초록 ▼

A unique and versatile seating system for automobiles is provided. The seating system includes aspects to improve the functionality of the seating arrangement while maintaining the safety and comfort of the automotive seats. In certain embodiments, the seating system includes a reversible automotive

A unique and versatile seating system for automobiles is provided. The seating system includes aspects to improve the functionality of the seating arrangement while maintaining the safety and comfort of the automotive seats. In certain embodiments, the seating system includes a reversible automotive seat that includes a seat cushion and a backrest. The backrest is movable between a forward seating position and a rearward seating position and includes an integrated restraint system which is operable to secure an occupant seated when the backrest is in either the forward or rearward seating positions.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion which, in a first position, is tilted such that a front seating portion is positioned slightly higher than a rear seating portion, and a second position where said seat cushion is tilted such that the rear port

The invention claimed is: 1. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion which, in a first position, is tilted such that a front seating portion is positioned slightly higher than a rear seating portion, and a second position where said seat cushion is tilted such that the rear portion is positioned slightly higher than the front portion; and a backrest having a front face and a back face, a forward seating position having a seating surface generally defined by said front face of the backrest and said seat cushion in said first position and a rearward seating position having a seating surface generally defined by the back face of the backrest and the seat cushion in said second position; wherein the backrest back face is contoured by use of a bladder system while maintaining the front face substantially planar. 2. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising: a lap and shoulder restraint system integrated wit the backrest for use in connection with either of said front or back faces of said backrest. 3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said lap and shoulder restraint system includes a buckle pivotally attached to said backrest. 4. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said lap and shoulder restraint system includes a shoulder strap that retracts into said backrest at or near a top of said backrest. 5. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said lap and shoulder restraint system includes a lap strap pivotally attached to said backrest at or near a bottom of said backrest. 6. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said backrest front face is expanded by use of the bladder system while said rear face is substantially planar or concave. 7. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said backrest front face is contoured to provide lateral support. 8. The invention according to claim 2, further comprising a reversible pocket selectively attached to the backrest for retaining articles for travel, wherein the pocket is adjacent the back face of the backrest when the backrest is in the forward seating position and is adjacent the front face of the backrest when the backrest is in the rearward seating position. 9. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said backrest back face is contoured to provide lateral support. 10. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said seat cushion is contoured to provide lateral support. 11. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said backrest is movable between a forward seating position where said backrest is coupled to said rear portion of the seat cushion and a rearward seating position where said backrest is coupled to said front portion of the seat cushion. 12. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said backrest is operatively locked in a rearward seating position by a locking mechanism disposed between said backrest and said seat cushion. 13. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said backrest includes a recline mechanism for altering the angle between the backrest and the seat cushion, wherein the recline mechanism is operable with the backrest in either the forward seating position or the rearward seating position. 14. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising an armrest pivotally attached to the backrest which can be pivoted to provide arm support for a seat occupant when the backrest is in either the forward or rearward seating positions. 15. The invention according to claim 14, further comprising a stop that prevents movement of said armrest below a generally horizontal plane. 16. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said bladder system is comprised of a plurality of bladders to provide support on either of the front face or the rear face of the backrest. 17. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said backrest has a horizontal cross section having two lateral sides and a midsection therebetween, wherein said cross section is wider at each lateral side than in the midsection. 18. The invention according to claim 8 further comprising: a stationary base member adapted to be secured to a vehicle floor and to the seat cushion; a seat track affixed to the lower surface of the seat cushion and slidably coupled to the stationary base member; and a first caster fixedly attached to the seat cushion nearest the front face. 19. The invention according to claim 18 further comprising a second caster fixedly attached to the seat cushion nearest the rear face. 20. The invention according to claim 19 wherein the first and second casters rest upon the vehicle floor during operation. 21. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion which, in a first position, is tilted such that a front seating portion is positioned slightly higher than a rear seating portion, and a second position where said seat cushion is tilted such that the rear portion is positioned slightly higher than the front portion; a backrest having a front face and a back face, a forward seating position having a seating surface generally defined by said front face of the backrest and said seat cushion in said first position and a rearward seating position having a seating surface generally defined by the back face of the backrest and the seat cushion in said second position; and an airbag deactivation device which deactivates an airbag when the seat is in said rearward seating position. 22. The invention according to claim 21, wherein the airbag deactivation device is a limit switch. 23. The invention according to claim 21, wherein the airbag deactivation device is a proximity switch. 24. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion having a front portion and a rear portion; a backrest coupled to the seat cushion and movable between a forward seating position where the backrest adjoins the rear portion and a rearward seating position where the backrest adjoins the front portion, said backrest having a front face and a back face; a restraint system integrated with the backrest for use when said backrest is in either the forward seating position or the rearward seating position; and an adjustable lumbar support retained within the backrest between the front face and the back face, wherein the lumbar support is selectively adjustable to support an occupant when the backrest is in either the forward or rearward seating positions; wherein said front face includes front lateral supports for use when the backrest is in the forward seating position, and said back face includes rear lateral supports for use when the backrest is in the rearward seating position. 25. The invention according to claim 24, further comprising a recline mechanism for altering the angle between the backrest and the seat cushion, wherein the recline mechanism is operable with the backrest in either the forward seating position or the rearward seating position. 26. The invention according to claim 24, further comprising an armrest pivotally attached to the backrest which can be pivoted to provide arm support for a seat occupant when the backrest is in either the forward or rearward seating positions. 27. The invention according to claim 26, further comprising a stop that prevents movement of said armrest below a horizontal plane. 28. The invention according to claim 24, further comprising a pocket selectively attached to the backrest for retaining articles, wherein the pocket is juxtaposed with the back face of the backrest when the backrest is in the forward seating position and is juxtaposed with the front face of the backrest when the backrest is in the rearward seating position. 29. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion which, in a first position, is tilted such that a front seating portion is positioned slightly higher than a rear seating portion, and a second position where said seat cushion is tilted such that the rear portion is positioned slightly higher than the front portion; a backrest having a front face and a back face, a forward seating position having a seating surface generally defined by said front face of the backrest and said seat cushion in said first position and a rearward seating position having a seating surface generally defined by the back face of the backrest and the seat cushion in said second position; and a reversible pocket selectively attached to the backrest for retaining articles for travel, wherein the pocket is adjacent the back face of the backrest when the backrest is in the forward seating position and is adjacent the front face of the backrest when the backrest is in the rearward seating position; wherein said pocket is attached to said backrest by an elastic material. 30. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion having a front portion and a rear portion; a backrest coupled to the seat cushion and movable between a forward seating position where the backrest adjoins the rear portion and a rearward seating position where the backrest adjoins the front portion, said backrest having a front face and a back face; a restraint system integrated with the backrest for use when said backrest is in either the forward seating position or the rearward seating position; and an airbag deactivation device which deactivates the airbag when the backrest is in the rearward seating position; wherein said front face includes front lateral supports for use when the backrest is in the forward seating position, and said back face includes rear lateral supports for use when the backrest is in the rearward seating position. 31. The invention according to claim 30, wherein the airbag deactivation device is a limit switch. 32. The invention according to claim 30, wherein the airbag deactivation device is a proximity switch. 33. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion having a base, a front seating portion and a rear seating portion; a guide member affixed to the seat cushion, said guide member extending from a first end adjacent the front portion to a second end adjacent the rear portion; a seat bracket slidably engaged with said guide member; a backrest coupled to the seat cushion by said seat bracket and slidably movable along the guide member between a forward seating position when the backrest adjoins the rear portion and a rearward seating position when the backrest adjoins the front portion; and a biasing member operably connected to said guide member to tilt said front seating portion of said seat cushion such that said front portion is positioned higher than said rear portion when in said forward seating position; wherein said biasing member further comprises a first pivoting cam coupled to said guide member near said first end, wherein said first cam is positioned to tilt said front portion of the seat cushion above the rear portion when said backrest is in said forward seating position. 34. The invention according to claim 33, further comprising a lap and shoulder restraint system integrated with the backrest for use in connection with either a front face or a back face of said backrest. 35. The invention according to claim 33, wherein said guide member includes a pair of linear tracks. 36. The invention according to claim 33, wherein said guide member includes a pair of arcuate tracks. 37. The invention according to claim 33, wherein said guide member includes an elongated tube. 38. The invention according to claim 37, wherein said guide member cooperates with at least one follower block attached to said seat bracket. 39. The invention according to claim 33, wherein said first pivoting cam is displaced by said seat bracket when said backrest is in said rearward seating position. 40. The invention according to claim 39, wherein the first cam is generally vertically biased and said first cam is caused to be rotated generally horizontally when the backrest is in the rearward seating position. 41. The invention according to claim 33, wherein said biasing member further comprises a second pivoting cam coupled to the guide member near said second end, wherein said second cam is positioned to tilt said rear portion of the seat cushion above the front portion when said backrest is in said rearward seating position. 42. The invention according to claim 41, wherein said second pivoting cam is displaced by said seat bracket when said backrest is in said forward seating position. 43. The invention according to claim 41, wherein the second cam is generally vertically biased and said second cam is caused to be rotated generally horizontally when the backrest is in the forward seating position. 44. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion having a base, a front seating portion and a rear seating portion; a guide member affixed to the seat cushion, said guide member extending from a first end adjacent the front portion to a second end adjacent the rear portion; a seat bracket slidably engaged with said guide member; a backrest coupled to the seat cushion by said seat bracket and slidably movable along the guide member between a forward seating position when the backrest adjoins the rear portion and a rearward seating position when the backrest adjoins the front portion; a biasing member operably connected to said guide member to tilt said front seating portion of said seat cushion such that said front portion is positioned higher than said rear portion when in said forward seating position; and a locking member at each end of said guide member for securing the backrest in either the forward seating position or the rearward seating position. 45. An automotive seat for a vehicle comprising: a seat cushion which, in a first position, is tilted such that a front seating portion is positioned slightly higher than a rear seating portion, and a second position where said seat cushion is tilted such that the rear portion is positioned slightly higher than the front portion; a backrest having a front face and a back face, a forward seating position having a seating surface generally defined by said front face of the backrest and said seat cushion in said first position and a rearward seating position having a seating surface generally defined by the back face of the backrest and the seat cushion in said second position; and a reversible pocket selectively attached to the backrest for retaining articles for travel, wherein the pocket is adjacent the back face of the backrest when the backrest is in the forward seating position and is adjacent the front face of the backrest when the backrest is in the rearward seating position; wherein said pocket is attached at lateral sides of the backrest.