US2418787A - Convertible seat structure - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1947. A. 1.. NELSON CONVERTIBLE SEAT STRUCTURE Filed May 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l YJNVENTOR, AUGIE L.NELSON ATTORNEYS April 8, 1947.

A. L. NELSON CONVERTIBLE SEAT STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1944 INVENTOR. AUGI E L. NELSON BY T I WWww/WHSM ATTORNEYS iv Patented Apr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE 2,418,787 CUNVERTIBLE SEAT STRUCTURE Augie L. Nelsonefirand Rapids, Mich, assignor to Hayes -Manufacturin,g' Corporation, Grand Rapids, Mich a corporation of. Michigan Application May 1, 194.4,SerialN0. 533,559

in a number of different-positions, inc1uding ,.one,-

a normal position foruse by aseated occupant;

'two, a position where both the. seat. and the back are turned to clear the floor space; and; three, a position which forms an elevated platform-on which the occupant 'may stand. To this endthe invention consists inthe construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the seatinnormal' position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the framewithout the seat and back cushions in a position for clearing the floor;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to-Fig. 2 with the-parts in position to form an elevated platform;

Fig. l is asectiona-l side elevation-illustratin the swinging movement of the linksintodi-fier ent positions of adjustment;

Fig. 5 isa perspective viewshowingamodified e construction The frame for my. improved seat is chiefl formed of pressed sheet metal members'which when assembled will. form a rigidstructure in each of its positions of adjustment. This. frame comprises apair of side members A'each havin an angle flange A projecting outward from the base thereof; inwardly turned angle-flanges A at the opposite vertical edges anda segment A at the upper end centrally apertured'for a pivot.

The two members A are cross connectedby a bar B preferably of channel section which bar is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the edge flanges A near the upper ends thereof. "The flanges A are apertured for boltswliich formsa rigid attachment to the floor of the vehicle and provided with opposite upwardlyextending- "side "plate C extendsforward it will rest upon the cross bar Bto' be held in a substantially horizontal position slightly inclined upward toward the front. 'E'is a back-plate which is connected to the member C 'by links F. These links are preferably secured by the same bolts (3 that secure the flanges C'. tothemembers A. The oppositeend of each "linkf' is pivotally connected to a side flange E tothe member Eby bolts or screws E G is a brace rodpivotally attached at its lower end to the member A while its upper end is connected by aboltG with a slotted bearing E in the flange E. The slot extends rearward and downward from near the forward end of the flange E and permits movement of the pivot bolt G along the same in certain adjustments of the frame. The proportion of the links F and rods G is such that in the position shown in Fig. 1 both of these members extend upward and slightly rearward with the pivot G at the inner end of the slot E Stop flanges A secured to the members A will limit the rearward movement of the rod "G, to hold the parts in a position where the back cushion H attached to the plate E inclines slightly rearward. The links F are provided with stop portions F", F -and F The stop portions F and F are adapted to bear against the plate C and limit the-free angular movement of said links" with respect to said plate to less than The stop portion F limits the rearward turning movement-"oi the back member E on its pivots E Thus, in "the position shown in Fig. 3 and by the stops F and the brace rod G having its bolt G'- 'at theforward end of the slot E This forms arigid standing platform. In the positionshown in'full lines, Fig. 4, and also in Fig. 1, links Fare swun to the rearward limit of free movement imposed by the stops F and the bolts Gcf the rods G are at the lower end of the side flanges C are attache'dto'the members-2A v by bolts C extending through aperaimres inithe 'members A and forming a pivotal connection.

The position of thepivots is suchthat whenithe 'fiomembers 'G havetheir bolts G at the upper'ends of the =slotsE Withthe construction as thus described, it will be understood'that the frame :is normally in the position as shown in Fig. 1 which forms a seat. If the occupant desires to stand, it is only necessary to lift the forward edge of the plate C turning it rearward. upon the pivot C until it assumes a vertical position. During this rearward swinging movement the links F turn downward and the pivot G travels outward in the slot E thereby permitting the back plate E and cushion H to drop downward. Thus, at the completion of the movement the cushions H and D are arranged parallel to each other with their upper edges in substantially the same horizontal plane. Also, all of these parts are in rear of the members A leaving the floor space in front of said members unobstructed. The parts may be frame, a seat member pivotally connected at its rear end to said frame and resting thereon in a normal substantially horizontal position from which it may be swung on its pivotal connection to an upright position, a back member having three positions, one in normal relation to the down-turned seat member, another in superposed relation thereto to constitute a standing platform, and the third in parallelism with the upturned seat member, and a linkage for supporting said back member in each of said positions including a pair of links pivotally connected at their lower ends to said seat member on opposite sides thereof and having stop portions for limiting locked in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a sliding bolt I attached to one of the flanges C. and adapted to engage akeeper notch I at the top of the segment A If an elevated platform is desired, the cushion H and plate E are swung forward from the position shown in Fig. 1 continuing the movement until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 3. Here it will be noted that both the links F and rods G incline forward from pivotal connections to the members A. The forward movement is, however, limited when the pivots G reach the forward ends of the slots E and in this position the plate E is horizontal. t will, therefore, form a stable platform on which the occupant may stand.

vFig. 5 illustrates a wider seat intended for two or more occupants. With such construction, it may be necessary to provide additional support and I have illustrated a central folding brace for this purpose. As shown, J is a brace bar pivotally attached at'its lower end to a floor bracket J and at its upper end pivotally attached to a central cross bar K on the bottom of the seat.

The screw K forms the pivotal attachment and this engages a slotted bearing K in the bar K so that when the seat is turned up this screw will slide to the lower end of the slot, while in the normal position it slides to the outer end.

Thus the center of the seat will be supported to prevent sagging.

What I claim as my invention is:

'1. A structure for alternatively forming a seat and a rigid standing platform comprising a frame, a seat member and a back member, said seat member being pivotally connected at its rear end to said frame and resting thereon in a normal substantially horizontal position from which it may be swung on said pivotal connecticn to an upright position, 'said back member having one position in normal relation to said seat member and another position in superposed relation thereto to constitute a standing platform, and a linkage for supporting said back member in each of said positions to be movable from the one to the other, said linkage including a pair of links between said seat member and back member on opposite sides thereof and having stop portions for limiting the free angular movement with respect to said seat member to a predetermined degree, a pair of brace members pivotally connected at their lower ends to said frame at points below the pivotal connection to said seat member and at their upper ends having a pivotal and limited sliding connection with the upper portion of said backmember, and

stops on said frame for limiting the rearward swinging movement of said brace members.

2. A structure for alternatively forming a, seat and a rigid standing platform comprising a their free angular movement with respect to said "seat member to a predetermined degree, the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected to the lower portion of said back member, a pair of brace members having their lower ends pivotally connected to said frame at points below the pivotal connection of said seat member and having at their upper ends pivotal and limited sliding connections with the upper portion of said back member, and stops on said frame for limiting the rearward swinging movement of said brace members;

3. A structure for alternatively forming a seat and a rigid standing platform comprising a frame, a seat member pivotally connected at its rear end to said frame to swing from a normal substantially horizontal position to an upright position, a back member, and a linkage between said frame, back member and seat including a pair of links pivotally connected at their lower ends to said seat member and having stop portions for limiting the free angular movement thereof, the upper end of said links being pivotally connected to the lower portion of said back member, a pair of brace members pivotall connected at their lower ends to said frame at points below the pivotal connection with said seat memher and at their upper ends having a limited sliding pivotal connection with the upper portion of said back member, and stops on said frame for limiting the rearward swinging movement of said brace members; whereby in the downturned position of said seat member said back is held in normal relation thereto while the forward swinging movement of said links and brace members will arrange said back member in superposed relation to said seat member and will rigid- 1y support the same for a standing platform and whereby the turning of said seat member into its upright position will lower said back member into parallelism therewith.

4. A structure for alternatively forming a seat and a rigid standing platform comprising a frame, a seat member pivotally connected at its rear 'end to said frame to swing from a normal substantially horizontal position to an upright position, a back member, and a linkage between said frame, back member and seat including a pair of links pivotally connected at their lower ends to said seat member and having stop portions for limiting the free angular movement thereof, the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected to the lower portion of said back member, a pair of brace members pivotally connected at'their lower ends to said frame at points ing the rearward swinging movement of said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Ehlman July 24, 1866 Hamilton Feb. 2, i886 Ruethin Dec. 10, 1901 Koch June 11, 1895 Harrison May 9, 1905 Shupe Sept. 29, 1885 Koechling Sept. 29, 1874 Hard May 22, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date v England July 21, 1936

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