Seat suspension locking apparatus

• US 9,296,320 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CVG Management Corporation (Commercial Vehicle Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CVG Management Corporation (Commercial Vehicle Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bennett, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENEVERT, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US14/202,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• 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 2/919 Positioning and locking mechanisms B60N2/16, B60N2/18, B60N2/22, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/20 Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/591 having operating mechanism

Abstract

A locking apparatus for a seat assembly for a vehicle is provides and includes a latching component attached to one of a stationary part or a movable part of a seat assembly, a receiving component disposed on the other of the stationary part or the movable part of a seat assembly, wherein the latching component engages the receiving component, and an activation component that activates the latching component. Upon activation of the locking device, the latching component engages the receiving component thereby locking the movable part to the stationary part in a collapsed state thereby reducing vibrational noise caused by the movable part during operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A locking apparatus for a seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a latching component attached to one of a stationary part or a movable part of a seat assembly;

a receiving component disposed on the other of the stationary part or the movable part of a seat assembly, wherein the latching component engages the receiving component; and

an activation component that activates the latching component,

wherein upon activation of the locking device, the latching component engages the receiving component thereby locking the movable part to the stationary part in a collapsed state thereby reducing vibrational noise caused by the movable part during operation of the vehicle, and

wherein the latching component is an electro-mechanical device having a movable latching mechanism that when actuated latches the movable part to the stationary part in a collapsed state thereby reducing vibrational noise caused by the movable part during operation of the vehicle.

2. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the latching component includes one of an L-hook and a U-shaped latch.

3. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving component is an aperture defined in the other of the stationary part or the movable part and is configured to receive the latching component.

4. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activation component is one of a knob, button, switch that when activated rotates, pivots or slides the latch component to engage the receiving component.

5. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving component is an aperture configured to receive the movable latching mechanism.

6. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activation component includes an activating device, a compressing device that contracts a suspension assembly of the seat assembly connecting the movable part to the stationary part, such that the movable part moves toward the stationary part, and a power source that powers the compressing device.

7. The locking apparatus of claim 6, wherein the activating device activates the compressing device and may be attached to the seat assembly, attached inside the vehicle or may be an electronic remote device.

8. The locking apparatus of claim 6, wherein the compressing device automatically relieves the pressure of a pneumatic or hydraulic suspension assembly, such that the suspension assembly moves toward the stationary part.

9. A seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a stationary part attached to a floor of the vehicle;

a movable part attached to the stationary part and movable with respect to the stationary part;

a suspension assembly movably connecting the movable part to the stationary part; and

a locking apparatus that locks the movable part to the stationary part in a collapsed state thereby reducing vibration caused by the movable part during operation of the vehicle,

wherein the locking apparatus includes an electro-mechanical latching component attached to one of the stationary part and movable part, the electro-mechanical latching component having a movable latching mechanism that when actuated latches the movable part to the stationary part in the collapsed state thereby reducing vibrational noise caused by the movable part during operation of the vehicle.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9, wherein the locking apparatus includes a receiving component defined in the other of the stationary part and the movable part and comprised of an aperture configured to receive the movable latching mechanism.

11. The seat assembly of claim 9, wherein the locking apparatus includes an activating device, a compressing device that contracts a suspension assembly of the seat assembly connecting the movable part to the stationary part, such that the movable part moves toward the stationary part, and a power source that powers the compressing device.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11, wherein the activating device activates the compressing device and may be attached to the seat assembly, attached inside the vehicle or may be an electronic remote device.

13. The seat assembly of claim 11, wherein upon activation of the activating device, the compressing device automatically relieves the pressure of a pneumatic or hydraulic suspension assembly, such that the suspension assembly collapses toward the stationary part.

14. A method of reducing vibration and noise in a seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

providing a latching component, a receiving component that receives the latching component, and an activation device that activates the latching component;

activating the activation device;

moving a movable part of the seat assembly toward a stationary part of the seat assembly;

engaging the latching component with the receiving component;

locking the movable part to the stationary part; and

reducing vibrational noise of the movable part during operation of the vehicle,

wherein the latching component is an electro-mechanical device having a movable latching mechanism.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein activating the activation device includes:

activating a compressing device;

relieving a pressure of a suspension assembly that connects the stationary part and the movable part of the seat assembly; and

collapsing the pneumatic or hydraulic suspension assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the suspension assembly is a pneumatic suspension assembly.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the suspension assembly is a hydraulic suspension assembly.