Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle seat comprising: a seat, an electric motor for moving the seat or a part of the seat, and a control device configured for measuring/detecting at least one operating parameter of the motor among the voltage and/or the current of the motor and/or the speed of the motor, when the seat or the part of the seat is moving along a movement path when actuated by the motor, the control device being configured for ensuring that the motor is stopped when the at least one parameter of the current measurement crosses at least one threshold.

Abstract: An adjustable sofa-bed assembly for use within a vehicle such as a van or RV. The sofa-bed includes a seat portion, a back portion, and either a permanently fixed base or a removable leg portion which allows the legs to be installed into the vehicle prior to installing the seat and back portions to allow for additional elements to be installed beneath the sofa-bed, such as power elements for a powered sofa-bed assembly or for other equipment. The sofa-bed can be transformed from a sofa configuration with an upright back portion to a bed configuration with a laid-flat back portion. When in the bed configuration, the seat portion and back portion are aligned such that there is no gap between the two portions and the two portions lie completely flat, forming a complete bed assembly.

Abstract: Passenger seating arrangements are detailed. At least some arrangements permit each passenger to access an aisle of a vessel without contacting an adjacent passenger. Movable footwells may be utilized to floor-level access when retracted and function as steps when extended as a seat is converted to a bed. This structure authorizes decrease in seat pitch without decrease of bed length, permitting additional seating to be included in a cabin of a vessel without diminishment of passenger comfort.

Abstract: A berth sleeper system including a platform portion and a seat portion, the seat portion defining an axis of rotation and being rotatable relative to the platform portion about the axis of rotation, wherein the seat portion includes a seat base, a backrest and a recline mechanism, the recline mechanism supporting the seat base and the backrest in an upright configuration and a horizontal configuration, wherein the seat base is substantially co-planar with the platform portion, while the backrest is disposed at an angle relative to the seat base in the upright configuration, and wherein the seat base and the backrest are substantially co-planar with the platform portion in the horizontal configuration.

Abstract: In a block of two seats side by side which can be converted individually between a chair configuration and a horizontal flat bed configuration, the two seats are arranged and oriented substantially in the same direction, the longitudinal axes of each of the seats in the bed configuration converge towards a point situated behind the seats at a distance such that upper parts of the seat backs and of the head rests are superposed in a head area of the block. The bed planes of the seats of a block are vertically offset and extended by rest surfaces of the foot areas arranged in lateral columns arranged to the sides of the head area in the region of the rear shell of a block situated in front, allowing to reduce the seat pitch without affecting comfort and allowing an improved layout of a cabin for transporting passengers.

Abstract: A boat seat assembly having a seating platform including first and second seat bottoms and first and second seat backs, a seat mechanism for moving the seating platform between the flat position and the seating position, a base supporting the mechanism, and a positioning system for maintaining the seating platform in the seating position and for allowing the seat platform to move to the flat position. The seat mechanism includes a track and first and second sliders supported by the track for rectilinear movement for moving the seating platform between the seating position and the flat position. The positioning system includes a locking device for locking the first slider in various rectilinear positions relative to the track.

Abstract: A boat seat assembly having a seating platform including first and second seat bottoms and first and second seat backs, a seat mechanism for moving the seating platform between the flat position and the seating position, a base supporting the mechanism, and a positioning system for maintaining the seating platform in the seating position and for allowing the seat platform to move to the flat position. The seat mechanism includes a track and first and second sliders supported by the track for rectilinear movement for moving the seating platform between the seating position and the flat position. The positioning system includes a locking device for locking the first slider in various rectilinear positions relative to the track.

Abstract: A boat seat assembly having a seating platform including first and second seat bottoms and first and second seat backs, a seat mechanism for moving the seating platform between the flat position and the seating position, a base supporting the mechanism, and a positioning system for maintaining the seating platform in the seating position and for allowing the seat platform to move to the flat position. The seat mechanism includes a track and first and second sliders supported by the track for rectilinear movement for moving the seating platform between the seating position and the flat position. The positioning system includes a locking device for locking the first slider in various rectilinear positions relative to the track.

Abstract: An aircraft seat assembly 10 is provided including a plurality of aircraft seat elements 12. The aircraft seat assembly 10 includes a first aircraft seat element 18, having a first seat portion 16 and a first back portion 18. The first back portion 18 includes a lower back portion 22 and an upper back portion 24. The lower back portion 22 is rotatable between a raised position 26, wherein the lower back portion 22 is tangential with the upper back portion 24 to form a contiguous back rest 29, and a lowered position 28, wherein the lower back portion 22 is tangential with the first seat portion 16 to form an extended horizontal sleeping platform 32.

Abstract: The seat has moving parts, at least one actuator, and a control unit. The control unit comprises: tracking means for tracking the current position of each actuator; and management means for managing the control of each actuator. The management means comprise: computation means for computing the current position of a critical point of the seat; evaluation means for evaluating the current position of each critical point of the seat relative to a boundary; and control means for controlling at least one actuator independently of the control selected by the user.

Abstract: A device for actuating a seat element includes an actuator fitted with a transducer delivering a state information representative of the current position of the actuator and a unit for controlling the actuator which includes a device for registering and for storing several reference state informations each representative of a position of the actuator for an identified position of the element and a device for driving the actuator so as to move the seat element towards several target positions. The control unit is adapted so as, when a movement towards a predetermined target position is commanded, to activate the actuator until the current reference state information delivered by the transducer is equal to the reference state information stored for the position of the commanded element.

Abstract: A kit for adding a reclining seat to a wheelchair, comprising a stationary seat frame for mounting to a base frame of the wheelchair, a seat for mounting to the stationary seat frame, the seat having a seat portion and a back portion pivotally mounted to said seat portion, and an actuator mounted on the seat for causing the back portion of said seat to change angle relative to said stationary seat frame, a sliding connector for slidably mounting said seat portion to said stationary seat frame, and means for sliding said seat on said stationary seat frame along said sliding connector without changing height as the actuator causes the angle of the back portion to change, wherein said kit, when mounted on a wheelchair, compensates for a change in an occupant's center of gravity by sliding said seat portion on said stationary seat frame as said back portion changes angle.

Abstract: A seating unit (1) comprises a fixed housing (10) containing a primary seat with a reclinable back arranged to recline in such a manner that it remains within the housing. The seating unit is suitable for a aircraft cabin and may further comprise a leg-rest arranged to cooperate with the seating portion to form part of a substantially flat surface when the back is reclined in a substantially horizontal position. The seating unit may further comprise a secondary seat (3) positioned to face the primary seat, the secondary seat having a seating portion positioned to cooperate with the leg-rest of the primary seat to form a portion of the substantially flat surface when the back of the primary seat is reclined in the substantially horizontal position. Privacy between seats and use of available space within an aircraft cabin may be optimised by arranging at least some of the seats in an echelon.

Abstract: A recliner chair which converts from a chair configuration to a bed configuration in a single motion. The chair includes a frame, a seat, a back, an intermediate member and a linkage which provides the conversion from chair configuration to bed configuration upon forward movement of the seat relative to the frame. The linkage is comprised of two crossed links, each pivotally attached to the frame, one of which is slideably connected to the underside of the seat, the other of which is pivotally attached to the intermediate member. The links are interconnected by a bushing which is slideably attached to one link and rotatably attached to the other link.

Abstract: A fold-down seat frame for a motor vehicle is provided. The seat includes a seat bottom disposed in a predominantly horizontal position and a seat back adapted for movement between a predominantly vertical seating position and a predominantly horizontal reclined position. The seat back and seat bottom share an adjacent edge that forms a vertex between the two. An auxiliary section is adapted for movement between a seated position and a reclined position. When in the seated position, the auxiliary section is located substantially below the seat bottom, and when in the reclined position, the auxiliary section is interposed between the seat back and seat bottom and aligned in substantially horizontal fashion therewith. A hinging assembly interconnects the seat back, and the seat bottom, and the auxiliary section and operates to controllably and concertedly move the seat back, the seat bottom, and auxiliary section between the seated and reclined positions.

Abstract: A fold-down seat frame for a motor vehicle is provided. The seat includes a seat bottom disposed in a predominantly horizontal position and a seat back adapted for movement between a predominantly vertical seating position and a predominantly horizontal reclined position. The seat back and seat bottom share an adjacent edge that forms a vertex between the two. An auxiliary section is adapted for movement between a seated position and a reclined position. When in the seated position, the auxiliary section is located substantially below the seat bottom, and when in the reclined position, the auxiliary section is interposed between the seat back and seat bottom and aligned in substantially horizontal fashion therewith. A hinging assembly interconnects the seat back, and the seat bottom, and the auxiliary section and operates to controllably and concertedly move the seat back, the seat bottom, and auxiliary section between the seated and reclined positions.

Abstract: A lay down seat mechanism for a seating system having a front seat that is mounted on a support structure raised above the aircraft floor and having a foot rest that is raised above the aircraft floor and a back seat that is pivoted from an upright seating position behind the front seat to a fully reclined position extending beneath the raised front seat.

Abstract: A seal is provided for containing fluid (either gaseous or liquid fluids) under variable pressure in a pressurized region to prevent leakage into a less pressurized region. First and second interfacing seal members are provided and adapted to slidably engage one another at an interface region during makeup of the seal apparatus. A seal region is carried by the first seal member at the interface region and composed of a deformable material. A seal bead is carried at the interface region by the second seal member and protrudes therefrom. The seal bead is composed of a material less malleable than the seal region for seating in the seal region. At least a portion of the second seal member adjacent the seal bead forms a containment barrier with the pressurized region on one side and the less-pressurized region on the opposite side.

Abstract: An articulated back-to-back fold-down chair seat and side-rail track construction wherein the seats are mounted on slides which telescopically engage associated rails affixed to a chair platform support. The rails and slides have an interfitting cross-sectional configuration. Each seat has a stop with a dependent leg protruding downwardly within the confines of the platform to limit the movement of the chair in the fold-down couch position.

Abstract: A sofa bed combination is shown of the type adapted to be mounted in the interior of an automotive van. The sofa bed includes a front cushion, a rear cushion and an intermediate cushion. The sofa bed cushions are pivotally mounted on a rigid frame which is affixed to the van interior. The linkage means allows the intermediate cushion to be pivoted between an upright position which forms a seat back with respect to the front cushion and a folded down position which is in the same horizontal plane as the front and rear cushions to form a bed.

Abstract: A convertible seat that can convert from a seat to a bed, which includes a coupling pivotally connecting the seat bottom to the seat back, the coupling being longitudinally slideable along a track of the base to facilitate conversion between seat and bed configurations.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having seat and back members pivotally connected to each other and movably mounted on a frame for movement between a seat-defining position in which the seat member is generally horizontal and the back member is upright and a bed-defining position in which the members are in general horizontal side-by-side positions. The seat member is slidably mounted on the frame by a pair of track portions that enable the horizontal reciprocal movement of the seat member between a rearward location in the seat defining position of the vehicle seat assembly and a forward location in the bed defining position of the vehicle seat assembly. A link member connects the rear member with the frame so that in response to forward movement of the seat member, the link member serves to pivot the back member rearwardly and downwardly to the horizontal position.

Abstract: A lounge for recreational vehicles comprises a pair of bench-type seats with backs adjustable to upright, reclining or horizontal positions. The seat frame portions are mounted on telescoping sliding tube assemblies cooperating with the base frame to enable each bench-type seat to be moved horizontally together to form a bed, with the seat backs in the horizontal position. The telescoping tube portion of the seat frame is normally latched in place in the unextended position, and a single control lever selectively adjusts the seat back rake or releases the latch holding the telescoping portion in place.

Abstract: A seat-bed unit is provided in which at each end, first and second arms are respectively pivotal on a first stationary axis close to a floor and a second stationary axis behind the first axis and preferably spaced upwardly from the floor. The rearward end of a seat frame and the lower end of a back frame are pivotally connected to each other and to the upper end of the first arm, while a connection is provided between the back frame and the upper end of the second arm, preferably including a short link which is pivotally connected at its forward end to the back frame and at its rearward end to the upper end of the second arm. Preferably, a second link is provided between intermediate portions of the first and second arms with stop pins on the first and second arms engagable with the second link.

Abstract: A convertible sofa bed particularly adapted for use in recreational vehicles. The bed includes a frame, a seat portion, and a back portion pivotally connected to the seat portion for movement between a horizontal and an upright position. A pair of pivot assemblies at opposite sides of the seat frame each includes front and rear pivot arms, one attached to the seat portion and the other to the back portion. A connecting link attached to the arms constrains them against movement independently of one another. The arms and connecting link are arranged and oriented to pivot one way to project the seat portion forwardly and move the back portion to a horizontal position to form a bed. Pivoting them the opposite way retracts the seat portion and moves the back portion to an upright position, converting the structure from a bed to a sofa.