Elevation-adjusting assembly for seat

Claim 2

An elevation-adjusting assembly comprising: a base; a platform vertically spaced in relation to said base; means mounting said platform for vertical movement relative to said base; an elevation selector; means for setting said selector at any one of a multiplicity of positions each corresponding to a different selected elevation for said platform; and means, responsive to the setting of said selector, for automatically vertically moving said platform to the elevation selected; said last recited means comprising: flexible rod means bendable from a first position thereof; said flexible rod means including means normally urging said flexible rod means to its first position; means for bending said flexible rod means from its first position to another position in response to a change in the setting of said selector; an elevator mechanism actuable to raise or lower said platform; means, responsive to the bending of said flexible rod means from its first position, for actuating said elevator mechanism; means for unbending said flexible rod means in response to movement of said platform to said selected elevation; and means, responsive to a return of the flexible rod means to its first position, for deactuating said elevator mechanism.

Claim 3

As assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for actuating the elevator mechanism comprises: means, responsive to the bending of said flexible rod means in a first direction, for actuating said elevator mechanism to raise the platform; and means, responsive to the bending of said flexible rod means in a second direction opposite said first direction, for actuating said elevator mechanism to lower the platform.

Claim 4

An assembly as recited in claiM 1 and comprising: means for maintaining said elevator mechanism in a deactuated condition while said flexible rod means is in its first position.

Claim 5

An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said elevator mechanism comprises: a cylinder; a piston within said cylinder; means connecting said platform to the top of said piston; a fluid passageway in said cylinder below said piston; and means communicating said fluid passageway with a fluid supply.

Claim 6

As assembly as recited in claim 4 and comprising: accumulator means in fluid communication with said fluid passageway.

Claim 7

As assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said elevator mechanism further comprises: valve means including first and second depressible buttons; and means, including said valve means, for introducing fluid into said cylinder, through said passageway, in response to depression of said first button and for withdrawing fluid from said cylinder, through said passageway, in response to depression of said second button; said means for actuating said elevator mechanism comprising means, attached to said flexible rod means, for depressing said first button in response to the bending of the flexible rod means in a first direction from its first position and for depressing said second button in response to the bending of the flexible rod means in a second direction from its first position, opposite said first direction.

Claim 8

As assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said last-recited means comprises: an element having one end rigidly connected to said flexible rod means and another end pivotally mounted on said valve means; means on said element for depressing said first button; and means on said element for depressing said second button.

Claim 9

An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein: said elevation selector is fixed to said movable platform; and said flexible rod means has one end connected to said selector and another end connected to said base.

Claim 10

An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said selector comprises; an immovable first member attached to said platform; a second member movably mounted on said first member; and means connecting said second selector member to said one end of the flexible rod means.

Claim 11

An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said selector comprises; a friction member immovably attached to said platform; a second member; means mounting said second member for rotation, relative to said friction member, about an axis extending through both of said members; and spring means normally urging said rotatable selector member against said friction member.

Claim 12

An assembly as recited in claim 10 and comprising: means connecting said rotatable selector member to said one end of the flexible rod means.

Claim 13

An assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said connecting means comprises: a link member having one end pivotally connected to said one end of the flexible rod means and another end pivotally connected to said rotatable selector member.

Claim 14

An assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said selector further comprises: a pair of angularly spaced stop means immovably attached to said platform; and means on said rotatable selector member for engaging said pair of stop means to define opposite limits of rotation for the rotatable selector member.

Claim 15

An assembly as recited in claim 1 and comprising: shock absorber means for said movable platform; and means for maintaining the platform at the selected elevation regardless of changes in the external load on the platform, said last-recited means including means, cooperating with said shock absorber means, to permit an initial change from said selected elevation in response to a change in said external load; and means, responsive to a change from said selected elevation, for automatically returning said platform to the selected elevation.

Claim 16

As assembly as recited in claim 14 Wherein: said change-permitting means comprises means responsive to an increase in the load on said platform for permitting a descent of the platform below said selected elevation; and said returning means comprises means responsive to said descent below said selected elevation for automatically raising said platform to said selected elevation.

Claim 17

An assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein: said change-permitting means comprises means responsive to a decrease in the load on said platform for automatically raising said platform above said selected elevation; and said returning means comprises means responsive to said raising of said platform above said selected elevation for automatically lowering said platform to said selected elevation.

Claim 18

A position-adjusting assembly comprising: a first member; a second member spaced from said first member; means mounting said second member for movement to change the position of the second member relative to said first member; a positioning selector; means for setting said positioning selector at any one of a multiplicity of settings each corresponding to a position for said second member; and means, responsive to the setting of said selector, for moving said second member to the position selected; said last-recited means comprising: flexible rod means bendable from a first position thereof; said flexible rod means including means normally urging said flexible rod means to its first position; means, responsive to a change in the setting of said selector, for bending said flexible rod means from its first position to another position; means actuable to impart said movement to said second member; means, responsive to a bending of said flexible rod means from its first position, for actuating said movement-imparting means; means, responsive to movement of said second member to the selected position, for returning said flexible rod means to its first position; and means, responsive to a return of the flexible rod means to its first position, for deactuating said movement-imparting means.

Claim 19

A position-adjusting assembly comprising: a first member; a second member spaced from said first member; means mounting said second member for movement to change the position of the second member relative to said first member; a positioning selector; means for setting said positioning selector at any one of a multiplicity of settings each corresponding to a position for said second member; and means, responsive to the setting of said selector, for moving said second member to the position selected; said last-recited means comprising: flexible rod means bendable from a first position thereof; said flexible rod means including means normally urging said flexible rod means to its first position; means, responsive to a change in the setting of said selector, for bending said flexible rod means from its first position to another position; means actuable to impart said movement to said second member; means, responsive to a bending of said flexible rod means from its first position, for actuating said movement-imparting means; means, responsive to movement of said second member to the selected position, for returning said flexible rod means to its first position; and means, responsive to a return of the flexible rod means to its first position, for deactuating said movement-imparting means.

Claim 20

An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said flexible rod means comprises: a first end portion connected to said positioning selector; a second end portion connected to said means for actuating the movement-imparting means; and a third portion, between said two end portions, comprising a coil spring.

Claim 21

An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said means for actuating the movement-imparting means comprises: means, responsive to the bending of said flexible rod means in a first direction, for actuating said movement-imparting means to move the second member in one direction; and means, responsive to the bending of said flexible rod means in a second direction opposite said first direction, for actuating the movement-imparting means to move the second member in another direction opposite said one direction.

Claim 22

An assembly as recited in claim 17 and comprising: means for maintaining said movement-imparting means in a deactuated condition while said flexible rod means is in its first position.

Claim 23

An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said positioning selector comprises: a friction element immovably attached to said second member of the assembly; a rotatable element; means mounting said rotatable element for rotation, relative to said friction element, about an axis extending through both of said elements; and spring means normally urging said rotatable element against said friction element.

Claim 24

An assembly as recited in claim 21 and comprising: means connecting said rotatable selector element to one end of the flexible rod means; and means connecting the other end of the flexible rod means to said first member of the assembly.

Claim 25

An assembly as recited in claim 22 wherein said first-recited connecting means comprises: a link element having one end pivotally connected To said one end of the flexible rod means and another end pivotally connected to said rotatable selector element.

Claim 26

An assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said selector further comprises: a pair of angularly spaced stop means immovably attached to the second member of the assembly; and means on said rotatable selector element for engaging said stop means to define opposite limits of rotation for the rotatable selector element.