Vehicle seat

• US 6,758,518 B2
• Filed: 05/13/1998
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MHM Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: MHM Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Goddin, Jeremy Robert, Ingram, Michael Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/076,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20020043826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,246 Days
• Field of Search: 297/146, 297/163, 297/188.04, 297/DIG.5, 108/90, 108/44, 108/25, 150/157, 428/920
• US Class Current: 297/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0638 with foldable tables, trays or cup holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/05 Fireproof

Abstract

A vehicle seat has a mechanism supporting a table for articulation between a stowed position and an extended position. A surface of the table extends generally horizontally from an integral part of the seat, a cover overlies the table surface, and the cover is detachably secured to the table in a manner that will allow the table to be moved to the stowed position and back to the extended position without damaging the cover.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat provided with an articulatable table, a mechanism supporting said table for articulation between an extended position in which a surface of said table is orientated to extend generally horizontally from said seat for use by a passenger and a stowed position in which said table surface is not horizontal, a cover comprising a sheet of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of fire-retardent and flame-proof materials, said cover being positioned over said table surface and having an upper face bearing information that will be visible to said passenger when said table is in said extended position, and releasable attachment means detachably securing said cover to said table whereby said table is moveable between said stowed position and said extended position without damaging said cover.

2. The vehicle seat, according to claim 1, in which said table is supported by said mechanism from a back portion of said seat whereby, in said extended position said table surface will extend backwards from said seat back portion with a first edge of said table surface directed towards said seat back portion and with a second edge of said table surface, parallel-spaced from said first edge, directed away from said seat back portion, in said stowed position said second edge will be positioned generally above said first edge, and said releasable attachment means is arranged to detachably secure said cover to said table at least adjacent to said second edge.

3. The vehicle seat, according to claim 2, in which said releasable attachment means is an adhesive layer carried by a lower face of said cover facing said table surface, and said adhesive layer is positioned adjacent an edge of said cover that is adjacent said second edge of said table.

4. The vehicle seat, according to claim 3, in which said adhesive layer is in the form of adhesive extending substantially across said lower face of said cover.

5. The vehicle seat, according to claim 3, in which said adhesive layer is also carried by at least one other area of said lower face necessary to keep said cover undamaged during articulation of said table.

6. The vehicle seat, according to claim 1, in which said releasable attachment means is an adhesive layer carried by a lower face of said cover facing said table surface.

7. The vehicle seat, according to claim 1, in which said releasable attachment means comprises a series of discrete areas of adhesive carried by and extending substantially across a lower face of said cover facing said table surface.

8. The vehicle seat, according to claim 1, in which said table defines a recess for locating a drinking vessel, and said cover is shaped to allow the drinking vessel to be located in said recess.

9. The vehicle seat, according to claim 8, in which said cover is formed with a portion that is distorted into said depression.

10. The vehicle seat, according to claim 9, in which said distorted portion is connected to said cover by an array of spiral strips.

11. The vehicle seat, according to claim 8, in which said cover is formed with an aperture that overlies said recess.

12. The vehicle seat, according to claim 11, in which said aperture is formed by a press-out portion of said cover, and the press-out portion is detachably secured in said recess.

13. The vehicle seat, according to claim 8, in which said cover is formed with a portion that fits into said depression.

14. A vehicle seat provided with:

an articulatable table;

a mechanism supporting said table for articulation between an extended position in which a surface of said table is orientated to extend generally horizontally from said seat for use by a passenger and a stowed position in which said table surface is not horizontal;

a cover comprising a sheet of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of fire-retardent and flame-proof materials, said cover being positioned over said table surface and having an upper face bearing information that will be visible to said passenger when said table is in said extended position;

releasable attachment means detachably securing said cover to said table whereby said table is moveable between said stowed position and said extended position without damaging said cover;

wherein said table is supported by said mechanism from a back portion of said seat whereby, in said extended position said table surface will extend backwards from said seat back portion with a first edge of said table surface directed towards said seat back portion and with a second edge of said table surface, parallel-spaced from said first edge, directed away from said seat back portion, in said stowed position said second edge will be positioned generally above said first edge;

wherein said releasable attachment means is arranged to detachably secure said cover to said table at least adjacent said second edge; and

wherein said releasable attachment means is a releasable clip means carried by said table.

15. The vehicle seat, according to claim 14, in which said releasable clip means is arranged adjacent said second edge of said table.

16. The vehicle seat, according to claim 15, in which said releasable clip means includes a strip that is carried by said table and extends substantially across said table next to said second edge, and said cover has its edge releasable trapped under said strip.

17. A table cover, for use with a table supported by a vehicle seat for articulation between a stowed position and an extended position in which said table extends generally horizontally from said seat for use by a passenger, comprising a sheet of material selected from the group of materials consisting of fire-retardent and fire-resistant materials, said sheet of material being shaped to conform with the profile of said table, said sheet of material having an upper face bearing information that will be visible to the passenger when said sheet of material is carried by said table and said table is in said extended position, said sheet of material having a lower face that will be supported by said table when said table is in said extended position, and an adhesive layer carried by said lower face to enable said cover to be releasably secured to said table.

18. The cover, according to claim 17, having a removable protective sheet detachably adhered to said adhesive area for removal before said cover is secured to said table.

19. The cover, according to claim 17, formed with a press-out portion in a position that will, after being pressed-out, define an aperture that will register with a recess in said table for locating a drinking vessel.

20. The cover, according to claim 17, having a portion that can be distorted into a depression in said table for locating a drinking vessel.

21. The cover, according to claim 20, in which said distorted portion is connected to said cover by an integral array of spiral strips.

22. The cover, according to claim 17, having a portion deformed from the plane of said sheet of material and shaped to fit into a depression in said table for locating a drinking vessel.

23. The cover, according to claim 17, which is formed as a lamination of a plurality of layers including said sheet of material.

24. The table cover, according to claim 23, in which said lamination includes a picture which extends over said upper face and is protected by a transparent sealing layer.

25. The table cover of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of covers that includes the sheet of material such that the plurality of covers are interconnected along a common edge so that, when a lowermost cover of the plurality of covers is secured to said table, each of the covers can be selectively exposed for viewing by a passenger.

26. The table cover, according to claim 17, which is shaped to be slightly smaller than the plan profile of said table surface to ensure that substantially no part of said cover will, in use, extend beyond the periphery of said table.

27. The table cover, according to claim 26, which includes a tab which will, in use, extend beyond said periphery of said table to facilitate subsequent removal of said cover from said table surface.

28. The table cover, according to claim 17, having rounded corners to avoid snagging against the clothing of a passenger or a fabric covering of said seat.

29. The table cover, according to claim 17, defining an aperture in a position that will, in use, register with a recess in said table surface.

30. A vehicle seat provided with:

an articulatable table;

a mechanism supporting said table for articulation between an extended position in which a surface of said table is orientated to extend generally horizontally from said seat for use by a passenger and a stowed position in which said table surface is not horizontal;

a cover comprising a sheet of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of fire-retardent and flame-proof materials, said cover being positioned over said table surface and having an upper face bearing information that will be visible to said passenger when said table is in said extended position;

releasable attachment means detachably securing said cover to said table whereby said table is moveable between said stowed position and said extended position without damaging said cover;

wherein said table is supported by said mechanism from a back portion of said seat whereby, in said extended position said table surface will extend backwards from said seat back portion with a first edge of said table surface directed towards said seat back portion and with a second edge of said table surface, parallel-spaced from said first edge, directed away from said seat back portion, in said stowed position said second edge will be positioned generally above said first edge;

wherein said releasable attachment means is arranged to detachably secure said cover to said table at least adjacent said second edge;

wherein said releasable attachment means is a releasable clip means including a strip that is carried by said table and extends substantially across said table next to said second edge of said table; and

wherein said cover has an edge releasably trapped under said strip.

31. A vehicle seat provided with:

an articulatable table;

a mechanism supporting said table for articulation between an extended position in which a surface of said table is orientated to extend generally horizontally from said seat for use by a passenger and a stowed position in which said table surface is not horizontal;

a cover comprising a sheet of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of fire-retardent and flame-proof materials, said cover being positioned over said table surface and having an upper face bearing information that will be visible to said passenger when said table is in said extended position, and releasable attachment means detachably securing said cover to said table whereby said table is moveable between said stowed position and said extended position without damaging said cover;

wherein said table is supported by said mechanism from a back portion of said seat whereby, in said extended position said table surface will extend backwards from said seat back portion with a first edge of said table surface directed towards said seat back portion and with a second edge of said table surface, parallel-spaced from said first edge, directed away from said seat back portion, in said stowed position said second edge will be positioned generally above said first edge;

wherein said releasable attachment means is arranged to detachably secure said cover to said table at least adjacent said second edge;

wherein said releasable attachment means is a releasable clip means comprising a slot defined between two components of said table that are biased towards each other, said slot being positioned adjacent said second edge of said table; and

wherein said cover has an edge releasably trapped in said slot.