SHOCK-ABSORBING SEAT SYSTEM

Cross-Reference To Related Application

[0001] This application claims priority from United States patent application No. 61/012054 filed on 7 December 2007 and entitled SHOCK-ABSORBING SEAT SYSTEM. For purposes of the United States of America, this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of

United States patent application No. 61/012054 filed on 7 December 2007 and entitled SHOCK-ABSORBING SEAT SYSTEM which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to shock-absorbing seats. The invention has application, for example, in seats for small fast boats that may be used in rough waters.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0003] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. The embodiments and figures disclosed herein are illustrative and non-limiting.

[0004] Figure IA is a schematic description of a forward-facing seat according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0005] Figure IB is a schematic view of a rearward-facing seat according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0006] Figure 1C is a schematic view of a forward-facing seat according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0007] Figure ID is a schematic depiction of back to back seats according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0008] Figure IE is a schematic view of two forward-facing seats mounted to a single shock-absorbing support according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0009] Figure IF shows an assembly comprising a storage bin supported by a shock-absorbing support assembly according to another embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 is a side elevation view showing front and rear seats arranged generally as shown in Figure IE.

[0011] Figure 2A is a perspective view from the rear of the seats shown in Figure 2.

[0012] Figure 2B is a cross section though the seats shown in Figure

2.

[0013] Figure 2C is a transverse cross sectional view in the plane of the seat support of the seats of Figure 2.

[0014] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a frame for a shock-absorbing seat mount according to a embodiment of the invention.

[0015] Figure 3A is a side elevation view of the seat mount shown in Figure 3.

[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective view from the rear showing a seat frame like that of Figure 3 supporting one forward-facing seat.

[0017] Figure 4 A is a side elevation view of the seat of Figure 4.

[0018] Figure 5 is a rear elevation view showing a support like that of Figure 3 supporting a forward-facing seat.

[0019] Figure 5 A is a side elevation view of the seat of Figure 5.

Description

[0020] Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

[0021] This invention relates to seats for use in situations in which significant shock is expected. The invention may be applied, for example, to providing seats in rough- water boats, rough-terrain vehicles, or the like. An example application provides seating in small fast boats for transporting military personnel.

[0022] Figures IA to IE show various seating configurations. Figure IA shows a seating assembly 1OA comprising a shock-absorbing support structure 12 supporting a seat 14 in a forward-facing orientation.

[0023] Figure IB shows a seating structure 1OB comprising a shock- absorbing support 12 supporting a seat 14 in a rearward-facing orientation.

[0024] Figure 1C shows a seating assembly 1OC comprising a shock- absorbing support 12 supporting a forward-facing seat 14A on a rearward

- A -

side of the shock-absorbing support 12. Seat 14A has a handgrip 15 and foot pegs 15A.

[0025] Figure ID shows a seating structure 1OD comprising forward and rearward-facing seats 14 both mounted to a single shock-absorbing support structure 12.

[0026] Figure IE shows a seating assembly 1OE showing two forward- facing seats 14 and 14A both supported by a shock-absorbing support structure 12.

[0027] Figure IF shows a assembly 1OE comprising a storage bin 16 supported by a shock-absorbing support structure 12.

[0028] In Figures IA through IF the shock-absorbing support structure is inclined in a rearward direction (toward the right-hand side of the figures). This is not mandatory for all embodiments. The shock- absorbing support structure could be inclined slightly forwardly, slightly rearwardly (as shown) or could extend at right angles to its base.

[0029] Figure 2 shows a seat assembly 20 according to a specific embodiment of this invention. Seat assembly 20 comprises a support structure 22 which supports seats 24A and 24B. As described further below, support structure 22 incorporates shock-absorbers which allow seats 24A to move up and down relative to structure 22 in response to vibrations, jolts, shocks, heaving or other motions of deck 23 to which shock- absorbing support structure 22 is mounted. Deck 23 could, for example, be the deck of a boat.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, support structure 22 comprises a central frame 25 which is affixed to deck 23 by way of braces 26 located on

either side of frame 25. Seats 24A and 24B are slidably mounted to frame 25 by way of slide assemblies 27A and 27B. Slide assemblies 27A and 27B may comprise, for example, commercially available linear slides. Slide assemblies 27A and 27B permit seats 24A and 24B to slide linearly up and down on frame 25 but otherwise constrain the motions of seats 24A and 24B.

[0031] Seat assembly 20 is preferably made from durable materials that are able to withstand factors in the environment in which seat assembly 20 will be used. For example, where seat assembly 20 will be used in a marine environment, stainless steel, aluminum, suitable high-strength plastics or other corrosion resistant materials may be used for frame 25, brackets 26 and exposed parts of seats 24A and 24B.

[0032] As shown best in Figure 2C, shock-absorber assemblies 29A and 29B support seats 24A and 24B respectively. Shock-absorber assemblies 29A and 29B each comprise a spring 30 and a motion damping mechanism 31. The motion damping mechanism 31 may comprise for example a piston type hydraulic or pneumatic shock-absorber. In the illustrated embodiment, shock-absorbing assemblies 29A and 29B each comprise a coil-over shock-absorber. Each of shock-absorber assemblies 29 is coupled to frame 25 at a lower end. In the illustrated embodiment, these couplings are pivotal couplings in which pins 33A and 33B pass through ball joints 34 on the ends of rods 35 of motion dampers 31.

[0033] The upper ends of each of shock-absorbing assemblies 29A and 29B are coupled to the corresponding seats 24A and 24B by hangers 37A and 37B respectively. Each hanger 37 is pivotally mounted at the top of the corresponding shock-absorbing assembly 29 and has a lower end coupled to the corresponding seat 24.

[0034] Frame 25 may have any suitable construction. In the illustrated embodiment, frame 25 comprises a number of frame members that are fastened together with suitable fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets, adhesives or the like. In alternative embodiments, frame 25 may be welded together or made from a unitary piece of material.

[0035] It can be seen from Figure 2C that, in the illustrated embodiment, shock-absorbing assemblies 29A and 29B are located on either side of a mid-plane that bisects frame 25 along a longitudinal axis. This mid-plane may be called a "transverse median". It can also be seen that cylinders of shock absorbing assemblies 29A and 29B lie in a common plane that is generally parallel to planes of front and rear faces of frame 25.

[0036] As shown in Figures 4 to 5 A, a single shock-absorbing support structure 22 can support either a seat on a forward side of the support structure 22, a seat on the rearward side of the shock-absorbing structure 22 or seats on both the forward and rearward sides of shock-absorbing structure 22. Further, to add a seat to a shock-absorbing structure 22 that has been configured for use with one seat, is only necessary to add a suitable slide assembly 27, if not already present, a suitable shock- absorbing assembly 29, a hanger 37, and the new seat 24. This can preferably be done without removing structure 22.

[0037] In use, the weight of a seat 24 and person riding in the seat 24 is supported by the spring 30 of the corresponding shock-absorbing assembly 29.

[0038] If there is any sudden motion of shock-absorbing support structure 22 in a vertical direction relative to seats 24, then seats 24 can slide relative to the shock-absorbing structure 22. Motion damping mechanisms 31 damp the relative motion of seats 24 and structure 22.

[0039] It is usually desirable but not mandatory that shock-absorber assemblies 19A and 19B be the same. If the weights being supported on front seat 24A and rear seat 24B (or other things being supported by support structure 22) are very different then it would be possible to supply shock-absorbing assemblies 19A and 19B that are different from one another. For example, the spring constants of springs 30 could be different from one another or the springs could be adjusted to have different amounts of pre-compression.

[0040] Structures according to the illustrated embodiments have a number of advantages that may be useful in individual applications. For example:

• The side-by-side arrangement of shock-absorbing assemblies 29 makes the structure compact in a front-rear direction. This can be important in providing seating in small boats, for example.

• The overall compact nature of shock-absorbing structure 22 allows shock-absorbing structure 22 to be compact and light in weight.

• Shock-absorbing structure 22 can be short in the forward-rearward dimension. It is not necessary for the shock-absorbing structure to be much larger in this dimension than the diameter of a shock-absorbing assembly 29. In some embodiments, the thickness of shock- absorbing structure 22 in the forward-rearward dimension does not exceed l ^x /2 times (1 ¹ A times in some embodiments) the diameter of coil spring 30 of shock-absorbing assembly 29.

• The shock-absorbing structure 22 is versatile because it can accept seats, storage containers, or other equipment which is to be protected from shocks on either or both its front and rear sides.

• The same shock-absorbing structure 22 may support seats or other apparatus on either one or both of its sides.

[0041] A bump-stop (or snubbing assembly) may be provided to limit the maximum downward travel of seats 24A and/or 24B relative to support structure 22. In some embodiments, the snubbing assembly is provided directly below the center of gravity of the seat 24A or 24B. For example, the snubbing assembly may be located on deck 23. This arrangement has the advantage that it reduces forces that tend to pull the seat 24A or 24B away from support structure 22 when the seat hits the snubbing assembly. In other embodiments, the snubbing assembly may be provided on the rod of the corresponding shock-absorbing assembly or provided in some other manner. The snubbing assembly may comprise, for example, an elastomer or other resilient bumper, a spring, an air bag, or a suitable combination thereof. Figure 2B shows an example bump stop 40.

[0042] A further benefit of mounting seats on front and back sides of the same frame 25 is that loads are balanced when the frame 25 is called upon to absorb shocks. This means that frame 25 does not need to absorb off-balance loads. Frame 25 can therefore be lighter in weight while still rigid.

[0043] In some embodiments, the ends of shock-absorbing assemblies 29 that are connected to frame 25 both connect to the same member of frame 25.

[0044] The invention has a range of aspects. These aspects include, without limitation:

• A shock-absorbing structure comprising a frame having front and rear sides, the frame providing mounting points for first and second shock-absorbing assemblies, the mounting points located side-by-side across a transverse dimension of the frame. The frame is capable of supporting linear slides to which seats or other items may be attached on each of its front and rear sides. The shock-absorbing structure has

a coupling connecting each attached item to one of the shock- absorbing assemblies.

• Apparatus having any new, inventive and useful feature, combination of features or sub-combination of features described herein and/or depicted in the appended drawings.

• Methods for mounting seats or other items to shock-absorbing supports as described herein.

• Methods for adding a seat or other item to a previously-installed shock-absorbing support as described herein.

[0045] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the invention encompasses all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations that are new, useful and non- obvious.