Two piece console and seat assembly

Abstract

An automotive seat assembly is provided including a driver side seat comprised of a driver seat back portion, a driver seat base portion, and a driver inboard mount assembly. The seat assembly further includes a passenger side seat comprised of a passenger seat back portion, a passenger seat base portion, and a passenger inboard mount assembly. A joining frame is mounted to the driver inboard mount assembly and the passenger inboard mount assembly to connect the driver side seat and the passenger side seat into a single installable seat component. A lower console base is mounted to the joining frame. The lower console base is comprised of a plurality of lower console base walls and an open lower console base top. The lower console base walls and the open lower console base top form a lower console base storage bin. An upper console base is comprised of a plurality of upper console base walls, an open upper console base top and an open upper console base bottom. The upper console base is rotatably attached to the lower console base such that the upper console base can be rotated between a pre-installation position and an installation position. The plurality of upper console base walls engage the plurality of lower console base walls to form an extended depth storage bin when the upper console base is in the installation position. A console lid is rotatably attached to the open upper console base top.

1 . An automotive seat assembly comprising: 
 a driver side seat comprised of a driver seat back portion and a driver seat base portion, said driver side seat including a driver inboard mount assembly;    a passenger side seat comprised of a passenger seat back portion and a passenger seat base portion, said passenger side seat including a passenger inboard mount assembly;    a joining frame mounted to said driver inboard mount assembly and said passenger inboard mount assembly, said joining frame connecting said driver side seat and said passenger side seat into a single installable seat component;    a lower console base comprising a plurality of lower console base walls and an open lower console base top, said lower console base walls and said open lower console base top forming a lower console base storage bin, said lower console base mounted to said joining frame;    an upper console base comprising a plurality of upper console base walls, an open upper console base top and an open upper console base bottom, said upper console base rotatably attached to said lower console base such that said upper console base can be rotated between a pre-installation position and an installation position, said plurality of upper console base walls engaging said plurality of lower console base walls to form an extended depth storage bin when said upper console base is in said installation position; and    a console lid rotatably attached to said open upper console base top.    
     
     
         2 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said lower console base is generally tangential with said driver seat base portion;    said upper console base is generally tangential with said driver seat back portion when said upper console base is in said pre-installation position; and    said upper console base is generally tangential with said driver seat base portion when said upper console base is in said installation position.    
     
     
         3 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said plurality of upper console base walls lock to said plurality of lower console base walls when said upper console base is in said installation position.    
     
     
         4 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of locking tabs formed on said upper console base walls, said plurality of locking tabs engaging a plurality of locking slots formed in said lower console base walls.    
     
     
         5 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upper base console walls comprise: 
 a plurality of upper base outer walls;    a plurality of upper base inner walls; and    a engagement sleeve formed by said plurality of upper base outer walls and said plurality of upper base inner walls, said plurality of lower base console walls positioned within said engagement sleeve when said upper base console is in said installation position.    
     
     
         6 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein said joining frame comprises a pan frame assembly.  
     
     
         7 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a padded arm rest portion in communication with said console lid.    
     
     
         8 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tray assembly positioned within said extended depth storage bin, said tray assembly removably insertable into said extended depth storage bin to vertically divide said extended depth storage bin.    
     
     
         9 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one divider mounted within said lower console base storage bin.    
     
     
         10 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a flow through assembly mountable to said lower console base, said flow through assembly extending said lower console base forwards.    
     
     
         11 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 at least one cup holder assembly incorporated into said flow through assembly.    
     
     
         12 . An automotive seat assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an air duct assembly mounted to a rear face of said lower console base and said upper console base, said upper console base rotatable at a pivot position above said air duct assembly.    
     
     
         13 . An automotive console assembly comprising: 
 a lower console base comprising a plurality of lower console base walls and an open lower console base top, said lower console base walls and said open lower console base top forming a lower console base storage bin;    an upper console base comprising a plurality of upper console base walls, an open upper console base top and an open upper console base bottom, said upper console base rotatably attached to said lower console base such that said upper console base can be rotated between a pre-installation position and an installation position, said plurality of upper console base walls engaging said plurality of lower console base walls to form an extended depth storage bin when said upper console base is in said installation position; and    a console lid rotatably attached to said open upper console base top.    
     
     
         14 . An automotive console assembly as described in  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said plurality of upper console base walls lock to said plurality of lower console base walls when said upper console base is in said installation position.    
     
     
         15 . An automotive console assembly as described in claim  13 , wherein said plurality of upper base console walls comprise: 
 a plurality of upper base outer walls;    a plurality of upper base inner walls; and    a engagement sleeve formed by said plurality of upper base outer walls and said plurality of upper base inner walls, said plurality of lower base console walls positioned within said engagement sleeve when said upper base console is in said installation position.    
     
     
         16 . An automotive console assembly as described in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a first side seat comprised of a first seat back portion and a first seat base portion, said first side seat including a first inboard mount assembly, said lower console base mounted to said first inboard mount assembly.    
     
     
         17 . A method of installing a console assembly within a vehicle comprising: 
 assembling a first seat assembly having a first seat back portion, a first seat base portion and a first inboard mount assembly;    mounting a lower console base into communication with said first inboard mount assembly, said lower console base comprising a plurality of lower console base walls and an open lower console base top, said lower console base walls and said open lower console base top forming a lower console base storage bin;    mounting an upper console base in rotational communication with said lower console base, said upper console base comprising a plurality of upper console base walls, an open upper console base top and an open upper console base bottom, said upper console base rotatably attached to said lower console base such that said upper console base can be rotated between a pre-installation position and an installation position, said plurality of upper console base walls engaging said plurality of lower console base walls to form an extended depth storage bin when said upper console base is in said installation position;    installing said first seat assembly into a vehicle while said upper console base is in said pre-installation position; and    rotating said upper console base into said installation position after installing said first seat assembly into said vehicle.    
     
     
         18 . A method of installing a console assembly within a vehicle as described in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 assembling a second seat assembly having a second seat back portion, a second seat base portion and a second inboard mount assembly; and    mounting said second seat assembly to said first seat assembly by way of mounting a joining frame to said first inboard mount assembly and to said second inboard mount assembly, said joining frame connecting said first side seat and said second side seat into a single installable seat component.    
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a console assembly within a vehicle as described in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 attaching a flow through assembly to said lower console base after installing said first seat assembly into said vehicle.    
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a console assembly within a vehicle as described in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 installing said first seat assembly using an installation tool securing said first seat assembly in between said first seat back portion and said first seat base portion.