Vehicle seat assembly

• US 8,998,326 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E.V.S. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: E.V.S. Ltd.
• Inventors: DeCraene, James E., Wells, Jeffry H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, PETER R
• Application Number:
  US12/752,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20100253123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 297/256.1, 297/256.12, 297/256.13, 297/344.1, 297/344.22, 297/344.24, 248/429, 248/430, 296/65.01, 296/65.06, 296/65.11, 296/65.13
• US Class Current: 297/344.24
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/143 taking a position opposite to the original one
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/146 characterised by the locking device

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat, a pedestal, a swivel mechanism connected to the pedestal for permitting the seat to rotate about a vertical axis and a latch located external to the swivel mechanism for preventing rotation of the seat. The seat assembly may further include a bracket for mounting the seat to the swivel mechanism in any one of a plurality of positions. Another vehicle seat assembly includes a track, a seat having a seating portion and a seat back, a base connected to the seat and engaging the track so as to permit longitudinal movement of the seat along the track and a locking mechanism for retaining the seat in a desired position along the track. The locking mechanism includes a vertically extending pin located beneath the center of the seating portion of the seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly, including:

a first stationary track having a first end, a second end and middle section located between the first and second ends, the first end, second end and middle section being located in a first plane;

a second stationary track spaced from the first track and extending substantially parallel thereto and a third stationary track located between the first and second tracks;

a seat having a seating portion and a seat back;

a base connected to the seat, the base including a plurality of rollers for engaging the first and second stationary tracks so as to permit longitudinal movement of the seat parallel to the first plane along the first and second stationary tracks;

a swivel mechanism connected to the base for permitting the seat to rotate about a vertical axis;

a locking mechanism for retaining the seat in a desired position along the stationary tracks, the locking mechanism including a vertically extending pin located beneath the center of the seating portion of the seat for engaging the third stationary track; and

wherein each of the first and second stationary tracks is a substantially C-shaped member having an upwardly facing surface with a slot therein, the base includes a plurality of bearings in contact with the upwardly facing surface and the base further includes a plurality of rollers located within the first and second stationary tracks below the upwardly facing surface.

2. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, further including means connected to the seat for operating the locking mechanism.

3. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 2, wherein the means for operating the locking mechanism is a handle that rotates with the seat.

4. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, further including a latch for preventing rotation of the seat.

5. A vehicle seat assembly, including:

a first track having a substantially C-shaped member having an upwardly facing surface with a slot therein, a first end, a second end and middle section located between the first and second ends, the first end, second end and middle section being located in a first plane;

a second track spaced from the first track and extending substantially parallel thereto, the second track having a substantially C-shaped member having an upwardly facing surface with a slot therein;

a third track located between the first and second tracks;

a seat having a seating portion and a seat back;

a base connected to the seat, the base including a plurality of bearings in contact with the upwardly facing surfaces of the first and second tracks and a plurality of rollers located within the first and second tracks below the upwardly facing surface for engaging the first and second tracks so as to permit longitudinal movement of the seat parallel to the first plane along the first and second tracks; and

a locking mechanism for retaining the seat in a desired position along the tracks, the locking mechanism including a vertically extending pin located beneath the center of the seating portion of the seat for engaging the third track.

6. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 5, further including means connected to the seat for operating the locking mechanism.

7. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 6, wherein the means for operating the locking mechanism is a handle that rotates with the seat.

8. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 6, further including a latch for preventing rotation of the seat.

9. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 5, further including a swivel mechanism connected to the base for permitting the seat to rotate about a vertical axis.

10. A vehicle seat assembly, including:

a first track having a substantially C-shaped member having an upwardly facing surface with a slot therein;

a second track spaced from the first track and extending substantially parallel thereto, the second track having a substantially C-shaped member having an upwardly facing surface with a slot therein;

a third track located between the first and second tracks;

a seat having a seating portion and a seat back;

a base connected to the seat, the base including a plurality of bearings in contact with the upwardly facing surfaces of the first and second tracks and a plurality of rollers located within the first and second tracks below the upwardly facing surface for engaging the first and second tracks so as to permit longitudinal movement of the seat parallel to the first plane along the first and second tracks; and

a locking mechanism for engaging the third track so as to retain the seat in a desired position along the tracks.

11. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism includes a vertically extending pin located beneath the center of the seating portion of the seat for engaging the third track.

12. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 10, further including means connected to the seat for operating the locking mechanism.

13. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 12, wherein the means for operating the locking mechanism is a handle that rotates with the seat.

14. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 10, further including a swivel mechanism connected to the base for permitting the seat to rotate about a vertical axis.

15. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 14, further including a latch for preventing rotation of the seat.