Including Disabling Means For Resilient Element Patents (Class 248/561)
  • Patent number: 4390206
    Abstract: The specification discloses a synchrotilt chair control in which a slide is provided between the front of the seat support and stationary control housing, which slide serves not only to make possible synchrotilt action between the back support and seat support, but also makes possible the incorporation of a seat adjustment assembly. The latter comprises a pivot bracket pivotally mounted on the slide and on the seat support, and an actuator for pivoting the pivot bracket. The pivotal mounting between the seat support and back support is also dual functional in that it supports a pivotally mounted lock plate for locking the control. A height adjustment actuator and hidden handle pretension adjustment bolt are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Steelcase, Incorporated
    Inventors: Frederick S. Faiks, Charles C. Pergler, Ronald L. Whitwam, Jack R. Knoblauch, Duane M. Beukema, Kenneth W. Hozeski
  • Patent number: 4384701
    Abstract: Fore and aft isolator assembly for a suspended vehicle seat permits the operator to rotate a single control lever in one direction to allow the seat to be moved to any desired fore and aft position and in the opposite direction to lock the seat in that position in either a fixed manner relative to the seat base or in an "isolate" mode where it is free to travel back and forth to a limited degree against resilient elements. The assembly permits the seat to have a very low profile limited only by the clearance required for the suspension structure. It includes an intermediate frame having a series of rack teeth which is positioned between top and bottom frames attached, respectively, to the seat upper and to the suspension. The bottom frame also incorporates a toothed rack. A rotatable adjusting shaft which is rotatably mounted to the top frame slidably supports the intermediate frame and also fixedly supports a first locking pawl which can engage a selected tooth in the rack on the bottom frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey W. Barley
  • Patent number: 4382573
    Abstract: The support comprises means for elastic longitudinal positioning of the upper chassis carrying the seat, constituted by a first rigid element (51) which is fixed in the horizontal direction with a lower chassis for fixing on the vehicle and which is situated between two further rigid elements (42A, 42B) fixed in the horizontal direction with an upper chassis (2) carrying the seat, while two opposed elastic elements (52, 53) are interposed respectively between the said first rigid element and the two other rigid elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Sable Freres International
    Inventor: Bernard Aondetto
  • Patent number: 4379542
    Abstract: A suspension means for mounting an instrument or the like which is susceptible to shock on a movable carrier, in particular a vehicle, comprises a flexible sealing means adapted to absorb shocks in at least one direction and further comprises a blocking device for rigid coupling of said instrument with said carrier, the blocking device being actuable by a drive means which works in said one direction against the resiliency of the sealing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1983
    Assignee: Ludwig Pietzsch
    Inventors: Ludwig Pietzsch, Rudolf Hartmann
  • Patent number: 4378927
    Abstract: A vehicle seat mounting device comprises a first frame and a second frame mounted for relative sliding movement by guide rails attached to one of the frames which are engaged by rollers on the other of the frames. An intermediate frame within the device is connected to the first frame by a position adjusting device operable by a first actuator whereby the first frame can be locked to the intermediate frame in any one of a plurality of different selected positions. The intermediate frame is connected to the second frame by springs to allow resilient relative movement therebetween. A lock-out device is operable by a second actuator to lock the intermediate frame to the second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. Graves
  • Patent number: 4345733
    Abstract: A chair seat mounting device comprises a platelike support bracket that can be fastened to a chair base and a mounting plate that can be fastened to the underside of the chair seat. The plate automatically tilts forward on an axle on the bracket when the person sitting in the chair leans forward and his or her weight overcomes a spring mechanism that yieldably restrains the seat in the normal, upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Center for Design Research and Development N.V.
    Inventors: Emilio Ambasz, Giancarlo Piretti
  • Patent number: 4344597
    Abstract: In a seat suspension wherein a seat part is slidable fore-and-aft on a suspension part, a latching member having an elongated slot therein is swingable to and from a normal position about a rivet secured to the seat part and extending through the slot. In its normal position, the latching member engages the suspension part to be locked against fore-and-aft motion, but the seat part can move fore-and-aft between slot-defined limits. A control member is pivoted to the latching member on an axis spaced from and parallel to that of said rivet, which extends through a triangular cutout in the control member. The control member has one limit position wherein a portion of said cutout registers with said slot for fore-and-aft shock isolating motion of the seat part and an intermediate position wherein an apex portion of the cutout engages the rivet to prevent seat part motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Shawn H. Eimen
  • Patent number: 4294426
    Abstract: A unique joint or stem is provided which may convert a conventional baby walker for pre-walking children into one that spins or rotates 360.degree., rocks, sways from side to side, rolls, bounces up and down, tilts from horizontal to vertical; the joint may include control means to limit any one or more of the above motions. The unique joint may be employed in conjunction with many other different type child holding devices (other than walkers) and supports therefor including high chairs, strollers, cribs, carriages, infant seats, swings, bathinettes, rockers, car beds, car seats as well as with various types of adult furniture, such as rocking chairs, recliners, exercise and gym equipment and playground equipment where any of the above-described motions are desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Inventor: Henry Fleischer
  • Patent number: 4289292
    Abstract: A container for suspending various small articles such as toiletries, poisons, spices, and plants from an overhead support at a plurality of elevations is provided. A releasably locking member for one-handed height adjustment of the container is further provided, as well as automatic retracting means for returning the container to a convenient storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Inventor: Varughese Kunjumon
  • Patent number: 4238102
    Abstract: A spring support particularly intended for supporting pipes in installations where the pipes are liable to move laterally while in use, as for example in the case of pipes through which steam is conveyed, has provision for locking its compression spring means against movement relative to a body of the spring support in a plurality of positions longitudinally of the axis of operating movement of the spring. Preferably the spring means can be locked in an infinite number of positions within the operating range of its longitudinal movement. Thus if for any reason it is desired to resist movement for a while of a pipe which is supported by the spring support during use, the spring means can be readily locked against movement in the operative position it was occupying, without first having to move the spring means to another position before the spring means may be locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignees: Anthony John Salter, Yvonne Diane Salter
    Inventor: Colin J. Salter
  • Patent number: 4225178
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a rigid seat support plate which is spring-mounted for vertical movement on the frame and becomes locked in the event of a collision by a pendulum actuated ratchet and pawl mechanism to prevent a "plunging" or "submarining" effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Inventor: Juichiro Takada
  • Patent number: 4206898
    Abstract: A spring support of the constant spring force type suitable for supporting pipes in installations where the pipes are liable to move laterally while in use, as for example in the case of pipes through which steam is conveyed, is arranged so that the pipe or other load which the support has to carry in use can be attached to a pivoted lever of the support at various positions at different distances from the pivot. The load is attached through load connecting means to a carrier which is variably positioned on the lever. By adjusting the position of the carrier the turning moment produced on the lever by any one of a range of loads can be arranged to be equal and opposite to the turning moment produced by the spring force which acts on the lever. The facility for adjustment has the manufacturing advantage that a standard form of lever can be produced for supporting a range of loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: Salter Support Systems
    Inventor: Colin J. Salter
  • Patent number: 4194716
    Abstract: A transportation seat primarily adapted for use by an operator of a vehicle is disclosed. The seat includes an air suspension base supporting a tubular seat frame to which seat back and bench cushions are attached. A track support frame is slidably mounted on the base for stepwise fore and aft adjustment. The seat frame is secured to the track support frame by an antislap mechanism which isolates the seat frame from jarring movement of the vehicle. A side saddle adjustment mechanism supports the seat frame on the track support frame permitting stepwise transverse adjustment of the seat frame relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: American Seating Company
    Inventors: Chester J. Barecki, Larry A. Wilkerson