US20050104424A1

US20050104424A1 - Seat assembly for vehicles

Info

Publication number: US20050104424A1
Application number: US10/939,032
Authority: US
Inventors: Sang Do Park
Original assignee: Kia Motors Corp
Current assignee: Kia Corp
Priority date: 2003-11-14
Filing date: 2004-09-10
Publication date: 2005-05-19
Also published as: JP2005145432A; CN1616273A; KR100534391B1; KR20050046830A

Abstract

A seat assembly of a vehicle includes a folding seat furnished on a side of a main seat that is mounted on a floor panel. A pair of guide rails are furnished on top of the floor panel so as to allow sliding thereon, a main frame is fixed on top of the guide rails, and a first seat is mounted on one side of the top of the main frame such that a first seat cushion may rotate thereon. Also, a second seat, whose second seat cushion is mounted on top of the main frame in a folding fashion, is provided so that the seat cushion may be folded to be substantially parallel with the first seat.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Korean Application No. 10-2003-0080420, files Nov. 14, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat assembly for vehicles. More specifically, the seat assembly includes a folding type seat furnished on a side portion of a main seat that is mounted on a floor panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of seat arrangements are furnished for vehicles to improve on passenger comfort. An example of such is disclosed in the Korea Utility Model Gazette No. 96-21413 (dated Jul. 18, 1996) which concerns a folding jump seat system. A jump seat in this case refers to a folding type auxiliary seat furnished in the passage compartment between passenger seats. If a passenger changes seats within the vehicle the jump seat is often folded to secure a passage.
Such existing seat assemblies include a rail part that is furnished on a floor panel of a vehicle so as to allow sliding. A main seat cushion is furnished at the top of the rail part so as to allow rotation. A jump seat is connected to one side of the seat cushion with a folding member. A cushion frame is furnished within the seat cushion and the cushion frame and rail part are furnished with a rotation part so that the seat cushion may rotate. The seat cushion is also furnished with a seat lumbar support that can be folded.
In addition, the jump seat itself includes a seat cushion and a lumbar support (seat back) that fold together. A folding member is furnished at the bottom of the jump seat cushion so that it is fixed at and supported by a cushion frame of the seat cushion of a main seat. A tray or table is furnished on the back of the seat lumbar support of the jump seat so that objects may be placed on it when the seat lumbar support is in a folded position.
However, such an existing seat assembly causes the problem of not being able to use the jump seat when the main seat is rotated. Specifically, if the main seat cushion is rotated, the jump seat rotates with it. Since the jump seat must be manipulated in a folded state, it results in the inconvenience of not being able to use the jump seat as a table at this time. In addition, with the jump seat mounted on one side of the main seat cushion, the seat assembly is mounted on the floor panel in an eccentric position, thus the width of the rail part is narrower compared with the size of the seat assembly so as to be unstable. Moreover, the jump seat causes noise generation during operation. Furthermore, to rotate the seat cushion of the main seat, the jump seat must be folded and a car door near the main seat opened. As a result, it is inconvenient to rotate the seat cushion of the main seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention a seat assembly for vehicles is provided wherein a foldable jump seat is furnished on a side of a rotating main seat mounted on a floor panel. Such a seat assembly is accomplished with a pair of guide rails that are furnished on top of a floor panel so as to allow sliding. A main frame is fixed on top of the guide rails and a rotating main seat is mounted on one side of the top of the main frame so that the first seat cushion may rotate. A second seat includes a second seat cushion mounted on top of the main frame in a folding fashion such that it is parallel with the first seat.
It is preferable that, regardless of the rotated position of a first seat, the second seat is located at the identical direction with respect to a first seat. It is also preferable that, regardless of the rotated position of the first seat, the second seat may be folded and unfolded so that it may be used as a table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a seat assembly for vehicles according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 illustrates a seat arrangement of a vehicle in which a seat assembly is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a seat assembly for vehicles includes a pair of guide rails 110 furnished on a floor panel so as to allow sliding. A main frame 120 is fixed on top of the guide rails 110 and a first seat 130 is mounted on one side of the top of the main frame 120 so that a first seat cushion 131 may rotate. A jump seat or second seat 140 is provided with a seat cushion 141 mounted on top of the main frame 120 in a folding fashion such that it can be positioned parallel with the first seat 130.
A rail structure is additionally installed on a car body floor panel so that the guide rails 110 may slide thereon. On top of the main frame 120 are furnished a revolving member 121 and a folding member 122. The revolving member 121 and folding member 122 are combined with the first seat cushion 131 and the jump seat cushion 141, respectively. A revolving member 121 allows the first seat 130 to revolve in the front or rear direction of the vehicle on top of the main frame 120. A folding member 122 allows the jump seat 140 to be raised and folded.
The first seat 130 preferably includes a first seat cushion 131 and a first lumbar support part 132. An angle of the lumbar support part 132 may be adjusted with respect to the first seat cushion 131. The jump seat 140 includes a seat cushion 141 and a lumbar support part 142 whose angle may be adjusted with respect to the seat cushion 141.
According to the seat assembly for vehicles of the present invention, guide rails 110 are fixed at a bottom of a main frame 120 to manipulate the seat in front and rear directions. Thus, the width between guide rails may be established to be wider in comparison to the prior art designs. Also, the center of gravity of the combined seats is located horizontally between the guide rails, preferably as close as possible to a center point between the rails. Thus, due to the wider guide rail stance and center of gravity position, seat rigidity and reduction of noise generation can be promoted.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the first seat 130 and the jump seat 140 are mounted on the main frame 120 independently from each other. Therefore, the first seat 130 alone may be rotated with the location of the jump seat 140 being fixed. As a result, the lumbar support of the jump seat 140 alone may be folded and used as a table.
In addition, since rotation of the first seat 130 may be manipulated without a car door being opened, it is convenient to use. The seat assembly for vehicles improves rigidity of the seat assembly because a revolving first seat and a folding second seat are mounted so as to allow independent manipulation on the main frame so as to allow sliding in front and rear directions. The present invention enables various seat arrangements and effectively increases convenience for use.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for vehicles, comprising:

a pair of guide rails configured for placement on top of a floor panel so as to allow sliding;

a main frame fixed on top of the guide rails;

a first seat mounted on one side of a top of the main frame so that a first seat cushion may rotate; and

a second seat whose second seat cushion is mounted on top of the main frame in a folding fashion so as to make it substantially parallel with the first seat.

2. The seat assembly recited in claim 1, wherein regardless of a rotational location of the first seat, the second seat is located at an identical direction with respect to the first seat.

3. The seat assembly recited in claim 2, wherein regardless of a rotational location of the first seat, the second seat may be folded and unfolded so that it may be used as a table.

4. The seat assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said assembly has a center of gravity positioned between said rails.

5. A seat assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

at least two guide rails;

a main cross frame rail slidably coupled with said at least two guide rails, where said main cross frame rail crosses said at least two guide rails substantially perpendicularly and slides on said at least two guide rails;

a revolving member movably coupled with said main cross frame rail;

a first seat coupled with said revolving member such that said first seat can revolve in a front or rear direction of a vehicle on top of said main cross frame rail;

a folding member foldably coupled with said main cross frame rail; and

a second seat coupled with said folding member such that said second seat can be raised and folded with respect to said main cross frame rail.

6. The seat assembly as in claim 5, wherein said assembly has a center of gravity positioned between said guide rails.