Vehicle seat

Claim 1

An improved seat for vehicles wherein the ''''pitch axis'''' of the vehicle is spaced from the seat and wherein the seat tends to be pivoted about the pitch axis during operation of the vehicle, the improved seat comprising: a seat support adapted to be securely mounted on the vehicle and having a base portion and a vertical portion substantially perpendicular to the base portion; a four-bar linkage assembly means for supporting the seat, the four-bar linkage assembly means including: a first set of links, including first and second, substantially identical links, with first link having one end pivotally connected to the vertical portion of the seat support at a first point spaced from the base portion of the seat support a first pre-selected distance and with the second link having one end pivotally connected to the vertical portion of the seat support at a second point also spaced from the base portion of the seat portion a distance equal to said first pre-selected distance and spaced from said first point; a second set of links including third and fourth, substantially identical links with the plane of the third and fourth links being above the plane of the first and second links, with the third link having one end adapted to be pivoted about a third point which is located substantially in the plane of the vertical portion of the base support and which is spaced from the base portion of the seat support a second pre-selected distance that is greater than said first pre-selected distance, and with the fourth link having one end adapted to be pivoted about a fourth point which is located substantially in the plane of the vertical portion of the seat support, which is also spaced from the base portion of the seat support a distance equal to said second pre-selected distance and which is spaced from the third point; a third set of links including fifth and sixth links, with the fifth link having one end pivotally connected to the other end of the first link at a fifth point and being pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, to the other end of the third link at a sixth point which is spaced from the fifth point a third pre-selected distance and with the sixth link having one end pivotally connected to the other end of the second link at a seventh point and being pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, to the other end of the fourth link at an eighth point which is spaced from the seventh point a distance equal to said third pre-selected distance; a bottom cushion positioned above the plane of the first set of links and supported by the four-bar linkage assembly means; a back cushion disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the bottom cushion; said first, second and third pre-selected distances being selected so that the first, second, third and fourth links are arranged relative to each other and relative to the seat support so that the lines of action of the first, second, third and fourth links intersect substantially adjacent to the pitch axis of the vehicle so that the seat pivotally moves about the pitch axis thereby minimizing the ''''back-slapping'''' action from the seat; and means for biasing the four-bar linkage assembly means away from the base portion of the seat support.