A METHOD OF RECLINING SEATS GROUP AND A RECLINING SEATS GROUP

Today the public transport vehicles are to have a certain number of seats in order to meet the costs incurred during operation. Some entrepreneurs prefer vehicle having more seats capacity but rather non-comfortable while others prefer decreasing number of seats offering comfort and reflecting it into the price payable by consumer. However, both applications do not contain any facility where the seats are converted into bed offering a comfortable travel by the passengers. The reason is the fact that less passengers will be transported if seats are of fully flattened as the legislations require vehicles of a certain length and width. And such application will result in loss by the vehicle entrepreneurs by failing to cover their costs or loss by consumers as the costs will be reflected in the prices.

The current state of art offers seats foldable to a given degree in the public transport vehicles. However, this degree of folding does not offer the facility enabling passengers to lie and also causes problems for the passengers travelling at the back seats group. The reason for it is the fact that the space to be allocated for the seats group is narrow because the vehicle is required to have a certain number of seats. Although it has been preferred to locate one seat instead of locating two seats side by side in some applications recently so as to offer comfort. Such application just offers a comfort in terms of "width" or aisle width but not enabling passenger to lie. On the other hand, it is known that lying down need of an individual is met by means of providing flat position of hip, waist and back parallel to ground. Although it can be considered to provide flatness of parts of spine with bottom knee, since there is no load on this part of body in lying position if the needs of other parts of the body are met, failure to provide flatness of this part prevents resting.

Also, while particularly vehicles of van or special buses for hospitals etc. have a different application where seats are rotatable or fully laying, may seats cannot be located in the vehicle since the application requires a wide area, and such function / functions cannot be provided in narrow areas, which is necessary for public transport vehicles. For that reason, it is not possible to apply it in public transport vehicles.

The main purpose of this invention is to provide fully lying for seats groups of public transport vehicles in the space to be allocated for them.

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail on the basis of the illustrative embodiment shown schematically in the figures. In the figures; Fig. 1 shows in perspective view a seats group ( back view )

Fig. 2 shows in perspective view a mandrel and a lower wing of skidder ( front view )

Fig. 3 shows in perspective view the mandrel, the lower wing of skidder ( side view) and an upper wing of skidder ( cross sectional view )

Fig. 4 shows in perspective view a leg apparatus ( side view )

Fig. 5 shows in perspective view the leg apparatus ( upper side view )

Fig. 6 shows in perspective view a part of the seat part on the side aisle ( inferior and side view )

Fig. 7 shows in perspective view a part of the seat part on the side wall of the vehicle ( inferior and side view )

Fig. 8 shows in perspective view a backrest ( back view )

Fig. 9 shows in perspective view an armrest apparatus ( side view )

Fig. 10 shows in perspective view a fastening slot ( front view )

Fig. 1 1 shows in perspective view a roller blind ( extended view )

Fig. 12 shows in perspective view an iron connection of the backrest ( side view)

Fig. 13 shows in perspective view an arm of service tray ( side view )

The parts in invention are shown with numbers below: 1- Mandrel

2- Skidder apparatus

3- Leg apparatus

4- Skidders of seat part

5- Seat parts

6- Backrests - Armrest apparatus

- Support feet of backrests

- Fastening slots

0- Roller blind

1 - Metal square base

2- Lower base bearing

3- Upper axial bearing

4- Plastic cover

5- Lower wing of iron skidder

6- Upper wing of iron skidder

7- Metal sheet legs

8- Leg bases

9- Profiles

0- Lower skidder wings of seat part

1- Upper skidder wings of seat part

2- Metal sheet base

3- Connection slots for iron connection of the backrest4- Armrest anchoring slots

5- Bottom connections of the metal sheet base6- Seat pad

7- Iron connections of the backrest

8- Upper skidder wings of backrest

9- Folding armrest

0- Armrest anchoring pins

1 - Notches of cover of backrest

2- Cavity

3- Ramp

4- Base of support foot of backrest

5- Seat laying piston

6- Connection slots for the seat laying piston

7- Plastic cover of seat foam

8 - Seat laying piston point

9- Latch

0- Sliding guide 41 - Hinge

42 - Elastic foam

43 - Flexible front section of metal sheet base

44- Arm of service tray

45- Service tray

46- Notches of arm of service tray

47- Aparatus of service tray

A mandrel ( 1 ) seen in the figure 2 and 3 is a metal tube which is fastened on a metal square base ( 1 1 ) , the upper part of which has been covered with a plastic cover ( 14 ) having a circular hole in the middle and in which a lower base bearing ( 12 ) and an upper axial bearing ( 13 ) has been put. The lower bearing ( 12 ) has the feature of base bearing and is fastened to the lower part of the mandrel ( 1 ) and a tube part of the skidder apparatus ( 2 ) is overlaid on it. The upper bearing ( 13 ) has the feature of axial bearing and fastened to the upper part of the mandrel ( 1 ) and the tube part of the skidder apparatus ( 2 ) is fastened getting through it. The upper plastic cover ( 14 ) is the part in the middle of which there is a hole through which the tube part of the skidder apparatus ( 2 ) goes, and acts as the upper cover of the mandrel ( 1 ). The metal square base ( 1 1 ), at the edges of which there are screw holes and on which the mandrel ( 1 ) is fastened, on the one hand acts as lower cover of the mandrel ( 1 ) and on the other hand as fastening of mandrel ( 1 ) to the vehicle body.

The skidder apparatus ( 2 ) seen in the figure 2 and 3, as stated, is composed of a metal tube going through the mandrel ( 1 ) and a lower wing of iron skidder ( 15 ) fastened to this tube and at the same time an upper wing of iron skidder ( 16 ) forming the middle part of the leg apparatus ( 3 ).

The leg apparatus ( 3 ) seen in the figure 4 is composed of an upper wing of iron skidder ( 16 ) in the middle; metal sheet legs ( 17 ) in the sides to which this wing ( 16 ) is fastened and profiles ( 19 ) fastened to the upper part of the wing ( 16 ) on which lower skidder wings of seat parts ( 20 ) are fastened. The legs ( 17 ) have legs bases (18) used to fasten the leg apparatus ( 3 ) to fastening slots ( 9 ) and vehicle body. The skidders of seat parts ( 4 ) seen in the figure 1, 4 and 6, as stated, are composed of lower skidder wings of seat parts ( 20 ) fastened to the profiles ( 19 ) and at the same time upper skidder wings of seat parts ( 21) forming the bottom parts of the metal sheet bases ( 22 ).

The seat parts ( 5 ) seen in the figures 5,6,7 and 8 are the parts where upholstery pads ( 26 ) which have been placed on metal sheet bases ( 22 ) and furnished with upholstery material such as fabric or leather and equipped with plastic covers ( 37 ) at the bottoms. The metal sheet bases ( 22 ) have connections ( 25 ) and the upper skidder wings of seat parts (21). The upper skidder wings of seat parts ( 21) are connected to the lower skidder wings of seat parts ( 20 ) fastened to the profiles ( 19 ). The seat parts ( 5 ) are also connected to the iron connections of the backrests ( 27 ) via a bolt, pin or other types of anchor through connection slots ( 23 ). The seat part which is next to the side wall of the vehicle is manufactured in a manner to enable the front section ( 43 ) of the left metal sheet base ( 22 ) for the left seat and the front section ( 43 ) of the right metal sheet base ( 22 ) for the right seat to tilt towards inside [ via hinge ( 41 ) ] according to the position of the side wall of the vehicle ( depending on whether the seat closer to this side wall is a right seat or a left seat ). Also the front corner of the pad ( 26 ) of the seat part ( 5 ) that is next to the side wall of the vehicle consists of foam ( 42 ) with high elasticity. The plastic cover ( 37 ) that covers the bottom of the pad ( 26 ) has a recessed front corner next to the side wall of the vehicle and it is manufactured in manner to enable the front section of metal sheet base ( 43 ) to go inside it ( 37 ). The seat part ( 5 ) which is next to the side aisle has an armrest apparatus ( 7 ) that may be anchored into the armrest anchoring slots ( 24 ) on the left metal sheet base ( 22 ) of the left seat or the right metal sheet base ( 22 ) of the right seat (depending on whether the seat closer to this side aisle is a right seat or a left seat) at the sitting position and that may be removed from these slots to enable the armrest apparatus to hide under the seat in the laying position. Another connections from the seat parts ( 5 ) to the iron connections of the backrests ( 27 ) are through seat laying pistons ( 35 ) and connection slots for the seat laying pistons ( 36 ). The seat parts ( 5 ) have safety belts.

The backrests ( 6 ) seen in the figure 8 have an upholstery pads which have been placed on metal frameworks and furnished with upholstery material such as fabric or leather. Their rear surface are covered with plastic covers. They ( 6 ) are bound to metal sheet bases ( 22 ) via the iron connections of the backrests ( 27 ) and the seat laying pistons ( 35 ) and the connection slots for the seat laying pistons ( 36 ). In laying position, upper skidder wings of backrest ( 28 ) are passed to lower skidder wings of seat part ( 20 ). Following, support foot of backrest ( 8 ) is fixed to fastening slot ( 9 ) being in free. The iron connections of the backrests ( 27 ) have latches ( 39 ) and sliding guides ( 40 ) in order to provide being stable for seat laying piston points ( 38 ) in normal use and sliding for them in laying position. The backrests ( 6 ) also have arms of service trays ( 44 ) and safety belts. The armrest apparatus ( 7 ) seen in the figure 9 may be anchored into the armrest anchoring slots ( 24 ) on the left metal sheet base ( 22 ) of the left seat or the right metal sheet base ( 22 ) of the right seat (depending on whether the seat closer to this side aisle is a right seat or a left seat) at the sitting position and that may be removed from these slots to enable the armrest apparatus to hide under the seat in the laying position. The armrest apparatus ( 7 ) is anchored to the metal sheet base of seat part ( 22 ) via the armrest anchoring pins ( 30 ). This apparatus ( 7 ) has a folding armrest ( 29 ) fastened to a metal sheet panel that has a hinge and armrest anchoring pins ( 30 ). The metal sheet panel is connected to the metal sheet base of seat part ( 22 ) via the hinge. The support feet of backrests ( 8 ) seen in the figure 8 are tubes that fastened the middle of the plastic covers of backrests and have U shape. In normal use, they can be anchored to plastic covers of backrests via notches ( 31 ). They have bases ( 34 ) for fixing to cavities ( 32 ) of fastening slots ( 9 ), in laying position. The fastening slots ( 9 ) seen in the figure 10 are four in numbers two of which stands in lower front and back of the seats group, the cavities of which faces back, and the other two standing in lower right and left of the seats group, the cavities of which faces the aisle direction. Fastening slots ( 9 ) include cavities ( 32 ) into which legs bases ( 18 ) could enter and ramps ( 33 ) at their edges which enable legs bases ( 18 ) rise up to the cavities level easily.

The roller blind ( 10 ) seen in the figure 11 is composed of a normal blind until upper sides of backrests and a transparent blind between this point and vehicle ceiling. The arms of service trays ( 44 ) seen in the figure 13 are tubes that fastened the middle of the backrests ( 6 ). The service tray ( 45 ) can go forward or come back on the arm of service tray ( 44 ) via the notches of arm of service tray ( 46 ) and the aparatus of service tray ( 47 ). The aparatus of service tray ( 47 ) is manufactured in manner to enable the service tray ( 45 ) to bring horizontal or vertical position and to go forward or come back. The service tray ( 45 ) is brought vertical position for fixing to rear of backrest. Later, the arm of service tray ( 44 ) is brought vertical position. Afterwards, the service tray ( 45 ) is skidded down and brought horizontal position. The service tray ( 45 ) is manufactured in manner to enable the individual television etc. to assemble on it.

At the beginning, the seats group explained in the invention and seen in the figure 1 is stable. First, armrest apparatus ( 7 ) is removed from armrest anchoring slots ( 24 ) and hidden under the seat. Later, the seats group is pulled and seat legs bases ( 18 ) are gotten out from inside the cavities ( 32 ) of fastening slots ( 9 ). At the same time, the seat leg apparatus ( 3 ) is skidded in the skidder apparatus ( 2 ). Afterwards, seats group is rotated to front seats group via the mandrel ( 1 ). At the same time, seats group is pushed to the side wall of the vehicle. Next, the seats group is pulled to front seats group and seat legs bases ( 18 ) are anchored to the cavities ( 32 ) of front and back fastening slots ( 9 ). Afterwards, each one of the backrests ( 6 ) is laid down. At the same time, the upper skidder wings of backrest ( 28 ) are passed to lower skidder wings of seat part ( 20 ). And then the seat part ( 5 ) and the backrest ( 6 ) are skidded via skidders of seat part ( 4 ) and pushed to the side wall of the vehicle [ about lenght of the upper skidder wings of backrest ( 28 )]. Following, support foot of backrest ( 8 ) is fixed to fastening slot ( 9 ) being in free. Last, the roller blind ( 10 ) is brought down and is connected to the side of seat.

A method explained in the invention is concerning to provide fully lying for seats groups of public transport vehicles in the space to be allocated for them. In the method, the seats group is pulled and seat legs bases ( 18 ) are gotten out from inside the fastening slots ( 9 ). Next, the seats group is taken away from the wall of the vehicle via preferably the skidder apparatus ( 2 ) or manuel handling etc. and is rotated in the space to be allocated for the seats group via preferably the mandrel ( 1 ) or manuel handling. Afterwards, the legs bases ( 18 ) are anchored to the front and back fastening slots ( 9 ). Next, each one of the backrests ( 6 ) is laid down and the upper skidder wings of backrest ( 28 ) are passed to lower skidder wings of seat part ( 20 ). Afterwards, the seat part ( 5 ) and the backrest ( 6 ) are approached to the wall of the vehicle via preferably skidders of seat part ( 4 ) or a similar mechanism. Next, support foot of backrest ( 8 ) is fixed to mandrel ( 1 ) or skidder apparatus ( 2 ) or preferably fastening slot ( 9 ).

This invention can put into practice not only seats group but also only one seat in the public transport vehicles.