US6189964B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Operator's station for a lift truck including three position seat assembly
Assignee: Crown Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1998-08-27
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Granted: 2001-02-20
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Expires: 2018-08-27
Abstract
Abstract An improved operator's station includes an improved three position seat assembly which allows the operator to stand, perch or sit while maintaining the operator's eyes at essentially the same vertical level. The seat assembly includes a back rest, a seat that may be raised and lowered, and a movable shelf or perch positioned between the back rest and the seat. In a stand mode of operation, the seat is lowered and the shelf is raised; in a perch mode of operation, the shelf is lowered to provide a partial support for the weight of the operator; and, in a sit mode of operation, the seat is raised for substantially full support of the weight of the operator and the shelf is raised to be flush with the back rest. Two sets of foot pedals are provided in the improved operator's station. A first set of pedals is on the floor and includes a brake pedal and a power pedal. These pedals are operated when the operator is either standing or perching. A second set of pedals is raised above the first set of pedals and positioned to be operated when the operator is in the seated position, although the operator may optionally also use one or the other of the raised pedals in either the stand or perch modes of operation, thus providing additional flexibility in operating positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Joseph Henshaw
- 👤 Baron Carl Brandt
- 👤 Steve Carlyle Billger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/38; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/075; B66F9/07545; B66F9/0759; B60N2002/247; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/10; B60Y2200/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An operator's station for a materials handling vehicle comprising: a seat assembly comprising: a back rest; a seat movable between a raised position adjacent to and angularly oriented relative to said back rest for seated operation of said vehicle and a lowered position for standing and perching operation of said vehicle, said back rest and said seat, when in said lowered position, forming an operator cradling surface; and a shelf positioned between said back rest and said seat, said shelf being movable between a raised position substantially aligned with said back rest for seated and standing operation of said vehicle and a lowered position angularly oriented relative to said back rest for perching operation of said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An operator's station for a materials handling vehicle comprising: a seat assembly comprising: a back rest; a seat movable between a raised position adjacent to and angularly oriented relative to said back rest for seated operation of said vehicle and a lowered position for standing and perching operation of said vehicle, said back rest and said seat, when in said lowered position, forming an operator cradling surface; and a shelf positioned between said back rest and said seat, said shelf being movable between a raised position substantially aligned with said back rest for seated and standing operation of said vehicle and a lowered position angularly oriented relative to said back rest for perching operation of said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shelf defines a portion of said back rest when said shelf is in said raised position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operator's station includes a floor and further comprises: a first set of pedals on said floor; and a second set of pedals raised above said floor and positioned to be operated from said sitting position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first set of pedals and said second set of pedals are both operable so that an operator in said operator's station can operate one of said second set of pedals to provide flexibility of operating positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first set of pedals comprises a release to brake pedal and a power pedal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second set of pedals comprises a release to brake pedal and a power pedal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 6 wherein said second set of pedals further comprises a depress to brake pedal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
An operator's station for a materials handling vehicle, said operator's station including a floor and comprising: a first set of pedals on said floor; and a second set of pedals raised above said floor wherein said first set of pedals and said second set of pedals are both simultaneously operable so that an operator in said operator's station can operate one of said first set of pedals and one of said second set of pedals to provide flexibility of operating positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
An operator's station for a materials handling vehicle, said operator's station including a floor and comprising: a first set of pedals on said floor; and a second set of pedals raised above said floor wherein said first set of pedals and said second set of pedals are both simultaneously operable so that an operator in said operator's station can operate one of said first set of pedals and one of said second set of pedals to provide flexibility of operating positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first set of pedals comprises a release to brake pedal and a power pedal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second set of pedal comprises a release to brake pedal and a power pedal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An operator's station as claimed in claim 10 wherein said second set of pedals further comprises a depress to brake pedal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-20 | 2004-08-21 | 2005-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-20 | 2008-08-21 | 2009-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-20 | 2012-08-21 | 2013-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |