Manually operable seat adjuster mechanism

Claim 2

In combination with a seat for a vehicle, a said seat having a front end and a rear end, a manually operable seat adjuster mechanism for supporting said seat on a base for tilting movement about first and second horizontal axes located respectively adjacent said front end and rear end of the seat and extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said mechanism comprising an elongated support member rigidly secured to said base and located in a vertical plane parallel to said longitudinal axis, a first lever member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support member along one of said horizontal axes so as to permit the free end of said first lever member to move relative to said support member, a second lever member having the upper surface thereof rigidly secured to the underside of said seat and having one end thereof pivotally connected to said first lever member along the other of said horizontal axes so as to permit the other end of said second lever member to move relative to said first lever member and said support member, first locking means located between said support member and said first lever member and positioned adjacent said other of said horizontal axes for locking the free end of said first lever member in a plurality of vertically spaced positions, second locking means located between said first and said second lever members adjacent said one of said horizontal axes for locking the other end of the second lever member in a plurality of vertically spaced positions, and release means carried by one of said lever members and operatively connected with said first and second locking means for selectively releasing the latter so as to provide vertical adjustment of the front end and the rear end of the vehicle seat about said first and second horizontal axes.

Claim 3

In combination with a seat for a vehicle, said seat having a front end and a rear end, a manually operable seat adjuster mechanism for supporting said seat on a base for tilting movement about first and second horizontal axes located respectively adjacent said front end and rear end of the seat and extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said mechanism comprising an elongated support member rigidly secured to said base and located in a vertical plane parallel to sAid longitudinal axis, a first lever member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support member along one of said horizontal axes so as to permit the free end of said first lever member to move in the vertical plane of said support member, a second lever member being rigidly secured to the underside of said seat and having one end thereof pivotally connected to said first lever member along the other of said horizontal axes so as to permit the other end of said second lever member to move in said vertical plane of said support member, first locking means located between said support member and said first lever member and positioned adjacent said other of said horizontal axes for locking the free end of said first lever member in a plurality of vertically spaced positions, second locking means located between said first and said second lever members adjacent said one of said horizontal axes for locking the other end of the second lever member in a plurality of vertically spaced positions, and release means carried by one of said lever members and operatively connected with said first and second locking means for selectively releasing the latter so as to provide vertical adjustment of the front end and the rear end of the vehicle seat about said first and second horizontal axes.

Claim 4

In combination with a seat for a vehicle, said seat having a front end and a rear end, a manually operable seat adjuster mechanism for supporting said seat on a base for tilting movement about first and second horizontal axes located respectively adjacent said front end and rear end of the seat and extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said mechanism comprising an elongated support member rigidly secured to said base and located in a vertical plane parallel to sAid longitudinal axis, a first lever member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support member along one of said horizontal axes so as to permit the free end of said first lever member to move in the vertical plane of said support member, a second lever member being rigidly secured to the underside of said seat and having one end thereof pivotally connected to said first lever member along the other of said horizontal axes so as to permit the other end of said second lever member to move in said vertical plane of said support member, first locking means located between said support member and said first lever member and positioned adjacent said other of said horizontal axes for locking the free end of said first lever member in a plurality of vertically spaced positions, second locking means located between said first and said second lever members adjacent said one of said horizontal axes for locking the other end of the second lever member in a plurality of vertically spaced positions, and release means carried by one of said lever members and operatively connected with said first and second locking means for selectively releasing the latter so as to provide vertical adjustment of the front end and the rear end of the vehicle seat about said first and second horizontal axes.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein said first and second locking means each include a lockbar supported for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 wherein said support member and said first lever member are each formed with an upstanding flange having a plurality of vertically spaced notches cooperating with the lockbar of the first and second locking means for locking the seat in an adjusted position.

Claim 7

In combination with a seat for a vehicle, said seat having a front end and a rear end, a manually operable seat adjuster mechanism for supporting said seat on a base for tilting movement about first and second horizontal axes located respectively adjacent said front end and rear end of the seat and extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said mechanism comprising an elongated support member rigidly secured to said base and located in a vertical plane parallel to said longitudinal axis, a first lever member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support member along one of said horizontal axes, a second lever member being rigidly secure to the underside of said seat and having one end thereof pivotally connected to said first lever member along the other of said horizontal axes, said support member and said first lever member each having an upstanding flange rigid therewith formed with a plurality of vertically spaced notches, a first lock bar pivotally carried by said first lever member and normally biased into engagement with one of said notches formed with the upstanding flange of said support member for preventing tilting movement of said seat about said one of said horizontal axes, a second lockbar pivotally carried by said second lever member and normally biased into engagement with one of said notches formed with the upstanding flange of said first lever member for preventing tilting movement of said seat about said other of said horizontal axes, and a hand operated actuator pivotally connected to one of said lever members and operatively connected to said first and second lockbars in a manner whereby movement of said actuator in one direction causes the first lockbar to be retracted from the associated notch to permit adjustable movement of one end of said seat about said one of said horizontal axes and movement of said actuator in an opposite direction causes the second lockbar to be retracted from the associated notch to permit the other end of said seat to be adjustably tilted about said other of said horizontal axes.

Claim 8

In combination with a seat for a vehicle, said seat having a front end and a rear end, a manually operable seat adjuster mechanism for supporting said seat on a base for tilting movement about first and second horizontal axes located respectively adjacent said front end and rear end of the seat and extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, said mechanism comprising an elongated support member rigidly secured to said base and located in a vertical plane parallel to said longitudinal axis, a first lever member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support member along one of said horizontal axes, a second lever member being rigidly secure to the underside of said seat and having one end thereof pivotally connected to said first lever member along the other of said horizontal axes, said support member and said first lever member each having an upstanding flange rigid therewith formed with a plurality of vertically spaced notches, a first lock bar pivotally carried by said first lever member and normally biased into engagement with one of said notches formed with the upstanding flange of said support member for preventing tilting movement of said seat about said one of said horizontal axes, a second lockbar pivotally carried by said second lever member and normally biased into engagement with one of said notches formed with the upstanding flange of said first lever member for preventing tilting movement of said seat about said other of said horizontal axes, and a hand operated actuator pivotally connected to one of said lever members and operatively connected to said first and second lockbars in a manner whereby movement of said actuator in one direction causes the first lockbar to be retracted from the associated notch to permit adjustable movement of one end of said seat about said one of said horizontal axes and movement of said actuator in an opposite direction causes the second lockbar to be retracted from the associated notch to permit the other end of said seat to be adjustably tilted about said other of said horizontal axes.

Claim 9

In combination with a seat for a vehicle, said seat having a front end and a rear end, a pair of laterally spaced and manually operable seat adjuster mechanIsms for supporting said seat on a base for tilting movement about first and second horizontal axes located respectively adjacent said front end and rear end of the seat and extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, each of said mechanisms comprising an elongated support member rigidly secured to said base and located in a vertical plane parallel to said longitudinal axis, a first lever member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support member along said second horizontal axis so as to permit the free end of said first lever member to move in the vertical plane of said support member, a second lever member having the upper surface thereof rigidly secured to the underside of said seat and having one end thereof pivotally connected to said free end of said first lever member along said first horizontal axis so as to permit the other end of said second lever member to move in said vertical plane of said support member, said support member adjacent the free end of the first lever member and said first lever member adjacent the other end of said second lever member each having an upstanding flange rigid therewith formed with a plurality of vertically spaced notches, a first lockbar pivotally carried by said first lever member and normally biased into engagement with one of said notches formed with the upstanding flange of said support member for preventing tilting movement of said seat about said second horizontal axis, a second lockbar pivotally carried by said second lever member and normally biased into engagement with one of said notches formed with the upstanding flange of said first lever member for preventing tilting movement of said seat about said first horizontal axis, and a hand operated actuator pivotally connected to one of said lever members and operatively connected to said first and second lockbars in a manner whereby movement of said actuator in one direction causes the first lockbar to be retracted from the associated notch to permit adjustable movement of the front end of said seat about said second horizontal axis and movement of said actuator in an opposite direction causes the second lockbar to be retracted from the associated notch to permit the rear end of said seat to be adjustably tilted about said first horizontal axis.

Claim 10

In combination with a seat for a vehicle, said seat having a front end and a rear end, a pair of laterally spaced and manually operable seat adjuster mechanIsms for supporting said seat on a base for tilting movement about first and second horizontal axes located respectively adjacent said front end and rear end of the seat and extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, each of said mechanisms comprising an elongated support member rigidly secured to said base and located in a vertical plane parallel to said longitudinal axis, a first lever member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said support member along said second horizontal axis so as to permit the free end of said first lever member to move in the vertical plane of said support member, a second lever member having the upper surface thereof rigidly secured to the underside of said seat and having one end thereof pivotally connected to said free end of said first lever member along said first horizontal axis so as to permit the other end of said second lever member to move in said vertical plane of said support member, said support member adjacent the free end of the first lever member and said first lever member adjacent the other end of said second lever member each having an upstanding flange rigid therewith formed with a plurality of vertically spaced notches, a first lockbar pivotally carried by said first lever member and normally biased into engagement with one of said notches formed with the upstanding flange of said support member for preventing tilting movement of said seat about said second horizontal axis, a second lockbar pivotally carried by said second lever member and normally biased into engagement with one of said notches formed with the upstanding flange of said first lever member for preventing tilting movement of said seat about said first horizontal axis, and a hand operated actuator pivotally connected to one of said lever members and operatively connected to said first and second lockbars in a manner whereby movement of said actuator in one direction causes the first lockbar to be retracted from the associated notch to permit adjustable movement of the front end of said seat about said second horizontal axis and movement of said actuator in an opposite direction causes the second lockbar to be retracted from the associated notch to permit the rear end of said seat to be adjustably tilted about said first horizontal axis.