Seat back mounted load floor system and method of making the same

Abstract

A load floor system for use with a vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seat back connected to the seat bottom includes a load floor member adapted for pivotal connection to the seat back and configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position when the load floor member is pivotally connected to the seat back. The load floor member may be substantially horizontal and disposed above and spaced apart from a floor surface of the vehicle when in the deployed position. A support member supports the load floor member when the load floor member is in the deployed position.

1 . A load floor system for use with a vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seat back connected to the seat bottom, the load floor system comprising:
 a load floor member adapted for pivotal connection to the seat back and configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position when the load floor member is pivotally connected to the seat back, the load floor member being substantially horizontal and disposed above and spaced apart from a floor surface of the vehicle when in the deployed position; and   a support member supporting the load floor member when the load floor member is in the deployed position.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , the seat back being configured to recline with respect to the seat bottom, the system further comprising a hinge connected to an end of the load floor member, the hinge being configured to pivotally connect the load floor member to the seat back and further configured to raise the end of the load floor member as the seat back reclines in a first direction and to lower the end of the load floor member as the seat back reclines in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , the seat back being configured to recline about a pivot point between a plurality of upright positions, wherein the hinge is disposed rearward of, and a first distance below the pivot point when the seat back is in a first upright position and wherein the hinge is disposed rearward of, and a second distance below the pivot point that is greater than the first distance when the seat back is in a second upright position that is reclined rearward of the first upright position. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , the seat back being further configured to fold onto the seat bottom, wherein the hinge is configured to position the load floor member substantially flush with the seat back when the seat back is folded onto the seat bottom while the load floor member is in the deployed position. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the load floor member is substantially parallel with the seat back when the seat back is folded onto the seat bottom while the load floor member is in the deployed position. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the load floor member is substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the seat back when in the stowed position. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the support member is pivotally connected to the load floor member and is configured to move between a retracted and a support position. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the support member is substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the load floor member when the support member is in the retracted position. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the support member is substantially transverse to the load floor member when the support member is in the support position. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the support member is a leg having a width substantially equal to a width of the load floor member and a length sufficient to support the load floor member at a substantially horizontal orientation when deployed. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the support member includes a securing member that is configured to releasably secure the support member in a position that is substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the load floor member while the support member is in the retracted position. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the securing member is configured to releasably attach both the support member and the load floor member to the vehicle seat while the support member is in the retracted position and the load floor member is in the stowed position. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the securing member is a hook configured to engage a portion of the vehicle seat. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the load floor member defines an opening extending there through to permit a user to access the seat back while the load floor member is in the stowed position. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the load floor member includes a cover member that is configured to move between a cover position and an exposed position to permit a user to selectively cover the opening. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the load floor member is disposed at least 100 mm above the floor surface when the load floor member is in the deployed position. 
   
   
       17 . A vehicle seat system for use in a vehicle having a tub defined in a floor surface of the vehicle, the vehicle seat system comprising:
 a seat body having a seat back pivotally connected to a seat bottom and configured to pivot between a plurality of upright positions and to fold onto the seat bottom, the seat body being adapted for attachment to the vehicle proximate to, and forward of, the tub;   a load floor member having a hinge, the load floor member being pivotally connected to the seat back by the hinge and configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position disposed above and substantially covering the tub when the seat body is attached to the vehicle, the hinge configured to raise and lower an end of the load floor member as the seat back pivots between the plurality of upright positions; and   a support member pivotally connected to the load floor member and supporting the load floor member above the tub while the load floor member is in the deployed position.   
   
   
       18 . The vehicle seat system of  claim 17  wherein the load floor member is disposed substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the seat back when in the stowed position. 
   
   
       19 . The vehicle seat system of  claim 17 , the vehicle having a support member receiver proximate a rear portion of the tub, wherein the support member has an engagement portion configured to engage the support member receiver. 
   
   
       20 . A method of making a vehicle seat having a retractable load floor system for use with a vehicle, the method comprising:
 providing a seat body configured for attachment to the vehicle, the seat body having a seat back connected to a seat bottom;   providing a load floor system including a load floor member and a support member pivotally attached to the load floor member; and   pivotally connecting the load floor member to the seat back such that the load floor system is disposed rearward of the seat body.