U.S. patent application number 10/117286 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for adjustable chair for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Cox, David C., Hemmer, Nathan A..
Application Number | 20030189370 10/117286 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28674166 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030189370 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hemmer, Nathan A. ; et
al. |
October 9, 2003 |
Adjustable chair for vehicles
Abstract
A chair adjustment mechanism suitable for use in vehicles
including aircraft. The mechanism allows the chair to be easily
moved in a horizontal place and locked into any position within a
boundary of this plane. This movement includes swivel movement in
360 degrees.
Inventors: |
Hemmer, Nathan A.;
(Rockford, IL) ; Cox, David C.; (Rockford,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN
12400 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SEVENTH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90025
US
|
Family ID: |
28674166 |
Appl. No.: |
10/117286 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/344.11 ;
297/344.21; 297/344.22; 297/344.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/01566 20130101;
B64D 11/0696 20130101; B64D 11/06 20130101; B60N 2/0232 20130101;
B64D 11/0646 20141201; A47C 3/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/344.11 ;
297/344.21; 297/344.24; 297/344.22 |
International
Class: |
A47C 001/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable chair comprising: a base assembly; a seat assembly
moveably coupled to the base assembly; a locking assembly coupled
to the seat assembly; a spindle assembly coupled to the locking
assembly including an adjustment device to control a clamped
dimension; a disk assembly coupled to the spindle assembly and
secured by the adjustment device; and an actuator mechanism coupled
to the housing to activate the locking assembly.
2. The adjustable chair of claim 1 wherein the locking assembly
comprises: a guide to allow a range of movement relative to the
spindle assembly.
3. The adjustable chair of claim 2 wherein the locking assembly
further comprises: at least one spring coupled to the spindle
assembly to bias the spindle assembly into a locked position.
4. The adjustable chair of claim 2 wherein the actuator mechanism
comprises: a cam coupled to the locking assembly to engage or
disengage the locking assembly.
5. The adjustable chair of claim 1 wherein the locking assembly is
configured to move the spindle assembly from a first position to a
second position.
6. The adjustable chair of claim 3 wherein the locking assembly
further comprises: at least one glide block coupled to the cam and
to the spindle assembly to engage or disengage the locking
assembly.
7. The adjustable chair of claim 4 wherein the actuator mechanism
further comprises: a cable coupled to a handle.
8. The adjustable chair of claim 4 wherein the actuator mechanism
further comprises: an electronic device to actuate the locking
assembly.
9. The adjustable chair of claim 1 wherein the spindle assembly
further comprises: a spring to move the spindle assembly to an
unlocked position.
10. The adjustable chair of claim 2 wherein the adjustment device
comprises: at least one screw to maintain the position of the
adjustment device relative to the spindle assembly and the disk
assembly.
11. A mechanism comprising; a housing; a lock mechanism coupled to
the housing, including an adjustment device to secure a clamped
dimension; a disk assembly coupled to the lock mechanism to apply a
force to a surface.
12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the lock mechanism comprises:
a guide to allow a range of movement relative to a spindle assembly
coupled to the disk assembly.
13. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein the lock mechanism further
comprises: at least one spring coupled to the housing to move the
spindle assembly to a locked position.
14. The mechanism of claim 11 further comprising: an actuator
mechanism including a cam coupled to the lock mechanism and the
housing to engage or disengage the lock mechanism.
15. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the lock mechanism is
configured to move a spindle assembly from a first position to a
second position.
16. The mechanism of claim 13 wherein the lock mechanism further
comprises: at least one guide block coupled to the cam and to the
spindle assembly to engage or disengage the locking mechanism.
17. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the actuator mechanism
further comprises: a cable coupled to a handle.
18. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the actuator mechanism
further comprises: an electronic device to actuate the lock
mechanism.
19. The mechanism of claim 11 further comprising: a spindle
assembly including a spring to move the spindle assembly to an
unlocked position.
20. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the adjustment device
comprises: a dowel to maintain the position of the adjustment
device in a guide.
21. An adjustment control mechanism comprising: a housing; a disk
coupled to the housing; a means for locking an object between the
brake disk and housing; and a means for adjusting a clamped
dimension.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] This invention relates to the field of adjustable chairs for
use in vehicles, and more particularly to a chair having a
mechanism to control and facilitate lateral, longitudinal and
swiveling movement.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Vehicles used in transportation including commercial and
private aircraft are equipped with chairs for seating passengers
for trips of varying length. A chair with a greater range of
motion, such as forward and aft, lateral and swivel movement along
with the capability of locking into the new positions provides
greater comfort to the passenger especially over longer journeys.
Chairs in this context can be subject to turbulent conditions. Many
chairs used in these conditions use tracks to allow movement in
conjunction with locking pins to maintain position. This
configuration is inconvenient to adjust or requires complicated
automation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention is illustrated by way of example and not by
way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in
which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted
that references to "an" or "one" embodiment in this disclosure are
not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at
least one.
[0006] FIG. 1 depicts a chair with an adjustment mechanism.
[0007] FIG. 2 depicts an adjustment mechanism.
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts the spindle assembly of an adjustment
mechanism.
[0009] FIG. 4 depicts the brake assembly of an adjustment
mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the invention, wherein
parts are indicated by reference numerals, showing an adjustable
chair 20 that has a seat back 22 attached to a seat base 24 and
seat support 26. The seat support structure 26 contains the seat
pan which houses an adjustment mechanism. The seat support 26 rests
over chair base 28. When the adjustment mechanism is in an unlocked
position the seat support 26 can move forward, aft, and laterally
in relation to the chair base 28. Movement of the seat support 26
is bounded because the spindle assembly of the adjustment mechanism
is situated through the bottom of the seat pan and seat support 26
into the chair base 28. The spindle assembly includes a brake disk
30, a bottom assembly nut 32 and a brake pad 34.
[0011] In one embodiment, when the adjustment mechanism is in the
locked position, the seat support 26 is unable to move in relation
to the chair base 28. The adjustment mechanism clamps the seat
support 26 and seat pan to the chair base 28. The seat support 26
is held in place by the frictional contact of the brake pad 34 with
the underside of the top of the chair base 28.
[0012] In one embodiment, a handle mechanism 36 is housed in the
seat base 24, an arm rest, or similar structure attached to the
seat. The handle mechanism 36 is connected to a cam in the
adjustment mechanism by a cable. In one embodiment, the cable is
{fraction (3/16)} inch wire rope in a sheath of flexible material.
A mechanical advantage may be incorporated into the handle
mechanism to facilitate ease of use in actuating the adjustment
mechanism by the user.
[0013] In another embodiment, an electronic controller is placed in
the seat base, attached structure, or the like to control the
adjustment mechanism. In one embodiment, the electronic controller
activates motor to move the adjustment mechanism from a locked to
an unlocked position.
[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, a microcontroller receives input
from the seat user via a switch in the armrest. When the user
switches to an unlock position, the microcontroller activates a
stepper-motor attached to a spindle and brake assembly to lower the
spindle and brake assembly. When the user switches to a lock
position, the microcontroller activates the stepper-motor to raise
the spindle and brake assembly. In one embodiment, the
stepper-motor drives a cam or camshaft to lower and raise the
spindle and brake assembly. This embodiment employs the mechanical
advantage of the cam or camshaft to adjust the spindle and brake
assembly allowing for a more energy efficient or less expensive
stepper-motor to be used.
[0015] This embodiment of the invention allows a user to position
the seat by moving the seat relative to the base in any horizontal
direction while in the unlocked state within the boundary defined
by the chair base 28 within which the spindle and brake disk 30 are
confined.
[0016] When the chair is set in the lock state, the brake disk
clamps the chair base 28 to the seat support 26 creating a friction
lock. This provides a secure chair for use in transportation
including for use in air transport.
[0017] It will be understood that the mechanical structures of the
chair 20 have been shown without upholstery and similar components
of the chair in order that the described components can be depicted
with clarity.
[0018] FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the invention where a guide
103 is attached to seat pan 101 by bolts, screws, or the like. In
another embodiment seat pan 101 is designed to incorporate
structures equivalent to the guide 103. An adjustment nut 108 with
dowels attached on opposite ends of the nut is placed within the
guide 103 so that the dowels are slidably disposed in the cut outs
of the guide 103. The guide 103 is attached to the seat pan 101
through a cut out in the bottom of the seat pan 101. Attached to
the bottom of the guide 103 covering the cut out in the bottom of
the seat pan 101 is a shaft (not shown).
[0019] In one embodiment, links 105 are attached via a socket to
the dowels of top adjustment nut 108. The links 105 are also
attached to glide blocks 106 by a male type attachment that rests
in the hole in the upper section of the glide blocks 106. The glide
blocks 106 are slidably disposed in a track formed in the seat pan
101. The glide blocks 106 have a range of motion on the track from
a position approximately centered beneath the adjustment nut 108
dowels in the guide 103 to a position close to the camshaft
102.
[0020] In one embodiment, two torsional springs 104 are attached to
the links 105 and the guide 103 so as to exert a force on the glide
blocks 106 in the direction of the position near the camshaft. One
torsional spring 104 is attached to each link 105 to provide a
force against each glide block 106. In another embodiment the
torsional spring 104 is connected directly to the glide block 106.
It would be understood that other types of springs or like devices
designed to exert a force against the glide blocks 106 toward their
positions near the camshaft could be used in a variety of alternate
embodiments of the invention. The force of spring mechanism 104
pushes the glide blocks 106 to their position near the camshaft
which in turn applies force to the dowels of the adjustment nut 108
lowering the nut to the lower end of the cut out of the guide 103
thereby placing the adjustment nut 108 and the attached spindle and
brake disk 30 in the unlocked position.
[0021] In another embodiment, the two torsional springs 104 are
attached to the links 105 and the guide 103 so as to exert a force
on the glide blocks 106 in the direction of their centered
position. It would be understood that other types of springs or
like devices could be used to exert a force on the glide blocks 106
toward their centered positions. The torsional springs 104 push
glide blocks 104 to their centered position which lifts the top
adjustment nut 108 to the upper end of the cutout of the guide 103,
thereby placing the adjustment mechanism in the locked
position.
[0022] In one embodiment, the adjustment device is moved to the
unlocked state by movement of a handle 36 by a user. The handle 36
is attached by a cable 109 to a cam 107. The cam 107 is attached to
the seat pan 101 and a camshaft 102 so that the cam 107 can rotate
about an axis perpendicular to the movement of the glide blocks
106. The cam 107 is rotated away from the guide 103 by activation
of the handle 36. This movement of the cam 107 turns the camshaft
102 in a proportionate manner. Attached to the camshaft 102 at each
end are glide cables 110. The glide cables 110 are attached one to
each glide block 106. When the camshaft 102 is turned by activation
of the handle mechanism 36 glide cables 110 pull the glide blocks
106 from their center position to a position near the camshaft
102.
[0023] In one embodiment, movement of the camshaft releases the
pull of the glide cables on the glide blocks 106 allowing a
compression spring to push the top adjustment nut 108 and attached
spindle to a higher position in the guide cutout where the brake
disk 30 and brake pad 34 are in contact with the chair base 28
preventing the seat support 26 from moving in relation to the chair
base 28. This results in the glide blocks 106 being in the centered
position.
[0024] In another embodiment, placement of the handle 36 in the
lock position releases pressure on the cam 107. The torsional
springs 104 pull the guide blocks 106 to the centered position
raising the adjustment nut 108 and attached spindle to the lock
position. The glide cables 110 are pulled by the glide blocks 106
thereby turning the camshaft 102 and cam 107 to their respective
locked positions. In this embodiment, placement of the handle 36 in
the unlocked position rotates the cam 107 and the camshaft 102
which pulls glide blocks 106 toward the camshaft 102. This allows
the compression spring to pull the top adjustment nut 108 and
attached spindle to a lower position in the guide cutout where the
brake disk 30 and brake pad 34 are not in contact with the chair
base 28 allowing the seat support 26 to move in relation to the
client base 28.
[0025] In one embodiment, the adjustment nut 108 is screwed to the
top of a spindle. Adjustment screws 111 serve as a secondary means
of locking the spindle into the top adjustment nut 108. The
adjustment screws 111 maintain the position of this adjustment nut
108 in relation to the spindle thereby allowing the position of the
brake disk 30 in relation to the seat pan 101 to be maintained even
if the brake disk 30 or brake pad 34 is removed temporarily from
the spindle assembly. Maintaining the position of the top
adjustment nut 108 during the stress and vibration of travel and
use of the chair is important to the function of locking the chair
in a position. To lock a chair in a position, the brake assembly
comes into contact with the chair base 28. In one embodiment, the
distance between the bottom of the seat pan and the top of the
brake disk 30 or brake pad 34 must be short enough to create
contact when in the locked position but not in the unlocked
position. The adjustment screws 111 prevent the top adjustment nut
108 from moving its position relative to the spindle thereby
maintaining the distance between the top adjustment nut 108 and
brake disk 30. This also preserves the clamped dimension, the
necessary minimal distance between the top adjustment nut 108 and
brake disk 30 or brake pad 34 to achieve a friction lock in the
lock position. Also, the adjustment screws 111 ensure that the
adjustment mechanism remains properly adjusted through vibration
loads and stress typical in vehicles and during use of the
chair.
[0026] FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of a spindle assembly of the
invention where a spindle 206 is placed within the shaft 208. The
top of the spindle 206 is threaded to be screwed into a doweled
adjustment nut 108. The inner circumference of the shaft 208 is
wide enough to accommodate a compression spring 205 placed around
the spindle 206 within the shaft 208 except near the bottom shaft
opening where the inner circumference of the shaft 208 narrows to
roughly match the outer circumference of the spindle 206. The
compression spring 205 attaches at one end with the bottom of the
shaft 208. At the other end, the spring 205 attaches to the top
adjustment nut 108. The compression spring 205 is in a compressed
position when the adjustment mechanism is in the unlocked position
exerting an upward force on the top adjustment nut 108. When the
mechanism is in the locked position, the compression spring 205 is
expanded upward with the top adjustment nut 108.
[0027] In another embodiment, the compression spring 205 is in a
rest position when the adjustment mechanism is in the unlocked
position. When the adjustment mechanism is in the locked position,
the compression spring 205 is stretched upward with the top
adjustment nut 108, thereby exerting a downward force on the
spindle 206 and top adjustment nut 108. Alternatively, when the
adjustment mechanism is in the unlocked position, the compression
spring 205 may be stretched to assert a downward force that is not
able to overcome the upward force generated by the torsional spring
104.
[0028] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the brake disk assembly of
the invention where brake disk 30 is secured between bottom
adjustment nut 32 and a middle portion 340 of the spindle 206. The
bottom end 322 of the spindle 206 is threaded to accommodate a
bottom assembly nut 32. The outer circumference of the bottom
portion 322 of the spindle 206 including the threaded portion 324
and a small portion just below the threaded portion 324 including
openings to channels for dowels 309 is narrower than the middle
portion 340 of the spindle 206. The middle portion 340 of the
spindle 206 has a greater exterior circumference than the bottom
end portion 322. In one embodiment, the bottom assembly nut 32 has
a set of channels running through the center of the nut wherein a
removable dowel 309 can be placed. The spindle 206 has a
complementary set of channels which open on opposite sides of the
spindle 206 to allow the removable dowel 309 to pass through the
spindle 206. The dowels 309 are placed through the nut 32 and
spindle 206 to prevent the nut 32 from moving relative to the
spindle 206 after it has been placed on the spindle 206. These
dowels preserve the bottom assembly nut 32 position and thereby the
place of the brake disk 30 relative to the top 344 of the spindle
206 by preventing the brake disk 30 from moving away from the top
of the spindle during the stress and vibration of travel and
use.
[0029] In one embodiment, the brake pad 34 is composed of a metal
core structure covered by an abrasive material. In an exemplary
embodiment, the metal core structure is an aluminum honeycomb
structure. Suitable abrasive materials include rubber, neoprene
rubber, cork or similar materials.
[0030] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will,
however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be
made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of
the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The
specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an
illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
* * * * *