion 18a (the 'upper' link), the rear- middle seat cushion 18b (the 'lower' link) and the left- and right-side links. At all stages of movement the left- and right- side links remain in parallel alignment with one another, as do the upper and lo lower links 1 8a, 1 8b.

In a further alternative embodiment, the movable seat cushion 1 8a may form part of a parallelogram mechanism having additional gas struts. The provision of the additional gas struts assists the user in moving the seat cushion 18a between the Is lowered and raised positions, in a similar manner as is known in vehicle tailgate mechanisms.

It will be appreciated that although the seat assembly of the invention has particular application in automotive vehicles, and especially as a rear seat JO assembly where it is often required to carry children and their toys, the seat assembly may also be used in other types of transport, for example in aircraft or trains.

Claims

1. A seat assembly (10) suitable for use in a vehicle, the seat assembly s including: a seating member (12) which defines a seating surface for a vehicle passenger and a seat back member (22) which defines a back rest surface for the vehicle passenger, and a storage volume (30) for storing luggage, wherein the seating member (12) includes a seat portion (18a) which is movable between a raised, opened position in which the storage volume (30) is open so as IS to permit access thereto, and a lowered, stowed position in which the movable seat portion (18a) defines a part of the seating surface for the passenger, and wherein the movable seat portion ( 1 8a) forms a part of a parallelogram mechanism (24) for permitting movement of the movable seat portion (18a) between the opened and stowed positions.

2. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable seat portion (l 8a) forms an upper link of the parallelogram mechanism (24).

3. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the seat assembly as being a rear seat assembly of the vehicle.

4. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the seating member (12) and the seat back member (22) are arranged to meet at a rear side (lob) of the seat assembly (10).

s

5. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the seating member (12) includes first and second outer seat portions (16, 20) and a middle seat portion (18a, 18b).

6. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the middle seat lo portion is comprised of the movable seat portion (18a) and a fixed seat portion (lab) mounted upon a seat support frame (11).

7. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable seat portion (18a) is a front-middle seat portion and the fixed seat portion is a rear i5 middle seat portion (lab), whereby the front-middle seat portion (18a) is moved rearwards out of the stowed position into the opened position.

8. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable seat portion is a rear-middle seat portion and the fixed seat portion is a front-middle go seat portion, whereby the rear-middle seat portion is moved forwards out of the stowed position into the opened position.

9. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the parallelogram mechanism (24) includes a left-side link means (24a, 24c) in as connection with a left side of the movable seat portion ( l 8a) and a right-side link means (24b, 24d) in connection with a right side of the movable seat portion ( I 8a) so as to allow pivotal movement of the movable seat portion (1 8a) relative to the fixed seat portion (18b).

10. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the left-side link means includes front and rear left-side arms (24a, 24c), wherein the right side link s means includes front and rear right-side arms (24b, 24d) and wherein a lower end of each front arm (24a, 24b) is pivotally mounted to a lower, front pivot mount (29a), an upper end of each front arm (24a, 24b) is pivotally mounted to an upper, front pivot mount (28a), a lower end of each rear arm (24c, 24d) is pivotally mounted to a lower, rear pivot mount (29b) and an upper end of each rear arm lo (24c, 24d) is pivotally mounted to an upper rear pivot mount (28b).

11. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lower front and rear pivot mounts (29a, 29b) are defined by, or mounted upon, a seat support frame (11) of the seat assembly (10).

12. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in claim 11, further comprising retaining means (33a, 33b, 35a, 35c; 47, 39) for securing the movable seat portion (18a) in the opened position so as to avoid inadvertent lowering thereof into the stowed position.

13. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the retaining means includes a catch member (33a, 33b) and a co-operable recess (35a, 35c) provided on one of the arms (24a-24d).

As

14. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the catch member (33a, 33b) is engageable within the recess (35a, 35c) when the movable seat portion (18a) is in a vertically-lowered position, thereby to retain the movable seat portion (18a) in its opened position, said movable seat portion (18a) being movable into a vertically-raised position to disengage the catch member (33a, 33b) from the recess (35a, 35c), thereby to permit lowering of the movable seat portion (l 8a) into the stowed position.

15. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the arms (24a-24d) are provided with elongate slots (31a, 31c) for co-operating with a respective one of the lower pivot mounts (29a, 29b) to allow movement of the movable seat portion (18a) between the vertically-lowered and vertically-raised positions.

16. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the retaining means includes a compressible pad (47) for co-operation with an opening or aperture (39) provided in one of the arms (24c), whereby compression of the pad (47) serves to dislodge the pad (47) from the opening (39) to permit movement of the Is movable seat portion (18a) between the opened and stowed positions.

17. The seat assembly (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the storage volume is defined by a storage container (30) located beneath the movable seat portion (18a) of the seating member (12).

18. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the storage container (30) is detachably mounted upon the seat assembly (10) to locate within the storage volume, in use.

2s

19. A vehicle comprising a seat assembly (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18.