System for converting interior of vehicle into sleep or loading space

Abstract

Systems, mechanisms, and components for converting an interior of a vehicle into a sleep space are disclosed. The vehicle may have a front seat with a modular back support that may be transitioned to reduce seat height such that the back support may tilt horizontally rearward and lie flat with a bottom support of the rear seat. The modular back support may have an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section may be folded or retracted into the lower section. In addition, the head restraint of the front row of seats can also be retracted into the modular back support to reduce the seat height. A middle section of the vehicle where the center console and armrest are located may also be transitioned to create a continuous flat surface within the vehicle.

Description

[0001] Statement RE: Federally Sponsored Research / Development

[0002] not applicable Technical Field

[0003] Various embodiments and aspects described herein relate to systems, mechanisms, and components for converting the interior of a vehicle into a sleeping space primarily by fully reclining the vehicle's front seats into a substantially flat position. Background Art

[0004] Vehicles such as cars, trucks, or SUVs are primarily designed for a driver and passengers to sit inside and travel to their desired destination. Although most vehicles offer reclining seat options for the front driver and passenger seats, few offer the option of sleeping. If the user of the vehicle wants to convert the interior of the vehicle into a sleeping space with a spacious and substantially flat space for them to lie on, such a conversion may be necessary. In addition, the few vehicles that offer the option of reconfiguring the front seats for sleeping have various other problems.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved apparatus, system, and method for converting the interior of a vehicle into a sleeping space. Summary of the invention

[0006] Various embodiments and aspects disclosed herein address the needs discussed above, the needs discussed below, and needs known in the art.

[0007] A system, mechanism and component for converting the interior of a vehicle into a sleeping space is disclosed. The vehicle may have a front seat with a modular back support that can be retracted and reduce the seat height so that the back support can be tilted back horizontally and laid flat with the bottom support of the rear seat. The modular back support may have an upper segment and a lower segment, wherein the upper segment can be retracted into the lower segment. The upper modular segment may have a narrower thickness than the lower modular segment, or may be converted to have a narrower thickness. Therefore, the upper modular segment can be retracted into the lower modular segment via a telescoping mechanism. Alternatively, the modular back support can be folded to reduce the seat height. The headrests of the front seats can also be retracted into the modular back support to reduce the seat height. The middle segment of the vehicle where the center console and armrests are located can also be transformed to create a continuous flat surface in the vehicle. Therefore, the user can flatten the middle segment of the seat and the vehicle to create a flat surface, thereby placing it horizontally or diagonally in the interior of the vehicle.

[0008] In one aspect, a method for converting a seat of a vehicle into a sleeping space is disclosed. The method may include the steps of folding an upper modular support backward around a hinge behind a lower modular support to reduce a combined total height of a back support composed of the upper modular support and the lower modular support; widening a gap distance between a front passenger seat and a rear passenger seat so that the gap distance is greater than or equal to a desired height of the back support; and tilting the back support to a horizontal position around a hinge between the front passenger seat and the rear passenger seat so that a support surface of the front passenger seat is flush with a seating surface of the rear passenger seat. In the method, the tilting step may be performed by folding. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, and wherein:

[0010] 1A-1B are schematic side views of the front and rear seats of a conventional automobile transformed into a reclining position;

[0011] Figure 2A-2D is a side view of front and rear seats of a vehicle wherein the front seats are transformed into a substantially flat surface with a bottom support of the rear seats;

[0012] Figure 3A-3C is a side view of another embodiment in which the front seat is transformed into a substantially flat position;

[0013] Figure 4A-4D is a side view of another embodiment in which the front seat is transformed into a substantially flat position;

[0014] Figure 5A-5D is a side view of another embodiment in which the front seat is transformed into a substantially flat position;

[0015] Figure 6A-6E is a side view of another embodiment in which the front seat is transformed into a substantially flat position;

[0016] Figure 7A-7E is a side view of another embodiment in which the front seat is transformed into a substantially flat position;

[0017] Figure 8A-8C is a side view of another embodiment in which the front seat is transformed into a substantially flat position;

[0018] Figure 9A-9D is a side view of another embodiment in which the front seat is transformed into a substantially flat position;

[0019] Figure 10A-10Bis a side view of another embodiment in which the front seat is transformed into a substantially flat position;

[0020] Figures 11A-11C is a side view of a seat conversion for an aircraft seat;

[0021] Fig.12 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle converted into a substantially flat and continuous sleeping area;

[0022] Fig.13 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle with an armrest of the vehicle filling a mid-segment gap;

[0023] Figure 14A-Figure 14C One embodiment showing how the handrail can move and fill the mid-segment gap;

[0024] Fig.15 Another embodiment is shown in which the mid-segment gap is covered and filled;

[0025] Fig.16 Another embodiment is shown in which the mid-segment gap is covered and filled;

[0026] Fig.17 is a perspective view of a rear seat of a vehicle having a storage area for sleeping accessories;

[0027] Fig.18 is a perspective view of a substantially flat sleeping area of ​​a vehicle having a surface with additional features;

[0028] Fig.19 is a perspective view of a substantially flat interior area of ​​a vehicle having space for storing objects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Now referring to the drawings, a system, mechanism and components for converting the interior of a vehicle into a sleeping space are disclosed. In FIG. 1A-FIG. 1B , the problem of ordinary seats in a vehicle is shown, wherein the back support 106 of the front seat 102 is rigid and cannot be tilted back horizontally to create a flat surface with the bottom support 108 of the rear seat 104. Figure 2A-2DA general mechanism for fully reclining a front row seat 202 rearward is shown, wherein the back support 206 of the front row seat 202 has modular components. The upper modular segment 206b of the back support 206 can be retracted into the lower modular segment 206a to reduce the seat height 210 so that the back support 206 is placed within the gap distance 212 between the front row seat 202 and the rear row seat 204. In addition, the front headrest 214 can also be retracted into the back support 206. Figures 3-7 show different embodiments of how the upper modular support 206b and the front headrest 214 of the front row seat 202 can be adjusted to change the seat height 210 to a desired height 234. In addition, Figures 8-9 show a folding mechanism between the front headrest 214, the upper modular support 206b and the lower modular support 206a for changing the height of the front row seat 202, and Figure 10 shows a manual removal mechanism of the headrest 214 and the upper modular segment 206b. FIG. 11 shows a seat conversion applied to other transportation vehicles, such as aircraft. Fig.12 1 shows the interior of a car 1200 in which two front seats 202a, 202b are flattened to create a substantially flat, continuous and spacious surface for one or more users to lie on. Figure 13-Figure 16 1 shows how the middle section 1202 of the vehicle interior 1200 can be substantially flattened by translating the armrest 1214 and covering the legroom gap 1206 of the rear middle seat 1204. Figure 17-Figure 19 Seats and other miscellaneous features of the interior of vehicle 1200 are shown.

[0030] More specifically, referring now to FIGS. 1A-1B , side views of the front and rear seats of a conventional automobile in a seated and reclined position are shown. In a conventional vehicle, the back support 106 of the front seat 102 may not be fully reclined and placed flush with the bottom support 108 of the rear seat 104, as shown in FIG. 1B . This may be due to the height 110 of the front seat 102 being greater than the gap 112 between the front seat 102 and the rear seat 104, as shown in FIG. 1A . Since the front back support 106 and the headrest 114 of a conventional vehicle are rigid and have limited mobility, the front seat 102 cannot be fully reclined to create a continuous flat surface along the front and rear seats 102, 104 of the vehicle.

[0031] Referring now to the remaining figures, the components and mechanisms of the front seat 202 described herein can be applied to both the driver's seat and the front passenger seat of a vehicle, particularly an automobile. The front vehicle seat 202 can be closer to the steering wheel 246 and the front windshield of the vehicle when compared to the rear vehicle seat 204. In addition, the rear passenger seat of the vehicle represented by the rear seat 204 can have the same components and features as described herein for the front seat 202. In addition, the front passenger seat 202 can be closer to the front passenger seat 202 when compared to the rear vehicle seat 204. Figure 2A-2D The steering wheel 246 of the vehicle is moved, but the relative positions of the front seats 202 and the rear seats 204 in the vehicle do not change. The components and mechanisms described herein for converting the front seats 202 into a substantially flat position can also be used to restore the front seats 202 back to their original positions.

[0032] Reference now Figure 2A-2D , showing a side view of a front seat 202 and a rear seat 204 of a vehicle, wherein the front seat 202 is transformed into a substantially flat surface to align and lie flush with the rear bottom support 208 of the rear seat 204. Before the front seat 202 is transformed, and as shown Figure 2A As shown, if the front row bottom support 226 and the rear row bottom support 208 are initially in a sloped position, these components can be flattened horizontally. Similarly, if the front row headrest 214 is initially in an angled position, it can be straightened vertically.

[0033] Further references Figure 2B , the front vehicle seat 202 can have a removable front headrest 214 attached to the top of a modular back support 206, which is attached to and pivotable to a front bottom support 226. Similarly, the rear vehicle seat 204 can have a rear headrest 228 attached to the top of a rear back support 230, which is attached to the rear bottom support 208. Figure 2D As shown, the modular back support 206 can be configured to extend from orthogonal to the front bottom support 226 ( Figure 2B The modular back support 206 can be rotated rearward to any degree to allow the support surface 236 of the front seat 202 to be placed substantially flush with the rear seating surface 238 of the rear seat 204 and the front seating surface 240 of the front seat 202. This can be achieved by shifting the front seat 202 so that the seat height 210 ( Figure 2B2) to a distance less than or equal to the gap distance 212 between the front row seat 202 and the rear row seat 204. The seat height 210 can be measured from the top of the front row headrest 214 to the bottom edge of the modular back support 206, which can be at the same level as the front row seating surface 240. Alternatively, the seat height 210 can be measured from the top edge of the modular back support 206 to its bottom edge. The gap distance 212 can be measured from the rear edge 242 of the front row bottom support 226 to the front edge 244 of the rear row bottom support 238. Alternatively, the gap distance 212 can be measured from the rear surface 220 of the modular back support 206 to the front edge 244 of the second bottom support 238.

[0034] The front headrest 214 can be configured to automatically or manually change position to move into the modular back support 206 to shorten the seat height 210 for reclining. As an example and not limitation, the headrest 214 can be moved into the modular back support 206 via a vertical direction 218, such as Figure 2C As shown. More specifically, the upper modular support 206b of the back support 206 can have a cavity for positioning the front headrest 214 therein. As described elsewhere herein, the translation of the front headrest 214 into the upper modular support 206b can be accomplished by a telescoping mechanism, wherein the thickness of the headrest 214 is less than the thickness of the upper modular support 206b. The translation of the front headrest 214 into the modular back support 206 can be accomplished manually by a mechanical mechanism or via an automatic electromechanical mechanism that automatically moves the front headrest 214 into the modular back support 206. In addition, the front headrest 214 may not necessarily be centered above the modular back support 206, and may instead be positioned closer to the support surface 236. The above-described features may also be applied to the remaining embodiments disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0035] The modular back support 206 can also be configured to be shortened in length to reduce the seat height 210 to a second height 234 ( Figure 2C ) so as to be tilted and positioned within the gap distance 212, as shown in Figure 2D The modular back support 206 may have an upper modular segment 206b and a lower modular segment 206a, wherein the upper segment 206b may be automatically or manually translated into the lower segment 206a via a vertical direction 218, as shown in FIG. Figure 2C As shown. The front headrest 214 can also be moved into the lower modular support 206a. The lower modular segment 206a can have a cavity for the upper modular segment 206b and the front headrest 214 to be placed therein. Figure 2CAs shown, the headrest 214 can be placed in the upper modular segment 206b, which in turn is placed in the lower modular segment 206a. As described elsewhere herein, the translation of the upper segment 206b into the lower segment 206a can be accomplished by a telescoping mechanism, wherein the thickness of the upper segment 206b is less than the thickness of the lower segment 206a. The translation of the upper segment 206b into the lower segment 206a can be accomplished by a manually operated mechanical mechanism or via an automatic electromechanical mechanism that automatically moves the upper segment 206b into the lower segment 206a. The above-described transformation mechanism can also be applied to the remaining embodiments disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0036] By way of example and not limitation, the height of the upper modular support 206b may be between one-tenth the height of the lower modular support 206a and equal to the height of the lower modular support 206a. The height of the upper modular support 206b may depend on how much the seat height 210 needs to be shortened by placing the upper modular support 206b within the lower modular support 206a. Thus, the boundary line 222 between the support modules 206a, 206b may be higher or lower than the boundary line shown in the figure. Because the support surface 236 may have a cushioned surface as disclosed elsewhere herein, a person using the modular back support 206 may not feel the discontinuity that may be created along the boundary line 222 by the modularity of the lower modular support 206a and the upper modular support 206b.

[0037] When the seat height 210 (eg, Figure 2B ) to the desired height 234 (as shown Figure 2C ), the back support 206 can be tilted rearwardly about the pivot axis of the pivot mechanism 224 to create a substantially flat, flush and continuous surface between the front seat 202 and the rear seat 204, as shown. Figure 2D The pivot mechanism 224 may have an axis of rotation parallel to the width of the front seat 202 and located at the point of contact between the back support 206 and the front bottom support 226. By way of example and not limitation, the pivot point 224 may allow the back support 206 to be moved relative to the front seat 202. Figure 2B The vertical position of the modular back support 206 shown in FIG. 1 is tilted backwards up to 90 to 100 degrees in a clockwise position. The modular back support 206 can also be tilted forwards up to 90 degrees in a counterclockwise position relative to the above position.

[0038] After tilting the back support 206 rearwardly in a substantially flat position, or before tilting, it may be necessary to adjust the horizontal position of the front seat 202 relative to the rear seat 204 so that the back support 206 is positioned within the gap distance 212 and a continuous, flat, and flush surface is created between the support surface 236 and the rear seating surface 238, as shown in FIG. Figure 2D For example, after the back support 206 is tilted back in the horizontal flat position within the gap distance 212, the front seat 202 can be actuated to move 216 horizontally toward the front edge 244 of the rear seat 204 to create a continuous and flat surface between the support surface 236 and the rear seating surface 238. In another example, before tilting the back support 206 in the horizontal flat position, the front seat 202 can be actuated to move 216 horizontally away from the rear seat 204 to widen the gap distance 212 to a distance value greater than or equal to the desired height 234. This will allow the modular back support 206 to pivot to the flat position more easily because the back support 206 will have more room to pivot and lay flat. For the modular back support 206 to lie flat within the gap distance 212, the latter method of horizontal adjustment of the front seat 202 may not be needed because the car seat has a flexible cushion that can be depressed when pushed against by the rear bottom support 208 of the rear seat 204. How the horizontal position of the front seat 202 should be adjusted depends on the transition of the desired height 234 of the back support 206. If the desired height 234 is short enough so that the back support 206 is tilted horizontally and placed within the gap distance 212, but does not completely fill the gap, the front seat 202 and its back support 206 may need to be moved toward the rear seat 204 after the back support 206 is tilted to create a continuous surface. In addition, if the back support 206 does not completely fill the gap distance 212, the upper modular support 206b can be pulled outward from the lower modular support 206a to close the gap between the flattened front seat 202 and the rear seat 204. If the desired height 234 is too long to allow the back supports 206 to fully recline within the gap distance 212 and create a flat and continuous surface, the front seats 202 and their back supports 206 may need to be moved away from the rear seats 204 before reclining to create a wider gap for the back supports 206 to recline and create a flat and continuous surface. When the modular back supports 206 are transformed into a substantially flat position, the gap distance 212 may be narrowed to create a continuous surface by moving the front seats 202 toward the rear seats 204 via the horizontal direction 216.

[0039] The height of the front bottom support 226 can be raised or lowered relative to the interior floor 232 so that the front seating surface 240 can be substantially flush with the inclined support surface 236 and the second seating surface 238. This can be accomplished by raising or lowering the first bottom support 226 via the vertical direction 218. By way of example and not limitation, the raising and lowering of the front bottom support 226 can change only the level of the front bottom support 226, or can also raise and lower the level of the front seat 202 as a whole.

[0040] Reference now Figure 3A-3C , shows an alternative embodiment of the seat conversion, in which the front headrest 214 can be manually removed from the front seat 202, rather than translated into the modular back support 206. Figure 3A ) can be shortened in a hybrid manner, wherein the front headrests 214 are manually removed from the front seats 202 and the upper modular segments 206b are manually or automatically translated into the lower modular segments 206a, as described elsewhere herein. Figure 3A-3C Other components and features of the seating system may be similar to those disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0041] Reference now Figure 4A-4D , shows an alternative embodiment of a seat transformation in which the modular back support 206 has more than two modular segments 404a-404c to shorten the seat height 210 to the desired height 234. The modular back support 206 can then be tilted back to create a substantially flat surface in the same manner as described elsewhere herein. The modular back support 206 can be shortened by a telescoping mechanism in which multiple modular supports 404a-404c are retracted within each other.

[0042] As an example and not limitation, the telescoping mechanism can be implemented by modular segments 404a-404c having different thicknesses from each other. For example, the top modular segment 404c can have a thinner thickness than the middle modular segment 404b, so that the top segment 404c can move downward into the middle segment 404b via the vertical direction 218, as shown in FIG. Figure 4A-4B Then, the middle modular segment 404b can have a thinner thickness than the bottom modular segment 404a, so that the middle segment 404b having the top segment 404c therein can be moved downwardly into the bottom segment 404a via the vertical direction 218, as shown. Figure 4B-Figure 4C As shown. Further description of the thickness differences will be provided elsewhere herein. The front headrests 214 can also be retracted into the modular back support 206, as shown. Figure 4A-4C , similar to what has been described elsewhere in this article.

[0043] As an example and not limitation, the heights of the top modular segment 404c and the middle modular segment 404b can be approximately equal. The height of each of the top segment 404c and the middle segment 404b can be between one-tenth the height of the bottom segment 404a and equal to the height of the bottom segment 404a. The heights of the top segment 404c and the middle segment 404b, respectively, depend on how short the seat height 210 needs to be shortened. Thus, the boundary line between the modular support member segments can be higher or lower than Figure 4A-4D More modular segments can also be added to obtain more options for adjusting the height of the front seat 202. As an example and not a limitation, there can be up to 12 modular segments that constitute the body of the back support 206.

[0044] The lowering of the plurality of modular segments 404a-404c may be performed automatically by an electromechanical mechanism, or may be performed manually using a mechanical mechanism. The front seats 202 may also be maintained at an intermediate height 402 (eg, Figure 4B ), where only the top modular segment 404c and the front headrest 214 are retracted into the middle modular segment 404b. Figure 4A-4D The plurality of modular components 404a-404c of the described modular back support 206 may also be applied to other embodiments described elsewhere herein. The remainder of the mechanism for transforming the front seat 202 and the rear seat 204 into a substantially flat and continuous surface may be the same as described elsewhere herein.

[0045] Reference now Figure 5A-Figure 5C , an alternative embodiment of a seat transformation is shown in which the upper modular support 206b is horizontally translated relative to the lower modular support 206a before being inserted into the lower modular support 206a. The upper modular support 206b can be thinner / narrower than the lower modular support 206a. This size difference allows the lower modular support 206a to have a spacing, such as a cavity, within its structure for inserting the upper modular support 206b therein. The thickness of the lower modular support 206a and the upper modular support 206b can be measured as the distance traveled from the support surface 236 toward the rear surface 220 of the front seat 202.

[0046] Although the upper modular support 206b can have a smaller dimension thickness than the lower modular support 206a, the two parts can be aligned along the support surface 236 of the front seat 202 to provide a continuous and uninterrupted surface for the user to lean his or her back against. The alignment and thickness difference between the modular segments can create an adjustment gap 504 between the upper modular support 206b and the lower modular support 206a near the rear surface 220 of the front seat 202. The adjustment gap 504 can be located on the boundary line 222 and allow the upper modular support 206b to shift horizontally backward toward the rear surface 220. The support surface 236 can also have a cushioning surface 502 along the aligned lower modular support 206a and the upper modular support 206b. The cushioning can prevent the user from feeling any discontinuity that may be created along the boundary line 222 between the modular segments in the support surface 236. The cushioning surface 502 extending along the support surface 236 can be in the form of a leather or artificial leather cushioning. The cushioning surface 502 can be divided into a lower cushioning surface 502a and an upper cushioning surface 502b. The lower cushioning surface 502a can cover a portion of the support surface 236 created by the lower modular support 206a. The upper cushioning surface 502b can cover a portion of the support surface 236 created by the upper modular support 206b. The lower cushioning surface 502a and the upper cushioning surface 502b can be placed flush with each other and create a continuous and uninterrupted support surface 236 for the user to lean on without noticing the modularity of the back support 206, especially along the boundary line 222.

[0047] like Figure 5B As shown, the upper buffer surface 502b and the upper modular support 206b can be displaced together toward the rear surface 220 via the horizontal direction 216 and narrow the adjustment gap 504. The displacement may be necessary because the upper modular segment 206b may need to be misaligned with the edge of the lower modular segment 206a (i.e., along the edge of the support surface 236 and the rear surface 220) in order to be able to move downward into the lower modular segment 206a, as described elsewhere herein. This misalignment created by the horizontal displacement of the upper modular segment 206b can be considered to create a gap for the upper modular segment 206b to move into the lower modular segment 206a. The horizontal displacement of the upper buffer surface 502b and the upper modular support 206b toward the adjustment gap 504 can be performed automatically via an electromechanical mechanism, or manually via a mechanical mechanism.

[0048] like Figure 5BAs shown, horizontal displacement of the upper modular support 206b and the upper buffer surface 502b may not completely fill the adjustment gap 504 because spacing may be required between the aforementioned components and the rear edge of the lower modular support 206a (near the rear surface 220). The upper modular support 206b and the upper buffer surface 502b may require spacing, particularly along the support surface 236 and the rear surface 220, to provide a gap with the edge of the lower modular support 206a. Such spacing to create a gap can ultimately allow the upper modular segment 206b to align with the cavity (not shown) of the lower modular segment 206a to move downward and be seated within the cavity, as described elsewhere herein. Figure 5C As shown, the upper cushioning surface 502b attached to the upper modular support 206b can also be placed within the lower modular support 206a. Therefore, the height of the front seat 202 can be changed to the desired height 234 ( Figure 5C ) to tilt the modular back support 206 to a substantially horizontal position, such as Figure 5D The front headrest 214 may be modified to achieve the desired height 234 as described elsewhere herein. Alternatively, the front headrest 214 may be transformed in a manner similar to how the upper modular support 206b may be transformed, in the current Figure 5A-5D , by shifting rearwardly and then downwardly into the modular back support 206. The remainder of the transformation mechanism of the front seat 202 and the rear seat 204 into a substantially flat and continuous surface may be the same as described elsewhere herein. Figure 5D It is not shown that the support surface 236 is completely flush with the rear seat surface 238 and the front seat surface 240, but due to the added lower cushioning surface 502a, these surfaces can still be completely flush. This may be because the rear seat surface 238 and the front seat surface 240 can have similar cushioning members.

[0049] Reference now Figure 6A-6E , shows an alternative embodiment of a seat transformation in which the upper cushioning surface 502b is retracted into the upper modular support 206b to create a space for the upper modular support 206b to be retracted into the lower modular support 206a. The upper modular support 206b can have a receiving cavity 602 parallel to and adjacent to the upper cushioning surface 502b so that the upper cushioning surface 502b is horizontally retracted into the cavity, as shown. Figure 6B As shown. The upper buffer surface 502b can be retracted back into the receiving cavity 602 in the horizontal direction 216 to reduce the thickness of the upper modular segment 206b. This change in thickness can cause the upper modular segment 206b to be misaligned with the edge of the support surface 236 of the lower modular segment 206a. Therefore, the thickness of the upper modular support 206b is narrowed to facilitate insertion into the lower modular support 206a, as shown. Figure 6CAs an example and not limitation, the upper cushioning surface 502b can be thicker and extend further inwardly in the modular back support when compared to the lower cushioning surface 502a, such as Fig. 6E As shown. This may be because the inner upper thickness 606 of the upper modular support 206b can be narrower than the inner lower thickness 608 of the lower modular support 206a, and the gap filling this thickness difference near the support surface 236 can be the upper buffer surface 502b. This design may be necessary for the operation of the telescoping mechanism that retracts the upper modular support 206b and the upper buffer 502b into the lower modular support 206a. The horizontal retraction of the upper buffer surface 502b into the upper modular segment 206b can be performed automatically via an electromechanical mechanism, or manually via a mechanical mechanism.

[0050] Return to reference Fig. 6A , there may be a pre-existing spacing gap 604 near the rear surface 220 along the boundary line 222 between the lower modular segment 206a and the upper modular segment 206b. This may be because the upper modular segment 206b is thinner than the lower modular segment 206a. The spacing gap 604 may provide the upper modular segment 206b with additional space away from the edge of the rear surface 220 of the lower modular segment 206a in order to move downward into the lower modular segment 206a. Due to the spacing and gap with the edge of the lower modular segment 206a, the upper modular support 206b and the upper cushioning surface 502b can be retracted downward into the lower modular support 206a, as described elsewhere herein. The front headrest 214 can be adjusted to be positioned within the lower modular support 206a, as described elsewhere herein, or similarly to reference Figure 5A-5D The method of transforming the upper modular support 206b. Fig.6D As shown and described elsewhere herein, this transition will result in achieving the desired seat height 234 so that the modular support 206 can be tilted rearward and placed substantially flush with the rear bottom support 208. As described elsewhere herein, the lower cushioning surface 502a and the upper cushioning surface 502b can also be placed flush with each other and create a continuous and uninterrupted support surface 236 for the user to lean on without noticing the modularity of the back support 206, particularly along the boundary line 22. Although Fig.6D It is not shown that the support surface 236 is completely flush with the rear seat surface 238 and the front seat surface 240, but due to the added lower cushioning surface 502a, these surfaces can still be completely flush. This may be because the rear seat surface 238 and the front seat surface 240 can have similar cushioning members.

[0051] Reference now Figure 7A-7E, shows an alternative embodiment of the seat conversion, wherein the front and rear edges of the upper modular support 206b are retracted therein to create a space for the upper modular support 206b to be retracted into the lower modular support 206a. Fig. 7A As shown, the front edge 702a of the upper modular segment 206b can be modular and also part of the support surface 236. The rear edge 702b of the upper modular segment 206b can also be modular and part of the rear surface 220. The front edge 702a can be considered an upper cushioning surface 702a, which can be placed flush with the first lower cushioning surface 706a to create a continuous and uninterrupted support surface 236 for the user to lean on without noticing the modularity of the back support 206, especially along the boundary line 22. The rear edge 702b can also be considered a second upper cushioning surface 702b, which can be flush with the second lower cushioning surface 706b along the rear surface 220. The second upper cushioning surface 702b and the second lower cushioning surface 706b can also create a continuous and uninterrupted rear surface 220. There can be a front receiving cavity 704a parallel to and adjacent to the front upper cushioning surface 702a. There may be a rear receiving cavity 704b parallel to and adjacent to the rear upper buffer surface 702b. Figure 7B As shown, the front upper buffer surface 702a and the rear upper buffer surface 702b can be horizontally translated into the front receiving cavity 704a and the rear receiving cavity 704b, respectively, to reduce the thickness of the upper modular segment 206b relative to the lower modular segment 206a. Therefore, the edges of the support surface 236 and the rear surface 220 along the lower modular support 206a and the upper modular support 206b are not aligned to create a space and gap for the upper segment 206b to move downwardly into the lower segment 206a in the vertical direction 218, as shown in FIG. Figure 7C The front headrest 214 may be adapted to fit within the lower modular support 206a as described elsewhere herein, or similarly to the reference 206b. Figure 7A-7E The upper modular support 206b is transformed. This transformation will result in the desired seat height 234 being achieved so that the modular support 206 is tilted rearward and placed substantially flush with the rear bottom support 208, such as Fig.7D As shown and described elsewhere in this document. Fig.7D The support surface 236 is not shown to be completely flush with the rear row seating surface 238 and the front row seating surface 240, but due to the added lower cushioning surface 706a, these surfaces can still be completely flush. This may be because the rear row seating surface 238 and the front row seating surface 240 can have similar cushioning members.

[0052] By way of example and not limitation, the cushioning of the front edge 702a and the rear edge 702b may be thicker and extend further inwardly in the modular back support when compared to the first lower cushioning surface 706a and the second lower cushioning surface 706b, as shown in FIG. Fig. 7E This may be because the inner upper thickness 710 of the upper modular support 206b may be narrower than the inner lower thickness 708 of the lower modular support 206a, and the gap filling this thickness difference near the support surface 236 and the rear surface 220 may be a buffer of the front edge 702a and the rear edge 702b. This design may be necessary for the operation of the telescoping mechanism that retracts the upper modular support 206b and the upper buffer 502b into the lower modular support 206a.

[0053] Reference now Figure 8A-8C , showing an alternative embodiment of the seat transformation, wherein the upper modular support 206b can pivot relative to the lower modular support 206a. The second pivot mechanism 802 can have a rotation axis parallel to the width of the front seat 202 and located at the end of the boundary line 222 closest to the rear surface 220. As an example and not a limitation, the pivot mechanism can be one or more hinges. The locking mechanism 804 can lock the modular components together between the lower modular support 206a and the upper modular support 206b along the boundary line 222. As an example and not a limitation, the locking mechanism 804 can be roughly in the middle of the boundary line 222 or near the support surface 236. As an example and not a limitation, the locking mechanism 804 can be in the form of a latch mechanism. As an example and not a limitation, multiple locking mechanisms can be distributed along the boundary line 222 of the lower modular support 206a and the upper modular support 206b to provide more security to prevent undesirable detachment. The front headrest 214 can be manually removable or can be placed in the upper modular support 206b, as described elsewhere herein.

[0054] To convert the front seat 202, the front headrest 214 can be removed, translated into the upper modular support 206b, or can remain in its original position, such as Figure 8BAs shown. The locking mechanism 804 can then disengage to allow the lower modular support 206a and the upper modular support 206b to separate from each other. The upper modular support 206b can be rotated about the pivot axis of the second pivot mechanism 804 from its original position to a position that will shorten the height of the front seat 202. The original position of the upper modular support 206b can be on top and aligned with the lower modular support 206a. As an example and not limitation, the upper modular support 206b can be rotated 180 degrees clockwise about the second pivot axis 802 so that a portion of the rear surface 220 of the upper modular support 206b contacts a portion of the rear surface 220 of the lower modular support 206a. There can be a coupling mechanism on the rear surface 220 to keep the folded upper modular support 206b interlocked with the lower modular support 206a. As shown Figure 8C As shown, this transformation of the front seat 202 can reduce the seat height so that the back support 206 can be tilted and placed within the gap distance 212 and create a substantially flat surface, as described elsewhere herein. The use of the locking mechanism 804 and the second pivot mechanism 804 can be automatic or manually completed. The rest of the transformation mechanism of the front seat 202 and the rear seat 204 into a substantially flat and continuous surface can be the same as described elsewhere herein.

[0055] Reference now Figure 9A-9D , shows an alternative embodiment of a seat transformation in which the front headrest 214 can pivot relative to the upper modular support 206b. The third pivot mechanism 902 can have a rotation axis parallel to the width of the front headrest 214 and located at the end of the second boundary line 906 between the headrest 214 and the upper modular segment 206b, which is closest to the support surface 236. By way of example and not limitation, the third pivot mechanism can be one or more hinges. The second locking mechanism 904 can be between the headrest 214 and the upper modular support 206b along the second boundary line 906 to lock these modular components together. Fig. 9B As shown, the second locking mechanism 904 can be unlocked so that the headrest 214 can be pivoted about 180 degrees about the pivot axis of the third pivot mechanism 902 toward the support surface 236 and shorten the height of the front seat 202. There can be a coupling mechanism on the support surface 236 to interlock the pivoted headrest 214 with the support surface 236. The rest of the seat transformation of the front seat 202 to the reclined and substantially flat position can be similar to the reference Figure 8A-8C The front seats 202 may have to be raised in a vertical direction 218 relative to the interior floor 232 and moved horizontally 216 away from the rear seats 204 in order to create more room for the folded headrests 214 to be positioned within the clearance distance 212 .

[0056] Reference now Figure 10A-10B, shows an alternative embodiment of a seat transformation in which an upper modular support 206b is completely removable from a lower modular support 206a along with a front headrest 214. The upper modular support 206b can be completely removable from the lower modular support 206a when a locking mechanism 804 that holds the two modular components securely coupled to one another is unlocked by a user. The locking mechanism 804 can be similar to the locking mechanisms described elsewhere herein and can be positioned along a boundary line 222 between the lower modular support 206a and the upper modular support 206b. Removal of the upper modular support 206b can result in achieving a desired seat height so that the modular supports 206 can be tilted rearward and placed substantially flush with the rear bottom support 208, as shown. Fig. 10B The remainder of the mechanism for transforming the front row of seats 202 and the rear row of seats 204 into a substantially flat and continuous surface may be the same as described elsewhere herein.

[0057] The components and methods disclosed so far herein for converting the front seat 202 into a substantially flat and continuous surface with the rear seat 204 are not limited to seats for automobiles and motor vehicles. The components and methods disclosed herein may also be used to convert seats for other modes of transportation, such as trucks, buses, airplanes, trains, and boats. By way of example and not limitation, Figures 11A-11C The seat conversion device and mechanism disclosed herein for use in an aircraft cabin that can be used for leg extension and a better resting position are shown. Fig. 11B As shown, the mechanism disclosed herein can be used to transform multiple modular seats 202 that are in line with each other in an aircraft cabin into a flat, continuous and flush position to give aircraft passengers more space to lie comfortably in the aircraft cabin. Fig. 11C As shown, recliner 1102 and curtain 1104 may be used with the transformation of modular seat 202 to help create a more comfortable space for an aircraft passenger to lie on. What will be further disclosed herein may also be applied to the alternative modes of transportation described above.

[0058] Reference now Fig.12, showing a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle 1200 that is transformed into a substantially flat and continuous sleeping area. The two front seats 202a, 202b of the vehicle can be transformed into a substantially flat surface of the rear bottom support members 208a, 208b adjacent to the side rear seats 204a, 204b, as described elsewhere herein. As an example and not limitation, this transformation can be completed by translating the upper modular support members 206b, 206d of the front headrests 214a, 214b and the front seats 202a, 202b into the lower modular support members 206a, 206c, as described elsewhere herein. However, other seat transformation mechanisms described elsewhere herein may also be used. The horizontal and vertical positions of the front seats 202a, 202b may also be adjusted so that the back supports of the front seats 202a, 202b are tilted rearwardly to create a substantially flat, continuous and flush surface between the front seating surfaces 240a, 240b, the support surfaces 236a, 236b and the rear seating surfaces 238a, 238b, as described elsewhere herein. This transition may allow a user to lie flat and sleep in a horizontal interior direction 1212 extending along the length of the vehicle from the front seats to the rear seats. By way of example and not limitation, the contours of the front seating surfaces 240a, 240b, the support surfaces 236a, 236b and the rear seating surfaces 238a, 238b may also be transformed from their original curved form to a flatter plane using pneumatic and mechanical systems beneath the above-described surfaces, such as Fig.12 shown.

[0059] Other parts of the interior vehicle 1200 may also be modified to create a flatter and more spacious space for the user to sleep on, particularly in the diagonal direction 1208 of the interior vehicle 1200. For example, the middle section 1202 between the two front seats 202a, 202b may be adjusted to become flatter and flush with the front seats. As an example and not a limitation, the shift lever 1210 of the vehicle may be disassembled to create a flatter section in the middle section 1202. Newer vehicles (especially electric vehicles) do not have a shift lever, and therefore the middle section 1202 may already be flat at such a section. The cup holder (not shown) may also be covered, such as by a flat cushion, to make the middle section 1202 flatter.

[0060] As described elsewhere herein, the armrest 1214 can be adjusted to be at the same height level as other components (e.g., lower modular supports 206a, 206c) to create a substantially flat, continuous and flush surface for a user to sleep in a diagonal direction 1208. The armrest 1214 can be modified to be at the same height level as other described components and also fill and cover the middle gap 1206 between the armrest 1214 and the middle bottom support 1216 of the rear middle seat 1204, as described elsewhere herein. The middle gap 1206 can be defined as the legroom in front of the rear middle seat 1204. Other modes and methods of filling the middle gap 1206 are also considered elsewhere herein.

[0061] If the middle legroom 1206 is filled and covered, and the armrests 1214 become flush with the flattened front seats 202a, 202b, one or more users of the vehicle can lie diagonally 1208 within the interior vehicle 1200. The diagonal direction 1208 can span from the front corner edge of the front bottom support 226a, 226b to the rear corner edge of the rear bottom support 208a, 208b on the opposite side of the vehicle. For example, when facing the steering wheel 246 within the vehicle, the diagonal direction 1208 can span from the right front corner edge of the bottom support 226b on the front passenger side to the left rear corner edge of the bottom support 208a behind the driver's seat, as shown in FIG. Fig.12 As shown. When compared with the interior horizontal direction 1212, the diagonal direction 1208 can provide more space for users to lie down. This is because the interior of the vehicle 1200 is generally approximately rectangular, and the length of the diagonal of the rectangle is greater than its side.

[0062] Reference now Fig.13 , shows a perspective view of the interior vehicle 1200, wherein the armrest 1214 is removed and placed in the mid-segment gap 1206. The armrest 1214 can be the center console 1402 of the vehicle (see Fig.14A ) on a support surface or a portion of the center console 1402. Such a component may be near the shift lever 1210 and raised for the user to rest his or her arm on. Fig.13 As shown, the armrest 1214 can be simply removed from the center console 1402 and placed in the mid-segment gap 1214 to cover and fill such gap. As a result, the mid-segment 1202 of the vehicle becomes more substantially flat, continuous and flush with the front and rear seats (including the front bottom supports 226a, 226b and the lower modular supports 206a, 206b). This is because the mid-segment gap 1206 is filled and covered, and the armrest 1214 is at the same level as the vehicle's seats, as shown. Fig.13One or more users of the vehicle can then lie completely diagonally or horizontally in the interior vehicle 1200 .

[0063] Reference now Figure 14A-Figure 14C , shows an embodiment in which the handrail 1214 slides into the mid-segment gap 1206 via tracks 1406a, 1406b to create a substantially flat surface. Fig.14A As shown, the armrest 1214 may initially be on the center console 1402 and adjacent to the shift lever 1210. The armrest 1214 may be substantially parallel to the bottom side edges of the seating surfaces 240a, 240b of the front seats 202a, 202b (eg, Fig.12 1206 ) can be slidably coupled to a horizontal track 1406a and a vertical track 1406b on the center console 1402. The horizontal track 1406a can extend from an area near the front end 1410 of the armrest 1214 facing the shift lever 1210 to a rear edge 1408 of the center console 1402, which is adjacent to the mid-segment gap 1206. The rear edge of the armrest 1214 can also be positioned adjacent to the mid-segment gap 1206. As an example and not limitation, the horizontal track 1406a can extend beyond the front end 1410 of the armrest 1214 and extend toward the shift lever 1210. The vertical track 1406b can be connected to the horizontal track 1406a at the rear edge 1408 of the center console 1402 and extend downward to the depth of the mid-segment gap 1206. Thus, the armrest 1214 can slide horizontally toward the mid-segment gap 1206 and downward within the depth of the gap, as shown. Fig. 14B As shown. The armrest 1214 may not necessarily translate all the way down to the bottom depth of the mid-segment gap 1206. By this transition, the mid-segment 1202 (eg, between the two front seats 202a, 202b) Fig.12 As shown in Figure 1, it can be made flatter and flush with the vehicle seat. Figure 14A-Figure 14C As shown, wheels or bearings 1404 can be attached to the bottom side edge of the armrest 1214. The wheels 1404 can be coupled to tracks 1406a, 1406b to help translate the armrest 1214 to a desired position. The sliding of the armrest 1214 via the tracks 1406a, 1406b can be automated or done manually, similar to other translation mechanisms described elsewhere herein. Fig. 14CAs shown, the wheels 1404 connected to the front end 1410 of the handrail 1214 can be located in the horizontal track 1406a more outwardly relative to the front end 1410 of the handrail 1214, and can also be angled to help the handrail 1214 sit flush and create a substantially flat surface in the mid-section 1202. By way of example and not limitation, the angle between the front wheels 1404 and the handrail 1214 can be 40 to 50 degrees. In addition, a latch and handle can be included to secure the handrail 1214 in place for both the initial position and the position of the handrail 1214 within the mid-section gap 1206.

[0064] Reference now Fig.15 , showing another embodiment of how the mid-segment gap 1206 can be filled to create a substantially flat surface. The mid-bottom support 1216 of the rear middle seat 1204 can have a storage area for a cushion 1502. The cushion 1502 can be used to fill and cover the mid-segment gap 1206. The cushion 1502 can slide out horizontally from under the mid-bottom support 1216 and toward the mid-segment gap 1206. This will cause the mid-segment 1202 of the interior vehicle 1200 to be flatter and flush with the vehicle's seats. By way of example and not limitation, the cushion 1502 can be rectangular in shape. Additionally, the armrest 1214 can be configured to translate vertically downward to the center console 1402 ( Fig.14A 1402) to lie flush with the bumper 1502 and further flatten the middle section 1202. By way of example and not limitation, the armrest 1214 can be modular so as to be displaced into the center console 1402. The vertical downward displacement of the armrest 1214 into the cavity of the center console 1402 can be automated or manually accomplished, similar to other translation mechanisms described elsewhere herein. Alternatively, as Fig.13 As shown, the armrest 1214 may be simply removed so that the center console 1402 (shown in FIG. 14 ) lies flush with the cushioning member 1502 withdrawn from the center bottom support member 1216 .

[0065] Reference now Fig.16 , which discloses something like Fig.15126a, 126b, 126b. The armrest 1214 is translated toward the shift rod 1210 to create a substantially flat area in the segment. The shift rod 1210 can be removed so that the armrest 1214 lies substantially flat and flush with the front bottom supports 226a, 226b in the segment, or the armrest 1214 can translate and cover the shift rod 1210 if not removed. Alternatively, the armrest 1214 can be horizontally shifted toward the shift segment and then vertically translated downward to create a mid-segment surface that is substantially flat and flush with the front bottom supports 226a, 226b. The mid-segment gap 1206 can be formed by a structure similar to Fig.15 The buffer member 1502 described in the filling and covering.

[0066] Fig.17 2 is a perspective view of a rear row seat of a vehicle having a storage area for sleep accessories. The side rear seats 204a, 204b and the center seat 1204 may each have a storage area 1704 for sleep accessories (such as blankets, pillows, and other bedding) behind the cushioned surfaces of the rear back supports 230a, 230b, 230c. By way of example and not limitation, the storage area 1704 and sleep accessories may be accessed by unzipping a zipper 1702 on each cushioned surface of the rear back supports 230a, 230b, 230c.

[0067] Reference now Fig.18 , shows a perspective view of a substantially flat, continuous and spacious sleeping area of ​​a vehicle having a surface with additional features. In addition to the interior vehicle 1200 being substantially flat to allow one or more users to sleep therein, the substantially flat surface may have heating, cooling and massage features. By way of example and not limitation, the vehicle's seats and armrests 1214 or cushioning 1502 ( Fig.15 ) can have heating and cooling features. As an example and not limitation, the seats and armrests 1214 or cushions 1502 of the vehicle can have massage features. The massage features can be in the form of outputting vibrations on the surface of the seats and armrests. The heating and cooling features and the massage features can be used simultaneously. Fig.17 As shown, only some of the surfaces may be activated to provide heating, cooling, and massage. By way of example and not limitation, these features may be activated only on the front passenger bottom support 226b, the armrest 1214 placed within the mid-segment gap 1206, and the rear bottom support 208a behind the driver's seat. The user may select other combinations of surfaces described elsewhere herein to provide heating, cooling, and massage.

[0068] Reference now Fig.19, showing a perspective view of a substantially flat, continuous and spacious interior area of ​​a vehicle having room to store objects. In addition to the flat area created in the interior vehicle 1200 for sleeping, such an area can also be used to store and transport large objects that would not normally fit in the trunk of the vehicle. A hanger 1902 attached to the interior of the vehicle can be used to help store and transport such large objects. With the exception of the front driver seat 202a, the rest of the interior vehicle 1200 can be made substantially flat relative to each other by the components and mechanisms described elsewhere herein to store objects and transport them to different destinations.

[0069] The above description is given as an example and not as a limitation. In view of the above disclosure, those skilled in the art may design variations within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. In addition, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein may be used alone or in different combinations with each other, and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinations described herein. Therefore, the scope of the claims is not limited by the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

1. A system for converting the interior of a vehicle into a sleeping space, the system comprising: a plurality of rear seats, the plurality of rear seats having a first rear seat and a second rear seat; a front passenger seat forward of the first rear seat and having a first modular back support pivotally attached to a first bottom support; the first modular back support having a first upper modular segment and a first lower modular segment, the first lower modular segment having a first cavity, the first cavity being configured for full retraction of the first upper modular segment into the first cavity to reduce a first initial height of the first modular back support to a first desired height; a driver's seat forward of the second rear seat and having a second modular back support pivotally attached to a second bottom support; the second modular back support having a second upper modular segment and a second lower modular segment, the second lower modular segment having a second cavity configured for full retraction of the second upper modular segment into the second cavity to reduce a second initial height of the second modular back support to a second desired height; and wherein the first modular back support having the first desired height is configured to be tilted in a first horizontal position such that a first support surface of the first modular back support is flush relative to a first seating surface of the first rear seat; The second modular back support having the second desired height is configured to be tilted in a second horizontal position such that a second support surface of the second modular back support is flush with a second seating surface of the second rear seat. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first upper modular segment is configured to telescopically retract into the first lower modular segment. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first upper modular segment is configured to be displaced posteriorly relative to the first lower modular segment prior to being retracted into the first cavity. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the front passenger seat further comprises a headrest attached to a top of the first modular back support, the headrest retracting into the first upper modular section.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the front passenger seat further comprises a front headrest removably attached to a top of the first modular back support.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first modular back support further comprises an intermediate modular segment between the first upper modular segment and the first lower modular segment, the intermediate modular segment being configured to be fully retracted into the first cavity of the first upper modular segment.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an armrest on the mid-section of the vehicle and configured to translate into a mid-leg well gap forward of a mid-rear seat.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the armrest is configured to translate into the mid-leg compartment gap via a plurality of tracks.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the handrail has a plurality of wheels coupled to the plurality of tracks.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the armrest is configured to be removed from the mid-section and placed within the mid-leg compartment gap.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the center rear seat includes a center back support having a storage area for sleep accessories.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the first upper modular segment is configured to shift rearwardly into an adjustment gap on a boundary line between the first upper modular segment and the first lower modular segment.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the first upper modular segment and the first lower modular segment have an electromechanically actuated cooperating telescoping mechanism.

14. A method for converting a seat of a vehicle into a sleeping space, the method comprising: retracting an upper modular segment of a modular back support of a front passenger seat into a cavity of a lower modular segment to transition the modular back support from an initial height to a desired height; widening a gap distance between the front passenger seat and the rear passenger seat such that the gap distance is greater than or equal to the desired height of the modular back support; as well as The modular back support is tilted horizontally about a pivot axis between the modular back support and the first bottom support of the front passenger seat so that a support surface of the modular back support is flush with a seating surface of a second bottom support of the rear passenger seat.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein retracting the upper modular segment into the lower modular segment is performed telescopically.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising retracting a headrest of the front passenger seat into the upper modular section to transition the modular back support to the desired height.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the upper modular segment is displaced posteriorly relative to the lower modular segment prior to being retracted into the cavity.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising horizontally moving the inclined modular back support toward the second bottom support to create a continuous surface between the support surface and the seating surface when the gap distance is greater than the desired height.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising raising the height of the first bottom support so that a front seating surface of the first bottom support is flush with the support surface of the inclined modular back support and the seating surface of the second bottom support.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising removing a front headrest of the front passenger seat to transition the modular back support to the desired height.

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