1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seat assembly having a center console, and more particularly, to a center console which is removably secured within a cavity of the seat assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Seat assemblies for use in automotive vehicles typically include a generally horizontal seat cushion for supporting an occupant in the seat and a generally upright seat back coupled to the seat cushion. The seat assembly may be split-type seat defined by a left seat portion and a right seat portion. Often, a center seat portion or a center console is positioned between the left and right seat portions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,820 discloses a vehicle rear seat assembly having a left and right seat cushion portion and a seat back. The rear seat assembly further includes a center seat portion which includes a center seat portion base with a seat cushion on one side thereof and a utility compartment on the opposing side of the base. The center seat portion is pivotally mounted between the left and right seat portions for pivotal movement between a collapsed position in which only the seat cushion is exposed to facilitate seating thereon, and an upright position for facilitating access to the utility compartment.
It remains desirable, however, to provide a center seat, or center console, which provides not only a center seat portion to the seat assembly and a utility compartment, but also which is removable from the seat assembly for use as a portable storage console.
The present invention relates to a seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle comprising a seat cushion extending between a front portion and a rear portion for supporting a seat occupant on the seat assembly and a seat back extending longitudinally between a lower portion coupled to the rear portion of the seat cushion and an upper portion. The seat back includes a front support surface for supporting the seat occupant in an upright seating position. A cavity is recessed in the seat cushion between the front portion and the rear portion. A center console is seated in the cavity forming a planar portion of the seat cushion. A support mechanism is coupled between the center console and the seat cushion for removably securing the center console between a secured position recessed in the cavity and a detached position released from attachment to the seat cushion and removed from the cavity.