This invention relates to seating apparatus for use on a vehicle and, more especially, this invention relates to seating apparatus which for use on a vehicle which has suspension means for isolating a seat from mine blasts. This invention also relates to the vehicle when provided with the seating apparatus

It may sometimes occur that vehicles carrying persons are blown up by a mine. If this happens, there is usually insufficient protection for a person seated on seating apparatus in the vehicle. The mine blast may be sufficiently strong that the person seated on the seating apparatus become injured due to shock waves travelling through the vehicle and to the seat. The vehicle may be any type of vehicle carrying one or more persons so that, for example, the vehicle may be a military vehicle carrying military personnel, or the vehicle may be a bus, coach, lorry, van or large transporter.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided seating apparatus for use on a vehicle, which seating apparatus comprises a frame, at least one seat mounted in the frame, and securing means for securing the seating apparatus to the vehicle, characterised in that the seat is mounted in the frame by suspension means which isolates the seat from mine blasts received by the vehicle, the suspension means comprising a plurality of suspension members which are fixable to the frame in order to suspend the seat in the frame such that the seat does not touch the frame or the vehicle, and the suspension members being such that they resist the transmission of shocks through the suspension members to the seat.

The use of the suspension means in the present invention enables lives to be saved and injuries to be minimised to persons in the vehicle in the event that the vehicle should get blown up. The seating apparatus is especially useful for vehicles operating in areas where mine blasts are a frequent occurrence.

Preferably, the frame is a frame giving roll over protection to a person seated on the seating apparatus in the event that the vehicle should roll over. Generally, the frame may be any frame for any vehicle.

Preferably, there are at least six of the suspension members. More or less than six of the suspension members may be employed so that, for example, there may be eight of the suspension members.

The seating apparatus may be one in which at least some of the suspension members are fixable to different parts of the frame in order to give a choice of suspension configurations for the suspension members with respect to the seat. Alternatively, the suspension members may have designated fixing points on the frame. The suspension members may be of a fixed length. Alternatively, the suspension members may be adjustable in length. When the suspension members are adjustable in length, then they may be adjusted in length in any suitable way, for example in the same manner as aircraft seat belts.

The suspension members may be straps. The straps may be made of webbing, nylon or any other suitable and appropriate material. The suspension members may alternatively be made of an elastic material such for example as rubber. With an elastic material, the suspension members can extend and then recover to their original length. The suspension members may be such that they are non-rigid. The suspension members may be able to flex to interrupt and/or absorb shock waves passing along the suspension members from the flat carrying area and the frame to the seat.

The seating apparatus of the present invention may include fixing means for fixing the suspension members to the frame.

The fixing means may be loops in the suspension members. Other types of fixing means may be employed so that, for example, the fixing means may be hooks or clamps. The same or different types of fixing means may be employed on different ones of the suspension members in each item of seating apparatus of the present invention.

The seat may include a foot rest. The foot rest may be a bar of a plate.

The seating apparatus may be one in which the seat has a crushable membrane for absorbing the blast from a mine.

The seating apparatus may include deflector means for deflecting the blast from a mine away from the seat. Preferably, the deflector means is a V- shaped diamond metal plate. Other types of deflector means may be employed.

The seating apparatus may be one in which the suspension means includes at least one energy-absorbing device. There may be one of the energy-absorbing devices in each one of the suspension members. Alternatively, the or each energy-absorbing device may form the or each suspension member. The energy-absorbing device may be regarded as a plastic energy-deforming device which does not resume its original shape after deformation.

The seating apparatus is one in which the or each energy-absorbing device is a piston and cylinder energy-absorbing device, and in which the bottom of the piston has a deformation region which deforms when subjected to a mine blast and thereby absorbs the blast from the mine. Other types of energy-absorbing devices may be employed so that, for example, the energy- absorbing device may simply be a device which deforms when subjected to a mine blast.

The seat may include a safety harness. Any type of safety harness may be employed, for example from a simple seat belt to one including shoulder straps and a lap strap.

The seat may include a headrest. The headrest may be of any desired design and preferably is such that it will give support to a person's head in the event of a mine blast. The seat may be a foldable seat. Such a seat is easier for transportation than a non-foldable seat. However, if desired, the seat may be a non-foldable seat.

The frame is preferably of an open tubular construction. Other types of constructions for the frame may be employed.

The frame is preferably a foldable frame. Such a foldable frame is easier for transportation than a non-foldable frame. The frame may however be a non-foldable frame if desired.

The frame may be a modular frame which is able to be connected to at least one further similar modular frame.

The frame preferably receives from one to four of the seats. The frame may receive more than four of the seats if desired. The frame may receive two front seats for the vehicle, the two front seats being for a driver and a passenger. Alternatively or in addition, the frame may receive passenger seats for passengers travelling in the rear of the vehicle.

The securing means may be for releasably securing the seating apparatus to the vehicle. Securing means for permanently securing the seating apparatus to the vehicle may alternatively be employed. Preferably, the releasable securing means is a quick release securing means. Various types of quick release securing means are disclosed in WO 2005/002916, and these securing means may be used in the present invention. Thus for example, the securing means may be a quick release securing means in the form of a latch and shackle, or a hook and socket. The present invention also provided a vehicle when provided with the seating apparatus of the invention. The vehicle may be a passenger-carrying vehicle. The passenger-carrying vehicle may be a vehicle having a flat carrying area, a bus, a coach, a truck, a lorry, or a personnel transporter. The vehicle may have windows or no windows. If the vehicle has windows, then they may be made of glass but the windows are preferably made of transparent non-glass material such for example as a transparent plastics material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows known seating apparatus for use on a vehicle having a flat carrying area, and as disclosed in WO 2005/002916;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a frame which is like the frame shown in Figure 1 and which shows the frame in more detail;

Figure 3 shows how the seats shown in Figure 1 are mounted in the frame;

Figure 4 shows securing means for releasably securing the seating apparatus shown in Figure 1 on the flat carrying area of the vehicle shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows how the apparatus shown in Figure 1 can be dismantled and then carried in a vehicle along with cargo;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of first seating apparatus of the present invention and for use on a vehicle having a flat carrying area; Figure 7 is a front view of second seating apparatus of the present invention and which is like the seating apparatus shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side view of the seating apparatus shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section through part of a second seating apparatus of the present invention and for use on a vehicle having a flat carrying area, the part being shown in a partially activated condition;

Figure 10 shows the part of Figure 9 in an inactive read-to-operate condition; and

Figures 1 1 and 12 are front and back views of a seat harness.

Referring to Figures 1 - 4, there is shown seating apparatus 2 for use on a vehicle 4 having a flat carrying area 6. The seating apparatus 2 comprises several frames 8 which give roll over protection to a person 10 seated on the seating apparatus 2 in the event that the vehicle 4 should roll over. The seating apparatus 2 is such that the frames 8 are modular frames which are able to be connected together as shown in Figure 1.

Each frame 8 has two seats 12. A person 0 is shown seated on each seat 12. Securing means 14 shown in Figures 2 and 4 releasably secures the seating apparatus 2 to the flat carrying area 6 of the vehicle 4. The seating apparatus 2 is thus able to be secured to the flat carrying area 6 and removed from the flat carrying area 6 as desired. As shown in Figure 4, the securing means 14 includes a hook 16 which hooks over a bar 18 in a housing 20 fixed in the flat carrying area 6.

Figure 5 shows a vehicle 22 comprising a driving cab 24 and a body 26 having a flat carrying area on which is stowed seating apparatus 28 of the present invention in a folded condition plus other pieces of equipment 30 and cargo containers 32, 34.

As disclosed in WO 2005/002916, if the vehicle 4 should be involved in an accident and should roll over, for example due to rough terrain, then the frame 8 will give roll over protection to the persons 10 seated on the seats 12 in the seating apparatus 2. However, if the vehicle 4 should get blown up by a mine, the blast from the mine will be received by the flat carrying area 6 and the force of the blast will be transferred from the flat carrying area 6 to the frame 8. As can be appreciated from Figure 3, the seat 12 has its own frame 36 which rests on the flat carrying area 6 and is secured to the frame 8. Thus shocks from blasts from the mine will be transferred from the flat carrying area 6 and the frame 8 to the seat 12. The person 10 sitting in the seat 12 will thus receive the shocks and, depending upon their severity, may be severely injured or die. The present invention reduces or overcomes this problem and reference will now be made to Figures 6 - 8 which show first seating apparatus 38 of the present invention.

The seating apparatus 38 shown in Figure 6 comprises a frame 40 giving roll over protection of a person seated on a seat 42. The frame 40 is able to be secured to a flat carrying area on a vehicle, and removed from the flat carrying area. The flat carrying area is hereinafter referred to by way of non-limiting example as the flat carrying area 6 of the vehicle 4 shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 6, the seating apparatus 38 is characterised over the seating apparatus 2 shown in Figure 1 - 4 by being such that the seat 42 is mounted in the frame 40 by suspension means 44 which isolates the seat 42 from mine blasts received by the flat carrying area 6 and the frame 40. The suspension means 44 comprises a plurality of suspension members 46 which are fixable to the frame 40 in order to suspend the seat 42 from the frame 40 such that the seat 42 does not touch the frame 40 or the flat carrying area 6. The suspension members 46 are non-rigid for resisting the transmission of shocks from a mine blast through the suspension members 46 to the seat 42.

Preferably there are at least six of the suspension members 46. Thus, for example, there may be six or eight of the suspension members 46. The suspension members 46 are in the form of straps. The suspension members 46 are fixed to the frame 40 by fixing means 48. The fixing means 48 may be loops at the ends of the suspension members 46. Different types of fixing means may be employed or combinations of different types of fixing means may be employed.

The seat 42 includes a foot rest 50. The seat 42 may be a foldable seat or a non-foldable seat.

The frame 40 is of an open tubular construction as shown. The frame 40 is preferably a foldable frame but it may be a non-foldable frame if desired. The frame 40 is a modular frame which is able to be connected to at least one further similar modular frame in the manner shown for the modular frames 8 in Figure 1. The frame 40 has a pair of base members 52, 54 which rest on the flat carrying area 6. The frame 40 also has carrying handles 56 which facilitate carrying of the frame 40, and lifting the frame 40 on and off the flat carrying area 6 and its vehicle 4. The frame 40 is secured to the flat carrying area 6 by securing means such for example as the securing means 14 which may be one of the various types of securing means described in detail in WO 2005/002916.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown seating apparatus 51 which is like the seating apparatus 38. Similar parts in the seating apparatus 38, 51 have been given the same reference numbers for ease of comparison and understanding. In the seating apparatus 51 , it will be seen that the seat 52 is additionally provided with energy-absorbing means in the form of a crushable membrane 52. The crushable membrane 52 is inside the seating apparatus 51 and is positioned between the seat 42 and a diamond-shaped steel metal plate 54. The crushable membrane 52 is made of an aluminium honeycomb material. The plate 54 acts as a deflector means for deflecting at least a part of any blast, and at least a part of any spall, away from the occupant of the seat 42. The crushable material 42 is able to be crushed by the force of the blast, and thereby to absorb at least a part of the energy from the blast and/or at least a part of slam-down forces after the initial mine blast. When a vehicle has more than one modular unit of the seating apparatus 51 , then the plate 54 deflects as much as possible of the blast and any spall away from all of the seats in the seating apparatus. The suspension members 46 in the form of the straps do not fix at the same point on the seat 42 for ease of manufacture but they may do so if desired.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, there is shown energy-absorbing means in the form of a device 56. Figure 9 shows the device 56 ready to operate, and also in a condition immediately after a mine blast. Figure 10 shows the device 56 in an operated condition and having absorbed a slam- down effect which occurs after an initial mine blast.

The device 46 comprises a bar 58 which is attached to a frame part 60. The bar 58 is provided with attachment means 62 for attaching the bar 58 to the frame part 60. The bar 58 has a centre portion 64 which is filled with deformable material, for example aluminium honeycomb material. When a mine blast initially occurs, the seat 42 and the straps 46 are in a push mode and nothing happens as shown in Figure 9. However, when there is a slam- down effect, the force pushes the seat 42 back. This pulls the attachment means 62, and the force slows down the acceleration of the seat 42 and the bar 48, which are connected to the straps 46 and the frame 40. This causes the deformable centre portion 64 to crush and collapse as shown in Figure 10.

The seating apparatus 38 shown in the drawings is able to protect a person sitting in the seat 42. In case the vehicle itself is not able to protect from a mine blast, the seat 42 is independently mounted from the vehicle, and the suspension members 36 ensure that the effect of the shock wave from the mine blast is at least reduced or at least minimised in its passage to the person sitting on the seat, either during the initial mine blast, or during secondary shock waves in the form of, for example, a slam-down effect. This helps to protect the person from internal damage to their organs caused by the rapid accelerated of a mine blast, such for example as the blast from an improvised explosive device. Compression on the person's spine is also able to reduced or avoided. The apparatus shown in the drawings illustrates that in all embodiments of the invention, the seat is able to be suspended from the frame in such a way that it is substantially completely isolated from the frame, and also from the vehicle. Preferably, there are six points of support in tension, with two top, two side and two floor attachments. All sides of the frame may be attached to the vehicle. When employed, the foot rest is an integral part of the seat and is not secured to or touching the vehicle or the frame. Top attachments of the seat to the frame may be via a crushable member, for example attached to the top of the frame on a bracket such for example as a U-bracket. The crushable member may be made of a honeycomb material, for example honeycomb aluminium.

Advantageously, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, a five point seat harness 66 is worn by the occupant 68 of the seat, using a quick release component which is easily unattached. The seat harness 66 is preferably such that it is secured around both of the occupant's shoulders, around their waist, and underneath their crutch, with the quick release harness being attached to the seat only. The seat harness 66 connecting the seat to the frame may have an adjustable looped belt at the top, sides and bottom. The seat mountings for the seat should be strong enough to hold the seat securely even after being subject to a blast from a mine.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the frame 30 shown in Figure 6 may be of a different design. It is not necessary for the frame to give roll over protection. The seats 32, 44 may be of a different design. The vehicle may additionally or alternatively have a frame which comprises two front seats for a driver and a passenger. Different types of suspension members to those shown may be employed. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.