Patent 12539795

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 12539795, I will refer to the "Citations" section of the patent itself, as this lists the prior art considered by the examiner during prosecution. The USPTO's Patent Public Search tool can be used to access specific patent details and their cited references.

Here is an analysis of the patent citations for US12539795:

1. US10940780B2

  • Full Citation: US10940780B2 - Personal transportation vehicle with pivoting seat and cargo bay
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2021-03-09; Priority: 2018-01-16.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a personal transportation vehicle with a pivoting seat that converts to a cargo bay. It covers a seat connected by a hinge to a fixed platform, pivoting between a standard seat and a position forming a wall of a cargo bay. A seatback forms another wall, and side walls act as barriers.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US10940780B2 is a parent application in the same patent family (continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/872,678, filed on Jan. 16, 2018, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,940,780). Therefore, it discloses much of the same subject matter. While it is prior art to US12539795 (by virtue of being published earlier), its content is likely largely incorporated by reference or used as priority for the current patent. A direct anticipation analysis would require a detailed comparison of the claims, but given the familial relationship, many of the broad concepts in claims 1, 9, and 14 of US12539795 could find similar disclosure in US10940780B2.

2. US11884191B2

  • Full Citation: US11884191B2 - Personal transportation vehicle with pivoting seat and cargo bay
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2024-01-30; Priority: 2018-01-16.
  • Brief Description: This patent also describes a personal transportation vehicle with a pivoting seat and cargo bay, similar to US10940780B2. It is another continuation in the same family (continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/173,506, filed on Feb. 11, 2021, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,884,191).
  • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US10940780B2, this patent is a direct continuation of the same inventive lineage. It would likely anticipate much of the broad subject matter of claims 1, 9, and 14 of US12539795 due to the shared disclosure and priority.

3. US12246630B2

  • Full Citation: US12246630B2 - Personal transportation vehicle with pivoting seat and cargo bay
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2025-03-11; Priority: 2018-01-16.
  • Brief Description: This patent is yet another continuation in the same family as US12539795 (continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/390,811, filed on Dec. 20, 2023, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,246,630). It details the same core invention of a personal transportation vehicle with a pivoting seat and cargo bay.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a member of the same patent family, US12246630B2 would share significant overlap in disclosure with US12539795. It would likely anticipate elements of claims 1, 9, and 14, as well as their dependencies, by virtue of the common inventive concept and priority date.

Other cited prior art (external to the patent family):

  • US5558386A

    • Full Citation: US5558386A - Asymmetrical wire hook latch arrangement
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 1996-09-24; Priority: 1995-04-20.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes an asymmetrical wire hook latch arrangement. While tangentially related to securing mechanisms, it does not appear to describe a pivoting seat converting to a cargo bay.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate the core claims (1, 9, 14) directly related to the vehicle, pivoting seat, and cargo bay configuration. It might be relevant to specific locking or securing mechanisms if those features are broadly claimed and not further distinguished in US12539795.

  • US5622404A

    • Full Citation: US5622404A - Combination seat and storage system
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 1997-04-22; Priority: 1993-10-26.
    • Brief Description: This patent likely describes a seat and storage system, which could be relevant to the general concept of integrating storage with seating.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): May potentially anticipate broader aspects of claims related to a "seat and storage system" if those elements are not sufficiently differentiated by the pivoting mechanism to form a cargo bay wall as claimed in US12539795. Claims 1, 9, and 14, to the extent they broadly cover combined seating and storage, could be at risk.

  • US5816650A

    • Full Citation: US5816650A - Underseat storage bin for motor vehicles
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 1998-10-06; Priority: 1997-02-21.
    • Brief Description: This patent focuses on an underseat storage bin for motor vehicles.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less likely to anticipate the specific pivoting seat mechanism to form a cargo bay wall (claims 1, 9, 14), as it describes a fixed storage bin. However, it could be relevant to claims concerning "lower cargo regions" or "additional storage accessible beneath the platform" if those elements are not defined with sufficient structural or functional distinctions over a standard underseat bin.

  • US6065798A

    • Full Citation: US6065798A - Motor vehicle means for carrying passengers and cargo
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2000-05-23; Priority: 1997-09-04.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a motor vehicle designed to carry both passengers and cargo, suggesting some form of convertible or integrated space.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Could potentially anticipate broader concepts within claims 1, 9, and 14 that relate to a vehicle capable of carrying both passengers and cargo with some form of convertibility. The specifics of the pivoting seat forming a wall of the cargo bay would be a key differentiator.

  • US6102463A

    • Full Citation: US6102463A - Vehicle seat assembly with hidden storage compartment
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2000-08-15; Priority: 1999-05-18.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a vehicle seat assembly with a hidden storage compartment.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US5816650A, this may be relevant to claims involving storage compartments associated with a seat. However, the unique pivoting action of the seat bottom to form a wall of the cargo bay (claims 1, 9, 14) would likely distinguish US12539795.

  • US20020005649A1

    • Full Citation: US20020005649A1 - Under seat storage system
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2002-01-17; Priority: 2000-01-07.
    • Brief Description: This publication describes an under seat storage system.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): As with previous storage-focused patents, this may be relevant to general storage aspects but less likely to anticipate the specific pivoting seat and cargo bay wall functionality of claims 1, 9, and 14.

  • US6481772B1

    • Full Citation: US6481772B1 - Vehicle having a foldable seat with a retractable window and an extending cargo bed
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2002-11-19; Priority: 1999-10-15.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a vehicle with a foldable seat and an extending cargo bed. The "foldable seat" aspect is directly relevant to the movable seat bottom in US12539795.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to claims 1, 9, and 14, particularly the "foldable seat" aspect. A detailed comparison would be needed to determine if the specific "pivoting seat configured to form a wall for a cargo bay" is anticipated or merely rendered obvious. The distinction of the seat bottom forming a wall versus simply folding for an extending cargo bed would be crucial.

  • US6517135B2

    • Full Citation: US6517135B2 - Motor vehicle with a convertible passenger compartment
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2003-02-11; Priority: 2000-06-15.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a motor vehicle with a convertible passenger compartment, implying adaptability between passenger and cargo configurations.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 9, and 14 related to the general concept of converting a seating area to a cargo area. The specific mechanism of the pivoting seat forming a wall would be a key point of differentiation.

  • US20040134946A1

    • Full Citation: US20040134946A1 - Vehicle seat cargo storage apparatus
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2004-07-15; Priority: 2003-01-13.
    • Brief Description: This publication describes a vehicle seat cargo storage apparatus.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other storage-related prior art, this could be relevant to the combination of seating and cargo. The unique pivoting seat functionality of claims 1, 9, and 14 would likely be a distinguishing feature.

  • US20040155494A1

    • Full Citation: US20040155494A1 - Vehicular under-seat compartment mechanism
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2004-08-12; Priority: 2002-11-06.
    • Brief Description: This publication details a vehicular under-seat compartment mechanism.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other under-seat storage references, this may bear on general storage concepts but less on the specific pivoting seat for forming a cargo bay wall as claimed in US12539795 (claims 1, 9, 14).

  • US20050236202A1

    • Full Citation: US20050236202A1 - Collapsible personal transportation vehicle
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2005-10-27; Priority: 2004-04-23.
    • Brief Description: This publication describes a collapsible personal transportation vehicle. The "collapsible" nature suggests some transformable features.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Could be relevant to the broader concept of a transformable personal transportation vehicle. A detailed analysis would be needed to see if the specific pivoting seat and cargo bay wall configuration of claims 1, 9, and 14 is disclosed or rendered obvious.

  • US7121606B2

    • Full Citation: US7121606B2 - Vehicle storage structure
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2006-10-17; Priority: 2005-02-11.
    • Brief Description: This patent broadly covers a vehicle storage structure.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Likely too general to anticipate the specific pivoting seat mechanism, but could be considered for broader claims related to "storage" if not sufficiently limited by the unique seat-to-wall conversion of US12539795 (claims 1, 9, 14).

  • US7429078B1

    • Full Citation: US7429078B1 - Portable cargo storage and walled enclosure assembly
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2008-09-30; Priority: 2005-11-17.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a portable cargo storage and walled enclosure assembly, which is highly relevant to the "walled" nature of the cargo bay in US12539795.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to claims 1, 9, and 14, specifically the concept of a "cargo bay" with "walls." A detailed comparison would be necessary to see if the specific configuration where the pivoting seat itself forms a wall is anticipated or obvious in light of this reference.

  • US7523985B2

    • Full Citation: US7523985B2 - Seat assembly having integrated belt, storage compartments and registers
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2009-04-28; Priority: 2006-02-06.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a seat assembly with integrated storage compartments.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other storage-with-seat references, this could be relevant to general concepts of integrated storage but not directly to the pivoting seat forming a cargo bay wall (claims 1, 9, 14).

  • US20110298189A1

    • Full Citation: US20110298189A1 - Side-by-side vehicle
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2011-12-08; Priority: 2010-06-08.
    • Brief Description: This publication describes a side-by-side vehicle, a type of personal transportation vehicle.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference provides context for the "personal transportation vehicle" aspect of claims 1, 9, and 14. Specifics of the seat and cargo conversion would need to be present to directly anticipate.

  • US8075040B2

    • Full Citation: US8075040B2 - Vehicle having utility bed and seat
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2011-12-13; Priority: 2009-06-03.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a vehicle with a utility bed and a seat. This is highly relevant as it addresses a common feature in utility vehicles.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is very relevant to claims 1, 9, and 14. The combination of a "seat" and "utility bed" could be argued to anticipate or render obvious the "pivoting seat and cargo bay" if the mechanism for converting the seat to a wall of the cargo bay is not sufficiently distinct from prior solutions for converting between seating and utility bed configurations.

  • US8348322B2

    • Full Citation: US8348322B2 - Vehicle having utility bed and seat
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2013-01-08; Priority: 2011-01-31.
    • Brief Description: This patent also describes a vehicle with a utility bed and a seat, similar to US8075040B2.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Highly relevant for the same reasons as US8075040B2, particularly for claims 1, 9, and 14.

  • US8353534B2

    • Full Citation: US8353534B2 - Vehicle having utility bed and passenger restraint assembly
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2013-01-15; Priority: 2009-12-23.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a vehicle with a utility bed and a passenger restraint assembly.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Relevant to the combination of a utility bed and passenger features, impacting claims 1, 9, and 14 if the seat conversion to a cargo bay wall is not adequately differentiated from existing utility bed/passenger combinations.

  • US8585116B2

    • Full Citation: US8585116B2 - Vehicular utility bed having end wall and seat bottom portion and vehicles including same
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2013-11-19; Priority: 2011-01-31.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a vehicular utility bed having an end wall and seat bottom portion. This is highly relevant as it explicitly mentions a "seat bottom portion" acting as an "end wall" of a utility bed.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is extremely highly relevant to claims 1, 9, and 14 of US12539795. The explicit disclosure of a "seat bottom portion" forming an "end wall" of a "utility bed" directly addresses the core inventive concept of US12539795 (a pivoting seat bottom forming a "wall of a cargo bay"). A careful, claim-by-claim analysis against this patent would be critical to determine anticipation.

  • US20140015273A1

    • Full Citation: US20140015273A1 - Vehicle seat housing apparatus
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2014-01-16; Priority: 2011-03-25.
    • Brief Description: This publication describes a vehicle seat housing apparatus.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less likely to anticipate the specific pivoting seat functionality but could be relevant to broader claims on seat structures or housings if not sufficiently distinguished.

  • US9932143B2

    • Full Citation: US9932143B2 - Cargo organizer with collapsible storage compartment
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2018-04-03; Priority: 2016-04-06.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a cargo organizer with a collapsible storage compartment.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Relevant to the general concept of a convertible cargo space but less directly to the pivoting seat forming a wall (claims 1, 9, 14).

  • US20180265010A1

    • Full Citation: US20180265010A1 - Two-tier cushion storage system and integrated feature options
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2018-09-20; Priority: 2017-03-16.
    • Brief Description: This publication describes a two-tier cushion storage system.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): May be relevant to claims concerning cushion arrangements and storage but not directly to the pivoting seat forming a cargo bay wall (claims 1, 9, 14).

  • US10160392B2

    • Full Citation: US10160392B2 - Composite seat side storage bin
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2018-12-25; Priority: 2017-01-31.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a composite seat side storage bin.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other storage references, this may be relevant to peripheral storage aspects but not the core pivoting seat and cargo bay wall functionality of claims 1, 9, and 14.

  • US20190106034A1

    • Full Citation: US20190106034A1 - Seating assembly with liner
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2019-04-11; Priority: 2017-10-09.
    • Brief Description: This publication describes a seating assembly with a liner.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Likely too general to anticipate the specific pivoting seat and cargo bay features of claims 1, 9, and 14.

  • US10336262B2

    • Full Citation: US10336262B2 - Under seat storage bin for flip forward second row seat
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2019-07-02; Priority: 2017-04-18.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes an underseat storage bin for a flip-forward second-row seat. The "flip forward" seat is relevant to the concept of a movable seat.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant, especially if the "flip forward" mechanism of the seat creates a similar cargo space. It could potentially anticipate elements of claims 1, 9, and 14 if the pivoting action and function as a "wall of a cargo bay" is not sufficiently distinguished.

  • US10457170B2

    • Full Citation: US10457170B2 - Flexible motor vehicle work surface for laptops and tablets
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2019-10-29; Priority: 2017-07-27.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a flexible work surface in a motor vehicle.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate the core claims of US12539795.

  • US10625680B1

    • Full Citation: US10625680B1 - Seating assembly
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2020-04-21; Priority: 2018-10-31.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a seating assembly.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Likely too general to anticipate the specific pivoting seat and cargo bay features of claims 1, 9, and 14.

  • US11453317B2

    • Full Citation: US11453317B2 - Vehicle seating system
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2022-09-27; Priority: 2020-10-06.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a vehicle seating system.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Likely too general to anticipate the specific pivoting seat and cargo bay features of claims 1, 9, and 14.

Most Relevant Prior Art (Summary):

Based on the titles and brief descriptions, the following patents appear to be the most relevant prior art for US12539795, particularly under 35 U.S.C. § 102, as they directly address or closely relate to the core inventive concept of a convertible seat and cargo area:

  1. US8585116B2 (Vehicular utility bed having end wall and seat bottom portion and vehicles including same): This patent explicitly describes a "seat bottom portion" acting as an "end wall" of a "utility bed," which directly aligns with the concept of the pivoting seat bottom forming a "wall of a cargo bay" in US12539795. This would be a strong reference for anticipation of claims 1, 9, and 14.
  2. US6481772B1 (Vehicle having a foldable seat with a retractable window and an extending cargo bed): The "foldable seat" and "extending cargo bed" are highly relevant to the convertibility aspect, potentially anticipating or making obvious the pivoting seat to cargo bay conversion.
  3. US8075040B2 (Vehicle having utility bed and seat) and US8348322B2 (Vehicle having utility bed and seat): These patents generally describe vehicles with convertible seating and utility beds, which could be argued to encompass aspects of claims 1, 9, and 14.
  4. US7429078B1 (Portable cargo storage and walled enclosure assembly): The "walled enclosure assembly" for cargo is pertinent to the cargo bay definition in US12539795.
  5. US10336262B2 (Under seat storage bin for flip forward second row seat): The "flip forward" seat mechanism is relevant to movable seats that create or reveal storage.

For a definitive determination of anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102, a full claim-by-claim comparison of US12539795 against the detailed disclosures of these highly relevant prior art documents would be necessary.

Generated 7/1/2026, 12:02:20 PM