GB2516420B - A seat portion for a seat - Google Patents

A seat portion for a seat Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2516420B
GB2516420B GB1310920.2A GB201310920A GB2516420B GB 2516420 B GB2516420 B GB 2516420B GB 201310920 A GB201310920 A GB 201310920A GB 2516420 B GB2516420 B GB 2516420B
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
seat portion
seat
air
portion according
valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
GB1310920.2A
Other versions
GB201310920D0 (en
GB2516420A (en
Inventor
Thomas Ponsford Alan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SEACTIVE Ltd
Original Assignee
SEACTIVE Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SEACTIVE Ltd filed Critical SEACTIVE Ltd
Priority to GB1310920.2A priority Critical patent/GB2516420B/en
Publication of GB201310920D0 publication Critical patent/GB201310920D0/en
Publication of GB2516420A publication Critical patent/GB2516420A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2516420B publication Critical patent/GB2516420B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/70—Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
    • B60N2/7023—Coach-like constructions
    • B60N2/7035—Cushions
    • B60N2/7047—Springs
    • B60N2/7082—Springs with air or fluid cushions
    • B60N2/7088—Springs with air or fluid cushions with valves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/42—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats
    • B60N2/4207—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces
    • B60N2/4242—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces vertical
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/90—Details or parts not otherwise provided for
    • B60N2/914—Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B29/00—Accommodation for crew or passengers not otherwise provided for
    • B63B29/02—Cabins or other living spaces; Construction or arrangement thereof
    • B63B29/04—Furniture peculiar to vessels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B29/00—Accommodation for crew or passengers not otherwise provided for
    • B63B29/02—Cabins or other living spaces; Construction or arrangement thereof
    • B63B29/04—Furniture peculiar to vessels
    • B63B2029/043—Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels

Description

A SEAT PORTION FOR A SEAT
This invention relates to a seat portion for a seat.
Known seats have various types of seat portions. Often the known seats are used in environments where the seat is subject to a number of dynamic inputs including transient shocks and/or continuous vibrations. These dynamic inputs are transmitted to a person sitting on the seat. The person may suffer discomfort and/or spinal injuries as a result. A typical situation in which a seat is subjected to dynamic inputs from a relatively hostile environment is where the seat is installed in a high speed marine vessel that receives shocks as it ploughs through waves. The seats may also be used, for example, in road vehicles, airborne vehicles and stationary machinery.
It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.
Accordingly, the present invention there is provides a seat portion for a seat, which seat portion comprises a spring member and a flexible air member, and the seat portion being such that; (i) the spring member has first and second end portions which are spaced apart by a central portion; (ii) the first and second end portions bend back on themselves and extend into the central portion such that the central portion has first and second spaced apart sides; (iii) the first and second spaced apart sides of the central portion define a reception portion; (iv) the air member is positioned in the reception portion; (v) the air member has valve means for allowing air to be expelled from the air member when a load is applied to the seat portion, and for allowing air to be drawn into the air member when the load applied to the seat portion is reduced; (vi) the application of the load causes the first and second sides of the central portion to move towards each other such that the air member is squashed to cause the expelling of the air from the air member; (vii) the reduction of the load causes the first and second sides of the central portion to move away from each other such that the air member draws air into the air member; and (viii) the movement of the first and second sides of the air member and the expelling and drawing in of the air enable the seat portion to absorb shocks and vibration when the seat portion is being sat upon by a person.
The seat portion of the present invention enables dynamic inputs to the seat portion to be substantially reduced in comparison with known seat portions. The reduced dynamic inputs may include reducing transient shocks and/or reduced continuous vibrations. The seat portion of the seat may be used for seats in a wide variety of seat applications, including marine vehicles, road vehicles, airborne vehicles, and seats forming part of or used with stationary machinery. The design is able to replace seat portions for seats which are rigid or made of foam material. Compared with such known designs, the seat portion of the present invention is able to be used in a seat which offers greatly improved shock protection, vibration isolation, and an improved ride when the seat is on a moving vehicle.
The seat portion may be one in which the air member contains a resilient material for assisting in the movement of the first and second sides of the central portion away from each other when the load is reduced. In this case, the seat portion may be one in which the resilient material is a plastics foam material. The plastics foam material may be a polyurethane foam material or a polyvinyl chloride foam material. Alternatively, the resilient material may be a rubber.
Preferably, the spring member is made of flat material. Non-flat material can however be used if desired.
The first and second end portions of the spring member may be thinner than the first and second spaced apart sides of the central portion of the spring member.
The first and second end portions may define part circles in cross section. Other cross sectional shapes for the first and second end portions may be employed so that, for example, the first and second end portions may be elliptical, hexagonal or octagonal in cross section.
The seat portion may be one in which there is one first end portion and one second end portion. In this case, the first end and second end portions may be of the same length, for example when the seat portion is to form a conventional square seat portion, or when the seat portion is to form a rectangular seat portion for a bench seat.
When the seat portion is one in which there is one first end portion and one second end portion, then the seat may be one in which the first end portion is longer than the second end portion. Such a seat portion may be used to form a jockey seat.
The seat portion may alternatively be one in which there are two of the first end portions and two of the second end portions, and in which the first and second end portions define four sides of a rectilinear shape. The rectilinear shape may be square or rectangular. The seat portion may be such that it then gives shock absorbing qualities and/or stability in two directions at right angles to each other. The rectilinear shape may be a square shape as for example may be required for a square seat for one person, or it may be a rectangular shape as for example is required by a bench seat for several persons.
The seat portion may alternatively be one in which there are two first end portions and one second end portion. In this case, the seat may be used to form a jockey seat.
The air member is preferably an air bag. Other types of air member may be employed.
The valve means may be a separate outlet valve and a separate inlet valve. Other types of valve means may be employed so that, for example, the valve means may be one single valve having an outlet facility and an inlet facility.
The outlet valve and the inlet valve are preferably flap valves. The outlet valve and the inlet valve may alternatively be valves with two petals or valves with four petals. Alternatively, the outlet valve and the inlet valve may be cup or disc valves having a cup or disc mounted on a mounting portion. The mounting portion may be centrally positioned across the aperture of the valve.
The seat portion may include movement-limiting means for limiting movement of the first and second spaced apart sides of the central portion towards each other. The movement-limiting sides may be at least one stop member.
The seat portion may include friction-damping means. The frictiondamping means may provide friction damping as required throughout the seat portion or the entire seat. The friction-damping means may be. for example, a friction-damping valve in the seat portion. Additionally or alternatively, the friction-damping means may be straps or webbing for limiting upward travel of the first side of the central portion away from the second side of the central portion.
The seat portion may include a cover. The cover may be made of any suitable material including a plastics foam material or a fabric material. Laminates of material may be employed.
The present invention also extends to a seat including the seat portion.
The seat may include a backrest portion. Alternatively, the seat may be without a backrest portion, in which case the seat may be in the form of a jockey seat or a stool.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first seat portion for a seat according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of an exhaust valve used in the seat portion shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of an inlet valve used in the seat portion shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a second spring member for use in a second seat portion of a seat;
Figure 5 shows a third spring member for use in a third seat portion for a seat;
Figure 6 shows a fourth spring member for use in a fourth seat portion for a seat;
Figure 7 shows a fifth spring member for use in a fifth seat portion for a seat;
Figure 8 is a cross section through a modulating valve, with the valve being in an open condition;
Figure 9 is a cross section through the modulating valve shown in Figure 8 but with the valve being closed;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternative valve for use in a seat portion of the present invention;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of another valve for use in a seat portion of the present invention; and
Figure 12 is a perspective view of another valve for use in a seat portion of the present invention.
Referring to Figures 1-3, there is shown a seat portion 2 for a seat. The seat portion 2 comprises a spring member 4 and a flexible air member 6.
The spring member 4 has a first end portion 8 and a second end portion 10. The first and second end portions 8, 10 are spaced apart by a central portion 12. The first and second end portions 8, 10 bend back on themselves and extend into the central portion 12 such that the central portion 12 has a first side 14 and a second side 16 which are spaced apart from each other. The first and second spaced apart sides 14, 16 of the central portion 12 define a reception portion 18.
The air member 6 is positioned in the reception portion 18. The air member 6 has valve means 20 for allowing air to be expelled from the air member 6 when a load is applied to the seat portion 2. The valve means 20 is also for allowing air to be drawn into the air member 6 when the load applied to the seat portion 2 is reduced, for example when a person gets up from the seat portion 2 or moves on the seat portion 2,
The application of the load causes the first and second sides 14, 16 of the central portion 12 to move towards each other such that the air member 6 is squashed to cause the expelling of the air from the air member 6. The reduction of the load causes the first and second sides 14, 16 of the central portion 12 to move away from each other such that the air member 6 draws air into the air member 6.
The seat portion 2 is such that the movement of the first and second sides 14, 16 of the air member 6, and the expelling and drawing in of the air into the air member 6 enable the seat portion 2 to absorb shocks and vibration when the seat portion 2 is being sat upon by a person.
The air member 6 contains a resilient material 22. The resilient material 22 will usually be disposed all over the inside of the air member 6.
The resilient material 22 assists in the movement of the first and second sides 14, 16 of the central portion 12 away from each other when the load is reduced. The resilient material 22 is a plastics foam material.
As can be seen from Figure 1, the spring member 4 is made of flat material. As can also be seen from Figure 1, the first and second end portions 8, 10 define part circles in cross section. There is one first end portion 8 and one second end portion 10.
The air member 6 is an airbag. The air member 6 has an upper face 21 and a lower face 23. The valve means 20 comprises a separate outlet valve 24 and a separate inlet valve 26. The outlet valve 24 and the inlet valve 26 are shown in broken lines in Figure 1 to indicate that they are positioned in the lower face 23 of the air member 6. Figure 2 shows the outlet valve 24. Figure 3 shows the inlet valve 26.
As shown in Figure 2, the outlet valve 24 has a flap valve member 28 which seats against a valve seat 30 surrounding an aperture 32 in the valve. When a load is applied to the air member 6, the flap valve member 36 moves away from the valve seat 30 and air is able to exhaust as indicated by arrow 34.
Figure 3 shows how the inlet valve 26 comprises a flap valve member 36 which seats against a valve seat 38 surrounding an apertures 40. When a load is removed from the air member 6, the flap valve member 36 moves away from its valve seat 38 and air is able to pass in the direction of arrow 42 to refill the air member 6. Loads applied to the air member 6 and removed from the air member 6 are via pressure being applied to the air member 6 from the first and second sides 14, 16 of the central portion 12, Which is able to be sat upon by a person (not shown).
Figure 4 shows a second spring member 44 for a second seat portion. The spring member 44 is like the spring member 2, except that the spring member 2 is of a square construction for a single seat, whereas the spring member 44 is of a rectangular constructions for a bench seat. Similar parts in the spring members 2, 44 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.
Figure 5 shows a third spring member 46 which is like the spring member 2 except that the first and second end portions 8, 10 are not of the same length, and instead the first end portion 8 is longer than the second end portion 10. The third spring member 46 is suitable for use in a seat portion for forming a jockey seat. With a jockey seat, a person’s back will be facing the first end portion 8, and their front will be facing the second end portion 10.
Figure 6 shows a fourth spring member 48 which comprises two of the spring members 4. Thus the spring member 48 has two first end portions 8 and two second end portions 10, all defining four sides of a rectilinear shape. The rectilinear shape shown in Figure 6 is square. The shape could alternatively be rectangular, for example by employing two of the spring members 44 shown in Figure 4 and in the fashion shown in Figure 6.
Figure 7 shows a fifth spring member 49 in which similar parts as in previous spring members have been given the same reference numbers. In Figure 7, it will be noted that the first and second end portions 8, 10 are thinner than the first and second spaced apart sides 14, 16 of the central portion 12.
Figure 8 shows a uni-directional valve 50. The uni-directional valve 50 may be used to modulate airflow into and out of the air member 6. The unidirectional valve 50 may thus be used to modulate operation of the air member 6 to make the seat portion 2 softer or more rigid in use as may be required. The uni-directional valve 50 comprises the valve body 52 having a valve seat 54. A flat valve member 56 opens an aperture 58 as shown in
Figure 8, and closes the aperture 58 as shown in Figure 9. The valve body 52 can be secured to part of the central portion 12 of an air member 60.
Figure 10 shows a valve 62 comprising a valve body 64, an aperture 66, and two flap valve members 68, 70.
Figure 11 shows a valve 72 which is like the valve 62 except that the valve 72 has four flap valve members 74, 76, 78, 80.
Figure 12 shows a valve 82 having a cup or disc valve member 84. The valve member 84 is mounted on a central strip 86. Movement of the valve member 84 up and down as shown in Figure 12 opens and closes the aperture 66 and the valve 82.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the illustrated seat portions may be of different shapes to those shown. The outlet and inlet valves 24, 26 are shown schematically in Figure 1 by broken lines as being positioned on the lower face 23 of the air member 6. This positioning of the outlet and inlet valves 24, 26 is advantageous when the seat portion 2 is to form part of a seat in a water vessel such for example as a high speed marine vessel. This is because it is more difficult for the outlet and inlet valves 24, 26 to admit water if they are on the lower face 23 rather than the upper face 21. However, for slower marine vessels and for other vehicles such for example as road vehicles, airborne vehicles and stationary machinery, it may be preferred to locate the outlet and inlet valves 24, 26 on the upper face 21. The seat portion may include at least one movement limiting means. An example of one such movement limiting means is shown in Figure 1 as a stop member 88. The formed seat portions may include a cover (not shown). The seat portion may used to form a seat with a backrest or without a backrest. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

Claims (24)

1. A seat portion for a seat, which seat portion comprises a spring member and a flexible air member, and the seat portion being such that: (i) the spring member has first and second end portions which are spaced apart by a central portion; (ii) the first and second end portions bend back on themselves and extend into the central portion such that the central portion has first and second spaced apart sides; (iii) the first and second spaced apart sides of the central portion define a reception portion; (iv) the air member is positioned in the reception portion; (v) the air member has valve means for allowing air to be expelled from the air member when a load is applied to the seat portion, and for allowing air to be drawn into the air member when the load applied to the seat portion is reduced; (vi) the application of the load causes the first and second sides of the central portion to move towards each other such that the air member is squashed to cause the expelling of the air from the air member; (vii) the reduction of the load causes the first and second sides of the central portion to move away from each other such that the air member draws air into the air member; and (viii) the movement of the first and second sides of the air member and the expelling and drawing in of the air enable the seat portion to absorb shocks and vibration when the seat portion is being sat upon by a person.
2. A seat portion according to claim 1 in which the air member contains a resilient material for assisting in the movement of the first and second sides of the central portion away from each other when the load is reduced.
3. A seat portion according to claim 2 in which the resilient material is a plastics foam material.
4. A seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spring member is made of flat material.
5. A seat portion according to claim 4 in which the first and second end portions of the spring member are thinner than the first and second spaced apart sides of the central portion of the spring member.
6. A seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and second end portions define part circles in cross section.
7. A seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims in which there is one first end portion and one second end portion.
8. A seat portion according to claim 7 in which the first and second end portions are of the same length.
9. A seat portion according to claim 7 in which the first end portion is longer than the second end portion.
10. A seat portion according to any one of claims 1-6 in which there are two first end portions and two second end portions, and in which the first and second end portions define four sides of a rectilinear shape.
11. A seat portion according to claim 10 in which the rectilinear shape is square.
12. A seat portion according to any one of claims 1 - 6 in which there are two first end portions and one second end portion.
13. A seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims in which the air member is an airbag.
14. A seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims in which the valve means is a separate outlet valve and a separate inlet valve.
15. A seat portion according to claim 14 in which the outlet valve and the inlet valve are flap valves.
16. A seat portion according to claim 14 in which the outlet valve and the inlet valve are valves with two petals.
17. A seat portion according to claim 14 in which the outlet valve and the inlet valve are valves with four petals.
18. A seat portion according to claim 14 in which the outlet valve and the inlet valve are cup or disc valves.
19. A seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims and including movement-limiting means for limiting movement of the first and second spaced apart sides of the central portion towards each other.
20. A seat portion according to claim 19 in which the movement-limiting means is at least one stop member.
21. A seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims and including friction-damping means.
22. A seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims and including a cover.
23. A seat including a seat portion according to any one of the preceding claims.
24. A seat according to claim 23 and including a backrest portion.
GB1310920.2A 2013-06-19 2013-06-19 A seat portion for a seat Active GB2516420B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1310920.2A GB2516420B (en) 2013-06-19 2013-06-19 A seat portion for a seat

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1310920.2A GB2516420B (en) 2013-06-19 2013-06-19 A seat portion for a seat

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201310920D0 GB201310920D0 (en) 2013-07-31
GB2516420A GB2516420A (en) 2015-01-28
GB2516420B true GB2516420B (en) 2019-08-07

Family

ID=48914801

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1310920.2A Active GB2516420B (en) 2013-06-19 2013-06-19 A seat portion for a seat

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB225225A (en) * 1924-11-20 1925-05-14 Karl Warchalowski Improvements in and relating to seat cushions and the like
GB684017A (en) * 1950-04-21 1952-12-10 Bourcier Carbon Christian Improvements relating to cushions

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB225225A (en) * 1924-11-20 1925-05-14 Karl Warchalowski Improvements in and relating to seat cushions and the like
GB684017A (en) * 1950-04-21 1952-12-10 Bourcier Carbon Christian Improvements relating to cushions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201310920D0 (en) 2013-07-31
GB2516420A (en) 2015-01-28

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