Self-leveling seat

• US 5,871,257 A
• Filed: 12/24/1997
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth E. Sr. Dundes
• Original Assignee: Kenneth E. Sr. Dundes
• Inventors: Dundes, Kenneth E. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/997,934
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 298/314, 298/313, 298/325, 298/344.19, 248/188.2, 248/188.3, 248/188.5, 248/631
• US Class Current: 297/314
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/39 Seats tiltable to compensate for roll inclination of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/522 characterised by dampening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/525 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence

Abstract

A self-leveling seat is provided including a vehicle having a seat with a horizontally oriented seat portion and a planar floor board. A tubular mounting frame includes a lower horizontal portion having a hollow cylindrical configuration. A pair of mounting brackets encompass the lower horizontal portion and are fixed to the floor board of the vehicle. A pair of upper vertical portions are each equipped with a hollow cylindrical configuration and have a bottom end connected to an associated end of the horizontal portion of the frame. The vertical portions extend upwardly therefrom to terminate at open top ends. The vertical portions are each in fluidic communication with the corresponding end of the horizontal portion. A pair of cylinders are each slidably situated within the top end of a corresponding one of the vertical portions of the frame and have a bottom end and a top end. The top end is coupled to a bottom surface of the seat portion of the seat. Lastly, a pneumatic assembly is situated within the horizontal portion for urging the cylinders upward in a eve orientation.

Claims

1. A self-leveling seat system comprising, in combination:

a seat with a vertically oriented back rest portion and a horizontally oriented seat portion;

a tubular mounting frame including a lower horizontal portion having a hollow cylindrical configuration, a pair of mounting brackets encompassing an outer surface of ends of the lower horizontal portion and having a planar bottom for being fixed to a floor board of a vehicle, and a pair of upper vertical portions each with a hollow cylindrical configuration and having a bottom end connected to one end of the horizontal portion of the frame and extending upwardly therefrom to terminate at open top ends, wherein the vertical portions are each in fluidic communication with one end of the horizontal portion;

a pair of cylinders each slidably situated within the top end of one of the vertical portions of the frame with a bottom end having a pair of concentric bushings mounted to a periphery thereof and a top end having a vertical member of an angle bracket pivotally coupled thereto, wherein horizontal members of the angle brackets extend toward each other and are coupled to a bottom surface of the seat portion of the seat; and

a pneumatic assembly including a pair of valve members each having a disk-shaped configuration and being situated within the horizontal portion of the tubular mounting frame, wherein each of the valve members has a cylindrical tab coupled in concentric relationship therewith, the pneumatic assembly further including a spring situated between the valve members and coupled to the tabs thereof, whereby the valve members force the cylinders and the seat upward in a level orientation and upon the vehicle being angled, the seat remains level.

2. A self-leveling seat support comprising:

a tubular mounting frame including a lower horizontal portion, a pair of mounting brackets encompassing the lower horizontal portion for being fixed to a floor board of a vehicle, and a pair of upper vertical portions each having a bottom end connected to one end of the horizontal portion of the frame and extending upwardly therefrom to terminate at open top ends, wherein the vertical portions are each in fluidic communication with one end of the horizontal portion;

a pair of cylinders each slidably situated within the top end of one of the vertical portions of the frame with a top end coupled to a bottom surface of a seat; and

a pneumatic assembly situated within the horizontal portion for urging the cylinders upward in a level orientation.

3. A self-leveling seat as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pneumatic assembly includes a pair of valve members situated within the horizontal portion of the tubular mounting frame and separated via a spring.

4. A self-leveling seat as set forth in claim 2 wherein the valve members and cylinders are equipped with bushings for ensuring an air tight interconnection with the tubular frame assembly.

5. A self-leveling seat as set forth in claim 2 wherein the top ends of the cylinders are each mounted to the seat via an angle bracket which is pivotally coupled to the cylinder.