U.S. patent application number 11/283297 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-24 for folding seat assembly.
Invention is credited to Stephen E. Dougherty.
Application Number | 20070114819 11/283297 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38052776 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070114819 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dougherty; Stephen E. |
May 24, 2007 |
Folding seat assembly
Abstract
A folding seat assembly to provide easy access to a storage area
behind the seat for use particularly in boats or aircraft. The seat
assembly allows a seat (32) to be folded into a seat box (1) and
rides on a pivot pin (27) within a track aperture (26). A lock (11)
is provided to secure the seat within the seat box. An upper handle
(9) on the bottom of the seat frame assist the user in lowering the
seat to an open use position. A lower handle (10) allows the seat
box to be lifted upward for access to storage and equipment behind
the seat. The seat box is supported in the latter position by at
least one lifter (21) attached to a back of the seat box and a
support on the boat or aircraft in which the seat assembly is
used.
Inventors: |
Dougherty; Stephen E.;
(Edgewater, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWARD M. LIVINGSTON, PA
963 TRAIL TERRACE DRIVE
NAPLES
FL
34103
US
|
Family ID: |
38052776 |
Appl. No.: |
11/283297 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64D 11/0698 20141201;
B64D 11/0627 20141201; B63B 25/002 20130101; B63B 29/04 20130101;
A47C 9/06 20130101; B64D 11/0639 20141201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/014 |
International
Class: |
A47C 9/06 20060101
A47C009/06 |
Claims
1. A folding seat assembly comprising: a seat box having a back, a
top side, bottom side and two end sides; a seat capable of being
accommodated by the seat box, said seat having a frame; vertically
elongated track rails on each of the two end sides of the seat box,
said track rail having a track aperture extending from a bottom
seat-closed position to a top seat-opened position; at least one
handle for pulling the seat from the seat box; and a support means
for holding the seat box in an elevated position when access to
storage and equipment behind the seat assembly is desired.
2. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising: support
arms connecting each side of the seat frame to a top of the track
rails.
3. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the support means
for holding the seat box in the open elevated position comprises:
at least one lifter attached at one end to the seat box and at
another end to a support on a structure in which the seat is
used.
4. The folding seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the support means
for holding the seat box in a open elevated position comprises: at
least one lifter attached at one end to the seat box and at another
end to a support on a structure in which the seat is used.
5. The folding seat assembly of claim 3 further comprising a back
cushion attached to a top of the seat box.
6. The folding seat assembly of claim 4 further comprising a back
cushion attached to a top of the seat box.
7. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising: means
for securing the seat in a closed position when folded into the
seat box.
8. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for
securing the seat comprises a latch lock on a bottom of the seat
frame and a latch keeper on a side of the seat box.
9. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame of the
seat comprises a front, back, center and two side rails for holding
and attaching seat cushions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to folding seats and more
particularly to a folding seat for a boat or aircraft with easy
access to equipment in a storage space behind the seat.
[0002] In many situations where space is limited due to size and
weight limitations, particularly in boats and aircraft, every
available space must be used to store things, including the space
behind seats. Thus, often batteries and items of equipment are
located behind seats of boats and aircraft. Unfortunately, due to
such a location access to batteries and other items of equipment
behind the seats is limited, thereby making maintenance and service
difficult. In many cases the seat cushions must be removed from a
seat and even then a person has only limited access to the battery
equipment through the opening and seat support.
[0003] Thus a need exists for a seat assembly that allows for easy
access to a storage location beneath the seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
seat that allows for the storage of items behind it.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provid a seat
that allows easy access to the items stored behind it.
[0006] Even another object of the present invention is to provide a
seat that folds out of the way to provide full access to the items
stored behind the seat.
[0007] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
a seat that can be secured in a folded up position to prevent it
from falling onto a person.
[0008] The present invention fulfills the above and other objects
by providing a seat having a frame with a front rail, back rail,
and two side rails, which folds into a box. The seat is connected
to upright elongated track rails on each side by a rotary pin which
moves within an aperture from a top seat-open position to a bottom
seat-closed position. The seat frame may have side support arms
connecting each side rail to the seat box. A locking means may be
provided on the seat to hold the seat in the folded and closed
position. At least one upper handle may be provided to assist in
pulling down the seat frame from a folded position. A lower handle
allows the entire seat box to be lifted upward and supported by
lifters when access to storage behind the seat is desired.
[0009] The above and other objects, features-and advantages of the
present invention should become even more readily apparent to those
skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed
description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown
and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In the following detailed description, reference will be
made to the attached drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the seat of the present
invention in a closed and locked position;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat of the present
invention and open seated position;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the complete seat assembly
of the present invention in a fully opened position;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the complete assembly with the
seat in the opened position; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the track rail of the seat of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the
terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the
drawings is as follows: [0017] 1. seat box [0018] 2. seat box frame
[0019] 3. seat support arms [0020] 4. seat cushion bottom [0021] 5.
seat top rail [0022] 6. angle support bar [0023] 7. seat box pivot
hinge [0024] 8. head cushion [0025] 9. upper handle [0026] 10.
lower handle [0027] 11. lock [0028] 12. seat side rail [0029] 13.
seat center rail [0030] 14. seat side rail [0031] 15. boat floor
[0032] 16. seat cushion screws [0033] 17. seat bottom rail [0034]
18. seat cushion top [0035] 19. pivot nut [0036] 20. back cushion
rest [0037] 21. lifters [0038] 22. seat lifter attachment brackets
[0039] 23. boat lifter attachment [0040] 24. equipment/storage
compartment [0041] 25. track rail [0042] 26. pivot pin track
aperture [0043] 27. seat pivot pin [0044] 28. lower rail pivot pin
[0045] 29. upper rail pivot pin [0046] 30. seat-open track rest
notch [0047] 31. bottom seat-closed position of track aperture
[0048] 32. seat [0049] 33. head cushion plate
[0050] FIG. 1, shows a seat assembly of the present invention as it
would appear in a closed and locked position when the seat is not
in use. In the unused position the seat 32 is folded completely
into the seat box 1 which provides maximum availability of the
space on the boat floor 15. The seat 32 is held securely in the
seat box 1 by a lock 11 to prevent inadvertent opening. The seat
box 1 is mounted within a frame 2 in the boat as shown. The bottom
of the seat 32 has top rail 5, bottom rail 17, two side rails 12
and 14 and middle rail 13 to which seat cushions 4 are securely
attached by screws 16 in the rails 12, 13, and 14. Above the seat
box is a head cushion 8 which may be attached to a plate on a seat
box pivot hinge 7. When the seat 32 is closed the seat support bar
3 and angle support bar 6 are also folded into the box 1. On the
bottom of the seat 32 is an upper handle 9 and a lower handle 10
mounted in line with the central rail 13. The upper handle 9 is
used for pulling the seat outward and downward to open the seat as
shown in FIG. 2. The lower handle 10 is used to open the seat 32 by
pulling upward so as to provide access to equipment behind the seat
box 1.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 2, the seat 32 is shown in an opened
seating position. In this position the seat 32 is supported by the
seat support arms 3 which extend from a pivot nut 19 to a lower
point of attachment on the seat side rails 12 and 14. The seat
cushion top 18 and a back cushion 20 are also shown.
[0052] In FIG. 3 the entire seat 32 is folded into the seat box 1.
The latter is accomplished by pulling the lower handle 10 upward so
as to provide access to equipment 24 behind the seat 32 for service
and maintenance. The seat box 1 is supported at the top by the seat
box pivot hinge 7 and maintained in an elevated position by lifters
21, which may be hydraulic or pneumatic, and which are attached to
an upper end of the seat box 22 at attachment brackets 23 behind
the seat assembly and to a lower end at attachment brackets 23 on
the boat.
[0053] FIG. 4 shows in a side plan view a track rail 25 on the
inside portion of the each side of the seat box 1. The track rail
25, which is shown in further detail in FIG. 5, is vertically
elongated and has a bottom seat-closed position 31 and an upper
seat-open track rest notch 30 where at the pivot pin 27 rests when
the seat is opened. Seat support arm 3 may be attached to the side
rails 12 by a lower rail pivot pin 28 and inside the seat box 1 by
an upper pivot pin 19.
[0054] FIG. 5 shows the track rails 25 with the aperture 26 within
which the seat pivot pin 27 moves. The aperture 26 has a bottom
seat-closed position 31 and an upper seat-open notch 30 to lock the
seat 32 in the open position. Near the top of the track rails 25
are pivot pin holes 19 for the seat support arms 3.
[0055] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention
have been described in detail herein above, all improvements and
modifications to this invention within the scope or equivalents of
the claims are included as part of this invention.
* * * * *