Systems and methods for seat repositioning

• US 7,520,567 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Hanson, Eric J., Topp, Gary L., Kluver, Leroy M., Gallagher, Michael P., Pollack, Jay G., Ruppert, Adam M., Gilliland, Kevin A., Billger, Steven C., Pulskamp, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/948,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.3, 297/344.22, 297/344.23, 297/344.24, 297/327, 297/361.1, 297/344.12, 297/330, 180/326, 180329-331, 180333-334
• US Class Current: 297/344.22
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/18 Chairs or stools with rotatable seat adjustable in height by rotation A47C3/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/20 Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats tables with variable height A47B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0235 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/247 to support passengers in a half-standing position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/22 Optical; Photoelectric; Lidar [Light Detection and Ranging]

Abstract

A vehicle seat arrangement is provided for a working vehicle comprising an operator'"'"'s seat having an adjustable feature. A first control element is arranged such that a first work operative position is defined. A seat adjusting element is further provided for enabling the operator to set the adjustable feature of the operator'"'"'s seat. The seat adjusting element is positioned relative to the first control element such that the operator may selectively control the adjustable feature of the seat without significantly interrupting the first work operative position or without significantly interrupting a transition from a first task to a second task and/or from a first work operative position to a second work operative position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat arrangement in a materials handling vehicle comprising:

an operator'"'"'s seat in said materials handling vehicle having an adjustable feature;

a locking arrangement that is normally in a locked state to lock said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat into a designated position;

a first control area comprising a control handle that is positioned proximate to said operator'"'"'s seat that supports at least one function for operating said materials handling vehicle, wherein a first work operative position is defined with respect to said control handle and said operator'"'"'s seat;

a first control element for implementing said at least one function for operating said materials handling vehicle arranged within said first control area on said control handle; and

a seat adjusting element positioned control area on said control handle that is operatively coupled to said locking arrangement such that operation of said seat adjusting element causes said locking arrangement to transition to an unlocked state to release said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat for operator repositioning and subsequent release of said seat adjusting element enables said locking arrangement to transition back to a locked state, wherein;

said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is selectively controlled by operation of said seat adjusting element without releasing said control handle, thus maintaining said first work operative position.

2. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first control element and said seat adjusting element are simultaneously controllable to adjust said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat while performing a task in said first work operative position.

3. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said area control handle comprises a joystick.

4. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said control handle comprises at least one finger operated control element.

5. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first control element and said seat adjusting element are positioned proximate to each other and are supported by an armrest of said operator'"'"'s seat such that each of said first control element and said seat adjusting element can be operated without interrupting said first work operative position.

6. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first control area further comprises a sensor to detect the presence of a hand of an operator.

7. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first control element and said seat adjusting element are configured so as to allow performance of a first task involving operation of said first control element concomitantly with control of said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat without interrupting said first work operative position.

8. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle further comprises a second control element arranged such that a second work operative position is defined with respect to said second control element, said seat adjusting element and said operator'"'"'s seat, wherein an operator can transition from a first task involving said first control element to a second task involving operation of said second control element without interrupting said first or second work operative positions, wherein said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is selectively controlled by operation of said seat adjusting element before, during or after said operator transitions to said second work operative position.

9. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein operation of said seat adjusting element releases said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat for adjustment in at least one of fore, aft, lateral or rotational repositioning.

10. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is normally locked into a select one of at least two designated positions; and

said seat adjusting element selectively releases said adjustable feature for repositioning, wherein said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is locked into a next one of said at least two designated positions upon release of said seat adjusting element.

11. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said adjustable feature is infinitely adjustable within a range of positions.

12. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

said operator'"'"'s seat comprises an armrest;

said first control area is located on said armrest; and

said seat adjusting element is positioned above a horizontal plane of said armrest.

13. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said seat adjusting element is positioned above a horizontal plane of said first control area.

14. A method of increasing productivity in a materials handling vehicle comprising:

providing an operator'"'"'s seat in said materials handling vehicle having an adjustable feature;

providing a locking arrangement that is normally in a locked state to lock said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat into a designated position;

providing a first control element on a control handle of said operator'"'"'s seat;

defining a first work operative position with respect to control handle and said operator'"'"'s seat; and

providing a seat adjusting element on said control handle that is operatively coupled to said locking arrangement such that operation of said seat adjusting element causes said locking arrangement to transition to an unlocked state to release said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat for operator repositioning and subsequent release of said seat adjusting element enables said locking arrangement to transition back to a locked state, said seat adjusting element positioned such that said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is selectively controllable without interrupting said first work operative position.

15. A vehicle seat arrangement in a materials handling vehicle comprising:

an operator'"'"'s seat in said materials handling vehicle having an adjustable feature;

a locking arrangement that is normally in a locked state to lock said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat into a designated position;

a first control element arranged on a control handle of said operator'"'"'s seat; and

a seat adjusting element positioned on said control handle that is operatively coupled to said locking arrangement such that operation of said seat adjusting element causes said locking arrangement to transition to an unlocked state to release said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat for operator repositioning and subsequent release of said seat adjusting element enables said locking arrangement to transition back to a locked state, wherein;

said first control element is spaced from said seat adjusting element such that a first work operative position is defined with respect to said first control element and said seat adjusting element such that said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is selectively controllable by operation of said seat adjusting element without interrupting said first work operative position.

16. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said first control element and said seat adjusting element are simultaneously controllable to adjust said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat while performing a task in said first work operative position.

17. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said first control element control handle is positioned on a first armrest of said operator'"'"'s seat.

18. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said control handle comprises a joystick,

19. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, further comprising a sensor to detect the presence of a hand of an operator on said control handle. comprising one indication of said first work operative position.

20. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said first control element and said seat adjusting element are configured so as to allow performance of a first task involving operation of said first control element concomitantly with control of said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat without interrupting said first work operative position.

21. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said vehicle comprises a second control element arranged such that a second work operative position is defined with respect to said second control element, said seat adjusting element and said operator'"'"'s seat, wherein an operator can transition from a first task involving said first control element to a second task involving operation of said second control element without interrupting said first or second work operative positions, wherein said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is selectively controlled by said operator before, during or after transitioning from said first work operative position to said second work operative position.

22. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein operation of said seat adjusting element releases said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat for adjustment in at least one of fore, aft, lateral or rotational repositioning.

23. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein:

said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is normally locked into a select one of at least two designated positions; and

said seat adjusting element for selectively releases said adjustable feature for repositioning, wherein said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is locked into a next one of said at least two designated positions upon release of said seat adjusting element.

24. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 23, wherein said adjustable feature is infinitely adjustable within a range of positions.

25. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein:

said operator'"'"'s seat comprises an armrest; and

said seat adjusting element is positioned above a horizontal plane of said armrest.

26. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said seat adjusting element is positioned above a horizontal plane of a surface upon which said seat adjusting element is positioned.

27. A vehicle seat arrangement in a materials handling vehicle comprising:

an operator'"'"'s seat in said materials handling vehicle having an adjustable feature;

a locking arrangement that is normally in a locked state to lock said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat into a designated position;

a first control element arranged on a control handle positioned on a first armrest of said operator'"'"'s seat, wherein a first work operative position is defined with respect to said first control clement when said operator is operating said first control element control handle and said operator'"'"'s seat;

a second control element, wherein a second work operative position is defined with respect to said second control element and said operator'"'"'s seat; and

a seat adjusting element positioned on said control handle, said seat adjusting element operatively coupled to said locking arrangement such that said seat adjusting element causes said locking arrangement to transition to an unlocked state to release said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat for operator repositioning and subsequent release of said seat adjusting element enables said locking arrangement to transition back to a locked state, said seat adjusting element positioned such that said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is selectively controlled by operation of said seat adjusting element without releasing said control handle, thus maintaining said first work operative position;

wherein said first control element, said second control element and said seat adjusting element are arranged such that said adjustable feature of said operator'"'"'s seat is selectively controlled by operation of said seat adjusting element while maintaining said second work operative position.

28. The vehicle seat arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said second control element is arranged on a second armrest of said operator'"'"'s seat.