US1899880A - Seat-back control - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1933. I 5. PAUL 1,899,880

SEAT BACK CONTROL Filed Nov. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 28, 193 3. 5. PAUL SEAT BACK CONTROL Filed Nov. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES P'YAT-ENTOFF'I'CE,

; SYDNEY PAUL, or LIMA, OHIO, Assrenontro SUPERIOR BODY COMPANY, or LIMA, OHIO,

' A CORPORATION or OHIO snar-nncx coiv'rnor.

Application filed November 22, 1930. Serial No. 497,388.

This invention relates to control means for tilting seat-backs'and is intended more particularly for use in connection withthe seats of railway coaches, buses and the like.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple and eflicient control of the characterdescribed, which is automatically operable by movement alone of the associated seat back to effect various predetermined positions of adjustment and to permit either a forward or backward adjustmentof the back.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a seat of the double type embodying the invention with one back-frame in upright and the other in rearwardly tilted position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the control means illustrating its position when the back is in up right position. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating successive positions assumed by the control meanswhen changing the back from upright to reclining positions, and 5 is a similar view illustrating the position of the control means when the back is in complete reclining position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a seat-frame, in the present instance of the double type adapted for use in back-frames hinged to the seat-frame for respective tilting movements relative thereto to enable either to be placed in the upright position shown by the right back-frame in Fig. 1, or in the reclining position shown by the left back-frame in said figure.

Each back-frame 2 has a bar or frame part 3, preferably of metal and of angle-iron form in cross-section, secured to each side edge thereof near its lower or hinged end with one flange lying parallel with and secured to the rear side of the back-frame and with its other flange projecting forwardly and, in the present instance, having a portion exposed to the front through a notch 4 provided in the respective side edge of the back-frame. The bars 3 preferably serve as the hinge members for the back-frames and are therefore pro-' vlded at their lower ends with eyes which receive pivot pins 5 secured of the seat frame. Y c a A catch arm 6, forming. a part of the control means, is pivoted tothe forwardly projecting flange of each bar 3 within the backf'rame notch 4 for vertical rocking move to the rear portion ments relative to the bar'and in the present instance having its inner end forked and straddllng the forwardly projecting flange of said bar and pivoted thereto at7.- The flange to whichthe member 6 is pivoted is 7 cut back or stepped above'the pivot point'of the member to permit the catch member to be 7 swung to upright position with respect tothe bar, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each catch member 6 is normally ured to have downward swinging: movement y acoiled contractile spring 8, the upper end of which is attached to the catch member and the lower 7 end to the bar 3' at a point below the pivotal point 7 of the catch member. o A catch stud 9 is carried by and projects from the outer side 'of the free end portion of each catch member 6, relative to the associated frame-back '2 and operates within a slot 10 provided in a plate 11, which is stationarily mounted With respect to the seatframe 1 at the outer side of the respective catch arm 6. a The plates 11 are so disposed that the slots 10 extendforwardly and rearwardly withrespect tothe seat and each slot is provided at its lower rear corner with a notch 12 and at its lower forward corner with a notch 13. i v 1 When a seat-back is in rearwardly reclining position, as shown at the left of Fig. 1 and 7 also in Fig. 5, the catch studs 9 associated therewith are engaged within the rear notches 12 of the respective' plates 11, thereby cooperating with the catch members 6 to support the seat-back in such position relative .to the seat frame. When the seat-back.

To move the seat-back from the reclining position shown in Fig. 5 to the upright position shown in Fig. 2, it is merely necessary to move the seat-back forward, thereby causing each catch stud 9 to side upwardly out of its notch 12 and then forwardly along the bottom wall of the slot 10 to 21141111130 the for ward notch 18, into which it is yieldingly drawn and held by the action of the spring 8. In shifting the seat-backfrom' its upright to its reclining position, it is not possible to merely swing it back, asthis is prevented by reason of the direct pulling engagement of the associated catch studs 9. with the rear walls of the catch notches 13. It is therefore necessary'to swing the seat back forwardly fromits upright position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, which movement is sufficient to cause the catch studs 9 to travel up the forward end walls of the respective'slots 10 andto swing the catch members 6 back with respect to the frame bars 3 sufficiently to cause the center of pull of the springs 8 on the catch members to be disposed at the rear of the axes ofthe pivots 7 with respect to the line of pull of the springs 8. When the spring pull has moved rearwardly' past center with respect to the axes of the catch members 6, the catch members are prevented from swinging further to the rear with respect to the frame bars 3 by reasonof the engagement of the catch members with the flanges of such bars which they straddle. The catch members having thus been released from the forward catch notches '13, the seat-back can be swung rearwardly to its reclining position, and when during such movement it has reached approximately the position indicated in Fig. 4, the catch studs 9 will engage the rear end walls of the respective slots 10, and, duringthe continued rearward movement of the seat-frame, will cause the associated catch members 6 to swing forward to place the line of pull of the springs 8 in advance of the pivots 7, the springs then acting to draw thecatch studs down into the rear catch notches 12. It is apparent from the above that to shift a seatback from reclining to upright position, it is merely necessary to swing the back forward from one position to the other, whereas to shift it from upright to reclining position, it

is necessary to first swing it forward to the stop position shown in Fig. 3 and then to swing it completely back to the reclining position. v r I V i The plates 11 are mounted on convenient portions of the seat-frame which are desigiiated 14, In the present instance, the member 14, to which the plates 11 at the inner or adjacent sides of the seat-backs are mounted, is in the form of an upright rising from the rear portion ofthe seat-frame betweenthe two seat-backs, and the members 14 at the gaging catch members mounted on. the seatframe and back respectively, one of said catch members being fixed and the other pivoted to the respective members on which they are mounted, means engagingwith the pivoted member to move it through a predetermined are between latching and unlatchingpositions as the back is moved from one extreme position to the other, and spring means attached to the outerend of the pivoted member and to the part to which it is pivoted and so located that the pivoted member passes dead center position with respect to the attached points of the spring means in its move ment between latching and unlatching positions. V v

2. In combination, a seat-frame, a slotted fixed catch member carried by said frame,'a relatively adjustable back connected to said frame, a catch member pivoted to said back and having a portion engaging in the slot of the first mentioned catch member to latch the back, said slotted catch member including means engaging with the pivoted catch member to move it through a limited predeter mined are between latching and unlatching positions as the back is moved from one extreme position tothe other, and spring means attached to the outer end of said pivoted catch member and to the back and so located that the pivoted member passess through dead center position with reference. to the spring means in moving from one extreme position to the other. Y r

3. In combination, a seat frame, a back pivoted thereto for adjustment to upright or re clining position, co-engaging catch members i position with the seat back in either position, v

and means engaged with the pivoted catch member to shift it past dead center with reference to said spring when the seat back is moved forwardly from its upright position, thus releasing the back for movement to its reclining position.

4. In combination, a seat frame, a back pivoted thereto for adjustment to upright or reclining position, co-engaging catch members on the seat frame and back respectively to latch the back in either position, one of said catch members being relatively fixed and the other pivoted, a spring acting on the pivoted catch member and urging it toward latching position with the seat back in either position,- means engaging with the pivoted catch member to shift it past dead center with reference to said spring when the seat back is moved forwardly from its upright position, thus releasing the back for movement to its reclining position, and means engaging with the pivoted catch member to return it through dead center to latching position as the seat back approaches its reclining position.

' 5. In combination, a seat frame having a slot with a notch at each end, a seat back pivoted to the frame, a catch member pivoted to the back and selectively engaged with said notches to latch the back in upright or reclining position, said slot having an inclined front edge engaged by the pivoted catch member, when the seat back is swung forwardly, to move the pivoted catch member about its pivot to a stable unlatching position, said slot having an inclined rear edge engaged by the pivoted catch member, as the back is moved rearwardly to reclining position, to return the pivoted catch member to latching position.

6. In combination, a seat frame, a seat back pivoted thereto for adjustment forwardly and rearwardly, catch members mounted on the frame and back respectively, one of said catch members being relatively fixed and the other pivoted, one of said catch members having a slot therein with a notch at each end of the slot, said notches being selectively engaged by the other catch member to latch the back in either upright or reclining position, said slot having an inclined edge at its for- Ward end engaged by said other catch member, as the seat back is moved forwardly from upright position, to swing the end of the pivoted catch member out of latching position to a stable unlatching position, said slot having an inclined rear edge engaged by said other catch member, as the seat back is moved rearwardly to reclining position, to return the pivoted catch member to latching position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this sgiecification.

YDNEY PAUL.

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