Patent Application
20160046240
This document relates generally to the vehicle seating field and, more particularly, to a new and improved vehicle seat assembly incorporating embedded and hidden storage.
Vehicle purchasers and operators express a strong desire for additional and more versatile storage in their motor vehicles. This need and desire is particularly important in the smaller, more economical vehicles where storage space is at a premium.
This document relates to a new and improved seat assembly incorporating various imbedded and hidden storage molded into the seat foam pad.
In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a seat assembly is provided comprising a seat back, a seat cushion including a seating surface, a first side bolster, a second side bolster and a seat face. The seat face extends around the two side bolsters and across the front of the seat. The seat assembly further includes a first storage compartment in the seat cushion. The storage compartment has an access opening in that face. In one possible embodiment, a cover overlies the access opening. In another possible embodiment, a security lock is provided for the cover.
In one possible embodiment, the first storage compartment is provided in the first bolster. In one possible embodiment, a second storage compartment is provided. In this embodiment the first storage compartment may be provided in the first side bolster and the second storage compartment may be provided in the second side bolster. In one possible embodiment, the first and/or second storage compartment is tubular in shape.
In yet another possible embodiment, the seat assembly includes a third storage compartment having a third access opening provided in the face between the first and second bolsters. In one possible embodiment, the third storage compartment includes a third cover overlying the third access opening.
In yet another possible embodiment, the seat assembly includes a fourth storage compartment in the seat cushion having a fourth access opening and a fourth cover forming a part of the seating surface. In one possible embodiment the first, second, third and fourth storage compartments are all molded plastic bins embedded in the seat cushion.
In one possible embodiment, the security lock is an electronic security lock. That security lock is connected to a control module including a computing device. The control module further includes a human interface for entering a security code and operating the security lock. In another possible embodiment, the control module includes a speech processor for voice recognition and voice entry of the security code for operating the security lock.
In accordance with an additional aspect, the seat assembly may be described as comprising a seat back, a seat cushion and a storage compartment provided in the seat cushion. That storage compartment includes an access opening, a cover for the access opening and an electronic security lock for the cover. Further the seat assembly includes a control module for operating the electronic security lock. The control module includes a computing device. In any of the embodiments, the cover may be provided in a face of the seat assembly so as to be readily accessible.
In the following description, there is shown and described several preferred embodiments of the seat assembly. As it should be realized, the seat assembly is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the seat assembly as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the seat assembly and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the seat assembly, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Reference is now made to
The seat cushion foam 22 may be a polyurethane foam or other appropriate foam material. The seat cushion foam 22 may be freestanding or include a series of supports (not shown). The storage compartment 20 may be molded from any appropriate plastic material including polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, nylon, TPO or even combinations thereof.
Reference is now made to
Body control module 78 includes a computing device having a main processor 80, a memory 82, a network interface 84, a human interface 86, a display device such as a multifunction display with touchscreen capability 88 and a speech processor 90 that all communicate with each other over a communication bus 92. The body control module 78 performs a number of interior body electrically based functions including, for example, interior locking, remote key entry, interior light, exterior light, windshield wiper control and the like. In some embodiments, the body control module 78 may also function to control entertainment functions (e.g. radio, CD player, etc. and communications such as telephone and Internet communication over a wireless network). In some embodiments, the body control module 78 is connected by a communication bus to other control modules that provide one or more of these additional functions.
In the illustrated embodiment, the security lock system 70 may be controlled by requiring a code to lock and unlock various security locks 72. The security lock may have independent codes/keys to unlock each cover/door. In one possible embodiment this is done by means of voice commands. For example, the operator may state, “lock seat storage bins, security code WCS 1911”. The speech processor 90 would process the voice command and operate in conjunction with the main processor 80 to provide a control signal through the control line 76 to the security lock control module 74 causing the security lock 72 to be placed in the locked condition. A similar voice command could be utilized to unlock the covers 32, 58, 60, 62 to the seat storage bins or compartments. Alternatively, the operator could utilize the touchscreen display device 88 to enter the necessary code to lock and unlock the covers 32, 58, 60, 62 of the storage compartments. In still other embodiments, the covers 32, 58, 60, 62 could be locked or unlocked remotely via wireless internet connection if desired through the network interface 84 of the body control module 78. In any of the embodiments, however, it should be appreciated that the security code must be provided.
In summary, numerous benefits result from the seat assembly and embodiments described in this document. Advantageously, the seat assemblies provide additional, versatile storage without sacrificing occupant space. Further, this is achieved without degrading the comfort provided by the seat cushion. In some embodiments the covers 32, 58, 60, 62 for the storage compartments may be designed to be nearly invisible so that the storage compartments are unseen to those who do not know they are there. The security locks 72 provided on the covers 32, 58, 60, 62 may be entirely electronic and keyless and thus hidden from view and also invisible. This provides added security for those items that the vehicle operator wishes to store in the compartments out of sight.
The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, as illustrated in
