IL93774A - Foldable seat for station wagons - Google Patents

Description

FOLDABLE SEAT FOR STATION WAGONS FOLDABLE SEAT FOR STATION WAGONS This invention is a patent of addition to The invention relates to a novel design of a foldable seat in particularly suitable station mini or similar Background of the invention Several types of folding benches are known in the prior they are mostly cumbersome and and when folded occupy a lot of space in the station space which is of most importance for the user of the vehicle as a Also the known folding mechanisms have complicated securing means of the frame to the or for putting together the seating 93216 describes a novel design for folding the back bench in a station or mini The bench mounted normally at the back of the seat folds into a minimal and forms a safety wall to seat when folded to secure the driver from the cargo carried in the empty The seat has special locking means to secure it to the when the securing means assure security of the seat during Patent 93216 refers only to the back seat bench of the station but does not deal with the other seating elements which be installed in the station or Further benches could be installed at any required order in the vehicle having either three two or a single The benches are secured to the and when the user wants to transform his vehicle from a passenger transporter to a cargo the benches are either removed out of the cabin and stored outside the or folded in several directions either backwards towards the driver or sideways towards the sidewalls of the Most known means of folding the benches are the space occupied by the folded frames is relatively and the security means for securing the frame to the vehicle sides when or to the floor when unfolded are complicated and difficult to manipulate by the It therefore e purpose of this to provide space securing means to the inner benches provided st mini busses or The system enables users to fold the benches towards the vehicle sides in an easy and quick the folded and secured benches occupy minimal when idea the benches will be secured to several locking devices on the and the frame is secured by two other folded legs which secure the bench during l The sysiem r a y suitable for either double or triple seat benches to be folded when unused towards the vehicle The maximum allowable number of seats in any such foldable bench depends on the vehicle Normally no more than three seats per bench would be practical The most popular models of the station wagons or for which the system is most suitable are namely Mitsubishi Peugoet Chevrolet and Fiat the number of seats per bench is either or one foldable to either side of the vehicle depending on the particular seating arrangement in the cabin requested by the user The foldable bench herein provided comprises a plurality of seats mounted on an shaped frame vertical leg and said vertical leg is hinged to two short horizontal frame legs at the knee position of the L shaped and said two short legs are welded to an inverted shaped frame secured to the floor of the vehicle in which said bench at a position close to said side and two subfraiTtes are provided hinged and foldable to said vertical leg frame of said shaped frame positioned at the distant end seat from said shaped and one of said foldable subframes is a leg securable by a lock to said when said bench is and the other of said foldable subframes acts both as means to fold or unfold the seat backing of said bench hinged to a vertical hinge connected to said vertical leg of said shaped and as securing means of said shaped frame to said floor when said bench is by means of a provided locking So that in the folded position said plurality of seats and seat backings are in one plane with said vertical leg of said shaped and said two subframes are folded and secured to said vertical leg and the complete structure is folded towards said leaning on said two short horizontal leg frames of said shaped secured to said floor by said inverted and when said bench is unfolded said two subframes are folded outward from said vertical securing said bench to said floor by said lock systems and said plurality of seat backings are placed perpendicularly to said plurality of In the preferred embodiment the frames are made of metal tube In another preferred embodiment the frames are made of reinforced plastic In the preferred embodiment the width of the seat and backing upholstery is adjusted to a and the length of the horizontal legs of the shaped frame is adjusted to the width of the inverted shaped frame placed closely to the side so that minimal space is taken in the cabin when the seats are The preferred design of the folded seats is particularly suitable to the popular Mitsubishi Peugoet Chevrolet and Fiat Ducato The invention can be best described in the attached 1 illustrates a side view of the folded frame and seats attached the the side 2 illustrates a side view of the unfolded position of the seat secured to the 3 illustrates a three dimensional view of the frame and 2 The vertical leg of the shaped frame 11 is hinged by the hinges 26 to the short horizontal legs 19 of same shaped The subframe 13 which acts as a security leg to the seat when is hinged to the frame 11 by the hinge 27 and is secured to the frame 11 in one position or to the floor at position 24 by the lock system The subframe 15 is hinged to the frame 11 by the hinge which also acts as a hinge to the seat backs The subframe 15 acts as a security leg to the frame securing the bench to the floor by the locking system at position The legs 19 of the shaped frame are welded to the inverted frame 12 which is secured to the floor by means The bench upholstery is built of a plurality of seats 22 and a plurality of backings 21 which are hinged by the hinge 20 and can either be in one plane with the seats or in the seating perpendicular position when unfolded the seats 22 are secured to the floor by the front leg and the side subframe and the inverted frame For folding the one releases the locks 28 of the frame and 14 of the leg frame 13 and the two and 13 are folded inwards on the frame 11 by the hinges and 27 and locked to position by the locks 28 and 14 The seat backings 21 are pulled downward on hinge 20 to be in one plane with the seats The complete frame 11 is then pushed up towards the hinging on the hinges 26 and secured to the ground by the horizontal legs 19 which are welded to the inverted which is secured to the floor by the securing means Several alternatives can exist either the system is for one seat and one seat backing or as shown in the drawings the bench is designed to have two seats and two seat backs Alternatively the arrangement could also be used for three seats and three backings should be appreciated that the number of seats 22 is limited to the cabin and could be increased if the cabin is The upholstered units 22 and 21 when folded form a security to the side wall from the cargo put in the The inverted frame 12 should be positioned as close as possible to the side but must have a space slightly larger than the upholstery width of 21 and While the invention was described in reference to the attached it should be appreciated that several other arrangements are possible using similar hinges and locks of seating benches in station mini buses or the They should all be regarded as part of this insufficientOCRQuality

Claims (12)

93774/2 -10- hat is claimed

1. A foldable seat bench comprising a plurality of seats mounted on an "L" shaped frame vertical leg and said vertical leg is hinged to two short horizontal frame legs at the knee position of the "L" shaped frame; and said two short legs are welded to an inverted "U" shaped frame secured to the floor of the vehicle in which said bench is mounted, at a position close to said vehicle's side wall; and two subframes are provided hinged and foldable to said vertical leg frame of said "L" shaped frame positioned at the distant end seat from said "L" shaped knee; and one of said foldable subframes is a leg securable by a lock to said vehicle's floor, when said bench is unfolded; and the other of said foldable subframes acts both as means to fold or unfold the seat backing of said bench hinged to a vertical hinge connected to said vertical leg of said "L" shaped frame, and as securing means of said "L" shaped frame to said vehicle's floor when said bench is unfolded, by a provided locking device; so that in the folded position said plurality of seats and seat backings are in one plane with said vertical leg of said "L" shaped frame, and said two subframes are folded and secured to said vertical leg frame, and the complete structure is folded towards said vehicle's wall, leaning on said two short horizontal leg frames of said "L" shaped frame, secured to said vehicle's floor by said inverted "U" frame; and when said bench is unfolded said two subframes are folded outward from said vertical frame, securing said bench to said vehicle's floor by said lock systems provided, and said plurality of seat backing is placed perpendicula ly to said plurality of seats.

2. A foldable seat bench as in claim 1 wherein said "L" shaped frame, "U" shaped frame, and said two subframes are made of metal tube profiles.

3. A foldable seat as in claim 1 wherein said "L" shaped frame, "U" : shaped frame, said two subframes are made of reinforced plastic profiles.

4. A foldable seat bench as in claims 1-3 wherein said seats and seat backing upholstery is made of a minimal width to occupy minimal space when folded up.

5. A foldable seat bench as in claims 1-4 wherein the length of said two horizontal legs of said "L" shaped frame are adjusted to be slightly larger than the width of said seat and backing upholstery, and said inverted "U" shaped frame is positioned at an appropriate short distance from said vehicles side wall.

6. A foldable seat bench as in claims 1-5 wherein all sizes are particularly adjusted to the Mitsubishi L-300R model .

7. A foldable seat bench as in claims 1-5 wherein all sizes are particularly adjusted to the Peugoet's J5R model .

8. A foldable seat bench as in claims 1-5 wherein all sizes are particularly adjusted to the Chevrolet's JMCR model .

9. A foldable seat bench as in claims 1-5 wherein all sizes are particularly adjusted to the Fiat DucatoR mode 1.

10. A foldable seat bench as in claims 1-9 wherein a one seat bench is used. V 93774/2 -13-

11. A foidable seat bench as in claims 1-9 wherein a three seat bench is used..

12. A foidable seat bench as in claims 1-9 and as illustrated in the attached drawings wherein a two seat bench is used. For the Applicants, DR PARTNERS