WO2003022101A9

WO2003022101A9 - Vertically folding seat

Info

Publication number: WO2003022101A9
Application number: PCT/US2002/028723
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jose Gonzalez; Miguel A Guerra
Original assignee: American Seating Co; Jose Gonzalez; Miguel A Guerra
Priority date: 2001-09-10
Filing date: 2002-09-10
Publication date: 2004-05-27
Also published as: WO2003022101A1

Abstract

A folding chair (2) includes a back portion (6) and a seat portion (4). The seat portion folds downward to engage the seat portion, and the seat portion may then be pivoted upward to a storage position. When the seat is in the operating position, a brace (18) extends from a mounting bracket (12) to the bottom of the seat portion. That brace connects to a pivoting link that allows the total length of the brace and link to increase when the seat is pivoted upward. Latches (32, 34) are provided to secure the pivoting link in selected positions to hold the seat in the operational or storage positions.

Description

VERTICALLY FOLDING SEAT TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to the art of seats for vehicles, hi particular, the invention relates to a seat for a mass transit vehicle that folds vertically from an operative position to a storage position.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Seats that fold vertically to provide room, for example, for passengers in wheelchairs are known. In this type of chair, the back portion folds downward to lie fiat on the seat portion, and the seat portion then pivots upward or downward to the storage position. As well, chairs that fold vertically or in other directions to provide space for an operator to stand or for other purposes are known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An goal of this type of chair is that the frame be strong and yet compact and that the chair be capable of folding easily to a storage position where the chair and any associated frame are well out of the area occupied by the chair when in its operative position. This allows the area to be used for another purpose. Another goal is to provide a frame structure that is inexpensive to construct and requires little or no maintenance.

[0004] In accordance with the invention, a folding chair is provided with a frame that is very simple to construct and requires little maintenance. The chair folds to a compact configuration that provides the maximum use of the area for other purposes. 60578-0231

[0005] The chair of the invention includes a seat frame for the chair that is preferably rectangular but may be of virtually any shape. In fact, one advantage of the chair of the invention is that the moving parts are not dependent on the shape of the seat, which provides flexibility in both the function and appearance of the chair. The chair may also be either upholstered or not. The chair of the invention provides a diagonal brace and a pivoting link connected between the frame of the seat portion and the brace. As the chair moves between the operating position and the storage position, the link pivots to allow the diagonal brace to pivot upward to the storage position also.

[0006] In the preferred embodiment, the brace and the link are configured such that the brace extends to a location near the seat portion when the seat is in the operative position. In this position, the pivoting link is folded toward the brace so that the overall length of the brace and link is reduced. When the seat portion is lifted to move the chair to the storage position, the link pivots so that the overall length of the brace and link is increased, thus allowing the seat portion to be raised. Preferably, the configuration of the brace and the link is such that the pivotal connection between them lies adjacent the seat portion when the chair is in both the storage and operating positions. This allows a latch that engages the pivoting link to be placed on the frame of the seat portion for easy operation.

[0007] An easily operated latch mechanism is provided to engage the pivoting link in both the operating position and the storage position. In the preferred embodiment, the latch engages the link at its pivoting connection with the diagonal brace. This latch securely holds the chair, selectively, in the operating and storage positions and is easily operated to release or engage the pivoting link. Of, course other latch mechanisms may be used and latch mechanisms that engage other parts of the mechanism are contemplated. For example, the latch 60578-0231

may engage the pivoting link at a variety of locations or the brace alone at locations displaced from the pivoting link. As well a latch could engage the frame itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective of a vertically folding seat in accordance with the invention in the storage position.

[0009] Figure 2 is a front view of the vertically folding seat of figure 1 in the operative position.

[0010] Figure 3 is a side view of a vertically folding seat of figure 1 in the operative position.

[0011] Figure 4 is a front view of the vertically folding seat of figure 1 in the storage position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] With reference to the drawing figures, a folding chair 2 according to the invention includes a seat portion 4 and a back portion 6. The seat portion is arranged to fold from the operating position shown in figures 2 and 3 to the storage position shown in figure 4.

[0013] The folding chair of the invention is designed for use in a mass transit vehicle, such as city buses. These busses often require an area to be available for alternative use either to seat passengers, to accommodate a wheelchair bound passenger, or to stow cargo. Thus the seat of the invention may be mounted in such a vehicle adjacent a side wall 3 so that the chair can fold up closely adjacent the sidewall or be pivoted downward to an operating position.

[0014] The back portion 6 is mounted to the seat portion by hinges 8 to allow the back portion to fold down toward the seat portion such that when in the folded position the back portion lies on top of the seat portion. A latch mechanism is provided between the seat and back 60578-0231

portions to lock the back selectively in the upright or folded positions. Preferably, the latch mechanism includes a plate mounted at respective sides of the back for movement with the back portion and a lug mounted on each respective side of the seat portion for engagement with detents in the plates. A rod extending along the seat connects the lugs to each other, and a single lever is arranged to operate both lugs simultaneously.

[0015] The seat portion 4 preferably includes a rectangular frame 10 for receiving known seat elements such as springs and upholstery. The frame may, however, be of virtually any shape, and the seat may be integral with no separately defined frame element. A bracket 12 is provided for attachment to a vehicle and for pivotally receiving the seat. The bracket includes a floor plate 13 for bolting or otherwise securing to the floor of the vehicle and various support braces to provide strength. In the preferred embodiment, the bracket includes a vertical element 14 that pivotally engages the seat at pivot 16. The pivot 16 may formed between a bar 17 that is mounted to the bracket 14 and has ends received in bushings in the frame 10. Or the ends of the bar 17 may be secured in the frame and rotatably mounted to the bracket 14. Further alternatives will be apparent. A diagonal brace 18 is pivotally connected to the bracket 12 at a hinge element 20. The brace is connected to the seat portion by a pivoting link 22.

[0016] It will be appreciated that several parts of the mounting bracket may be eliminated if parts of the sidewall of the vehicle are used as substitutes.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment, the pivoting link 22 is connected between the brace 18 at pivotal connection 24 and the seat portion at pivotal connection 26. The connection at 24 preferably comprises a rod 25 that is secured to the brace 18 (preferably the illustrated two parallel elements) that engages holes in the ends of the link 22. Other workable 60578-0231

constructions will be apparent to those of skill in the art. The pivot connection 26 is preferably made to the seat frame but may be to another part of the seat portion as well.

[0018] The pivoting link 22 carries one or more stop pads 28 that engage the brace 18 when the chair is in the operating position to prevent further downward movement of the seat and to support the weight of the chair and the passengers. The stop pads are preferably two spaced, threaded bolts that are carried by a mounting plate 29. The length of each stop pad may be adjusted by rotating the pad to the desired length.

[0019] It will be appreciated that the stop pads engage the brace 18 because the link and brace are in a folded configuration when the seat portion is in the operating position. By this construction, the engagement between the pads and the brace prevents further movement of the seat portion in a downward direction. The adjustability feature allows fine adjustment of the orientation of the seat in the operating position.

[0020] A gas lift cylinder 30 is provided to assist in moving the chair from the operative position of figures 2 and 3 to the storage position of figures 1 and 4.

[0021] The seat portion carries two latches 32 and 34 for engagement of the pivoting link when the seat is in, respectively, the operative and storage positions to retain it in those positions. These latches are pivotally mounted to the seat portion frame 10 and are spring- loaded such that the springs urged them to the latched position. Each latch preferably includes a hook at one end for engaging a protruding lug 23 on the pivoting link 22. The seat is released from the operating position of figure 2 by pressing downward (i.e., away from the seat portion) on the handle portion of latch 32, which lifts the hook from engagement with the lug on the link 32 and allows the operator to raise the end of the seat vertically to move it to the storage position of figure 3. The nose portions of the hook portions of the latches are angled to rotate the hook 60578-0231

out of the way of the lug 23 as the seat portion moves into the operating or storage positions. The spring then causes the latch to return to the latched position when the seat is in position to engage the lug and retain the seat in the selected storage or operation position.

[0022] As the chair is moved from the operating position, the pivoting link 22 rotates about pivot connection 26 to the position shown in figure 4. At that point the hook on spring-loaded latch 34 engages the lug on the pivoting link to retain the chair in the storage position. Pressing on latch 34 releases the latch whereby the chair may be pivoted downward to the operative position.

[0023] Modifications within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A folding chair comprising a seat portion, a mounting bracket, a diagonal brace, and a pivoting link, wherein said seat portion is pivotally connected to said mounting bracket to allow pivotal movement between an operative position and a storage position, one end of said diagonal brace is pivotally connected to said bracket, an opposite end of said diagonal brace is connected to one end of said pivoting link, and a second end of said pivoting link is connected to said seat portion, wherein the length of said diagonal brace is such that said one end of said pivoting link is adjacent said seat portion when said seat portion is in said operative position and when said seat portion is in said storage position.

2. A folding chair according to claim 1 further including latch means for releasably engaging said pivoting link when said seat portion is in an operative position and when said seat portion is in said storage position.

3. A folding chair according to claim 1 further including a latch mounted on said seat portion that engages said one end of said pivoting link.

4. A folding chair according to claim 1 wherein said operative position is horizontal.

5. A folding chair according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting link includes a stop pad for extending between said pivoting link and said diagonal brace when said chair is in a operative position.

6. A folding chair according to claim 1 further comprising a back portion pivotally mounted to said seat base.

7. A folding chair according to claim 6 wherein said back portion is mounted to pivot toward said seat portion wherein said back portion engages a top surface of said seat

portion.

8. A folding chair comprising a seat portion, a mounting bracket, a brace, and a pivoting link, wherein said seat portion is pivotally connected to said mounting bracket to allow pivoting movement between an operating position and a storage position, said brace is mounted for pivotal movement from a first position where it supports said seat portion when said seat portion is in said operating position and a second position when said seat portion is in said storage position, and one end of said pivoting link is pivotally mounted to said seat portion and a second end is pivotally mounted to said brace such that said brace and pivoting link are folded with respect to each other when said seat portion is in the operating position and unfolded when said seat portion is in the storage position.

9. A folding chair according to claim 8 further comprising a latch adapted to engage said pivoting link to maintain said seat portion selectively in said storage or operating positions.

10. A method for operating a folding seat wherein said seat includes a brace connected to. a pivoting link such that said brace and pivoting link are folded with respect to each other when a seat portion is horizontal, said method comprising raising one end of said seat portion and moving said seat portion to a storage position wherein said seat portion is vertical and said brace and pivoting link are unfolded.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of disengaging a latch before said step of raising.