Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Seats with body modifications
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-10
2001-09-25
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Seats with body modifications
C296S065010, C297S328000, C297S341000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293604
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to adjustable supports for a vehicle seat back.
BACKGROUND ART
Seats for vehicles generally have a fixed seat back that is held in a fixed angular orientation relative to the seat base. Alternatively, a tilt adjustment may be provided for a seat back where a lever is actuated to permit the angular orientation of the seat back relative to the seat base to be adjusted. Frequently, tilting seat backs are provided for the front seats of a vehicle and the rear seats are normally of the fixed angular orientation variety. Seats provided in the rear portion of the passenger compartment of a sport utility vehicle or van may be pivotable to facilitate ingress and egress and may also be provided with a tilt mechanism. Seats that are not provided with a tilt mechanism may be less comfortable than those that offer tilt adjustability. Tilt mechanisms tend to be relatively complicated with spring latches and pawls providing selective locking functionality.
Specialized vehicles including electric vehicles, golf carts, and other utility vehicles are currently being developed. To improve performance of these types of vehicles and the range of electric vehicles, it is important that the weight of the vehicle and its components be minimized. Specialized vehicles generally provide seats for one or more people and open or closed cargo storage areas. Normally, a predetermined number of seating areas and cargo storage areas are provided by the vehicle and it is not possible to convert seating areas to cargo areas without extensive modification of the vehicle. For example, golf carts are provided with two seats and storage space for two golf bags at the rear of the vehicle and a basket for storage of other items. It is not possible to convert such speciality vehicles to provide seating for four persons if the golf cart is designed for two riders. Other specialized vehicles such as electric airport courtesy vehicles may provide seating for four to eight persons but it is not easy to eliminate seating and provide cargo areas.
These and other problems are addressed by applicant's invention as summarized below.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the present invention, an adjustable seat back for a seat that is provided for a vehicle having pillars on opposite lateral sides extending in a vertical direction. The pillars each have an elongated slot in a rear facing edge. A rear rail having a central portion extending generally across the vehicle and first and second forwardly extending end portions is provided. The end portions have slot latches that are received in the slot in the rear facing edge of the pillars. The seat back includes a rigid support portion and right and left pivot pins. The rear rail has right and left pivot pin receptacles for receiving the right and left pivot pins of the seat back. The slot latches are secured to the slots in a range of vertically spaced locations to permit the seat back to be oriented in a range of positions between the substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the rigid support of the seat back may be a planar frame having a pad one side thereof.
According to another feature of the invention the slot latches may be linearly moveable, spring biased pins disposed in a slot in the end portions of the rear rail. The moveable pins each have a manual actuator. The elongated slots each have a series of holes in vertically spaced locations in which the moveable pins may be received.
According to the invention, right and left pivot pins each may be provided with a locking mechanism for holding the pins in a selected angular orientation relative to the rear rail.
A further feature of the invention is to provide a seat back that extends across substantially the entire width of the vehicle to provide a seat back for a bench type seat or a wide platform for open storage.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood in view of the attached drawings and detailed description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2318125 (1943-05-01), Snyder
patent: 2582687 (1952-01-01), Fisher
patent: 2848273 (1958-08-01), Diaz
patent: 3947069 (1976-03-01), Lusch
patent: 4168050 (1979-09-01), Nerem et al.
patent: 4732424 (1988-03-01), Uredat-Neuhoff
patent: 4750222 (1988-06-01), Quakenbush
patent: 4768829 (1988-09-01), Goldman
patent: 4770463 (1988-09-01), Nishino
patent: 4955973 (1990-09-01), Provencher
patent: 5036938 (1991-08-01), Blount et al.
patent: 5294182 (1994-03-01), Colasanti
patent: 5338100 (1994-08-01), Rees
patent: 5570931 (1996-11-01), Kargilis et al.
patent: 5826940 (1998-10-01), Hodgdon
patent: 5975612 (1999-11-01), Macey et al.
patent: 6000751 (1999-12-01), Kato et al.
Ellis Michael Gousotti
Williams Bruce Preston
Coughlin William J.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
Porcari Damian
LandOfFree
Adjustable rear seat back support does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Adjustable rear seat back support, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Adjustable rear seat back support will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2464717