Supports – Stand – Tilting support surface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-29
2001-01-23
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand
Tilting support surface
C248S419000, C248S414000, C297S344120, C403S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176459
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to seat supports and the like, and in particular to a self-locking, angularly-tilting support for fishing boat seats and the like.
Adjustable seat support systems are used in a wide variety of boat seating applications. Boat seat applications typically include a boat seat, a mounting plate to which the boat seat is mounted, and a pedestal supporting the mounting plate above the floor of the boat.
Heretofore, seat support systems have normally provided the user with the ability to pivot the seat about the pedestal, thereby allowing the user to face the seat in varying directions. Other seat support systems have provided the user with the ability to adjust the plane of the seat with respect to the horizontal or to horizontally pivot the seat. The seating support systems allowing for the horizontal pivoting of the seat are typically clumsy and require the use of two hands to adjust the seat. Still others require the user to dismount the seat in order to adjust the seat with respect to horizontal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a self-locking, angularly-tilting support for fishing boat seats and the like. The seat support includes a mounting plate adapted to support a seat thereon. A support stud has a first end pivotally attached to the bottom of the mounting plate and a second end adapted to be slidably received with an associated pedestal. A pivot block is fixedly attached to the bottom of the mounting plate. A bushing is slidably mounted on the support stud and is adapted to abut the pedestal. The pivot block and the bushing are configured to matably engage at a plurality of angular positions such that downward forces exerted on the mounting plate are transferred to the pivot block thereby effecting locking engagement between the pivot block and the bushing. The mounting plate may be selectively positioned between a plurality of angular positions relative to the support stud by exerting an upward force on the mounting plate, thereby causing the support stud to slide upwardly through the pedestal allowing the bushing to slide downwardly relative to the support stud, thereby disengaging the bushing from the pivot block and allowing the mounting plate to be pivoted relative to the support stud.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide in a fishing boat seat of the type having a removable seat and a detachable pedestal supporting the seat on an associated boat surface, having an improvement of a self-locking, angularly-tilting seat mount comprising a mounting plate having a top shaped to support the seat thereon and a bottom, and a support stud having a first end pivotally attached to the bottom of the mounting plate, and a second end slidably received within an upper end of the pedestal. The seat mount further comprises a pivot block fixedly attached to the bottom of the mounting plate and a bushing slidably mounted about the support stud and abutting the pedestal. The pivot block and the bushing are configured to matably engage at a plurality of angular positions such that downward forces exerted on the mounting plate are transferred the pivot block, thereby effecting engagement between the pivot block and the bushing. The seat is selectively positionable between a plurality of angular positions relative to the pedestal by exerting an upward force on the seat, thereby causing the support stud to slide upwardly relative to the bushing, thereby disengaging the pivot block from the bushing, allowing the seat to be pivoted relative to the pedestal.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a self-locking, angularly-tilting seat support for fishing boat seats and the like, wherein the seat support includes a mounting plate, a support stud having a first end pivotally attached to the bottom of the mounting plate and a second end adapted to be slidably received within an associated pedestal, and a pivot block fixedly attached to the bottom of the mounting plate and adapted to allow the support stud to pivot relative to the mounting plate. A bushing is slidably mounted about the support stud and adapted to abut the pedestal. The pivot block and the bushing are adapted to matably engage such that the mounting plate may be selectively positioned at different angular positions relative to the support stud.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for adjusting a self-locking, angularly-tilting seat support for fishing boat seats and the like. The method includes providing a mounting plate, providing a support stud having a first end pivotally attached to the bottom of the mounting plate and a second end adapted to be pivotally and slidably received within an associated pedestal, and providing a pivot block fixedly attached to the bottom of the mounting plate and adapted to allow the support stud to pivot relative to the mounting plate. The method further includes providing a bushing slidably mounted about the support stud and adapted to engage the pedestal and to matably engage with the pivot block at a plurality of locations such that the mounting plate may be selectively positioned at a plurality of angular positions relative to the support stud. The method still further includes pivotally adjusting the mounting plate to different angular positions relative to the support stud by creating an upward force on the support stud thus decreasing the downward force acting on the pivot block and causing the support stud to slide relative to the support stud and disengage from the pivot block, pivoting the seat relative to the support stud, and removing the upward force acting on the support stud such that downward forces effect an engagement between the pivot block and the bushing.
Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a self-locking, angularly-tilting seat support for fishing boat seats and the like, wherein the seat support includes a mounting plate adapted to support a seat, a support stud having a first end pivotally attached to the bottom of the mounting plate and a second end shaped to be slidably received within an associated pedestal, and pivot brackets fixedly attached to the bottom of the mounting plate, positioned about the support stud, and adapted to allow the support stud to pivot relative to the mounting plate. The seat support further includes a bushing slidably mounted with respect to the support stud and adapted to engage the pivot brackets, and a biasing spring biasing said bushing into engagement with the pivot brackets. The mounting plate is pivotable between a plurality of angular positions relative to the support stud by exerting a downward force on the bushing, thereby overcoming the biasing force of the spring allowing the bushing to disengage the pivot brackets and the mounting plate to be pivoted relative to the support stud.
The principal objectives of the present invention are to provide a self-locking, angularly-tilting support for fishing boat seats and the like. The utilization of the engagement between the pivot block and the bushing provides a seat support that allows a user to adjust the seat relative to the horizontal with one hand while providing a stable and positively engaged platform from which to support the seat while in use.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings.
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patent: 3933330 (197
Rossman Christopher A.
Whitley Warwick M.
Wilcox Jeffrey S.
Attwood Corporation
Braun Leslie A.
Landry Walter
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
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