AU2004203426A1 - Lumbar Support Straddle Seat - Google Patents

Description

Lumbar Support Straddle Seat Field of the Invention The invention pertains to seating and more particularly to an ergonomic straddle seat having lumbar support features.

Background of the Invention Achieving comfort and safety in small, fast boats present difficult challenges, particularly in maritime military and police applications or where the seating arrangements may be confining. Difficult sea conditions and high vessel speeds and are sometimes the source of injury to seated passengers. In this specification, the term "passenger" is used broadly to describe a boat's driver, crew, passengers and occupants.

The present invention thus provides, in answer to known difficulties, an ergonomic seat frame which can be used in conjunction with an adjustable base or which may be mounted directly on a supporting structure. The present invention addresses the need for comfortable, safe seating in a confined and fast craft. It will be appreciated that the teachings provided to address this difficult situation can be extended to a wide range of maritime and non-maritime seating needs.

Objects and Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a seat or seat frame that is comfortable and safe.

It is another object of the invention to provide a seat or seat frame that is comfortable and safe in seated, standing and intermediate positions.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a seat that is adapted to close spacing between seated passengers.

Accordingly there is provided an ergonomic straddle seat having a bottom portion and a backrest supporting portion. The bottom portion supports a saddle that is generally semicircular in cross section. The backrest supporting portion has a backrest.

In some embodiments, the seat is supported by a damping mechanism above a floor and in preferred embodiments the damping mechanism is height adjustable.

In preferred constructions the bottom portion comprises a pair of parallel side rails and the backrest supporting portion also comprises a pair of parallel side rails.

In some embodiments the rails of the bottom portion and the backrest supporting portion are joined by a curved intermediate portion to form a unitary frame.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Figure 1 is a side elevation of an inflatable diesel jet boat that incorporates 8 seats manufactured in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a seat as depicted in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the seat depicted in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the seat depicted in Figures 2 and 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of an adjustable base.

Best Mode and Other Embodiments of the Invention As shown in Fig. 1, a high speed inflatable boat 100 comprises an inflatable hull, a cockpit 102 and a seating arrangement 103. As shown in this example the seating arrangement consists of two closely spaced parallel rows of seats 104 facing forward.

Each row is supported by, for example, by a single pedestal 201, shown in Fig. 2. The pedestal may be a hollow fiberglass or aluminium storage structure or base that is integral with the floor of the craft. In preferred embodiments, the base about as wide as (or narrower than) the side rails of the seat at the bottom (see Figure This promotes good seating posture. As will be further explained, the seat 104 has a nominal height above the floor or its pedestal and the difference between this height and the seat's point of attachment may be taken up by an adjustable base 202. As with other forms of maritime seating, optional foot straps 203 may be provided forward of a seat 104.

The seat frame 204 comprises a tubular aluminium member having a pair of parallel side rails 205, 206. A 3mm thick, 32mm diameter tube for the frame rails is preferred. The rails 205, 206 have a flat bottom portion that supports an ergonomic foam saddle 207. In this example the saddle is formed from high density open cell foam with a textile covering. The saddle cushion 207 has a generally semi-circular transverse cross section that prevents inner thigh chaffing and allows the passenger to use their feet to support some, none or all of their weight. The saddle cushion 207 extends from the open section at the front of the frame 208 to the rear of the flat bottom of the seat supporting portion of the frame.

The parallel side rails of the frame also define a back rest supporting portion. This section maybe reinforced with an aluminium plate (see 400 in Fig. 4) to which the rectangular textile covered foam backrest is attached. The backrest may include a continuous top arch 220 connecting the rails. This arch can serve as a grip or rudimentary head restraint. In this way the frame may be made from a single length of tube.

A smoothly curved intermediate portion 210 of the tubular frame connects the seat supporting portion and the backrest supporting portions of the frame. In preferred embodiments, the tubular intermediate portion is reinforced with a 4mm aluminium plate 211, welded above the frame tubes, which extends from the upper end of the curved intermediate portion to the front of the frame 208. The plate 211 can have a VELCRO patch above it for attachment to a cooperating patch on the underside of the saddle 207.

The saddle may also be additionally restrained by straps and snaps 212 which attach to the side rails. The combination of tubular frame and curved plate reinforcement provides strength with a desirable amount of flexibility.

It will be appreciated that the seat frame and cushions disclosed above (and below in more detail) can serve as a safe and comfortable passenger support so long as it is elevated a suitable distance off of the floor. This elevation may be achieved with a post, plinth or pedestal or by other means.

One advantageous way of supporting the frame is to attach an adjustable base 500 between the frame 204 and a pedestal 201. One type of base 500 is shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a spring damped scissors arrangement. The scissors includes a height adjustment 501 and an internal and adjustable spring and damper arrangement (not shown) operated by a knob 502. This type of seat supporting base is relatively common, for example in truck seats. A marinised truck part may be used for this purpose. In preferred embodiment the base 500 provides damped, vertical, spring loaded motion to accommodate passengers from between 50-120 kg. This same component provides about of vertical adjustment to accommodate varying passenger height and leg lengths.

The base 500 is preferably provided to meet vibration standards EEC 78/764 and ISO 7096 as well as seat belt anchorage standard ISO 6683 and SAE J386. As shown in Figs.

1-4 the base 500 may be protected by a rubber or polymer accordion pleated boot 510.

The above teaching is considered to enable a number of different sizes and configuration of seats and frames regardless of the precise height elevation. However, particular dimensions have been selected to provide an optimal comfort, ergonomic and safety performance. These are provided by way of useful example but the invention should not be interpreted as being limited by the following dimensions.

It has been found that a maximum frame width in Fig 4) of 265 mm provides a good width to the saddle 207 that has approximately this same width. It follows that the base 500 and boot 510 are preferably selected to fit within this width. The nominal height off of the floor, of the saddle's very top portion (310 in Fig 3) is preferably 740mm. The lowest part of the backrest (311 in Fig. 3) is about 765 from the floor and the top of the backrest 312 is about 1125mm from the floor. The combination of backrest dimensions and seat dimensions allow comfort, lumbar support and general safety in sitting, standing and intermediate positions. A maximum frame height, to the top of the arch 220 is approximately 1235mm. In preferred embodiments (and as shown in Fig. 3) the backrest supporting portion of the frame is inclined from the vertical by about 5 degrees. In preferred embodiments the nominal heights expressed above may be varied by adjusting the base 500. A typical base will include about 80mm of total vertical adjustment, providing about 40mm adjustment, higher or lower, to the vertical measurements disclosed above.

Claims (14)

1. An ergonomic straddle seat comprising: bottom portion and a back rest supporting portion; the bottom portion supporting a saddle, the saddle being generally semi-circular in cross section; the back rest supporting portion having attached to it a backrest.

2. The seat of claim 1, wherein: the seat is supported by a damping mechanism above a floor.

3. The seat of claim 2, wherein: the damping mechanism is height adjustable.

4. The seat of claim 1, wherein: The bottom portion comprises a pair of parallel side rails and the back rest supporting portion also comprises a pair of parallel side rails.

5. The seat of claim 4, wherein: the rails of the bottom portion and the back rest supporting portion are joined by a curved intermediate portion to form a unitary frame.

6. The seat of claim 5, wherein: the curved intermediate portion comprises a continuity between the side rails of the bottom portion and the back rest supporting portion.

7. The seat of claim 6, wherein: the intermediate portion is reinforced by a curved metal plate that is attached to the continuity at each side.

8. The seat of any of claims 1-7, wherein the back rest supporting portion further comprises a continuous top arch.

9. The seat of claim 2, wherein: the damping mechanism is a scissors type mechanism.

The seat of any one of claims 2 or 9, wherein: the damping mechanism is supported above a base that rises above a floor and the base is about as wide as the bottom portion, or narrower.

11. The seat of claim 10, wherein: the base is integral with the floor.

12. The seat of any one of claims 1-11, wherein: the backrest supporting and bottom portions are tubular aluminium.

13. A watercraft comprising one or more seats of the kind described in any one of claims 1-12.

14. The watercraft of any ones of claim 13, wherein: the seats are arranged in parallel rows facing forward. The watercraft of any one of claims 13 or 14, further comprising: pairs of foot straps in front of one or more seats.