Chairs and seats – Plural related seats – Relatively movable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-12
2001-01-23
Barfield, Anthony D. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Plural related seats
Relatively movable
C297S411260, C244S118600, C244S12200B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176547
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to first- and second-class seats, particularly for public transport vehicles, in general, and relates more specifically to a first/second-class convertible two-seater seat, and to a method for converting such a seat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
The only solution currently available for changing a first-class seat into a second-class seat and conversely for changing a second-class seat into a first-class seat, particularly in a public transport vehicle area is to replace the seats.
Thus, the only way of changing the category of the area in a road or rail public-transport vehicle is to replace the seats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, an object of the invention is a first/second-class convertible two-seater seat that will allow an area of a given class to be converted into an area of another class without removing seats.
In accordance with the invention, the first/second-class convertible two-seater seat and the method of converting such a seat are as defined in the claims.
In particular, the present invention consists in a convertible first/second-class seat offering a given number N of seating spaces, the said first/second-class convertible seat being convertible into a second/first-class N-seater seat, the said first/second-class convertible seat having N seats with N seat cushions and 2N armrests, the said first/second-class convertible seat comprising means of translating at least one of the said N seat cushions and at least one of the said 2N armrests, the said N seat cushions and the said 2N armrests remaining mutually aligned, translations T of the seat cushions and armrests obtained by means of the said translation means allowing the said seat cushions that are to be translated and the said armrests that are to be translated to be moved further apart when the said second-class convertible seat is converted into a first-class seat, or allowing the said seat cushions that are to be translated and the said armrests that are to be translated to be moved closer together when the said first-class convertible seat is converted into a second-class seat.
The invention also consists in a method of converting between first- and second-class, a convertible seat which offers a given number N of seating spaces, the said first/second-class convertible seat having N seats with N seat cushions and 2N armrests, the said method comprising steps allowing:
the said first/second-class convertible seat to be converted into a second/first-class N-seater seat, and
at least one of the said N seat cushions and at least one of the said 2N armrests to be translated by means of translation means built into the said first/second-class convertible seat, the said N seat cushions and the said 2N armrests remaining mutually aligned,
the translations T of the seat cushions and of the armrests obtained by means of the said translation means allowing the said seat cushions that are to be translated and the said armrests that are to be translated to be moved further apart when the said second-class convertible seat is converted into a first-class seat, or allowing the said seat cushions that are to be translated and the said armrests that are to be translated to be brought closer together when the said first-class convertible seat is converted into a second-class seat.
One advantage of the first/second-class convertible two-seater seat and of the method of converting such a seat of the invention is that the time taken to convert an area from a given class into an area of another class is very short and allows the capacity of the train to be altered on the spot.
Another advantage of the first/second-class convertible two-seater seat and of the method of converting such a seat of the invention is that it allows the operator to alleviate the problems of variations in demand between weekends and weekdays for example.
Another advantage of the first/second-class convertible two-seater seat and of the method of converting such a seat of the invention is that it optimizes the number of seats offered on trains which do not change in terms of the number of trailers.
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patent: 4881702 (1989-11-01), Slettebak
patent: 5104065 (1992-04-01), Daharsh et al.
patent: 5284379 (1994-02-01), Arnold et al.
patent: 5597139 (1997-01-01), Beroth
patent: 5727845 (1998-03-01), Jackson-Wynch
patent: 0 322 930 (1989-07-01), None
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patent: 0 680 843 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 0 747 286 (1996-12-01), None
François Duran D.
Guinot Alain
Alstom Transport SA
Barfield Anthony D.
Young & Thompson
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