Suspension seat

• US 6,830,297 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KAB Seating Pty Ltd. (Commercial Vehicle Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: G and J Lewis Enterprises Pty Limited
• Inventors: Gordon, Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US10/169,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20030132658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 297/353, 297/452.55, 297/452.54, 297/216.17, 297/344.12, 297/339, 248/580, 248/589
• US Class Current: 297/344.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/504 attached to the base and the backrest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/506 Seat guided by rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/509 Seat guided by slides or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence

Abstract

A suspension seat arrangement (1) comprising a lower frame (2) mountable to a seat mounting, an upper frame (3) connected to the lower frame (2) and movable with respect thereto, the upper frame (3) being arranged to mount a seat base (16), and a suspension arrangement (12) suspending the upper frame (3) with respect to the lower frame (2), the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) arrangement being such that the upper frame (3) is able to move downwardly relative to the lower frame (2) so that the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) become nested together one within the other. In another embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a suspension adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tension of the suspension. In a further embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a cover arrangement to encapsulate the suspension arrangement.

Claims

1. A suspension seat arrangement, comprising a lower frame which is mountable to a seat mounting, an upper frame including a seat base portion and a back portion, the upper frame being connected to the lower frame and movable with respect thereto, and a suspension arrangement suspending the upper frame with respect to the lower frame, the upper frame and lower frame arrangement being such that the upper frame is able to move downwardly relative to the lower frame so that the upper frame and lower frame become nested together one within the other.

2. A suspension seat arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the suspension arrangement is mounted at the rear of the seat, and has a relatively thin cross section so the width of the rear of the seat is minimised.

3. A suspension seat arrangement in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a suspension adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tension of the suspension arrangement.

4. A suspension seat arrangement in accordance with claim 3, wherein the suspension adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment control which is adjustable from a side of the seat arrangement.

5. A suspension seat arrangement in accordance with claim 1, including a cover arrangement covering the suspension arrangement.

6. A suspension seat arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein the cover arrangement comprises a relatively rigid housing within which the suspension arrangement is mounted.

7. A suspension seat arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper frame includes a resilient platform for mounting a cushion, the resilient platform providing further energy absorption in addition to energy absorption provided by the suspension arrangement.

8. A suspension seat arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower frame is narrower than the upper frame, and the arrangement is such that the upper frame can travel downwardly over the lower frame, so that the lower frame becomes nested within the upper frame.

9. A method of modifying a seat to provide suspension to the seat, comprising the step of mounting the seat to a suspension seat arrangement in accordance with claim 1.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the seat is a vehicle seat, and comprising the further step of removing the seat from the vehicle, before mounting the suspension to the vehicle then replacing the seat.