Boat comfort seat assembly

• US 6,733,084 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Moeller Marine Products
• Original Assignee: Moeller Marine Products
• Inventors: Butler, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US10/358,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.56, 297/452.55, 297/452.57, 297/440.1, 297/440.22
• US Class Current: 297/452.56
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/004 Seating furniture for specified purposes not covered by main groups A47C1/00 or A47C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2029/043 Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/04 Furniture peculiar to vessels floatable furniture B63C9/30

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a seat bottom having first and second portions and a central support portion, disposed between the first and second portions, and a seat back having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the seat back extends upwardly from and supported by the seat bottom. To support a user and to provide resiliency to the seat assembly, the invention includes an elastic mat having a first end mounted to the first portion and a second end mounted to one of the second portion and the bottom portion of the seat back such that the elastic mat is suspended over the central support portion of the seat assembly. The seat bottom includes at least two rails adjacent and spaced from one another for retaining a portion of a seat track of a base that is further attached to a post, extending from a floor of the boat.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom having a first portion and a second portion with a central support portion disposed between said first and second portions;

a seat back having a top portion and a bottom portion with said seat back extending upwardly from and supported by said seat bottom;

said seat bottom and said seat back being integral and formed of a homogeneous material to define a continuous panel extending from said first portion of said seat bottom to said top portion of said seat back,

a mat having a first end and a second end;

a first mounting member connected to said first end of said mat;

a second mounting member connected to said second end of said mat; and

said first portion defining an integral first socket disposed within said first portion of said seat bottom and receiving said first mounting member to mount said first end of said mat to said first portion, and

an aperture through said seat back and side surfaces defined integrally within said seat back adjacent said aperture said mat extending from said first mounting member over said seat bottom and through said aperture to said second mounting member, said second mounting member being retained by said side surfaces.

2. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first portion defines a front wall, with said front wall and said central support portion defining said first socket therebetween.

3. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first socket has a C-shaped configuration.

4. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting members comprise bars with the ends thereof disposed in said first and second sockets respectively.

5. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second socket further defines a protrusion extending from each of said side surfaces.

6. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said aperture has a generally rectangular configuration.

7. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said protrusion has a C-shaped configuration.

8. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first end and second end of said mat each define a loop, respectively, to engage said first mounting member and said second mounting member within said loops, respectively.

9. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said first and second mounting members are defined by elongated bar disposed within each of said loops.

10. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said mat includes a flexible material.

11. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said mat has up to three inches of a vertical travel.

12. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said homogeneous material is further defined as a plastic material.

13. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said plastic material is further defined as a polyethylene.

14. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an upper cushion disposed on said mat.

15. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 14, including a lower cushion disposed below said mat.

16. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said central support portion includes an opening extending inwardly to said seat bottom further defining a basin to receive said lower cushion.

17. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 16 further including a back cushion abutting said seat back.

18. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 17 further including a trim cover disposed over said seat bottom and said seat back for encapsulating said upper, lower, and back cushions.

19. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said trim cover is formed of polyethylene.

20. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said trim cover is formed of leather.

21. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein seat bottom includes at least two rails adjacent and spaced from one another for retaining a portion of a seat track.