Abstract: A tethered vehicle operator's seat assembly which includes a sub-frame slidably mounted on a pedestal, a seat support frame supporting an operator's seat, an operator's seat belt for the seat, and a tether belt is connected between the seat and the slidable sub-frame for absorbing the load on the seat belt when the operator lunges forward during a sudden stop, for example, and regardless of the position of the slidable sub-frame relative to the pedestal. Tubular guides are located between the sub-frame and the pedestal, and are dimensioned so as to provide a wide range of fore and aft movement for said seat assembly.

Abstract: An earth working vehicle such as a backhoe having an earth working bucket to form an excavation in the ground at the rear end of the vehicle and the operator must visually observe the excavation being done, a tiltable seat assembly including a seat support frame, an operator's seat secured to said frame, a resilient support for supporting said seat on said frame, a pivot support for pivotally connecting the support frame about a transverse horizontal axis to the vehicle to permit the support frame, the seat and the resilient support to tilt as a unit about the transverse axis and consequently tilt an operator in the seat for better visibility of the area being excavated.

Abstract: A resiliently suspended, tiltable and tethered vehicle operator's seat assembly which includes a sub-frame slidably mounted on a pedestal, a seat support frame resiliently supporting an operator's seat, the seat support frame being pivotally mounted about a transverse horizontal axis to the slidable sub-frame to permit the seat support frame and its resiliently mounted seat to tilt as a unit about the transverse axis; and a tether belt is connected between the seat and the slidable sub-frame for limiting the tilting movement of the seat support frame, the seat and the resilient support regardless of the position of the slidable sub-frame relative to the pedestal.

Abstract: A foam article suitable for use as a seat cushion includes a supportive bottom layer of firm high density foam, a comfortable top layer of soft low density foam and a border or side wall of foam of intermediate density. The foam article has a sag factor of about 4.5 to about 6.5, and the foam layers and the side wall are bonded together without employing adhesives. A method of preparing the foam article also is disclosed.

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.

Abstract: An arm-rest for a vehicle seat comprises an arm-rest carrier confined to substantially translatory vertical motion and an arm-rest member pivoted to the arm-rest carrier to tilt between a normal horizontal orientation and an out-of-the-way vertical orientation. A pawl and ratchet mechanism defines several positions of heightwise adjustment of the arm-rest carrier, at each of which it is held against descent, but is can be readily raised from a lower to an upper limit of its vertical motion. At said upper limit a pawl latch captivates the pawl, holding it away from the ratchet to permit descent of the arm-rest carrier. At said lower limit the pawl latch is disengaged from the pawl, which re-engages the ratchet.

Abstract: A hydraulic seat cushioning device comprising a cylinder body and a piston has a concentric post-like upward projection in the cylinder body with a cylindrical surface in which there are a pressure fluid port and a vent port. An annular valving element closely slidably surrounding the post-like portion covers those ports when in a normal position but uncovers the vent port when above that position and uncovers the pressure fluid port when below it. The piston is so connected with the valving element as to move independently thereof in a lower portion of its stroke, but through the remainder of the piston stroke the valving element is constrained to move with the piston.

Abstract: Clamping mechanism for a mold having hingedly connected upper and lower mold members comprises an elongated handle pivoted at one end to the upper mold member to have its opposite end swing from a clamping position in which the handle overlies the upper mold member, to and beyond an upwardly projecting intermediate position. Overlying the pivoted end portion of the handle when the mold is closed is a reaction member having a downwardly facing camming reaction surface and an upwardly facing fulcrum reaction surface. An eccentric cam element on the pivoted end portion of the handle engages the camming reaction surface to clamp the mold shut as the handle is swung towards its clamping position.

Abstract: A multidensity polyurethane foam article suitable for use as a seat cushion includes a supportive layer of firm foam and a comfortable layer of softer foam. The multidensity article has a sag factor of about 3.0 to about 4.5, and the two foam layers are bonded together without employing adhesives.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat assembly including a seat pan, a backrest assembly including a backrest pan, a backrest height adjustment mechanism connected between the seat pan and the backrest pan and including a height adjustment knob, and a backrest tilt adjustment mechanism connected between the seat pan and the backrest pan and including a tilt adjustment knob. The backrest pan can be tilted regardless of its vertical position relative to the seat pan and can be moved vertically regardless of its tilted position relative to the seat pan. The tilt adjustment mechanism further includes a connector assembly connected to and tiltable in response to rotation of the tilt adjustment knob and including a pair of relatively slideable connector members, one of the connector members being connected to the tilt adjustment knob and the other of the connector members being connected to the backrest pan.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart support plates, a pair of laterally spaced apart arm rests, and independently adjustable arm rest support assemblies for adjustably supporting each arm rest on an associated support plate so that each arm rest can be shifted and also pivoted to different positions in a vertical plane. Each arm rest assembly comprises a pair of elongated support links; a link plate; and pivot means for pivotably connecting the link plate and one end of one elongated support link to the arm rest whereby the arm rest can be pivoted to different positions thereabout. The other elongated support link has one end pivotally connected to the link plate and its other end pivotally connected to the support plate.

Abstract: A vehicle seat backrest assembly comprises a backrest pan, a rod in front of the pan, and a resilient sponge rubber pad overlying the rod and pan. Adjustable lumbar support means between the resilient pad and pan comprises: a support frame mounted on the rod, a manually operable adjustment lever pivotally connected to the support frame and extending across the frame and out through a slot in the backrest pan, a lumbar support member in the form of a generally rectangular resilient flexible forwardly convex grid having its lower edge connected to the support plate and having its upper edge connected to the lever, whereby raising or lowering of the lever causes a decrease or increase, respectively, in the convexity of the lumbar support member and the overlying pad. Interengageable bosses on the frame and the lever and biasing means maintain the lever in selected positions.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat assembly including a seat pan and a foam rubber block overlying the seat pan. Seat rake adjustment means are provided to vertically adjust (raise and lower) the forward part of the foam rubber block and comprises: a rake adjustment plate located between the forward part of the seat pan and the foam rubber block, a hinge connecting the rear of the rake adjustment plate to the seat pan, a flange plate connected to and extending downwardly from the rake adjustment plate through a slot in the seat pan, a pair of parallel serrated diagonal slots in the flange plate, and a horizontally shiftable lever at the front edge of the seat pan having a pair of pins which extend through the slots and rest on the seat pan and serve to raise and lower the rake adjustment plate as the lever is shifted.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat pan, a backrest pan, and a pair of connector plates connected to opposite lateral sides of the seat pan. Backrest height adjustment means are connected between the connector plates and the backrest pan to enable the backrest pan to be raised or lowered vertically to desired positions relative to the seat pan wherein it then becomes locked.

Abstract: A seat supporting assembly for use in recreational vehicles such as motorcycles or the like and which includes pivotable arms between the vehicle frame and the seat for supporting the seat for generally linear vertical movement and further includes a spring assembly resiliently supporting the seat. The spring assembly can be pivoted to a different inclined position to adjust the resilient effect of the spring assembly and thereby compensate for riders of different weights. A generally flat, telescoping strut is utilized for preventing relative rotation between supporting shafts, which shafts have seat supporting springs located between them. The strut also prevents the springs from buckling by preventing such rotation of their shafts. The generally flat, telescoping strut, which also serves as an upper stop means for the seat, eliminates the necessity for a conventional spring strut and permits the load to be all imposed on rearwardly located spring means.

Abstract: A seat supporting assembly for resiliently supporting a vehicle seat which finds particular utility in tractors or other off-the-road vehicles. The seat supporting assembly includes an adjusting means, readily accessible to the operator and by which he can adjust both the height of the seat and the up-stop limit of the seat. A spring loaded mechanism is provided for the adjusting means which includes a pair of arms that have interengaging means that equalize movement of the adjusting mechanism.

Abstract: A seat supporting assembly for use in vehicles and the like for resiliently supporting a seat. The seat supporting assembly includes a base which is to be secured to the vehicle and a seat support positioned vertically above the base and resiliently supported by a coil spring. The seat supporting assembly also includes a ride height adjustment assembly and an adjustable vertical movement stop assembly for limiting the upward vertical movement of the seat support. The ride height adjustment assembly includes a plurality of pivotable links extending between the coil spring and the seat support. The links are connected by means of a threaded shaft and are relatively movable at their upper ends to cause vertical extension of the height adjustment assembly thereby causing variation in the height of the seat support. The threaded shaft projects forwardly from under the seat support and is readily accessible to the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A seat supporting assembly for use in recreational vehicles such as motorcycles or the like. The seat supporting assembly includes a plurality of pivotable arms extending between the vehicle frame and the vehicle seat for supporting the seat for generally linear vertical movement and further includes a spring assembly resiliently supporting the seat. The spring assembly can be pivotably moved to a plurality of varied inclined positions to permit adjustment of the resilient effect of the spring assembly to compensate for riders of different weights.

Abstract: A seat supporting assembly for use in vehicles such as tractors or the like wherein the seat is surrounded in relatively close relationship by obstructions such as controls which make it difficult for the vehicle operator to get into and out of the seat. The seat supporting assembly provides means for supporting the vehicle seat such that the seat may be moved rearwardly and then rotated to permit access to or egress from the seat. The assembly also provides means which prevent rotation of the seat unless it has been moved to its furthest rearward position. The seat supporting assembly further includes means to facilitate vertical adjustment of the seat and to secure the seat in its desired vertical position.

Abstract: A seat suspension system for use on a tractor or the like including an air bag means for resiliently supporting a seat and a shock absorber positioned generally vertically but at an incline between the seat and a base frame and functioning to dampen the vertical oscillation of the seat. The shock absorber is pivotably supported to permit variation in its inclination and consequent variation in its damping effect on the relative vertical motion of the seat. A readily accessible adjusting means is provided for changing the relative inclination of the shock absorber and includes a pivotable bellcrank positioned beneath the front portion of the seat and having one lever arm connected to the upper end of the shock absorber. The other lever arm of the bellcrank is accessible to the tractor operator to permit pivotal movement of the bellcrank.