Seat assembly

Abstract

A seat assembly is disclosed which is ideally suited for use on a riding lawn mower or the like. The seat assembly comprises first and second side supports which have rear ends and front ends. A fabric member is secured to and is stretched between the first and second side supports. The fabric member has an elastic modulus that is greater between its opposite sides than between its rear and front ends. The fabric member is multi-layered at its rearward end to provide greater support at the rearward end or other positions between the forward and rearward ends thereof than at the forward end thereof. A seat cushion is positioned on the fabric with the seat cushion being enclosed by a suitable upholstery material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a seat assembly and more particularly to a seat assembly wherein a seat cushion is positioned upon a layer of fabric which is stretched between a pair of supports with the fabric having an elastic modulus that is greater between its opposite sides than between its front and rear ends. Even more particularly, the fabric has multiple layers provided at its rearward end or other positions between the forward and rearward ends thereof to provide greater support at the rearward end or other respective positions thereof than at the forward end thereof.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Many types of seat assemblies have been previously provided with those seat assemblies being specifically adapted for use on riding lawn mowers or the like. The seat assemblies normally include a support frame which is secured to the frame of the mower with a foam cushion being positioned thereon with the foam cushion being covered by an upholstery material. It is extremely important that the seat assembly does not “bottom out” as the mower is moved over irregular and rough terrain, since the bottoming-out creates discomfort to the operator of the mower. It is also important that the foam cushion, and the support therefore, does not create a pressure point at their forward end to the underside of the operator's legs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A seat assembly is described which is ideally suited for use on a riding lawn mower or the like. The seat assembly comprises a frame which is secured to the frame of the mower and which has a pair of spaced-apart side supports extending upwardly therefrom. A layer of fabric is secured to and stretched between the side supports with the fabric having an elastic modulus that is greater between its opposite sides than between its front and rear ends. The fabric is multi-layered at its rearward end or other positions between the forward and rearward ends thereof so that greater support is provided at the rear end or other respective positions of the fabric than at the front end of the fabric as the operator's hip joints are positioned toward the rear and the support can be focused where it is needed. A foam cushion is positioned upon the fabric with the foam cushion being covered with an upholstery material.

[0006] It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved seat cushion.

[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a seat cushion which is ideally suited for use on a riding lawn mower.

[0008] A further object of the invention is to provide a seat assembly wherein a foam cushion is supported upon a fabric material which is stretched between a pair of supports with the fabric having an elastic modulus that is greater between its opposite sides than between its front and rear ends.

[0009] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a seat assembly including a fabric support for a foam cushion with the fabric support providing increased support at its rear end or other positions between the forward and rearward ends thereof.

[0010] Still another object of the invention is to provide a seat assembly wherein the foam cushion is supported by a fabric material with the fabric material being multi-layered at its rear end or other positions between the forward and rearward ends thereof.

[0011] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the seat assembly of this invention mounted on a riding lawn mower;

[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the seat assembly as seen on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat assembly with the foam cushion removed therefrom;

[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the seat assembly of this invention with the foam cushion removed therefrom;

[0016] FIG. 5A is a side view illustrating the manner in which the fabric member is folded upon itself;

[0017] FIG. 5B is a view similar to FIG. 5A except that the second layer of the fabric member is extended farther forwardly than that shown in FIG. 5A;

[0018] FIG. 5C is a view similar to FIGS. 5A and 5B except that the fabric member has been folded upon itself to create a third layer;

[0019] FIG. 5D is a view similar to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C except that multiple individual layers are provided at the rearward end of the fabric member; and

[0020] FIG. 5E is a view similar to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D except that multiple layers are provided intermediate the ends of the fabric member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] The seat assembly of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 and is ideally suited for use on a riding lawn mower 11. Seat assembly 10 includes a frame 12 which may take various shapes. As shown, frame 12 comprises a base portion 14 having side portions 16 and 18 extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The frame 12 may be constructed of wood, plastic or metal and is secured to the frame of the lawn mower in conventional fashion.

[0022] A support frame 20 is secured to the frame 12 and comprises a front frame member 22 and a rear frame member 24. Front frame 22 includes a base portion 26 having end portions 28 and 30 extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom. Similarly, rear frame 24 includes a base portion 32 having end portions 34 and 36 extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom.

[0023] An inverted L-shaped member 38 is secured to and extends between end portions 28 and 34 of frames 22 and 24. Similarly, an inverted L-shaped member 40 is secured to and extends between the end portions 30 and 36 of frames 22 and 24. The members 38 and 40 include an outwardly extending flange 42 and 44, respectively. The numeral 46 refers to a support fabric having a rear end 48, front end 50, and opposite side edges 52 and 54. The side edges 52 and 54 are stitched or otherwise secured to elongated U-shaped clips 56 and 58, respectively, with the clips being secured to the flanges 42 and 44, respectively, as seen in the drawings. Support fabric 46 has an elastic modulus that is greater between its opposite sides than between its front and rear ends. Preferably, support fabric 46 is folded over upon itself at its front end for a short distance to provide the needed support at the front end of the support fabric 46, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5A-5D. The folded over portion of support fabric 46 at the forward end thereof is referred to by the reference numeral 60.

[0024] In order to provide sufficient support for the person sitting on the seat assembly without creating pressure points on the undersides of the legs of the operator at the forward end of the fabric, support fabric 46 is provided with at least a second layer which extends forwardly from the rear end of the support fabric which is referred to the by the reference numeral 62, as seen in FIG. 5A. The second layer 62 may be created by simply folding over the support fabric 46 upon itself or may be created by positioning a separate layer of fabric beneath the rear end of the support fabric 46. Further, more than two layers of fabric may be utilized, as seen in FIGS. 5C and 5D.

[0025] As seen in the drawings, the forward end of the second layer is positioned considerably forwardly of the rear end of the support fabric. The distance to which the second layer extends forwardly will depend upon the support that is desired. If multiple layers are provided, the individual layers could extend forwardly for different distances to achieve the desired support for the person using the seat, as seen in FIG. 5D. The numeral 64 refers to a conventional foam cushion which is positioned on the fabric and frame 12 and which is then covered with a suitable upholstery material.

[0026] In FIG. 5E, the fabric is folded upon itself intermediate the front and rear ends thereof to form multiple layers to provide the necessary support intermediate the front and rear ends thereof.

[0027] Thus it can be seen that a novel seat assembly has been provided which includes a support fabric which stretches more from one side to the other side thereof 20 than it does from its forward end to its rearward end to create a “hammock-type” support for the person sitting upon the seat. The use of multiple fabric layers at the rearward end of the support fabric provides the necessary support for the seat cushion and the user thereof without creating pressure points at the forward end of the seat.

[0028] Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Claims

1. A seat assembly, comprising: a frame having a front end, a rear end, and opposite sides; said frame including at least a front frame member which extends between the sides of the frame and at least a rear frame member which extends between the sides of the frame; said front frame member comprising an elongated base portion having opposite end portions extending upwardly therefrom; said rear frame member comprising an elongated base portion having opposite end portions extending upwardly therefrom; a first elongated support member secured to and extending between one end of said front frame member and one end of said rear frame member; a second elongated support member secured to and extending between the other end of said front frame member and the other end of said rear frame member; a seat cushion supporting fabric secured to and extending between said first and second support members; said fabric having a front end, a rear end, and opposite sides; said fabric having an elastic modulus that is greater between its opposite sides than between its front and rear ends; said fabric being multi-layered between its front and rear ends; and a seat cushion positioned on said fabric.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said fabric is folded upon itself to form the multiple layers.

3. The seat assembly wherein said fabric is folded upon itself to form the multiple layers.

4. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein said multiple layers are positioned at the rear end of said fabric and extend forwardly therefrom for different lengths.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein said multiple layers comprise an upper layer and a lower layer.

6. A seat assembly, comprising: a first side support member having a rear end and a front end; a second side support member having a rear end and a front end; a fabric member secured to and stretched between said first and second side supports; said fabric member having a rear end, a front end, and opposite sides; said fabric member having an elastic modulus that is greater between its opposite sides than between its rear and front ends; said fabric member being multi-layered between the front and rear ends thereof; and a seat cushion positioned on said fabric member.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein said fabric member is folded upon itself for a substantial length to form multiple layers.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7 wherein said multiple layers are positioned at the rear end of said fabric and extend forwardly therefrom for different lengths.

9. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein said multiple layers comprise an upper layer and a lower layer.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 wherein said lower layer extends forwardly for a substantial length from said rear end thereof towards the center length of said fabric.

11. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein said fabric member is folded upon itself forwardly of the rear end thereof.

12. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein said fabric member is folded upon itself rearward of said front end thereof.