David Norman Ewers

US Patent:

6932424, Aug 23, 2005

Filed:

Aug 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/647631

Inventors:

Louis A Rhodes - Farmington Hills MI, US
Douglas J Quigley - Rochester MI, US
Joseph L Salani - Oxford MI, US
Carl Mather - Lake Orion MI, US
John V Keane - Auburn Hills MI, US
David J Ewers - Leonard MI, US

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60N002/36

US Classification:

297 15, 296 6509

Abstract:

A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.

US Patent:

6955386, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

Aug 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/645971

Inventors:

Louis A Rhodes - Farmington Hills MI, US
Douglas J Quigley - Rochester MI, US
Joseph L Salani - Oxford MI, US
Carl Mather - Lake Orion MI, US
John V Keane - Auborn Hills MI, US
David J Ewers - Leonard MI, US

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60N002/10

US Classification:

296 6509, 297 15, 297334

Abstract:

A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat. The seat is movable transversely in the vehicle in addition to being stowable.

US Patent:

6962384, Nov 8, 2005

Filed:

Aug 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/646016

Inventors:

Louis A Rhodes - Farmington Hills MI, US
Douglas J Quigley - Rochester MI, US
Joseph L Salani - Oxford MI, US
Carl Mather - Lake Orion MI, US
John V Keane - Auburn Hills MI, US
David J Ewers - Leonard MI, US

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60N002/04
B60N002/14

US Classification:

296 66, 296 6511, 296 6513

Abstract:

A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat cushion translatable on at least one track to a position generally above a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat cushion is stowable in the tub.

US Patent:

7066519, Jun 27, 2006

Filed:

Jul 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/174923

Inventors:

Louis A Rhodes - Farmington Hills MI, US
Douglas J Quigley - Rochester MI, US
Joseph L Salani - Oxford MI, US
Carl Mather - Lake Orion MI, US
John V Keane - Auburn Hills MI, US
David J Ewers - Leonard MI, US

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60N 3/12

US Classification:

296 3714, 296 66, 297 15

Abstract:

A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.

US Patent:

7077451, Jul 18, 2006

Filed:

Aug 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/646188

Inventors:

Louis A Rhodes - Farmington Hills MI, US
Douglas J Quigley - Rochester MI, US
Joseph L Salani - Oxford MI, US
Carl Mather - Lake Orion MI, US
John V Keane - Auburn Hills MI, US
David J Ewers - Leonard MI, US

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60N 2/02

US Classification:

296 6501

Abstract:

A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly comprises at least one rear leg non-releasably secured to the floor of the vehicle. The at least one rear leg is pivotable to stow the seat assembly in the tub.

US Patent:

7377571, May 27, 2008

Filed:

Oct 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/254958

Inventors:

David J Ewers - Leonard MI, US
Gary A Kavanagh - Shelby Township MI, US
Glen M Kondratek - Sterling Heights MI, US
Carl Mather - Lake Orion MI, US

Assignee:

Chrysler LLC - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60N 2/02

US Classification:

296 6509, 297 15

Abstract:

A stowable seat assembly for a vehicle, the seat assembly including a seat, a seat receiving recess in a floor of a vehicle, an upper riser mechanism, a lower riser mechanism and a panel. The upper riser mechanism is coupled to the seat for movement of the seat between an elevated position and a collapsed position. The lower riser mechanism is coupled to the seat receiving recess for movement of the seat between a collapsed position and a stowed position. The panel is positioned between, and coupled to, the upper and lower riser mechanisms. The panel is arranged to conceal the seat receiving recess when the seat is in an elevated position, and is movable into the seat receiving recess when the seat is in a collapsed position to permit the seat to be stowed in the seat receiving recess.

US Patent:

20040100115, May 27, 2004

Filed:

Aug 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/646187

Inventors:

Louis Rhodes - Farmington Hills MI, US
Douglas Quigley - Rochester MI, US
Joseph Salani - Oxford MI, US
Carl Mather - Lake Orion MI, US
John Keane - Auburn Hills MI, US
David Ewers - Leonard MI, US

International Classification:

B60N002/02

US Classification:

296/065090

Abstract:

A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat.