US-20260124964-A1 - VEHICLE TAILGATE SEAT ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A vehicle tailgate seat assembly has a base defining a first seat base, a second seat base and a central portion between the first seat base and the second seat base. A support structure is configured to connect the base onto a tailgate of a vehicle. A first seat back is pivotally connected to the base to provide a first seat back for the first seat when the seat back is in an open position. A second seat back is coupled to the base and configured to provide a second seat back for the second seat.

Inventors

• Alejandro Garnica Izzo
• Sebastien Raymond Brunereau Callejas
• Bernardo Quintero Noriega
• Carlos Buendia Moreno
• Diego Santamaria Cadena
• Diego Ponton Medina

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241104

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A vehicle tailgate seat assembly comprising: a base defining a first seat base, a second seat base and a central portion between the first seat base and the second seat base; a support structure configured to connect the base onto a tailgate of a vehicle; a first seat first back pivotally connected to the base to provide a first seat back for the first seat when the seat back is in an open position; and a second seat back coupled to the base and configured to provide a second seat back for the second seat.
2. 2 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seat comprises a first seat cushion and the second seat comprises a second seat cushion.
3. 3 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first seat back comprises a first seat back cushion and the second seat back comprises a second seat back cushion.
4. 4 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seat base and the first seat back form a first container when the first seat back is closed on top of the first seat base, and wherein the second seat back and the second seat base form a second container when the second seat back is closed on the second seat base.
5. 5 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of clamping bars coupling the base onto the tailgate.
6. 6 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a storage box located vehicle forward of the base and connected to the plurality of clamping bars.
7. 7 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 6 , wherein the storage box comprises a lid pivotally coupled to a storage box base.
8. 8 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first latch mechanism on the first seat and a second latch mechanism on the second seat.
9. 9 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises a central module that may be removably connected to the base.
10. 10 . The vehicle tailgate seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the central module comprises one or more of a cup holder module, a storage box module and a fishing rod holder module.
11. 11 . A vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck, the vehicle tailgate comprising: a top support surface when the tailgate is in the open position; and a vehicle tailgate seat assembly comprising: a base defining a first seat base, a second seat base and a central portion between the first seat base and the second seat base; a support structure configured to connect the base onto a tailgate of a vehicle; a first seat back pivotally connected to the base to provide a first seat back for the first seat when the seat back is in an open position; and a second seat back coupled to the base and configured to provide a second seat back for the second seat.
12. 12 . The vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck of claim 11 , wherein the first seat comprises a first seat cushion and the second seat comprises a second seat cushion.
13. 13 . The vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck of claim 12 , wherein the first seat back comprises a first seat back cushion and the second seat back comprises a second seat back cushion.
14. 14 . The vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck of claim 11 , wherein the first seat base and the first seat back form a first container when the first seat back is closed on top of the first seat base, and wherein the second seat back and the second seat base form a second container when the second seat back is closed on the second seat base.
15. 15 . The vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck of claim 14 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of clamping bars coupling the base onto the tailgate.
16. 16 . The vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck of claim 15 , further comprising a storage box located vehicle forward of the base and connected to the plurality of clamping bars, wherein the storage box comprises a lid pivotally coupled to a storage box base.
17. 17 . The vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck of claim 11 , further comprising a first latch mechanism on the first seat and a second latch mechanism on the second seat.
18. 18 . The vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck of claim 11 , wherein the central portion comprises a central module that may be removably connected to the base.
19. 19 . The vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck of claim 18 , wherein the central module comprises one or more of a cup holder module, a storage box module and a fishing rod holder module.
20. 20 . A motor vehicle comprising: a body having a front end and a rear end; a tailgate located at the rear end of the body and moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a vehicle tailgate seat assembly comprising: a base defining a first seat base, a second seat base and a central portion between the first seat base and the second seat base; a support structure configured to connect the base onto a tailgate of a vehicle; a first seat back pivotally connected to the base to provide a first seat back for the first seat when the seat back is in an open position; and a second seat back coupled to the base and configured to provide a second seat back for the second seat.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle seating assemblies, and more particularly relates to a tailgate style vehicle seat assembly configured to be assembled onto a tailgate of a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with interior seat assemblies to provide seating for passengers within the passenger compartment in the vehicle. Some vehicles may be equipped with tailgate style seating to allow tailgaters to be seated rearward facing at the rear end of the motor vehicle while the tailgate is open and the vehicle is parked and not operating. It would be desirable to provide for a tailgate seating arrangement for a vehicle that offers an easy to deploy and use seating assembly. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle tailgate seat assembly has a base defining a first seat base, a second seat base and a central portion between the first seat base and the second seat base. A support structure is configured to connect the base onto a tailgate of a vehicle. A first seat back is pivotally connected to the base to provide a first seat back for the first seat when the seat back is in an open position. A second seat back is coupled to the base and configured to provide a second seat back for the second seat. Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features: the first seat comprises a first seat cushion and the second seat comprises a second seat cushion;the first seat back comprises a first seat back cushion and the second seat back comprises a second seat back cushion;the first seat base and the first seat back form a first container when the first seat back is closed on top of the first seat base, and wherein the second seat back and the second seat base form a second container when the second seat back is closed on the second seat base;the support structure comprises a plurality of clamping bars coupling the base onto the tailgate;a storage box located vehicle forward of the base and connected to the plurality of clamping bars;the storage box comprises a lid pivotally coupled to a storage box base;a first latch mechanism on the first seat and a second latch mechanism on the second seat;the central portion comprises a central module that may be removably connected to the base; andthe central module comprises one or more of a cup holder module, a storage box module and a fishing rod holder module. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle tailgate for a pickup truck has a top support surface when the tailgate is in the open position and a vehicle tailgate seat assembly. The vehicle tailgate seat assembly has a base defining a first seat base, a second seat base and a central portion between the first seat base and the second seat base. A support structure is configured to connect the base onto a tailgate of a vehicle. A first seat back is pivotally connected to the base to provide a first seat back for the first seat when the seat back is in an open position. A second seat back is coupled to the base and configured to provide a second seat back for the second seat. Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features: the first seat comprises a first seat cushion and the second seat comprises a second seat cushion;the first seat back comprises a first seat back cushion and the second seat back comprises a second seat back cushion;the first seat base and the first seat back form a first container when the first seat back is closed on top of the first seat base, and wherein the second seat back and the second seat base form a second container when the second seat back is closed on the second seat base;the support structure comprises a plurality of clamping bars coupling the base onto the tailgate;a storage box located vehicle forward of the base and connected to the plurality of clamping bars, wherein the storage box comprises a lid pivotally coupled to a storage box base;a first latch mechanism on the first seat and a second latch mechanism on the second seat;the central portion comprises a central module that may be removably connected to the base; andthe central module comprises one or more of a cup holder module, a storage box module and a fishing rod holder module. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a motor vehicle has a body with a front end and a rear end, a tailgate located at the rear end of the body and moveable between an open position and a closed position and a vehicle tailgate seat assembly. The vehicle tailgate seat assembly has a base defining a first seat base, a second seat base and a central portion between the first seat base and the second seat base. A support structure is configured to connect the base onto a tailgate of a vehicle. A first seat back is pivotally connected to the base to provid