Protective seat

• US 3,922,030 A
• Filed: 06/24/1974
• Issued: 11/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Robert N. Stedman
• Inventors: Stedman, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oresky, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US05/482,510
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216,349,353,385,285,452 248/399,400 267/131 296/65R,65A,63,35B
• US Class Current: 296/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/38 specially constructed for use on tractors or like off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4249 fixed structures, i.e. where neither the seat nor a part thereof are displaced during a crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4256 the shape of the seat being specially adapted for a particular purpose or for particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/99 adjustable

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle safety seat particularly applicable to the relative exposed operator cabs of earthmoving vehicles. The seat includes angularly disposed resilient members for improved absorption of shock from both vertical and horizontal loading, and an improved adjustable shoulder support assembly having variably resilient wing portions. The safety seat further includes structure for permitting a desired degree of freedom of movement of the operator or other occupant, which means includes operator-controlled structure for rotating the seat about a central vertical axis.

Claims

1. A safety seat system for a vehicle having a mounting surface, said seat system including;

suspension means for supporting a seating portion of said system and for absorbing shock loading transmitted to said seating portion, said suspension means including;

first rigid base plate means, second rigid plate means for mounting said seating portion, first resilient element means disposed between said first and second rigid plate means for resiliently supporting said second plate means upon said first plate means, hold-down means connected between said first and second rigid plate means for limiting movement of said second plate means with respect to said first plate means in a direction normally away from said first plate means while permitting movement of said second plate means in lateral directions parallel to said first plate means, separate mounting means different from said first rigid plate means for mounting said first rigid plate means, said second rigid plate means and said seating portion upon said mounting surface for rotation with respect thereto.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mounting means include means for rotating said seat system with respect to said mounting surface about a central pivot axis of said system, and further including locking means for locking said seat system in any of a plurality of angularly spaced rotative positions about said central pivot axis.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said mounting means include a central rigid support shaft fixedly attached to said mounting surface of said vehicle and bearing sleeve means for said shaft, said mounting means further including collar means fixedly connected to said first rigid plate means for rotatably engaging said bearing sleeve means for rotation relative thereto.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said locking means include a spring biased pin member attached to said first rigid base plate means and a perforate plate member fixed with respect to said mounting surface, said pin member adapted to engage any of a selected number of said perforations.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said seating portion includes shoulder support means for cushionably restraining an occupant of said seating portion at either side of said occupant.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said seating portion further includes first seat frame means attached to said second rigid plate means and extending away from said second plate means and from said mounting surface of said vehicle, said shoulder support means being adjustably mounted upon said first seat frame means by adjustment means.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said adjustment means include at least one longitudinally extending slot in one of said first seat frame means or said shoulder support means for coacting with a pin element slidably movable within said slot from one longitudinal and thereof to the other.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said seating portion further includes arm rest means mounted upon said first seat frame means for cushionably supporting the arms of an occupant of said safety seat system.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said arm rest means include resilient material padding means and protective covering means therefor.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said seating portion includes a seat cushion and a back cushion.

11. A safety seat system for a vehicle having a mounting surface, said seat system including;

suspension means for supporting a seating portion of said system and for absorbing shock loading transmitted to said seating portion, said suspension means including;

first rigid base plate means, second rigid plate means for mounting said seating portion, first resilient element means disposed between said first and second rigid plate means for resiliently supporting said second plate means upon said first plate means, hold-down means connected between said first and second rigid plate means for limiting movement of said second plate means with respect to said first plate means in a direction normally away from said first plate means while permitting movement of said second plate means in lateral directions parallel to said first plate means, said first rigid base plate means including a modified U-shaped plate member having a first laterally extending surface, second and third surfaces extending substantially normally from said first surface, and fourth and fifth surfaces extending obliquely from said second and third surfaces respectively.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said second rigid plate means include another modified U-shaped plate member having laterally extending sixth surface disposed between said first surface and said seating portion, seventh and eighth surfaces extending substantially normally from said sixth surface, ninth and tenth surfaces extending obliquely from said seventh and eighth surfaces respectively in parallel disposition with respect to said fourth and fifth surfaces, and eleventh and twelfth surfaces extending laterally from said ninth and tenth surfaces in parallel relation to said first surface and said sixth surface.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said first resilient element means includes at least two separate resilient elements disposed respectively between said fourth and ninth surfaces and between said fifth and tenth surfaces.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said at least two resilient elements are composed of foam material.

15. The invention of claim 13 wherein said at least two resilient elements are composed of rubber material.

16. A safety seat system for a vehicle having a mounting surface, said seat system including;

suspension means for supporting a seating portion of said system and for absorbing shock loading transmitted to said seating portion, said suspension means including;

first rigid base plate means, second rigid plate means for mounting said seating portion, first resilient element means disposed between said first and second rigid plate means for resiliently supporting said second plate means upon said first plate means, hold-down means connected between said first and second rigid plate means for limiting movement of said second plate means wiTh respect to said first plate means in a direction normally away from said first plate means while permitting movement of said second plate means in lateral directions parallel to said first plate means, said hold-down means including a rod element pivotably mounted upon said first rigid base plate means, said hold-down means further including a first bracket fixedly connected to said second rigid plate means, said first bracket having first aperture means therein for slidably receiving a portion of said rod element, and limit stop means adjustably mounted upon said rod element for preventing the dislodgement of said rod element from said first aperture means, said first bracket being freely slidably movable upon said rod element between said limit stop means and the pivot connection of said rod element to said first rigid base plate means.