The present invention relates generally to a system for adjusting a seat and locking it into a desired position.
Various technologies exist that allow seats in vehicles to be adjusted to a desired position by an occupant. For example, seats on board aircraft may utilize a track system that allows the seat to be adjusted forward and backward as well as side to side. The seat may also be capable of rotating or swiveling. Existing seat adjustment systems are sometimes criticized as allowing too much seat movement after the position is locked in place. The also tend to have a configuration that makes it hard to tighten the adjustment systems to minimize seat movement.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention is provided here to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description section below. In brief, this disclosure describes, among other things, systems and methods for adjusting a seat and locking it into a desired position. A device for adding tension to a wire or cable is generally described as well. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
The invention relates to a system for adjusting a seat and locking it into a desired position. In one embodiment, the seat positioning system comprises a frame with a seat portion and a backrest portion where the seat portion is defined by a front, a back, a first side, and a second side. The back of the seat is proximate the backrest and the first and second sides of the seat extend from the front to the back of the seat. A plurality of movable track members may be used to allow an occupant to position the seat. The tracks can take a number of forms including a tubular configuration. There may be at least two tracks oriented generally perpendicular to each other. The tracks may include serrations that engage with serrations on associated locking mechanisms. A first locking mechanism can have a plurality of serrations that engage with at least some of the serrations on the first track. There may be a second locking mechanism also having a plurality of serrations that engage with at least some of the serrations on the second track.
The seat positioning system may also include a triggering mechanism adapted to operate the first and second locking mechanisms. The triggering mechanism may include first and second flexible members connected to a lever. The first end of the first flexible member can be connected to the lever while a second end of the flexible member can be connected to the first locking mechanism. The first end of the second flexible member can be connected to the same lever while a second end of the flexible member can be connected to the second locking mechanism. A handle may be used to disengage the first and second locking mechanisms. The handle can be located in numerous places such as proximate the seat portion of the frame.
In another embodiment, the seat positioning system may include a third track oriented generally perpendicular to the first track described above. The third track could have serrations that engage with serrations on an associated locking mechanism similar to the first and second tracks. A third locking mechanism can have a plurality of serrations that engage with at least some of the serrations on the third track. If a third locking mechanism is included, the triggering mechanism could also operate the third locking mechanism and the handle could be used to also disengage the third locking mechanism. The triggering mechanism would include a third flexible member, where the first end of the third flexible member is connected to the lever while a second end of the flexible member is connected to the third locking mechanism. The amount of tension in the first, second, and third flexible members can be adjusted using barrel adjusters mounted to the lever.
In another embodiment, the seat positioning system may incorporate a rotatable plate mounted to a bottom support structure where the rotatable plate is movable with respect to the bottom support structure. A locking pin can be used to prevent movement of the rotatable plate with respect to the bottom support structure. To prevent movement, the locking pin can be received within an aperture formed in the bottom support structure. The handle that is used to disengage the locking mechanisms as described above, may also be used to operate the locking pin. The locking pin may be spring biased in a downward position such that it will automatically insert into an aperture in the bottom support when above such an aperture. The locking pin may also have a tapered shape (i.e., tapered sidewall) to assist with insertion into an aperture.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” “leftwardly,” “upper,” and “lower” will refer to the installed position of the item to which the reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of a similar import.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures. Referring first to
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Tracks 50a, 50b, 55a and 55b are joined by an endpiece 81 secured to each end of transverse tracks 50a and 50b. As shown in
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Front locking mechanism 98 further comprises one or more stretched springs 155 spanning between the distal end of activating lever 144 and an anchor position on the far side of the transverse track being engaged. Because spring 155 is stretched it pulls the end of activating lever 144 toward the transverse track. Levers 144 and 146 are biased toward the transverse track because they tend to rotate toward the track due to spring 155 pulling activating lever 144, and therefore locking lever 146, toward the track. This causes block 150 to also be biased toward the track and engage with the serrations on the track. Accordingly, when front locking mechanism 98 is in its default position, block 150 is engaged with transverse track 50a or 50b thereby locking the track in place. When the spring 155 bias is overcome, as will be discussed in more detail below, levers 144 and 146 move away from the track, thus moving block 150 away from the track to disengage the lock. Block 150 may move away from the track by sliding back on an angled face of mount 148 as the block is pulled by locking lever 146. The angled face allows block 150 to stay properly oriented to engage with the track for locking.
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To swivel seat frame 20 with respect to bottom support 48, locking pin 160 may be retracted within housing 170. To keep seat frame 20 from swiveling, locking pin 160 may be extended downwardly from housing 170 through the aperture in swivel plate 80 and into a corresponding aperture in a portion of the bottom support 48, thereby locking seat frame 20 and track system 30 into a fixed position with respect to bottom support 48. If pin 160 utilizes a tapered configuration as described above, the taper may assist with aligning pin 160 with an aperture in bottom support 48. The taper may cause pin 160 to have a lower end that is smaller in diameter than other parts of the pin, which can cause the diameter of the lower end to be smaller than the diameter of an aperture in bottom support 48. Pin 160 may be easier to locate within the aperture in bottom support 48 since the smaller end of the pin would be smaller than the aperture and could be inserted within the aperture even if the axes of pin 160 and the aperture are not precisely aligned. Because the end of a pin 160 that is tapered would be smaller than the aperture in bottom support 48, pin 160 could be slightly misaligned with the aperture yet still be inserted therein. As the pin 160 extends through the aperture, the tapered sidewall 162 may contact the side of the aperture. Due to the slope of sidewall 162, the axis of pin 160 will move into alignment with the aperture as the tapered sidewall 162 slides against the edge of the aperture.
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The seat positioning system 10 may be used by pulling handle 45 attached to a side of the seat portion 42 to disengage the locking system 40. Handle 45 is attached to one end of activation cable 119 while the other end of the cable is attached to swing plate 115. When handle 45 is pulled, tension is added to cable 119 which rotates plate 116 of swing plate 115. When plate 116 is rotated, stub 117 presses against the distal end of hub 110 and the hub rotates. As hub 110 is rotated, it adds tension to the cables 90a, 90b, 95 and 100.
Because of the conduit and internal wire configuration of the cables 90a, 90b and 119, tension may be added to the cables by either pulling on the internal wire or pushing on the conduit or sheath. When the conduit is pushed longitudinally at one end while the internal wire is anchored at the same end, the pushing changes the shape and length of the conduit slightly with respect to the internal wire. The effect is that the internal wire tends to retract with respect to the other end of the conduit thus adding tension to the wire. For this technique to work, cables 90a, 90b and 119 have each end of their conduits fixed to the structure independently of the internal wires. This allows the internal wires to move with respect to the conduit ends, which allows the conduit to be pushed thus forcing the internal wire to retract. Because cables can have tension added either way (i.e., pulling the internal wire or pushing the conduit or sheath), hub 110 is configured to pull on wires for certain cables while simultaneously pushing on conduit for other cables. This allows tension to be added to all cables attached to the hub with a single rotational movement of the hub even though the cables may be attached to opposite sides of the hub. In an exemplary embodiment, the cables are configured such that hub 110 pushes on the conduit of cables 90a and 90b while pulling on the wires of cables 95 and 100.
As tension is added to cables 90a and 90b, the springs 130 in side locking mechanisms 92a and 92b are overcome and levers 120 rotate away from their respective tracks thus moving blocks 128 away from the tracks and disengaging the locks on the tracks. This allows the occupant to position the seat at the desired location along longitudinal track 55a and 55b.
As tension is added to cable 95, spring 155 in front locking mechanism 98 is overcome and levers 144 and 146 move away from the track, thus moving block 150 away from the track to disengage the front lock. This allows the occupant to position the seat at the desired location along transverse tracks 50a and 50b.
As tension is added to cable 100, spring 180 in swivel lock mechanism 105 is overcome and locking pin 160 is retracted to disengage the swivel lock. This allows the occupant to rotate the seat to the desired position with respect to the bottom support 48.
Once the occupant has positioned the seat as desired, handle 45 may be released and the springs in the various locking mechanisms will return to their default positions, thus re-engaging side locking mechanisms 92a and 92b, front locking mechanism 98, and swivel lock mechanism 105 to keep the seat in place.
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Cable tensioner 200 also includes a sleeve 240 having a channel 242 for receiving the end of a wire or cable. Sleeve 240 is movable within housing 205 and has a series of ridges or teeth 245 on its upper edge. Gear 215 is located such that teeth 225 are received within the ridges 245. When gear 215 is rotated, the teeth 225 move along the ridges 245 causing the sleeve 240 to slide within housing 205. Sleeve 240 includes a set screw 250 accessible from outside housing 205 that can be tightened to clamp a wire or cable within channel 242. Cable tensioner 200 may also include an inlet collar 255 to help align the wire or cable being fed into tensioner 200 with the internal channel 242. Set screw 250 may be operable by a screwdriver, Allen wrench, or other tool to engage and turn the screw.
In use, cable tensioner 200 may be located at the end of any cable or wire 280 requiring tension. The tensioner is typically attached to a fixed structure proximate the cable or wire 280 and the end of the cable or wire is fed through inlet collar 255 and into channel 242. The conduit or sheath 275 for the cable or wire 280 may be secured to inlet collar 255. Tensioner 200 is adapted to be left in place as a permanent part of the system where the tensioned cable or wire is required. Once the cable or wire 280 is fed into channel 242, set screw 250 may be tightened to secure the cable or wire in the tensioner 200. Alternatively, the cable or wire 280 may extend out of an end 260 of sleeve 240 and be secured within channel 242 by a swage fitting or similar fitting (not shown) that has been crimped onto cable or wire 280, where the fitting then catches on end 260 to prevent the cable or wire from being pulled through the channel 242. There may be a slot 265 in sleeve 240 on a side of channel 242 which allows a cable or wire 280 that already has a fitting attached to its end to be placed within the channel.
The user may then turn worm screw 210 by engaging head 220, which results in gear 215 rotating and causing sleeve 240 to slide, thereby adding or reducing tension in the cable or wire as desired. The configuration of the worm screw 210 with respect to gear 215, and more specifically the way teeth 225 interface with ridges 230, cause the components in tensioner 200 (e.g., sleeve 240) to remain fixed with respect to each other when the screw is not being turned. This is true even when a wire under tension is pulling on sleeve 240. Because the components remain fixed with respect to each other when tensioner is not being operated, tensioner 200 can be set and it will maintain the desired tension without further action from a user.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown. Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Identification of structures as being configured to perform a particular function in this disclosure and in the claims below is intended to be inclusive of structures and arrangements or designs thereof that are within the scope of this disclosure and readily identifiable by one of skill in the art and that can perform the particular function in a similar way. Certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.
This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/479,645, filed Jan. 12, 2023, titled SEAT POSITIONING SYSTEM.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63479645 | Jan 2023 | US |