Pelvis and legs elevating g-protective seat

Claim 2

A G-protective seat for an occupant in a vehicle, comprising, in combination: a seat divided along its length into an upper, middle and lower segments for supporting the head, back and legs-and-pelvis areas, respectively, of the occupant, each segment being pivotally connected to its adjacent segment on an axis parallel to the supporting surfaces of the segments and normal to the longitudinal axis of said seat; linkage means formed to be pivotally mounted to vehicular structure and operatively connected to said seat for concomitantly articulating said segments from a first position supporting the occupant in a normally upright position to a second position supporting the occupant in a supine position while maintaining the head of the occupant substantially stationary relative to the vehicle; and motor means formed to be mounted on aircraft structure and drivingly connected to said seat for moving said seat between the first and second positions.

Claim 3

A seat according to claim 1 wherein said lower segment further comprises: a seatrest for supporting the pelvis area of the occupant; and a legrest pivotally connected to the forward position of said seatrest on an axis parallel to the supporting surfaces of said seatrest and said legrest and normal to the longitudinal axis of said seat.

Claim 4

A seat according to claim 2 wherein said linkage means further comprises: a crank formed to be pivotally connected at one end to vehicular structure, the other end being pivotally connected to the forward portion of said seatrest; toggle link means formed to be pivotally connected at one end to vehicular structure behind the one end of said crank, the other end being pivotally connected to the rearward portion of said seatrest and a toggle axis being intermediate the ends thereof; said motor means being drivingly connected to said toggle link means at the toggle axis thereof; whereby the legs and pelvis of the occupant are translated upward and forward from the first position to the second position.

Claim 5

A seat according to claim 3 wherein said linkage means further comprises: a first connecting rod formed at one end to be pivotally connected to vehicular structure, and the other end being pivotally connected to the upper portion of said middle segment; whereby the middle segment reclines as said seat moves from the first position to the second position.

Claim 6

A seat according to claim 4 wherein said linkage further comprises: a follower rod formed to be pivotally connected at one end to vehicular structure, the other end being pivotally connected to the rear portion of said seatrest; and a connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to said follower rod intermediate the ends thereof and pivotally connected to said upper segment; whereby the upper segment inclines as said seat moves from the first position to the second position.

Claim 7

A seat according to claim 5 wherein said linkage means further comprises: a second connecting rod pivotally connected to an extension of said other end of said crank, and pivotally connected at the other end to said legrest intermediate the ends thereof; whereby the free end of said legrest reclines as said seat moves from the first position to the second position.

Claim 8

A seat according to claim 6 further comprising: an armrest fixed to and extending forwardly from Said backrest for supporting a handgrip control at the hand position of the occupant.

Claim 9

A seat according to claim 1 wherein said linkage means further comprises: a first crank formed to be pivotally connected at one end to vehicular structure; a first connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to the lower portion of said middle segment and the other end pivotally connected to the other end of said first crank; a second crank formed to be pivotally connected at one end to vehicular structure; and a second connecting rod pivotally connected at one end intermediate the end portions of said middle segment and pivotally connected at the other end to the other end of said second crank, said first crank and said second connecting rod being pivotally connected intermediate their ends to each other; said motor means being drivingly connected to said lower segment intermediate the end portions thereof; whereby the legs and pelvis of the occupant are translated upward and forward from the first position to the second position as the middle segment reclines.

Claim 10

A seat according to claim 8 wherein said linkage means further comprises: a third connecting rod pivotally connected at one end thereof to said second connecting rod intermediate the one end of said second connecting rod and the pivotal connection thereof to said first crank, and the other end of said third connecting rod being pivotally connected to said upper segment; whereby the upper segment inclines as the seat moves from the first position to the second position.

Claim 11

A seat according to claim 9 further comprising: an armrest pivotally connected at one end to said middle segment intermediate the end portions thereof; and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lower segment intermediate the end portions thereof, and the other end pivotally connected to the other end of said armest; whereby the hand position of the occupant remains substantially unchanged between the first and second positions of said seat.

Claim 12

A seat according to claim 1 wherein said linkage means further comprises: a crank formed to be pivotally connected at one end to vehicular structure, the other end being pivotally connected to the forward portion of said lower segment; toggle link means formed to be pivotally connected at one end to vehicular structure behind the one end of said crank, the other end being pivotally connected to the rearward portion of said lower segment, a toggle axis being intermediate the ends thereof; said motor means being drivingly connected to said toggle link means at the toggle axis thereof; whereby the legs and pelvis of the occupant are translated upward and forward from the first position to the second position.

Claim 13

A seat according to claim 11 wherein said linkage means further comprises: a first connecting rod formed at one end to be pivotally connected to vehicular structure, and the other end being pivotally connected to the upper portion of said middle segment; whereby the middle segment reclines as said seat moves from the first position to the second position.

Claim 14

A seat according to claim 12 wherein said linkage further comprises: a follower rod formed to be pivotally connected at one end to vehicular structure, the other end being pivotally connected to the rear portion of said lower segment; and a connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to said follower rod intermediate the ends thereof and pivotally connected to said upper segment; whereby the upper segment inclines as said seat moves from the first position to the second position.