Sprung seat

• US 5,261,724 A
• Filed: 11/16/1992
• Issued: 11/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mayer, Matthias, Meiller, Hermann, Hoerner, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMIREZ, RAMON O
• Application Number:
  US07/976,537
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 248/421, 248/157, 248/423, 248/588, 248/406.2, 248/564, 248/565, 248/578, 297/345, 297/18, 296/65.1, 296/63
• US Class Current: 297/344.15
• 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 sprung seat having an L-shaped base arrangement includes a spring means for adjusting the springing characteristic of the seat as desired. For that purpose the seat has a two-armed pivot lever mounted pivotably about a central horizontal mounting axis on a back portion of the L-shape, in an at least approximately horizontal position. One arm of the pivot lever is connected to one end of at least one at least approximately horizontal tension spring of the spring means. The second end part of the tension spring is fixed to a fixing portion of a support lever. The fixing portion is at least approximately aligned with the mounting axis about which the armed pivot lever is pivotable. The support lever is pivotably mounted to the back portion of the L-shape and is connected by its fixing portion to a member of the scissor support assembly.

Claims

1. A seat including:

an at least substantially L-shaped base means comprising a bottom portion and a back portion which stands upwardly from the bottom portion;

a scissor support assembly disposed on the bottom portion;

a spring means comprising at least one tension spring having first and second end portions;

a pivot lever mounted on the back portion pivotably about an at least substantially central mounting axis defining first and second lever arms, one arm of the pivot lever being connected to one end portion of the tension spring; and

a support lever disposed in the vicinity of said one arm of the pivot lever and operatively connected to the scissor support assembly, the support lever having a mounting portion by which the support lever is mounted pivotably to said back portion of said base means, the second end portion of the tension spring being connected in axially at least approximately aligned relationship with said mounting axis of said pivot lever to a portion of said support lever, the arrangement being such that the springing characteristic of said spring means is adapted to be adjustable.

2. A seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivot lever and said tension spring are disposed at least approximately horizontally in a rest position thereof and wherein said second arm of said pivot lever carries an actuating handle means.

3. A seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support lever is mounted linearly displaceably and pivotably to said back portion.

4. A seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises at least one tension spring with a high spring constant.

5. A seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein said scissor support assembly comprises a central element, first and second strip elements which are disposed at respective sides of said central element, and a connecting element which interconnects said strip elements and which bears on said central element, the strip elements and the connecting element defining a plane crossing the plane of the central element, and wherein said portion of said support lever to which said spring means is connected is connected to an edge portion of said central element of the support assembly, the central element having an oppositely disposed edge portion by which it is pivotably mounted to the bottom portion of the base means.

6. A seat comprising:

a seat squab portion;

a base means comprising a bottom portion to be fixed to a seat mounting surface and a back portion which in the position of use projects upwardly from the bottom portion;

a scissor support assembly operatively disposed between said seat squab portion and said bottom portion and adapted to permit vertical movement of said seat squab portion relative to said base portion;

a tension spring having first and second end portions, for providing for springing of said seat squab portion relative to said bottom portion of said base means;

a pivot lever mounted to said back portion pivotably about a mounting axis therefor defining first and second lever arms, one arm of said pivot lever being connected at a spacing from said mounting axis to one end portion of said tension spring;

a support lever disposed adjacent said one arm of said pivot lever and having a first end portion movably mounted to said back portion of said base means and a second end portion to which said second end portion of said tension spring is connected in axially at least approximately aligned relationship with said mounting axis; and

means connecting said support lever adjacent said second end portion thereof to said scissor support assembly, the arrangement being such that pivotal movement of said pivot lever is adapted to adjust the springing characteristic of said tension spring.