US3788697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle seat
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1972-04-06
•
Granted: 1974-01-29
•
Expires: 1992-04-06
Abstract
Abstract An improved vehicle seat wherein a bottom cushion assembly is pivotally attached to a back and resiliently mounted upon a base by an oscillation damping member to control oscillation of said vehicle seat with respect to the base. The back is pivotally joined to the base by substantially parallel links which maintain the back at a constant angle of inclination with respect to the base independent of elevational displacement. A swing link, pivotally connecting the bottom cushion assembly to the base permits the bottom cushion assembly to pivot about an imaginary point forward of the seat at a height approximating the knee joint of an operator to minimize movement of the operator''s feet relative to the vehicle. A hydraulic circuit associated with a hydropneumatic suspension for such a seat includes dual damping capabilities for accommodating both normal and high impact loads on the seat.
Inventors
- 👤 J Mueller
- 👤 L Sprinkle
- 👤 J Barton
- 👤 J Christensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/50; B60N2/502; B60N2/505; B60N2/506; B60N2/507; B60N2/52; B60N2/525; B60N2/527
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
332 words
A vehicle seat comprising a base, a back support assembly, a bottom cushion assembly, means pivotally interconnecting said back support assembly to said bottom cushion assembly, seat supporting and movement damping means pivotally disposed between said means interconnecting and said base to permit resilient oscillation of said seat, parallelogram linkage means pivotally connected between said base and said back support assembly for limiting said back support assembly to vertical oscillation in a substantially rectilinear path of travel, said parallelogram linkage means ocmprising an upper link having an end pivotally attached to said back support assembly and an opposite end pivotally attached to said base, and a lower link disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to said upper link and having an end pivotally attached to said back support assembly and an opposite end pivotally attached to said base to form a parallelogram, and swing linkage means pivotally connecting said bottom cushion assembly to said base to cause said bottom cushion assembly to pivot about a point spaced forwardly of the seat approximating the knee joint of an operator seated thereon to minimize movement of the operator''s feet relative to the vehicle, said elongated link being pivotably secured to a portion of said base beneath a rearward portion of said seat and extending upwardly and forwardly toward a pivotable connection with said bottom cushion assembly wherein said means pivotally interconnecting said back support assembly to said bottom cushion assembly compriyes a substantially flat lateral portion extending below said bottom cushion assembly and having two sides and an opening, said opening being centrally disposed in said lateral portion, a pair of brackets arranged about said opening and attached to said seat supporting and movement damping means, an upwardly extending arm on each of the two sides of said lateral portion pivotally attached to said back support assembly and a forwardly extending arm on each of the two sides of said lateral portion pivotally attached to said bottom cushion assembly and said swing linkage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
332 words
A vehicle seat comprising a base, a back support assembly, a bottom cushion assembly, means pivotally interconnecting said back support assembly to said bottom cushion assembly, seat supporting and movement damping means pivotally disposed between said means interconnecting and said base to permit resilient oscillation of said seat, parallelogram linkage means pivotally connected between said base and said back support assembly for limiting said back support assembly to vertical oscillation in a substantially rectilinear path of travel, said parallelogram linkage means ocmprising an upper link having an end pivotally attached to said back support assembly and an opposite end pivotally attached to said base, and a lower link disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to said upper link and having an end pivotally attached to said back support assembly and an opposite end pivotally attached to said base to form a parallelogram, and swing linkage means pivotally connecting said bottom cushion assembly to said base to cause said bottom cushion assembly to pivot about a point spaced forwardly of the seat approximating the knee joint of an operator seated thereon to minimize movement of the operator''s feet relative to the vehicle, said elongated link being pivotably secured to a portion of said base beneath a rearward portion of said seat and extending upwardly and forwardly toward a pivotable connection with said bottom cushion assembly wherein said means pivotally interconnecting said back support assembly to said bottom cushion assembly compriyes a substantially flat lateral portion extending below said bottom cushion assembly and having two sides and an opening, said opening being centrally disposed in said lateral portion, a pair of brackets arranged about said opening and attached to said seat supporting and movement damping means, an upwardly extending arm on each of the two sides of said lateral portion pivotally attached to said back support assembly and a forwardly extending arm on each of the two sides of said lateral portion pivotally attached to said bottom cushion assembly and said swing linkage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said back support assembly comprises a curved frame having a forwardly extending portion at two sides, a back cushion attached to said frame, and a depending bracket attached to said frame and extending below said bottom cushion assembly and pivotally attached to said parallelogram linkage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein said suspension means is a hydraulic cylinder connected by conduit means to an accumulator and a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The vehicle seat of claim 3 wherein said conduit means comprises, a first check valve means to regulate the rate of hydraulic fluid flow from said cylinder to said accumulator for normal damping, a second check valve means in parallel arrangement with said first check valve means, said second check valve means being biased to open at a pressure higher than required to open said first check valve means to provide an additional flow path from said cylinder to said accumulator for impact damping.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicle seat of claim 4 wherein said conduit means further comprises a third check valve means in Parallel arrangement with said first check valve means to provide for hydraulic fluid flow from said accumulator to said cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle seat of claim 4 wherein said first check valve means comprises a check valve in series with an adjustable orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle seat of claim 5 wherein said third check valve means comprises a check valve in series with an orifice.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR819451A
Cited
US2509739A
Cited
US2492108A
Cited
US2840140A
Cited
US3036844A
Cited
US3150855A
Cited
US3218019A
Cited
US3215386A
Cited
US3265345A
Cited
US3470692A
Cited
US3430444A
Cited
US3436048A
Cited
US3493211A
Cited
US3593953A
Cited
US3558094A
Cited
US3602475A
Cited
US3685780A
Cited
US3638897A
Cited
US3711149A
Cited
US3656728A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |