Thomas Alan Downey

US Patent:

20200139858, May 7, 2020

Filed:

Oct 30, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/668998

Inventors:

- South Bend IN, US
Thomas A. Downey - South Bend IN, US
Thomas Rumler - Dowagiac MI, US

International Classification:

B60N 2/28
B60N 2/30

Abstract:

The vehicle seat includes an integral child carrier that deploys and unfolds for use as either a child seat or an infant cradle for safely transporting infants while being conveniently stowed when not in use. The child carrier includes a folding seat/cradle that in certain embodiments doubles as both an upright child seat and reclined infant cradle. The folding seat/cradle rides on its own carrier sub-frame that is mounted to the main seat back frame. The carrier sub-frame allows the seat/cradle movement between a stowed position where the folded seat/cradle lies flat within or against the seat back frame and a deployed position where the unfolded seat/cradle extends outward from the seat back frame. The carrier sub-frame includes one or more slide rails, slide blocks, a linkage member and a latch assembly. The seat/cradle includes a seat panel hinged to a back panel that unfold to form a secure seat or cradle from a flat stowed package.