Control for height of a seat

• US 5,176,355 A
• Filed: 12/09/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carter, John W.
• Original Assignee: Carter, John W.
• Inventors: Carter, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US07/804,249
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 248/550, 248/157, 248/631, 248/564, 248/562, 248/588, 297/345, 297/347, 296/65.1, 267/64.28
• US Class Current: 248/550
• 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 2/525 using gas

Abstract

The housing of an air valve, the valve controlling the height of a vehicle seat supported on a suspension having an air spring, is pivotally connected to one of the frames of the suspension supporting the seat. A manual control lever connected to the housing is operative to change the angle of inclination of the housing for selecting a desired height of the seat. A control arm of the valve is connected by a linkage to the other frame of the suspension. These connections to the air valve control the valve for selecting a desired height and for automatically restoring the height for different weights on the seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat suspension having an upper frame, a lower frame, and an air spring between said frames to support said upper frame, an air valve for controlling air pressure within said air spring, said air valve having a housing, first pivotal means and a control arm connected to said housing, said first pivotal means permitting rotation of said control arm about a horizontal axis for controlling pressure within said air spring, the housing of said air valve being connected to one of said frames and means for connecting the other of said frames to said control arm at a point spaced from said first pivotal means;

wherein the improvement comprises;

second pivotal means connecting said housing to said one frame, said second pivotal means permitting rotation of said housing about an axis substantially in alignment with said horizontal axis,

linkage connecting means between said other frame said control arm at said point spaced from said first pivotal means, said linkage connecting means maintaining substantially constant spacing between said point of said control arm and said other frame to incline said control arm according to the distance between said first pivotal means and said other frame, manual control means connected to said housing to turn said housing about said second pivotal means for selecting particular angles of rotation of said housing relative to said frames for respective desired heights of said upper frame, and changes in height of said upper frame from a desired height changing the inclination of said control arm to control said air valve as required for restoring said selected desired height.

2. A vehicle seat suspension as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second pivotal means comprises a bracket connected to said one frame and extending toward said other frame, and a pivot having an axis substantially aligned horizontally for connecting said bracket and said housing of said air valve.

3. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 2 wherein said manual control means comprises a control lever, a control member connecting said control lever to said housing of said air valve, and indexing means contacting said control lever for retaining said control member in a selected position, and said indexing means being connected to said one frame to which said housing of said air valve is pivotally attached.

4. A vehicle seat suspension as claimed in claim 1 wherein said linkage connecting means comprises a rigid tab secured to said other frame and extending toward said one frame, and a substantially vertical linkage member having one end pivotally connected to said tab and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said control arm at said point spaced from said first pivotal means.

5. A vehicle seat suspension as claimed in claim 1 having an electrically operated air compressor, an input air line connected to said air valve, said air compressor having an output connected to said input air line, a pressure controlled switch pneumatically connected to said input air line, and said pressure controlled switch being electrically connected to said air compressor to control operation thereof for maintaining required pressure in said input air line.