Adjustable seat suspension for utility vehicle

• US 6,773,049 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Westimayer, David A., Rupiper, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/273,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 296/63, 296/65.01, 296/65.02, 248/636, 248/419, 297/344.15, 297/346
• US Class Current: 296/63
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1842 pivoting about an axis located in the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1892 characterised by a lock
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1896 Stepwise movement mechanisms, e.g. ratchets B60N2/1882 takes precedence
• 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 2/507 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat assembly for an off-road vehicle includes a seat having a bottom surface, and a resilient seat suspension supporting the seat. The seat is supported at least in part by a first bumper element carried by the seat suspension. The first bumper element includes a protruding portion interposed between the seat bottom surface and the seat suspension, the protruding portion supporting a portion of the seat from the seat suspension. The seat suspension and the first bumper element are arranged to adjust a length of the protruding portion. The length of the protruding portion can be adjusted to set an elevation of the seat at the point of support by the first bumper element. The seat can also be adjustably connected to another part of the resilient seat suspension by use of a seat bracket with selectable holes to register with holes provided on the resilient seat suspension.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for a utility vehicle, comprising:

a seat having a bottom surface;

a resilient seat suspension supporting said seat;

a first bumper element, wherein said first bumper element is carried by said seat suspension and includes a protruding portion interposed between said seat bottom surface and said seat suspension, said protruding portion supporting a portion of said seat from said seat suspension, said seat suspension and said first bumper element arranged to adjust a length of said protruding portion.

2. The seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said seat suspension comprises an upper support plate, said upper support plate comprising a first elongated opening having a wide region and a narrow region, and said first bumper element comprises grooves spaced apart along a length of said first bumper element, said narrow region shaped to receive the first bumper element therein with a select one of said grooves receiving portions of said upper support plate therein to fix said first bumper element to said upper support plate.

3. The seat assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second bumper element identical to said first bumper element, and said upper support plate comprises a second elongated opening identical to said first elongated opening, said first and second bumper elements arranged laterally spaced apart and fixed to said upper support plate.

4. The seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said seat suspension comprises:

an upper support plate;

a baseplate;

at least one of spring arranged between said baseplate and said upper support plate;

a front link pivotally connected to said baseplate at a front end and pivotally connected at a rear end to said upper support plate;

a rear link pivotally connected at a front end to said baseplate and at a rear end to said upper support plate;

wherein said upper support plate comprises a first elongated opening having a wide region and a narrow region, and said first bumper element comprises grooves spaced apart along a length of said first bumper element, said narrow region shaped to receive said first bumper element therein with a select one of said grooves receiving portions of said upper support plate therein to fix said first bumper element to said upper support plate.

5. The seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said seat is adjustably connected to a front end of said resilient seat suspension.

6. The seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said seat includes at least one bracket extending vertically and having multiple holes, and said resilient suspension includes a corresponding hole, said multiple holes are each registerable with said corresponding hole at select vertical adjustments of said seat with respect to said seat suspension, to accept a locking element through said one hole and said corresponding hole to set a front vertical adjustment of said seat.

7. The seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first bumper element comprises a cylinder having spaced apart annular grooves, and said upper support plate comprises an elongated opening having a first region sized to allow entrance of said cylinder vertically therethrough, and a second region open to said first region and having a width that prevents vertical entrance of said cylinder through said second region but is of a width that accepts a width of said cylinder taken through the annular groove, to allow lateral movement of said cylinder into said second region with wall portions of said upper support plate adjacent opposite sides of said second region entering a select one of said grooves to lock said cylinder to said upper support plate.

8. A resilient support arrangement for a seat for a vehicle, comprising:

an elastomer bumper having at least two grooves spaced apart along a length of said bumper;

a lower support element arranged to be supported on a vehicle chassis;

an upper support element arranged to carry said elastomer bumper, said bumper arranged to support a seat;

wherein said upper support element comprises an opening between wall portions of said upper support element, said opening shaped to allow said wall portions to enter a select one of said grooves when said bumper is mounted to said upper support element to vertically adjusted distance between said seat and said upper support element.

9. The resilient support arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said bumper comprises a cylinder and said grooves are annular.

10. The resilient support arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said opening comprises a first region having an open area greater than a diameter of said cylinder to admit the cylinder vertically therethrough without interference, and a second region open to said first region and more narrow than said first region, said second region defined in part by said wall portions.

11. A seat assembly for a utility vehicle, comprising:

a seat having a bottom surface;

a resilient seat suspension supporting said seat;

at least one bracket extending vertically from said bottom surface and having multiple holes, and said resilient suspension includes a corresponding hole, said multiple holes are each registerable with said corresponding hole at select vertical adjustments of said seat with respect to said seat suspension, to accept a locking element through said one hole and said corresponding hole to set a front vertical adjustment of said seat.

12. The seat assembly according to claim 11, wherein said seat suspension comprises:

an upper support plate;

a baseplate;

at least one of spring arranged between said baseplate and said upper support plate;

a front link pivotally connected to said baseplate at a front end and pivotally connected at a rear end to said upper support plate;

a rear link pivotally connected at a front end to said baseplate and at a rear end to said upper support plate, said front and rear links tilted rearward in a rising direction such that downward movement of said upper support plate causes simultaneous rearward movement of said upper support plate.

13. The seat assembly according to claim 11, wherein said multiple holes are arranged in a pattern that is tilted rearward in a rising direction such that upward adjustment of the seat causes simultaneous rearward adjustment of the seat.

14. A seat assembly for a utility vehicle, comprising:

a seat having a bottom surface;

a resilient seat suspension supporting said seat;

wherein said seat suspension comprises;

an upper support plate;

a baseplate;

at least one of spring arranged between said baseplate and said upper support plate;

a front link pivotally connected to said baseplate at a front end and pivotally connected at a rear end to said upper support plate;

a rear link pivotally connected at a front end to said baseplate and at a rear end to said upper support plate, said front and rear links tilted rearward in a rising direction such that downward movement of said upper support plate causes simultaneous rearward movement of said upper support plate.

15. The seat assembly according to claim 14, comprising at least one bracket extending vertically from said bottom surface and having multiple holes, and said resilient suspension includes a corresponding hole, said multiple holes are each registerable with said corresponding hole at select vertical adjustments of said seat with respect to said seat suspension, to accept a locking element through said one hole and said corresponding hole to set a front vertical adjustment of said seat.