Seat framework for bus

• US 20030141752A1
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Igarashi, Fumio
• Granted Patent: US 6,752,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.18
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/242 Bus seats

Abstract

A seat framework for use in a bus, which is basically from by a tubular seat back frame member and a tubular seat cushion frame member. The seat framework is fixed via a support leg element on a floor of the bus and provided with a reinforcement element which includes an angle portion of L-shaped cross-section and a tubular portion. The reinforcement element is provided between the seat framework and the support leg element, such that the angle portion thereof is fixed on either of the two lateral frame portions of the seat back frame member, while the tubular portion thereof is fixedly connected with the support leg element. The reinforcement element may be so formed as to include two angle portions and a tubular intermediate portion defined between the two angle portions.

Claims

1. A seat framework in combination with a bus having a floor therein, comprising:

a tubular seat back frame member of a generally inverted-U-shaped configuration including a horizontal frame portion and a pair of vertical lateral frame portions extending vertically from said horizontal frame portion, said tubular seat back frame member extending in a direction transversely of said bus, thus having a forward plane facing to a side forwardly of said bus and a backward plane facing to a side backwardly of said bus;

a tubular seat cushion frame member including;

a forward cross frame portion facing to said side forwardly of said bus;

a pair of horizontal lateral frame portions extending horizontally from said forward cross frame portion; and

a backward cross frame portion facing to said side backwardly of said bus;

said pair of vertical lateral frame portions of said tubular seat back frame member being firmly connected with said pair of horizontal lateral frame portions of said tubular seat cushion frame member, respectively;

whereupon the seat framework has a forward side facing to the side forwardly of the bus and a backward side facing to the side backwardly of the bus;

a support leg means for supporting said seat cushion frame member thereupon, said support leg means being fixed on said floor of said bus; and

a reinforcing means fixedly provided between said tubular seat back frame member and said support leg means, said reinforcing means being basically formed from a tubular material in such a manner as to reinforce said tubular seat back frame member and said tubular seat cushion frame member against deformation due to one great load applied toward said forward side of the seat framework and due to another great load applied toward said backward side of the seat framework.

2. The seat framework as defined in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing means includes an angle portion of “

L”

shape in cross-section, and wherein said angle portion is fixed on and along either of said pair of vertical lateral frame portions of said tubular seat back frame.

3. The seat framework as defined in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing means includes:

an angle portion of “

L”

shape in cross-section which is formed by subjecting one end portion of said tubular material to press working; and

a tubular portion defined at another end portion said tubular material, and wherein said angle portion is fixed on and along either of said pair of vertical lateral frame portions of said tubular seat back frame member, while said tubular portion is fixedly connected with said support leg means.

4. The seat framework as defined in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing means includes:

a first angle portion of “

L”

shape in cross-section which is formed by subjecting one end portion of said tubular material to press working;

a second angle portion of “

L”

shape in cross-section which is formed by subjecting another end portion of said tubular material to press working; and

a curved intermediate tubular portion defined between said first and second angle portions, and wherein said first angle portion is fixed on and along either of said pair of vertical lateral frame portions of said tubular seat back frame member, while said second angle portion is fixedly connected with said support leg means.

5. The seat framework as defined in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing means includes:

a first angle portion of “

L”

shape in cross-section which is formed by subjecting one end portion of said tubular material to press working;

a second angle portion of “

L”

shape in cross-section which is formed by subjecting another end portion of said tubular material to press working; and

a curved intermediate tubular portion defined between said first and second angle portions, wherein said support leg means further includes a support member fixed on said floor, said support member having an upper surface, wherein said forward and backward cross frame portions of said tubular seat cushion frame member are fixed partway upon said upper surface of said support member, and wherein said first angle portion of said reinforcing means is fixed on and along one of said pair of vertical lateral frame portions of said tubular sat back frame, while said second angle portion of the reinforcing means is fixed on said upper surface of said support member.

6. The seat framework according to claim 5, wherein said support member extends upwardly from said floor, with the upper surface thereof being disposed at a predetermined level above said floor.

7. The seat framework as defined in claim 1, wherein said pair of vertical lateral frame portions of said tubular seat back frame member are each connected via a tubular connecting member with the respective said pair of horizontal lateral frame portions of said tubular seat cushion frame member, wherein said reinforcing means includes:

an angle portion of “

L”

shape in cross-section which is formed by subjecting one end portion of said tubular material to press working; and

a tubular portion defined in another end portion of the tubular material, wherein said support leg means includes a generally inverted-U-shaped tubular support leg member having an upper horizontal portion and a pair of vertical leg portions fixed on said floor, wherein said forward and backward cross frame portions of said tubular seat cushion frame member are fixed partway on said upper horizontal portion of said generally inverted-U-shaped tubular support leg member, and wherein said angle portion of said reinforcing means is fixed on and along one of said pair of vertical lateral frame portions of said tubular seat back frame member as well as on said tubular connecting member, while said tubular portion of the reinforcing means is fixedly connected with said generally inverted-U-shaped support leg member.

8. The seat framework according to claim 7, wherein said generally inverted-U-shaped support leg member includes a corner portion between said upper horizontal portion thereof and one of said pair of vertical leg portions thereof, and wherein said tubular portion of the reinforcing means is fixedly connected with said corner portion.