Electrification system for removable vehicle seats

Patent 6485080 Issued on November 26, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

February 2, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Johnson Controls Technology Company

Application

No. 776214 filed on 02/02/2001

US Classes:

296/65.03Seat securing device permitting seat removal and replacement

Examiners

Primary: Dayoan, D. Glenn
Assistant: Morrow, Jason

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foley & Lardner

Foreign Patent References

19743313 DE. 12/10/1998
19737268 DE. 05/10/1999
0855308 EP. 07/10/1998
2776591 FR. 10/10/1999
WO9956981 WO. 11/10/1999

International Class

B60N 002/04

Abstract

An electrification system for removable vehicle seats, includes electrical contacts located on the vehicle and electrical contacts located on the removable seat. Coupling members are provided for selectively installing the seat to the vehicle and for removing the seat to provide additional cargo space. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical contacts are arranged so that when the seat is installed, the contacts engage one another to provide power to the rear seat which in turn can be used with a variety of electrical devices, including seat heaters, seat ventilation devices, computers, entertainment or educational systems, illumination devices, and the like. In this embodiment, the electrical contacts on the vehicle are provided in the wells into which the seat coupling components fit and the contacts on the seat are located near the seat coupling members. The seat is hooked over rods within the well and rotated to its installed position. In such position, the seat is powered. There is no need to plug and unplug connectors. Alternately, the electrical contacts can be located remotely from the coupling components, as long as they come into engagement when the seat is in its installed position, or plugs which require coupling by the operator can be used.