Elevated passenger car seat

Abstract

An elevated seat structure for a passenger in a rear row of a vehicle includes a rigid support structure designed to be secured to a floor of the vehicle and a passenger seat assembly mounted on top of the rigid support structure. The height of the rigid support structure is predetermined to provide an elevated rear-row passenger seat that is elevated relative to a passenger seat located in front of a rear-row passenger, the elevated rear-row passenger seat providing a forward view to the rear-row passenger through a front windshield of the vehicle, the forward view is raised relative to passengers seated in front of passengers in the rear row.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 436,121, entitled “Elevated Passenger Vehicle Seat,” filed on December 30, 2022. The entire contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to passenger vehicle seats and, more particularly, to an elevated passenger vehicle seat structure that extends the forward field of view for passengers seated in the rear of the vehicle and provides additional storage space. Background Art

[0003] In traditional passenger cars, passengers sitting in the back seats typically have a limited view of the road ahead. This limited field of view is primarily due to the linear arrangement of the rear seats, which are directly behind the front seats. As a result, rear passengers often need to awkwardly adjust their heads to look around the front passenger or driver to get a better view of the road ahead.

[0004] This inconvenience can negatively impact the travel experience of passengers who wish to observe the surrounding landscape or monitor the vehicle's progress. Furthermore, in some applications, this issue is more than just an inconvenience. For example, in military or security vehicles, the lack of forward visibility for rear passengers can pose a significant risk.

[0005] Without a clear forward view, rear passengers may not be able to quickly identify and respond to evolving dangers ahead of the vehicle. In some cases, without a clear forward view, passengers may experience motion sickness from the vehicle's movement. Currently, the rear passenger experience is quite poor. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides an innovative solution to the problem of limited forward vision for rear passengers by introducing an elevated seat structure for rear passengers to enable them to see forward.

[0007] Specifically, the present invention includes a rigid support structure fixed to the vehicle floor and a passenger seat assembly mounted on top of the support structure. The height of the support structure is predetermined so that the elevated rear passenger seats provide significantly expanded forward visibility.

[0008] In certain embodiments, an elevated rear passenger seat structure provides usable storage space beneath the seat, thereby adding additional functionality while maintaining the advantage of optimized visibility. Depending on the vehicle configuration details, the storage space may be accessible from the front, side, and / or rear of the storage space, and the volume of the additional storage space is determined by the height of the rigid support structure that provides the height of the passenger seat assembly.

[0009] Further refinements include adjustable footrests that help rear passengers comfortably stabilize themselves on the raised seats, and the footrests can be adjusted at the height of the raised seat for optimal comfort.

[0010] The present invention is versatile and can be applied to vehicles with multiple rows of rear passenger seats, such as minivans or large SUVs. This makes it suitable for a variety of vehicle types, including but not limited to passenger cars and rescue vehicles.

[0011] In addition to newly manufactured vehicles designed using the concepts of the present invention, retrofit kits including seat assemblies are also included. These kits can be used to replace existing seats in conventional vehicles with one or more rows of rear passenger seats, thereby providing extended forward visibility for a wide range of vehicle types and models.

[0012] In summary, the present invention improves the seating arrangement in a vehicle by elevating the rear passenger seat, greatly improving forward visibility, and adding additional functionality for increased convenience and comfort. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The accompanying drawings illustrate several embodiments and, together with the description, are used to explain the principles of the present invention according to the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the particular arrangements shown in the accompanying drawings are merely exemplary and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention or the claims in any way.

[0014] Figure 1A A side view illustrating an exemplary concept of an elevated passenger seat according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0015] Figure 1B A side view of another exemplary concept of an elevated passenger seat according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0016] Figure 1C An exemplary side view of a vehicle having multiple rows of elevated passenger seats is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 1D Exemplary side views of different vehicles having the elevated seats of the present invention are shown.

[0018] Figure 2A An exemplary storage bin is shown in a closed configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2B An exemplary storage bin is shown in an open configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2C An exemplary storage bin according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0021] Figure 3A A front perspective view illustrating an exemplary concept of an elevated passenger seat according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0022] Figure 3B A rear perspective view of an exemplary concept of an elevated passenger seat is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 An exemplary embodiment of an adjustable foot pedal according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 5A A side view illustrating an exemplary concept of an elevated passenger seat according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 5B A side view illustrating exemplary concepts of elevated passenger seats in various vehicles according to embodiments of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present invention provides an interior passenger seat assembly that allows passengers in rear seats to elevate for better forward visibility. Each elevated passenger seat can be provided with a footrest so that passengers can adjust the footrest as needed while seated in the elevated seat. In some preferred embodiments, the elevated seat structure provides additional storage space.

[0027] The present invention is described herein in conjunction with various elements. However, it should be noted that although the various elements of the inventive device are described separately below, these elements are not necessarily separate. Various embodiments may be interrelated and may be separated from a single module or mold. In accordance with the present disclosure, the various different ways of forming the inventive device may vary without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0028] In general, this application may describe one or more different embodiments. Further, various optional arrangements may be described for one or more of the embodiments described herein; it being understood that these are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not limited to the embodiments contained herein or the claims presented in any way. One or more arrangements may be broadly applicable to many embodiments, as will be apparent from this disclosure. In general, arrangements are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice one or more embodiments. It is understood that other arrangements may be used and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The specific features of one or more embodiments described herein may be combined with one or more specific embodiments forming a part of this disclosure. or drawings, wherein the specific configuration of one or more aspects is shown by way of illustration. It should be understood that these features are not limited to use in the specific embodiment or embodiments described or in the accompanying drawings. The present invention is neither a literal description of all arrangements of one or more embodiments nor a list of features of one or more embodiments that must be present in all arrangements.

[0029] The section headings in this patent application and the title of this patent application are provided for convenience only and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[0030] Interconnected devices and components need not be continuously connected unless otherwise expressly specified. In addition, interconnected devices and components may be connected directly or indirectly through one or more connection devices or intermediate components.

[0031] The description of aspects with multiple interrelated components does not mean that all of these components are required. Instead, various optional components may be described to illustrate various possible embodiments and to more fully illustrate one or more embodiments. Similarly, although process steps, method steps, etc. may be described in sequence, such processes and methods can generally be configured to operate in an alternating sequence unless otherwise explicitly stated. In other words, the arbitrary order or sequence of steps that may be described in this patent application does not, in itself, require that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the described process can be performed in any practical order. Furthermore, although described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously, some steps may also be performed simultaneously (for example, because one step is described after another). In addition, illustrating a process by describing it in the accompanying drawings does not mean that the process shown does not include other variations and modifications thereto, nor does it mean that the process shown or any of its steps are required for one or more embodiments, nor does it mean that the process shown is preferred. In addition, each aspect generally describes a step once, but this does not mean that they must occur once, or that they can only occur once each time the process or method is executed or performed. In some embodiments, some steps or some occurrences may be omitted, or some steps may be performed multiple times in a given aspect or occurrence.

[0032] When a single device or article is described herein, it is apparent that multiple devices or articles can be used in place of a single device or article. Similarly, if more than one device or article is described herein, it is apparent that a single device or article can be used in place of the more than one device or article.

[0033] Alternatively, the functionality or features of a device may be embodied by one or more other devices that are not explicitly described as having such functionality or features. Therefore, other embodiments do not need to include the device itself.

[0034] For clarity, the techniques and mechanisms described or referenced herein will sometimes be described in the singular. However, it should be understood that, unless otherwise indicated, a particular embodiment may include multiple iterations of a technique or multiple instantiations of a mechanism. Alternative implementations are within the scope of the various embodiments, where, for example, depending on the functionality involved, functions may be performed differently from the order shown or discussed, including substantially in parallel or in reverse order, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0035] The apparatus and structure of the present invention provide passengers with seating that provides rear seat passengers with a higher seat than the front seat passengers.

[0036] Figure 1A and Figure 1B The exemplary concepts of the present invention are explained by illustrating that the seats 130 and / or 140 for rear passengers are higher relative to the front seats 120 . Figure 1A and 1B A side view of the vehicle 100 is shown with the rear passenger seats 130, 140 elevated relative to the front seats 120. Many modern passenger vehicles 100 have a windshield 150 (e.g., Figure 1A ) so that rear passengers sitting on the raised seats 130 and / or 140 (if present) can obtain a forward view through the windshield. In an exemplary embodiment, the seats 130 in the first rear row are raised approximately 22 cm relative to the front seats 120, and the seats 140 in the second row are raised approximately 22 cm relative to the seats 130 in the first rear row. This height distance is exemplary only, but it is expected that the height difference of the rear seats will be between 5 cm and 60 cm. It should also be clear that since the height is cumulative, the height of the storage space gradually increases as the rear seats are added, which means that as the rear seats are added, the volume of the storage space under each additional rear seat also gradually increases.

[0037] As shown in the figure. The exemplary vehicle 100 of the present invention includes side windows 160 and / or 170, which provide side views for the occupants of the two rows of passenger seats, and the vehicle roof has a height to accommodate the raised rear seats, so it should be clear that the design of the exemplary vehicle 100 has the feature of supporting the raised rear seats. The side windows 160 and / or 170 not only provide viewing capabilities for the elevated passengers, but also provide aesthetic and safety features for the vehicle 100. In this exemplary vehicle, if the rigid support structure is designed with an entry port that allows items to be inserted and removed, the space 110A under the first row of seats 130 for rear passengers can be used as additional storage space. Similar to not shown in Figure 1CIn the embodiment, the support structure of the second row of seats 140 in the rear seat can provide a larger storage compartment, which can be entered through an operating opening on the front side of the rigid support structure or an operating opening on the rear side of the support structure.

[0038] Figure 1D A configuration of vehicle 100 is shown that includes a rear door or luggage extension 190 to increase the overall volume by increasing the depth of the cargo bed. This can improve the aesthetics of the elevated rear seats. In one embodiment, the cargo bed wall can include an entry door (not shown) to access a storage area directly under the seats in front of the cargo bed, thereby providing further access to the vehicle trunk area and potentially providing access to the rear side of the storage area under the second row of rear seats 140. In one embodiment of the present invention, the rear window can also be raised as indicated 195.

[0039] exist Figure 1A In the exemplary embodiment, there are two rows of rear passenger seats 130, 140, but it should be understood that the concept is also applicable to vehicles having only one row of rear seats, or even vehicles having more than two rows of rear seats. Although the exemplary vehicle 100 has features that allow the vehicle 100 to be designed / manufactured with elevated rear seats in mind, it should be understood that many conventional vehicle designs can be produced with elevated seats and with little to no modification other than disassembling the production seat assembly and installing the elevated seat assembly, thereby providing the ability to install elevated seats via a retrofit kit of parts.

[0040] Thus, in some vehicle configurations, the existing seat assembly may be removed from the vehicle frame to allow for installation of the storage bin, thereby providing height, and then the removed seat assembly may be reattached to the top of the embedded storage bin. In other configurations, the existing seat assembly may be replaced with a raised seat assembly having a supported storage bin with the seat row already attached.

[0041] For example, many conventional van designs have adopted higher roofs to accommodate the installation of raised rear seats, and many sedan designs have roofs high enough to accommodate a raised single rear seat row.

[0042] Figure 2A and Figure 2B An exemplary rigid support structure 110 is shown. The rigid support structure 110 is Figures 1A-1C110B. The rigid support structure 110 creates or encloses at least one storage space 113. In one embodiment, the storage space can be accessed by an operating opening 111. The operating opening 111 can be a door that opens by hinges, a door that slides like shutters or a garage door, or a door that can be opened and closed by any mechanism as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand without departing from the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the rigid support structure 110 is composed of support members 202A, 202B, 202C, and / or support members 202D and closure elements 204A and / or 204B that can extend between the various support members 202A, 202B, 202C, and / or support members 202D. As shown in the figures, the rigid support structure 110 can be placed under the seat 130 and / or seat 140. In addition, it can be placed on the floor of the vehicle to help improve the seat 130 and / or the height of the seat 140 .

[0043] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Also shown is a sliding mechanism 112. The sliding mechanism 112 enables the rigid support structure 110 to be moved through the sliding mechanism structure. In one embodiment, the sliding mechanism 112 can be arranged in a direction extending from the door to the middle. In other embodiments, the sliding mechanism can extend from one door to the other. The rigid support structure 110 can be moved together with the seats 130 and / or seats 140 placed or attached to its associated support structure 110 to enable passengers to move to the row of seats behind the seat being moved. The sliding mechanism 112 is shown as Figure 2A and 2B , but as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various mechanisms may be used to slide or move the seat 130 and / or the seat 140. These other mechanisms may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Figure 3A and Figure 3B The sliding mechanism 112 is shown in a configuration where the seat 130 and the rigid support structure 110A are moved toward the center of the vehicle.

[0044] Figure 2C A rigid support structure 110 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the rigid support structure extends across the entire width of the vehicle. It includes rigid support members 202A, 202B, 202C, and / or support member 202D. Other support means may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. The rigid support structure 110 may also include a closure element 204A and / or an optional closure element 204B and / or a closure element 204C. 204C, which may extend between the various support members 202A, 202B, 202C, and / or support member 202D. The rigid support structure 110 may also include an access opening 111. The access opening 111 may be a door that opens on hinges, a door that slides like shutters or a garage door, or a door that opens and closes by any mechanism as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the rigid support structure 110 may also include a receptacle 118 to accommodate a transmission assembly that is movable vertically within the vehicle. In an electric vehicle without a transmission protrusion extending through the floor, the receptacle 118 may not be required.

[0045] In one embodiment, the rigid support structure 110 may be bolted to the frame of the vehicle chassis. This may enable a suspended structure within the scope of the present invention.

[0046] In one embodiment, the rigid support structure 110 is designed to be securely fastened to the vehicle frame, for example, by bolts or welding to the vehicle frame. In one embodiment, the rails 112 supporting the rigid support structure 110 may be provided by means of a Figure 2A and 2B The coupling systems 250A, 250B, 250C and / or the coupling system 250D are shown connected to the floor by bolts. Other mechanisms known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be used to secure the rigid support structure 110 to the vehicle without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0047] In one embodiment, the rigid frame structure 110 supports a passenger seat assembly, which is secured to the top of the rigid frame structure 110 using, for example, bolts or welding. The rigid frame structure 110 and associated seat assembly are designed to pass crashworthiness tests when properly attached to the vehicle's frame and when the passenger is securely secured using an approved seat belt. The height of the rigid frame structure 110 is predetermined to provide a suitable elevated seat based on various parameters, such as the specific dimensions of the vehicle model, the number of rear seat rows, the height of the vehicle's roof, etc.

[0048] Figure 3A The figure shows how a first rear row of seats 130 can be constructed with a support structure 110A, such that, for example, a side door 111 can be opened to access the enclosed storage space within the support structure beneath the raised rear row of seats 130. The access door 111 can be configured as a hinged door with a latch, or can be configured with a mechanism that allows it to be selectively attached / detached from the entry opening. In other exemplary embodiments, the storage compartment remains open without a side door 111. Depending on the specific configuration of the vehicle, the storage compartment can be accessed from the front, side, and / or back.

[0049] Figure 3B The additional storage space 305 created by the support structure 110B (not shown) under the seat 140 is shown. The additional storage space 305 can be accessed from the rear of the vehicle, for example Figure 3B Enter through the rear door or cabin door as shown.

[0050] Figure 4 Another feature of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein one or more adjustable footrests 115A and / or 115B are provided for passengers to increase comfort and improve ergonomics for people sitting in elevated seats 130 and / or seats 140. In some embodiments, adjustable footrests 115A and / or 115B are provided for each passenger position, thereby providing an adjustable footrest for each passenger. Figure 4 While only one adjustable footrest 115A and / or 115B 115 is shown, each rear passenger in each rear seat row may be provided with their own footrest. When in their lowest position, these adjustable footrests 115 allow each rear passenger to climb into the raised seat 130 and / or seat 140. Once seated, the passenger can adjust the height of the footrest 115 to their preference.

[0051] Figure 4 The features of an exemplary adjustable foot platform 115 are shown. Figure 1A 、 1B The adjustable footrests are exemplarily shown as 115A and / or 115B, also referred to herein as adjustable footrests. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a footrest 115 may be provided in front of each rear passenger seat in the vehicle. The adjustable footrests 115 are used to create a more comfortable and ergonomic seating position for the passengers in the rear passenger seats. Figure 4 As shown, the adjustable footrest 115A and / or footrest 115B includes two scissor support members. 420, 422, each scissor support member 420, 422 is pivotally attached to the floor support member 424 at a rear end 424. A front end 428 of an actuator 426 is attached to a front end 430 of the scissor support members 420, 422, and a rear end 432 of the actuator is configured to securely abut against the bottom structure of the elevated seat ( Figure 4 Not shown in A). Figure 4 B and Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 4C , when the actuator 426 is extended and retracted, the front edges of the scissor support members 420, 422 slide along the bottom support brackets 432, 434 to raise and lower the platform 410, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 The exemplary actuation steps are shown.

[0052] In some exemplary embodiments, actuator 426 is spring loaded so that platform 410 lowers when a passenger steps onto platform 410, and then raises as the weight of the row of passengers is relieved as the passengers take their seats. Other mechanisms for raising platforms known to those of ordinary skill in the art are incorporated and contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

[0053] In other exemplary embodiments, each passenger has their own footrest 115A and / or footrest 115B, etc., and the actuators are controlled by motors, and each passenger will be able to operate their own footrest actuator control switch, which can be mounted in any of a variety of possible locations relative to the passenger seat position. Preferred locations for the actuator control switches can be directly under the individual passenger seat, or on the back of the seatback directly in front of the user, and in a location that is easily accessible when the passenger is seated.

[0054] While the exemplary embodiment includes an adjustable footrest 115, it should be appreciated that other configurations are possible. For example, the adjustable footrest platform can be rigidly attached to the front surface of the storage bin supporting the elevated seat or the rear surface of the seat in front of the elevated seating row. In another example, the adjustable footrest platform 115 can be rigidly attached to the back of a chair / seat directly in front of the elevated seat 130 and / or seat 140.

[0055] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Exemplary dimensions are shown for two different vehicles and may vary depending on the number of rear passenger seats and the specifics of the different vehicle models. Figure 5A As shown exemplarily, the height difference of a single row of rear passenger seats may be slightly greater than the height difference of a vehicle having two rows of rear passenger seats installed. Figure 5B However, this dimension is not intended to limit the present invention, as it should be clear that different vehicles may have potentially different desired differences in the height of the rear passenger seats. Figure 5A As shown, the rear seat 130 is 8.66 inches higher than the front seat 120. Figure 5B In the embodiment of the present invention, the rear seat 130 is 7.874 inches higher than the front seat 120, and the rear seat 140 of the second row is 15.748 inches higher than the front seat 120. These distances are relative. As discussed above, the rear seats 130 and 140 can be raised to 5 to 60 centimeters above the vehicle floor without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0056] As will be apparent from the examples shown in the various figures, an entire vehicle can be designed to support the concepts of the present invention. However, it should also be understood that the present invention is not limited to designing and manufacturing an entire vehicle having a raised rear seat feature. In this aspect of the present invention, a retrofit kit is provided that allows an existing conventional vehicle to have its rear passenger seats replaced with one or more aspects of the present invention.

[0057] For example, in some retrofit scenarios, the kit may only include a raised rear seat structure that is bolted to the vehicle frame when the existing seat structure is removed for replacement. Some kits may also include side windows and a storage compartment door assembly.

[0058] It should also be appreciated that any number of variations may be used to implement the concepts of the present invention. For example, rather than providing the elevated seat as an integrated structure with multiple seating positions (e.g., three seats), the elevated seat may be implemented using separate seat structures for each of the rear seats, and these separate seat structures may have different designs, including, for example, different lift distances, or the ability to swivel, tilt, or slide the seat forward / backward, etc.

[0059] As used herein, any reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the term "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0060] The expressions "coupled" and "connected" and their derivatives may be used to describe some embodiments. For example, the term "coupled" may be used to describe some embodiments to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, the term "coupled" may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact, but still cooperate or interact with each other. This is not limited to the present embodiment.

[0061] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "including," "comprising," "containing," "having," "having" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B satisfies any of the following: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist), A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists), and both A and B are true (or exist).

[0062] In addition, the terms "a" or "an" are used herein to describe elements and components of the embodiments. This is merely for convenience and general understanding of the present invention. The description should be read to include one or at least one, and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that another is meant.

[0063] Upon reading this disclosure, those skilled in the art will appreciate many alternative structural and functional designs for the system and interactive message creation process provided by the principles disclosed herein. Thus, while specific embodiments and applications have been shown and described, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise structures and components disclosed herein. Various obvious modifications, variations, and alterations may be made to the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A raised seat structure for rear passengers in a vehicle, characterized in that: The elevated seat structure comprises: a rigid support structure designed to be secured to the floor of the vehicle; and a passenger seat assembly mounted on top of the rigid support structure, wherein the height of the rigid support structure is predetermined to provide an elevated rear passenger seat that is elevated relative to a passenger seat in front of a rear passenger, the elevated rear passenger seat thereby providing a forward view through the front windshield of the vehicle to rear passengers who are elevated relative to a passenger sitting in front of the rear passenger seat.

2. The elevated seat structure according to claim 1, wherein: For a first row elevated seat structure installed in a vehicle, the height of the rigid support structure is between 5 and 60 centimeters (cm).

3. The elevated seat structure according to claim 1, wherein: The rigid support structure is configured to function as a storage compartment beneath the passenger seat assembly.

4. The elevated seat structure according to claim 3, wherein: The storage bin is provided with an entrance on at least one of the front side, the rear side, the left side and the right side of the storage bin.

5. The elevated seat structure according to claim 3, wherein: The storage bin is provided with an access opening on each of a left side and a right side of the storage bin.

6. The elevated seat structure according to claim 5, wherein: Each of the access openings is provided with an associated access door which selectively covers the access opening.

7. The elevated seat structure according to claim 1, wherein: Also included is a foot platform located at each passenger position in the passenger seat assembly.

8. The elevated seat structure according to claim 7, wherein: The foot platform includes a movable foot platform.

9. The elevated seat structure according to claim 1, wherein: Includes a parts kit for retrofitting a raised rear seat bench.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: include: Front seats, including the driver's seat and the front passenger's seat; as well as At least one row of raised rear seats, the raised rear seats being elevated relative to the front seats, each row of the at least one raised rear seats being configured to provide a forward view through the front windshield of the vehicle to rear passengers who are elevated relative to a driver or passenger seated in the front seats.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that The vehicle is configured to have two or more rows of raised rear seats, wherein each row in successive rows of raised rear seats is progressively raised to provide forward visibility through the front windshield for rear passengers in successive rows of raised rear seats, with the rear passengers being elevated relative to passengers sitting in a front row of seats in the successive rows of raised rear seats.

12. The vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that Also included are side windows configured to provide a side view outside the vehicle to passengers seated in each of the at least one row of raised rear seats.

13. The vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that The support structure supporting a row of raised rear seats is configured to serve as a storage compartment.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that Each of the storage bins has an entrance on the left and right sides of the storage bin.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, characterized in that Also included is a rear door assembly that can be opened to provide access to an entry opening on a rear surface of a storage compartment of a rearmost row of elevated rear seats.

16. The vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that Also included are adjustable footrests located at each passenger position in each raised rear seat row.

17. A support structure for an elevated seat row of a vehicle, characterized in that: The support structure includes a rigid frame configured on a bottom side with equipment for attaching the support structure to a floor frame of the vehicle and on a top side with equipment for attaching a row of passenger seats, wherein the height of the rigid frame is predetermined to provide elevated rear passenger seats that are elevated relative to passenger seats located in front of the rear passengers, the elevated rear passenger seats thereby providing forward visibility through the front windshield of the vehicle to the rear passengers, who are elevated relative to passengers sitting in front of the rear passengers.

18. The support structure according to claim 17, characterized in that The support structure is configured to function as a storage compartment beneath the elevated seating row.

19. The support structure according to claim 17, characterized in that Includes parts kit for retrofitting a raised rear seat row.

20. The support structure according to claim 19, characterized in that The kit of parts also includes a row of passenger seats to be mounted on top of the support structure.

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