Seat suspension

• US 4,640,488 A
• Filed: 01/04/1985
• Issued: 02/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Company Limited (Tachi-S Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Company Limited (Tachi-S Company Limited)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US06/688,980
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 248/588, 248/592, 248/594, 248/595, 248/564, 248/574, 248/421, 248/422, 297/338, 297/345, 108/145, 296/65 R
• US Class Current: 248/588
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat suspension featuring a weight-responsive, height-adjusting mechanism which is advantageously employed in a seat intended to be installed in a smaller sized vehicle is disclosed. The seat suspension includes a pair of shock absorbers arranged at the lower portion of X-shaped links with its height being substantially the same as that of the lower portion of said links.

Claims

1. In a seat suspension comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, a pair of X-shaped links disposed between said upper frame and said lower frame such that one of the links is disposed at the left side of said upper and lower frame while the other of the links is disposed at the right side of said upper and lower frames, each of said pair of X-shaped links being made up of (a) a first link component having a forward upper end portion at the upward positioned end thereof and a rearward lower end portion at the downward positioned end thereof and (b) a second link component having a forward lower end portion at the downward positioned end thereof and a rearward upper end portion at the upward position thereof, the arrangement of said first and second link components being such that the first link component is rotatably, pivotally fixed to the second link component at the center portion of each thereby allowing the first and second link components to be freely rotated independently of each other, each of said pair of X-shaped links being connected to said upper frame such that one of said forward upper end portion of said first link component and said rearward upper end portion of said second link component is rotatably fixed to said upper frame while the other of said forward upper end portion of said first link component and said rearward upper end portion of said second link component is slidably supported by said upper frame;

and each of said pair of X-shaped links being connected to said lower frame such that one of said forward lower end portions of said second link component and said rearward lower end portions of said first link component is rotatably fixed to said lower frame while the other of said forward lower end portions of said second link component and said rearward lower end portions of said first link component is slidably supported by said lower frame, and a pair of tension springs disposed above, and adjacent to, said pair of X-shaped links, the improvement comprising;

(a) a pair of bell cranks rotatably, pivotally supported at substantially the center portion thereof;

(b) rotatable means for operating said pair of bell cranks;

(c) a pair of shock absorbers, the arrangement of said pair of shock absorbers being such that one of the shock absorbers is disposed at one lateral side of said pair of X-shaped links while the other of the shock absorbers is disposed at the other lateral side of said pair of X-shaped links, and further, that one end of each shock absorber is rotatably connected to said pair of X-shaped links, respectively; and

wherein said pair of tension springs are each connected at one end thereof to one of said forward upper end portions of said first link component and said rearward upper end portion of said second link component and connected at the other end thereof to one end portion of each of said pair of bell cranks.

2. The seat suspension of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of bell cranks is connected at one end portion thereof to the other end portion of each of the pair of tension springs and engaged at the other end portion thereof with said rotatable means for operating said pair of bell cranks.

3. The seat suspension of claim 1 wherein said rotatable means for operating said pair of bell cranks comprises an adjusting spindle having a thread formed thereon and a pair of nuts which are each in engagement with said thread on said adjusting spindle.

4. The seat suspension of claim 3 wherein said pair of nuts are each engaged with the other end of each of said pair of bell cranks.

5. The seat suspension of claim 1 wherein said rotatable means for operating said pair of bell cranks comprises a first adjusting spindle movable in a transverse direction of said pair of X-shaped links, a second adjusting spindle having a thread formed thereon and a nut which is in engagement with said thread of said second adjusting spindle, and wherein said pair of bell cranks are each rotatably mounted on said first adjusting spindle by means of a pin, with the arrangement of said pair of bell cranks being such that one of said cranks are partially elongated as to be adapted for engagement with said nut and each of them is connected at one end thereof to the other end of each of said pair of tension springs.