ROTATING AND/OR SWIVELING SEAT

• US 20070074923A1
• Filed: 10/09/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Gallagher, Michael, Kaiser, Eric, Pulskamp, Steven, Wetterer, George, Kluver, Leroy, Ruppert, Adam, Billger, Steven, Topp, Gary, Rekow, Craig, Gilliland, Kevin, Kuck, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/38 specially constructed for use on tractors or like off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07545 Overhead guards
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0759 Details of operating station, e.g. seats, levers, operator platforms, cabin suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/20 Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K

Abstract

An operator'"'"'s compartment for an industrial vehicle comprises a platform floor, an operator'"'"'s seat, at least one presence sensing device and a control module. The operator'"'"'s seat has a base structure coupled to the platform floor and an operator support coupled to the base structure such that the operator support may be rotated with respect to the platform floor. Each provided presence sensing device is arranged to sense an operator'"'"'s presence in a predetermined location in or about the operator'"'"'s compartment and the control module is configured to control at least one operation of the vehicle based upon a rotational position of the operator'"'"'s seat and a signal from at least one of the presence sensing device(s).

Claims

1. An operator'"'"'s compartment for a vehicle comprising:

a platform floor;

an operator'"'"'s seat including;

a base structure coupled to said platform floor; and

an operator support coupled to said base structure such that said operator support may be rotated with respect to said platform floor;

at least one presence sensing device arranged to sense an operator'"'"'s presence in a predetermined location; and

a control module configured to control at least one operation of said vehicle based upon a rotational position of said operator'"'"'s seat and a signal from at least one presence sensing device.

2. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein said operator'"'"'s seat further comprises:

an armrest; and

a control element on a control handle of said armrest for selectively releasing said operator'"'"'s seat for rotation with respect to said platform floor, wherein said control handle provides at least one other vehicle control function.

3. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein at least one presence sensing device comprises a floor mounted switch and said operator support further comprises a seat bottom having a forward portion that is sloped downward relative to a rearward portion of said seat bottom sufficiently so that said operator may maintain foot contact with select ones of said presence sensing devices while seated at a relatively higher position than what could be achieved compared to a substantially flat seat bottom.

4. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein said at least one presence sensing device comprises at least three presence sensing devices, each mounted generally flush with said platform floor.

5. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein said presence sensing device comprise at least one ultrasonic sensor mounted so as to detect the presence of an operator'"'"'s legs.

6. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein said presence sensing device comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor mounted to said operator'"'"'s seat arranged such that said ultrasonic sensors rotate as said operator'"'"'s support is rotated relative to said platform floor.

7. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein said operator support comprises a seat bottom and a seat bottom sensor, said seat bottom sensor operatively configured to detect whether said operator is seated on said seat bottom.

8. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 7, wherein at least one operation of said vehicle is affected by the status of said seat bottom sensor.

9. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 7, wherein at least one operation of said vehicle is affected by the combination of said seat bottom sensor and at least one presence sensing device.

10. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein said operator'"'"'s seat further comprises:

a swivel structure arranged to allow said operator support to swivel relative to said base structure.

11. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 10, wherein said base structure defines an axis of rotation that is not coaxial with respect to a swivel axis of said swivel structure.

12. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein a function of at least one presence sensing device is dependent upon a rotated position of said operator'"'"'s seat.

13. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein at least one presence sensing device is configured to perform a first function when said operator'"'"'s seat is in a first position and a second function when said operator'"'"'s seat is rotated to a second position.

14. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein said operator'"'"'s seat may be rotated between a forward facing position and a side facing position, said operator'"'"'s seat further configured such that said operator'"'"'s seat is generally centered in said operator'"'"'s compartment when in said forward facing position, and said operator'"'"'s seat is offset to one side of said operator'"'"'s compartment when said operator'"'"'s seat is in said side facing position.

15. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein said at least one presence sensing device comprises first, second and third presence sensing devices, wherein said first presence sensing device is arranged to detect an operators first foot or leg when said operator'"'"'s seat is in a forward facing position, said third presence sensing device is arranged to detect an operators second foot or leg when said operator'"'"'s seat is in a side facing position, and said second presence sensing device is arranged to detect said operator'"'"'s second foot or leg when said operator'"'"'s seat is in said forward facing position, and said operators first foot or leg when said operator'"'"'s seat is in said side facing position.

16. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 1, wherein at least one presence sensing device comprises a floor mounted switch.

17. An operator'"'"'s compartment for a vehicle comprising:

a platform floor;

an operator'"'"'s seat including;

a base structure coupled to said platform floor;

an operator support coupled to said base structure such that said operator support may be rotated with respect to said platform floor, said operator support having a seat bottom;

a seat bottom sensor operatively configured to detect whether said operator is seated on said seat bottom;

an armrest; and

a control element on a control handle of said armrest for selectively releasing said operator'"'"'s seat for rotation with respect to said platform floor, wherein said control handle provides at least one other vehicle control function;

at least one presence sensing device arranged to sense an operator'"'"'s presence in a predetermined location; and

a control module configured to control at least one operation of said vehicle based upon the combination of said seat bottom sensor and at least one presence sensing device.

18. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 17, wherein said control module is configured to control at least one operation of said vehicle further based upon a rotational position of said operator'"'"'s seat.

19. An operator'"'"'s compartment for a vehicle comprising:

a platform floor;

an operator'"'"'s seat including;

a base structure coupled to said platform floor;

an operator support coupled to said base structure such that said operator support may be rotated with respect to said platform floor, said operator support having a seat bottom;

an armrest; and

a control element on a control handle of said armrest for selectively releasing said operator'"'"'s seat for rotation with respect to said platform floor, wherein said control handle provides at least one other vehicle control function;

at least one presence sensing device configured to perform a first function when said operator'"'"'s seat is in a first position and a second function when said operator'"'"'s seat is rotated to a second position; and

a control module configured to control at least one operation of said vehicle based upon a rotational position of said operator'"'"'s seat and a signal from at least one presence sensing device.

20. The operator'"'"'s compartment according to claim 19, wherein said at least one presence sensing device comprises first, second and third presence sensing devices, wherein said first presence sensing device is arranged to detect an operators first foot or leg when said operator'"'"'s seat is in a forward facing position, said third presence sensing device is arranged to detect an operators second foot or leg when said operator'"'"'s seat is in a side facing position, and said second presence sensing device is arranged to detect said operator'"'"'s second foot or leg when said operator'"'"'s seat is in said forward facing position, and said operators first foot or leg when said operator'"'"'s seat is in said side facing position.