Suspension adjustment mechanism for low suspension seat

• US 8,016,258 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seats, Inc. (Nordic Group of Cos. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Seats, Inc. (Nordic Group of Cos. Ltd.)
• Inventors: van Zyl, Pieter J., Boyarski, Jesse C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez; Ramon
• Application Number:
  US12/771,159
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 248/576, 248/560, 248/565, 248/421, 248/567, 248/577, 248/587, 248/588, 248/590, 297/344.15, 267/131
• US Class Current: 248/576
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/82 Other details
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 67/04 Seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0856 about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/507 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/548 Torsion springs, e.g. torsion helicoidal springs

Abstract

A seat support assembly includes a base, a plurality of arms each mounted at a first end to the base for movement with respect to the base, and mounted to a seat at a second end opposite the first end for movement with respect to the seat. A torsion spring has a first end defining a length, a second end defining a length, and a coil defining an axis. A first bearing surface abuts the first end of the torsion spring at a first abutment point to define a first moment arm distance. A second bearing surface abuts the second end of the torsion spring at a second abutment point to define a second moment arm distance. An adjustment mechanism simultaneously causes relative movement between the torsion spring and the bearing surfaces to simultaneously change the first moment arm distance and the second moment arm distance.

Claims

1. A seat support assembly, comprising:

a base;

first, second, third, and fourth suspension arms, each mounted at a first end to the base and moveable with respect to the base, and adapted for mounting to a seat at a second end opposite the first end, the arms being moveable with respect to the seat;

a torsion spring having a first end defining a length, a second end defining a length, and a coil extending between and substantially perpendicular to the first and second ends, the coil defining a torsion spring axis;

a first bearing surface abutting the first end of the torsion spring at a first abutment point to define a first moment arm distance from the first abutment point to the torsion spring axis;

a second bearing surface abutting the second end of the torsion spring at a second abutment point to define a second moment arm distance from second abutment point to the torsion spring axis; and

an adjustment mechanism for simultaneously causing relative movement between the torsion spring and the first and second bearing surfaces to simultaneously move the first abutment point along the length of the first end of the torsion spring to change the first moment arm distance and move the second abutment point along the length of the second end of the torsion spring to change the second moment arm distance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a torsion spring support supporting the torsion spring;

and wherein the adjustment mechanism moves the torsion spring with respect to the first and second bearing surfaces perpendicular to the torsion spring axis.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the torsion spring support is mounted for linear sliding on the base.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes means for limiting movement of the torsion spring support between a first position in which the first and second moment arm distances are relatively short such that the torsion spring provides relatively stiff resistance to pivotal movement of the suspension arms, and a second position in which the first and second moment arm distances are relatively long such that the torsion spring provides relatively soft resistance to pivotal movement of the suspension arms.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for limiting includes a slot and tab;

and wherein the first position is defined by the tab contacting a first end of the slot and the second position is defined by the tab contacting a second end of the slot opposite the first end.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes means for infinitely adjusting the first and second moment arm distances within a range of distances to consequently adjust the degree to which the torsion spring resists pivotal movement of the suspension arms.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a torsion spring support for supporting the torsion spring, and an adjustment rod having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the torsion spring axis;

wherein the adjustment rod is threadedly engaged with a portion of the torsion spring support such that rotation of the adjustment rod about the longitudinal axis causes linear movement of the torsion spring support perpendicular to the torsion spring axis.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the base includes a vertical support having a bearing surface for supporting the adjustment rod for rotation about the longitudinal axis;

and wherein the adjustment mechanism further includes a handle mounted to the adjustment rod for facilitating rotation of the adjustment rod.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the adjustment rod includes a first end having threads to threadedly engage the torsion spring support and a second end opposite the first end having a bolt head;

and wherein the handle fits on the bolt head of the second end of the adjustment rod.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first bearing surface is interconnected with at least one of the suspension arms.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the torsion spring is a first torsion spring, the system further comprising:

a second torsion spring having first and second ends and a coil between the first and second ends, the coil defining a second torsion spring axis parallel to the torsion spring axis of the first torsion spring;

a third bearing surface abutting the first end of the second torsion spring to define a third moment arm distance with respect to the second torsion spring axis; and

a fourth bearing surface abutting the second end of the second torsion spring to define a fourth moment arm distance with respect to the second torsion spring axis;

wherein the adjustment mechanism simultaneously causes relative movement between the first torsion spring and the first and second bearing surfaces and between the second torsion spring and the third and fourth bearing surfaces to simultaneously change the first moment arm distance, second moment arm distance, third moment arm distance, and fourth moment arm distance.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the third bearing surface is interconnected with at least one of the suspension arms.

13. A seat support assembly, comprising:

a base;

a suspension including a plurality of suspension arms, each mounted at a first end to the base and moveable with respect to the base, and adapted for mounting to a seat at a second end opposite the first end, the arms being moveable with respect to the seat;

a torsion spring having a first end defining a length, a second end defining a length, and a coil extending between and substantially perpendicular to the first and second ends, the coil defining a torsion spring axis;

a first bearing surface abutting the first end of the torsion spring at a first abutment point to define a first moment arm distance from the first abutment point to the torsion spring axis;

a second bearing surface abutting the second end of the torsion spring at a second abutment point to define a second moment arm distance from second abutment point to the torsion spring axis; and

an adjustment mechanism for simultaneously causing relative movement between the torsion spring and the first and second bearing surfaces to simultaneously move the first abutment point along the length of the first end of the torsion spring to change the first moment arm distance and move the second abutment point along the length of the second end of the torsion spring to change the second moment arm distance.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a torsion spring support supporting the torsion spring;

and wherein the adjustment mechanism moves the torsion spring with respect to the first and second bearing surfaces perpendicular to the torsion spring axis.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the torsion spring support is mounted for linear sliding on the base.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes means for limiting movement of the torsion spring support between a first position in which the first and second moment arm distances are relatively short such that the torsion spring provides relatively stiff resistance to pivotal movement of the suspension arms, and a second position in which the first and second moment arm distances are relatively long such that the torsion spring provides relatively soft resistance to pivotal movement of the suspension arms.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for limiting includes a slot and tab;

and wherein the first position is defined by the tab contacting a first end of the slot and the second position is defined by the tab contacting a second end of the slot opposite the first end.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes means for infinitely adjusting the first and second moment arm distances within a range of distances to consequently adjust the degree to which the torsion spring resists pivotal movement of the suspension arms.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a torsion spring support for supporting the torsion spring, and an adjustment rod having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the torsion spring axis;

wherein the adjustment rod is threadedly engaged with a portion of the torsion spring support such that rotation of the adjustment rod about the longitudinal axis causes linear movement of the torsion spring support perpendicular to the torsion spring axis.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the base includes a vertical support having a bearing surface for supporting the adjustment rod for rotation about the longitudinal axis;

and wherein the adjustment mechanism further includes a handle mounted to the adjustment rod for facilitating rotation of the adjustment rod.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the adjustment rod includes a first end having threads to threadedly engage the torsion spring support and a second end opposite the first end having a bolt head;

and wherein the handle fits on the bolt head of the second end of the adjustment rod.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the first bearing surface is interconnected with at least one of the plurality of suspension arms.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the torsion spring is a first torsion spring, the system further comprising:

a second torsion spring having first and second ends and a coil between the first and second ends, the coil defining a second torsion spring axis parallel to the torsion spring axis of the first torsion spring;

a third bearing surface abutting the first end of the second torsion spring to define a third moment arm distance with respect to the second torsion spring axis; and

a fourth bearing surface abutting the second end of the second torsion spring to define a fourth moment arm distance with respect to the second torsion spring axis;

wherein the adjustment mechanism simultaneously causes relative movement between the first torsion spring and the first and second bearing surfaces and between the second torsion spring and the third and fourth bearing surfaces to simultaneously change the first moment arm distance, second moment arm distance, third moment arm distance, and fourth moment arm distance.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the third bearing surface is interconnected with at least one of the suspension arms.