US3793903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for seat adjustment
Assignee: American Standard Products Inc
•
Filing: 1972-06-13
•
Granted: 1974-02-26
•
Expires: 1992-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for controlling the positioning and motion of two relatively movable parts, such as a pivoted chair back and a chair seat for aircraft, busses, etc., comprising a slide bar having a lock device for holding it in any adjusted position, the lock device being releasable by a manually actuated control. The lock device includes a one-way override, which enables the slide bar to be moved in response to a force applied by its connection to a seat back when the seat is urged towards upright position. A spring acts on the slide bar to move it and the seat to seatupright position, and a pneumatic cylinder is connected to the slide bar to control its velocity, to avoid slapping the back of the seat''s occupant by the seat back upon actuation of the control for the lock device. Adjustable limit stops are provided to determine the range of movement of the slide bar, and hence of the seat back. The mechanism is entirely mechanical, except for the noted pneumatic cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 R Pellman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:17
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D11/00; B64D11/06; B64D11/0639; B64D11/064; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/23; B60N2/231; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/2066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An adjustment mechanism for use with recliner seats comprising: a first element, a second element in frictional engagement with said first element and movable relative thereto in opposite directions, means for releasably locking said second element against movement in a first direction relative to said first element, said releasable locking means comprising means responsive to a force of predetermined magnitude applied in one direction to said second element for releasing said locking means, and control means for moving said locking means to a release position to permit relative movement of said elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
An adjustment mechanism for use with recliner seats comprising: a first element, a second element in frictional engagement with said first element and movable relative thereto in opposite directions, means for releasably locking said second element against movement in a first direction relative to said first element, said releasable locking means comprising means responsive to a force of predetermined magnitude applied in one direction to said second element for releasing said locking means, and control means for moving said locking means to a release position to permit relative movement of said elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 1, and further comprising means for urging said second element in one said direction, and means for retarding the movement of said second element in said one direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 2, and means operatively connected to said second element for movement therewith for adjusting said retarding means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second element is a slide bar, and said locking means comprises a ramp having a pair of oppositely inclined surfaces adjacent said slide bar opposite said first element and a roller between said slide bar and each said inclined ramp surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 4, wherein said control means comprises means for moving each said roller to a position wherein it engages at most one of the slide bar and adjacent inclined ramp surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 4, means for supporting said ramp for movement toward and away from said slide bar, spring means urging said ramp toward said slide bar, and roller stop means for limiting the extent of movement of one said roller in a slide bar locking direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 6, said spring means comprising a spring and adjustable pre-loading means therefor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 7, wherein said spring is a coil spring and said adjustable pre-loading means comprises means for stacking solid said coil spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 4, and further comprising spring means for urging said slide bar in one direction, and means for retarding the movement of said slide bar in said one direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 9, said last mentioned means comprising an additional inclined surface of said ramp, a wedge block in engagement with said slide bar opposite said first element, said wedge block having an inclined surface in justaposItion with said additional inclined surface of said ramp, and means for engaging said wedge block and the ramp surface in juxtaposition therewith concurrently with movement of said slide bar in said one direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 10, wherein said ramp comprises a second additional inclined surface inclined oppositely to said first mentioned additional inclined surface, a second wedge block in engagement with said slide bar opposite said first element and having an inclined surface in juxtaposition with said second additional inclined surface, and means for engaging said second wedge block and the ramp surface in juxtaposition therewith concurrently with movement of said slide bar opposite said one direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 11, said last mentioned means comprising a pneumatic clyinder connected to said second wedge block.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 10, said last mentioned means comprising a pneumatic cylinder connected to said wedge block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second element is a slide bar, and further comprising spring means, and means connecting said spring means to said slide bar.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 14, said first element comprising a housing, said connecting means comprising rack means on said slide bar and on said housing, a gear in mesh with said rack means, and means connecting said spring means with said gear.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 14, and further including means for retarding movement of said slide bar, and means responsive to movement of said slide bar for actuating said movement retarding means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 16, said movement retarding means comprising wedge means engageable with said slide bar and a reaction member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 16, said actuating means comprising pneumatic piston and cylinder means, means operatively connecting the piston to said slide bar, and means responsive to non-atmospheric pressure in said cylinder for moving said movement retarding means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 18, said pneumatic piston and cylinder means comprising adjustable port means communicating said cylinder with atmosphere.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 18, wherein said pneumatic piston and cylinder means comprises separate means for controlling the rate of flow of air into and out of the cylinder of said piston and cylinder means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 1, said control means comprising a release cam, and manually controlled means for moving said release cam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 21, wherein said last mentioned means comprises a closed fluid system including a manually operable piston means, second piston means adjacent said release cam, and a conduit fluid connecting said piston means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 21, said last mentioned means comprising a conduit having plural contacting spherical elements therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 1, and further comprising means for limiting the range of movement of said second element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 24, said last mentioned means comprising a lateral extension on said second element, means defining a way for said extension, and adjustable blocking means extending from said way-defining means transversely of the path of movement of said lateral extension.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The adjustment mechanism of claim 25, said way-defining means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel plates having aligned apertures therein, said adjustable blocking means comprising pins positionable in selected ones of said aligned apertures.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
103 words
A mechanism for releasably locking a pair of elements comprising: a. an axially movable slide bar, b. a fixed element having a surface engaged by a surface of said slide bar, c. reaction means comprising a ramp adjacent said slide bar opposite said fixed element, said ramp having a pair of ramp surfaces Diverging from an apex adjacent said slide bar, d. a pair of rollers each between said slide bar and a said surface for acting against said reaction means and said slide bar, and, e. release means for moving at least one said roller in a direction away from said apex.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
103 words
A mechanism for releasably locking a pair of elements comprising: a. an axially movable slide bar, b. a fixed element having a surface engaged by a surface of said slide bar, c. reaction means comprising a ramp adjacent said slide bar opposite said fixed element, said ramp having a pair of ramp surfaces Diverging from an apex adjacent said slide bar, d. a pair of rollers each between said slide bar and a said surface for acting against said reaction means and said slide bar, and, e. release means for moving at least one said roller in a direction away from said apex.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The mechanism of claim 27, means for supporting said ramp for movement toward and away from said slide bar, spring means urging said ramp toward said slide bar, and roller stop means for limiting the extent of movement of one said roller in a slide bar locking direction.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mechanism of claim 27, and further comprising spring means for urging said slide bar in one direction, and means for retarding the movement of said slide bar in said one direction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
63 words
A mechanism for use with recliner seats comprising: a first element, a second element in engagement with said first element and movable relative thereto in opposite directions, means for releasably locking said second element, control means for said locking means, means for urging said second element in one direction and, means for retarding the movement of said second element in said one direction.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
63 words
A mechanism for use with recliner seats comprising: a first element, a second element in engagement with said first element and movable relative thereto in opposite directions, means for releasably locking said second element, control means for said locking means, means for urging said second element in one direction and, means for retarding the movement of said second element in said one direction.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mechanism of claim 30, and means operatively connected to said second element for movement therewith for actuating said retarding means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mechanism of claim 30, wherein said retarding means comprises means for retarding movement of said second element in either direction.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mechanism of claim 30, said retarding means comprising means for applying a retarding force proportional to the velocity of said second element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE268840C
Cited
US688088A
Cited
US722439A
Cited
US980049A
Cited
US2037261A
Cited
US2341465A
Cited
US2595240A
Cited
US3419306A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |