Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PASSENGER SEAT HAVING
DRIVER-ACCESSIBLE STORAGE MODULES
Reference To Related Application and Priority Claim
[001] This application claims the priority of Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/883,538, filed on January 05, 2007, the entire content of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
Field of the Invention
[002] This invention relates generally to motor vehicles, especially
large highway trucks, that have a passenger seat to one side of a driver's
seat. More particularly, the invention relates to a passenger seat that
contains driver-accessible storage modules.
Background of the Invention
[003] A long-haul professional truck driver spends his/her working
hours seated in a truck. Depending on circumstance, the driver may need to
obtain access to one or more various items, sometimes of a personal nature,
while driving on the road. Consequently, convenient access to such items is
obviously desirable.
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[004] While certain current production truck models that have sleeper
compartments at the rear of the cab offer various options for personal
storage, driver access to stored items in that area is at best difficult, and
more likely impossible, while the driver is seated in the driver's seat.
Smaller cabs that lack sleeper compartments have less available storage
space.
[005] Through survey information, the inventors have found that out
of necessity, or preference, drivers keep some items within easy reach while
driving and that when suitable storage space for such items simply isn't
present in their trucks, the drivers create their own improvised storage
arrangements using boxes, milk carton crates, etc., or they just leave items
unorganized on the cab floor, dash, or console.
[006] The inventors have also discovered that the importance of
accessible storage to a driver seems to increase with a driver's age. Because
older drivers often find it more difficult to stretch in order to retrieve far
away items and to reach down in order to retrieve articles from the floor,
they are more likely than younger ones to consider accessible storage
especially important. They also tend to want better organization that allows
certain personal items, such as medications, to be quickly found and easily
reached when needed. Convenient storage and access to items creates a
better working environment for the driver and promotes driver satisfaction.
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Summary of the Invention
[007] The present invention relates to storage modules that are
incorporated into the passenger seat of a vehicle and well-suited to address
needs of professional truck drivers. By their placement in a passenger seat,
the modules can be stowed out of the way when not being used, yet when
needed, can be opened and conveniently accessed by the driver seated in the
driver's seat.
[008] While a passenger or driving partner may also accompany a
truck driver, the inventors have found from their survey that many trucks
are occupied only by the driver. Consequently, the inventors' recognition
that the passenger seat adjacent to the driver's seat is seldom occupied has
led them to advantageously use the passenger seat as a convenient location
for storage modules.
[009] In the disclosed embodiment of the invention there are two
storage modules, one an underseat module, the other a seat back module.
The seat back module is installed in the rear of the passenger seat's seat
back, and is made available for driver use by folding the seat back down and
forward onto the passenger seat's seat cushion. The underseat module is
installed in a base of the passenger's seat, and comprises a storage bin that
is mounted on the base by drawer slides that allow the bin to be easily
pulled out for access. The modules can be used in both sleeper cabs and
non-sleeper cabs.
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[0010] In addition to their functional attributes, the modules possess
elements of good craftsmanship, pleasing visual and tactile aesthetics, and
durability, thus ensuring their desirability by customers and users.
[0011] One generic aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle
driver/passenger compartment comprising a driver's seat on one side and a
passenger's seat on an opposite side. The passenger's seat comprises a seat
cushion and a seat back that can fold down onto the seat cushion. A module
is recessed into the rear of the seat back.
[0012] The module comprises a basin having an inner wall that, when
the passenger's seat's seat back is folded onto its seat cushion, is disposed
generally horizontal and a side wall that bounds a perimeter of the inner
wall and sets the depth of the inner wall from an open face of the basin. The
module also has a closure that, when the passenger seat's seat back is folded
onto its seat cushion, is movable from a generally horizontal position
closing the open face of the basin to a generally horizontal position that is
toward the driver along side the open face of the basin and that uncovers at
least a portion of the open face of the basin.
[0013] Another generic aspect relates to a vehicle driver/passenger
compartment comprising a driver's seat on one side and a passenger's seat
on an opposite side. The passenger's seat comprises a seat cushion and a
seat back. The passenger's seat comprises a base that supports the seat
cushion vertically above a floor of the compartment to provide an open
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interior space between the floor and the seat cushion. A storage bin occupies
that space and can be moved outward toward the driver's seat through an
opening in the base.
[0014] The foregoing, along with further features and advantages of
the invention, will be seen in the following disclosure of a presently
preferred embodiment of the invention depicting the best mode
contemplated at this time for carrying out the invention. This specification
includes drawings, now briefly described as follows.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a passenger's seat in a truck
cab embodying principles of the invention, the seat back being in upright
position, and the seat being to the right of a driver's seat.
[0016] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the passenger's seat with the
seat back folded onto the seat cushion.
[0017] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the seat frame with the
back upright.
[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the seat base.
[0019] Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2 but with a
portion removed for illustrative convenience in order to show a basin that is
recessed into the seat back.
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[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective view of an underseat storage bin.
[0021] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing more detail of the basin
seen in Figure 5.
[0022] Figure 8 is a top plan view of Figure 7.
[0023] Figure 9 is a view in the direction of arrows 9-9 in Figure 8.
[0024] Figure 10 is a view in the direction of arrows 10-10 in Figure
8.
[0025] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing a tray.
[0026] Figure 12 is a perspective view of a cover and hinge assembly.
[0027] Figure 13 is a plan view of the cover and hinge assembly in the
direction of arrows 13-13 in Figure 12.
[0028] Figure 14 is a perspective view, showing closed position, of a
module that comprises the basin, the tray, and the cover and hinge
assembly.
[0029] Figure 15 is a perspective view of the module shown in the
process of being opened.
[0030] Figure 16 is a perspective view of the module showing a full
open position.
[0031] Figure 17 is an enlarged perspective view in the direction of
arrow 17 in Figure 16 showing a latch in latched position.
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[0032] Figure 18 is another perspective view of the latch from a
different direction.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0033] Figures 1 and 2 show a passenger's seat 20 in the cab of a large
highway truck to the right of a driver's seat 22 that is only partially shown.
Seat 20 comprises a base 24 mounted on a floor 26 of the cab, a seat cushion
28 mounted atop base 24, and a seat back 30 that is shown upright in Figure
1, but in Figure 2 is shown swung forward and down onto cushion 28.
[0034] In accordance with principles of the invention, a storage bin 32
is stowed within otherwise unoccupied interior space of base 24 underneath
cushion 28, and a module 34, shown closed in Figure 2, is recessed into the
rear of seat back 30.
[0035] Seat 20 comprises a structural framework shown in Figure 3 to
comprise a cushion frame 36 via which seat 20 is attached to base 24, a back
frame 38 for seat back 30 having a lower end that is pivotally mounted on
the rear of cushion frame 36, and a mechanism 40 that locks seat back 30 in
place but can be released to allow the seat back to be folded about a pivot
axis 39 downward and forward from the upright position shown in Figure 1
onto seat cushion 28, as suggested by arrow 42 in Figure 3, to make seat
back 30 generally horizontal. The seat and back frames are constructed in
any conventional manner to provide the necessary strength, and they are
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then covered in conventional manner by resilient materials, foams, pads,
etc., and finally outer fabric or leather to provide desired finished
appearance, seating comfort, and durability.
[0036] As shown by Figures 4 and 5, base 24 comprises several
formed metal panels assembled together, such as by welding, to provide a
generally box-like structure having a bottom 44 for attaching to floor 26,
and four generally vertical sides 46, 48, 50, and 52. Sides 48 and 52 include
respective horizontal flanges 54, 56 that provide for the attachment of seat
frame 36 to base 24. Bottom 44 and sides 46, 48, 50 have openings that
leave diagonal cross-braces joining corners of their rectangular margins.
Side 52 has a single larger opening 58 whose height and width are slightly
larger than the-height and width of storage bin 32.
[0037] Storage bin 32 is shown by itself in Figure 6 to comprise a
bottom wall 60 whose side margins 62, 64 curve upward as they merge into
respective side walls 66, 68. The front and rear of the bin are completed by
front and back walls 70, 72. A pull handle 74 is fastened to the bin at the
front of front wal170.
[0038] As shown by Figures 1 and 2, storage bin 32 fits within the
open interior space of base 24 when stowed. When handle 74 is manually
grasped by a driver seated in driver's seat 22 and pulled, bin 32 is pulled
out
from under the passenger's seat through opening 58 to provide the driver
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with access to the interior of the bin. The bin is returned to stowed position
by pushing it back into the open interior space of base 24.
[0039] Bin 32 doesn't slide along bottom 44, but rather on drawer
slides. A first part 75A of each of a pair of drawer slides is attached, such
as
by rivets to a respective side wall 66, 68 of bin 32 as shown in Figure 6. A
second part 75B of each drawer slide is mounted to base 24 within the open
interior space. The slides have a positive but releasable stop, that once the
respective slide parts have been engaged, prevents bin 32 from being pulled
out and separating from the base-mounted slide parts 75B unless the stop
has been released.
[0040] Figure 5 shows that the rear of seat back 30 contains a recess
within which a basin 76 is disposed substantially flush with the rear of the
seat back. The basin is secured to the seat back in any suitably appropriate
way.
[0041] Basin 76 is shown by itself in Figures 7-10 and comprises a flat
inner wall 78 that is disposed generally horizontal when seat back 30 is
folded onto seat cushion 28 and a side wall 80 that bounds the perimeter of
inner wall 78 and sets the depth of inner wall 78 from an open rectangular
face 82 of the basin. The particular side wall shown has a small step 83
about midway of its depth.
[0042] Narrow flanges 84, 86 extend outward from open face 82 along
opposite sides of basin 76 that run widthwise of seat back 30. At the far side
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of basin 76 relative to driver's seat 22, a wider flange 88 extending outward
from open face 82 joins flanges 84, 86. A ledge 90 is at the side of basin 76
that is toward the driver's seat opposite flange 88. Short vertical walls 92,
94 join flanges 84, 86 with opposite edges of ledge 90 that are parallel with
the lengths of the flanges so that ledge 90 is depressed from a plane
containing the upper surfaces of flanges 84, 86, and 88 and the open face 82
of the basin. The edge of ledge 90 that is toward driver's seat 22 is curved
for substantial congruence with the curved edge of seat back 30 that is also
toward the driver's seat. At the center of its length, flange 88 has a
formation 96 for mounting a latch that will be described later.
[0043] As shown by Figures 2 and 5, flanges 84, 86, and 88 fit
substantially flush with the rear face of seat back 30. Along the side that is
toward the driver's seat, seat back 30 is shaped such that ledge 90 is
recessed to the depth of the short walls 92, 94. The opposite widthwise
extending portions of side wall 80 contain aligned holes 98 a short distance
below flanges 84, 86 and slightly inward of ledge 90 for holding hold pins
100 (one of which can be seen in Figures 14, 15, and 16).
[0044] Pins 100 provide a pivotal mounting for a closure 102 that,
when seat back 30 is folded onto seat cushion 28, can swing from a
generally horizontal position closing open face 82 of basin 76, as shown in
Figures 2 and 14, to a generally horizontal position that is toward driver's
seat 22 along side the open face 82 of the basin and that uncovers at least a
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portion of open face 82. Figure 15 shows closure 102 in the process of being
swung open before it finally comes to rest on ledge 90.
[0045] Closure 102 comprises an assembly of several parts that are
shown in Figures 11-13. One part is a generally rectangular tray 104 shown
by itself in Figure 11; another is a cover and hinge assembly 106 that is
shown by itself in Figures 12 and 13 to comprise a flat rectangular cover
108, a piano hinge 110, and a flat rectangular mounting bar 112.
[0046] Tray 104 comprises a bottom wall 114 depressed to a depth
shallower than the depth of basin 76 and an open face 116 opposite bottom
wall 114 to allow articles to be placed onto and removed from the interior of
the tray when closure 102 assumes the generally horizontal position that is
toward the driver along side the open face of the basin, such as shown in
Figure 16, which also shows cover 108 open to allow access to the interior
of the tray. Bottom wall 114 incorporates integral bars 117 that provide
structural reinforcement while dividing the tray into several tray
compartments.
[0047] Tray 104 comprises a side wall 118 bounding the perimeter of
bottom wall 114. Along the side that is toward driver's seat 22, wall 118 has
a downwardly inclined surface 120 against which cover 108 is disposed
when in the downwardly inclined position toward the driver's seat as shown
in Figure 16.
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[0048] Figures 12 and 13 show that one of the longer side margins
of cover 108 is fastened to one leaf of hinge 110. Bar 112 is fastened to the
other leaf. By making both cover 108 and bar 112 of magnetic material,
such as a magnetic steel, assembly 106 can be removably mounted on tray
104. Opposite ends of surface 120 contain pockets for mounting small
permanent magnets 122 substantially flush with surface 120. Placement of
bar 112 flat against inclined surface 120 with the hinge axis parallel and
adjacent to the upper edge of surface 120 as in Figure 16 will cause magnets
122 to hold assembly 106 in place so that cover 108 can be swung on tray
104 to cover and uncover the open face 116 of the tray.
[0049] The magnetic material of cover 108 is used for keeping it
closed on tray 104. Tray 104 comprises receptacles 124 for holding small
permanent magnets 126 along the side of wall 118 opposite the side that
contains surface 120. When cover 108 is closed on tray 104, the margin of
the cover opposite hinge 110 is magnetically held by magnets 126. To
facilitate breaking the magnetic force holding the cover closed, the height of
side wall 118 between receptacles 124 (reference numeral 128) is slightly
reduced to allow a person's fingertips to better grip the edge of the cover
when opening it.
[0050] The magnetic mounting of assembly 106 on tray 104 allows
the assembly to be removed by pulling it with sufficient force to overcome
the holding force of the magnets. The ability to repeatedly separate
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assembly 106 from tray 104 and then re-attach it to the tray is advantageous
when one realizes that cover 108, besides being a cover for the tray also
functions as a clipboard onto which a driver can clip sheet material like
maps, travel logs, reports, etc.
[0051] As shown in Figures 12, 13, and 16, a spring-loaded clip 130 is
fastened to cover 108 along the margin of the long side of the cover that is
attached to hinge 110. With the cover deployed as shown by Figure 16,
sheet materials like the ones mentioned can be placed on the cover face and
with the driver holding the clip open, slid under the clip. When the clip is
released, it will hold the materials on the cover face where the driver can
readily see them and write on them if needed. Hence cover 108 and clip 130
effectively form a clipboard, and because assembly 106 is separable from
tray 104, the driver can remove the clipboard as needed, and thereafter re-
attach it to the tray. Even with assembly 106 removed from tray 104, the
tray can still be swung closed on basin 76.
[0052] Regardless of whether assembly 106 is present on the tray, a
latch 132 that associates with formation 96 is used to keep closure 102
closed on basin 76. Enlarged detail of latch 132 is presented in Figure 17
and 18 to show that latch 132 comprises a body 134 supported on an end of
a stub shaft 136 that mounts the latch in a hole 138 of formation 96. A
helical spring 140 is disposed around shaft 136 and held compressed by a
washer and fastener 142 on the shaft between that washer and the portion of
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formation 96 surrounding hole 138. In this way the latch can turn about the
axis of the shaft, with limited movement along the length of shaft 136,
allowed by spring 140 while the spring keeps forcing body 134 back toward
flange 88.
[0053] Figure 16 shows latch 132 in non-latching position with body
134 clear of open face 82. Figure 18 shows latch 132 turned 90 from the
position in Figure 16 with the pointed end of body 134 now over open face
82. This is the same position shown in Figure 14 where, with closure 102
closed, the latch has been turned from the Figure 16 position that allowed
closure 102 to be closed, to now place the pointed end of body 134 over the
outside of the bottom wall 114 of tray 104 to latch closure 102 closed.
When it is desired to open closure 102, latch 132 is turned to the non-
latching position, and closure 102 is then swung open by grasping a pull
handle 144 on the outside of bottom wall 114. Pull handle 144 is a separate
part, like pull handle 74, and is fastened to tray 104.
[0054] As shown by Figures 14 and 15, the outside of bottom wall 114
of tray 104 comprises two shallow rectangular pockets in which two small
rectangular ferromagnetic pieces 152, 153 are retained. The underside of
ledge 90 contains holders that hold permanent magnets 154, 156. When tray
104 has been swung fully open against ledge 90, the magnetic force between
each magnet and the overlying ferromagnetic piece aids in preventing the
tray from vibrating or bouncing on the ledge when the vehicle is operating
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and the tray is open. The magnetic forces are not so great as to make
separation difficult when the tray is to be swung closed.
[0055] Whenever assembly 106 is in place on tray 104 when closure
102 is closed, space for clip 130 is provided by a recess 146 in the side of
wall 118 that contains surface 120.
[0056] Several of the parts that have been described can be fabricated
by molding suitable synthetic materials to the particular part shape. The
synthetic materials that are used should be selected to provide proper
strength, dimensional stability, and durability. Basin 76, tray 104, and bin
32 are examples of such parts. The use of molding processes allows features
such as formation 96, receptacles 124, and bars 117 to be integrated into
their respective parts.
[0057] It is believed that adequate nighttime illumination of module
34 can be provided by existing interior lighting. That may not be true for
storage bin 32, in which case a small lamp 148 can be mounted on the inside
of base 24 above opening 58 for shining down onto the interior of bin 32
when the bin has been pulled out. The lamp is shielded from the direct view
of the driver. Figure 4 shows lamp 148 mounted on the lower face of flange
54 which spans opening 58 between sides 46 and 50 and above the bin.
Operation of lamp 148 is controlled by a switch 150 that enables lamp 148
to illuminate when the bin has been pulled out a certain distance. Actual
illumination of the lamp may be conditioned on other electric controls.
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[0058] While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has
been illustrated and described, it should be appreciated that principles of
the
invention apply to all embodiments falling within the scope of the following
claims.
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