Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automatic seat height system that adjusts a seat height. The height of a seat is adjusted only when a calculated seat height is outside of the range of a desired seat height. The seat is adjusted only when a seat height change from the desired seat height is not due to external forces such as vibration or shock. The seat height apparatus comprises a sensor, a height adjustment apparatus, a controller and a controllable actuator all in operable communication. The controller comprises software that calculates a calculated seat height based on a measured raw seat height. The calculated seat height is a time history position value pattern. The controller then compares the calculated seat height to a desired seat height to determine a change factor. If the change factor is outside of a predetermined range, the controller directs the controllable actuator to change the height of the seat to bring it within the range.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a seat cushion of a seat on which the operator sits includes a seat frame and a pan supporting the seat cushion that is movably supported on the seat frame for movement relative to the seat frame, such as forward-backward or tilting movement. A control panel is mounted to the pan at a forward end of the pan and accessible by the operator while seated on the seat cushion. The control panel includes a housing defining a ledge that is configured so that the operator can grasp underneath the ledge with the operator's hand, with the thumb at an upper face of the control panel. An actuator button is supported on the housing at the upper face of the control panel for actuation by the thumb of the operator while grasping the ledge. A mechanism is connected to the actuator button and is configured and operable upon actuation of the actuator button to permit movement of the pan relative to said seat frame.

Abstract: A pivoting seat for a vehicle comprises a seat frame mountable to the vehicle, the seat frame including a pivot mount and a plurality of roller assemblies. A seat cushion assembly includes a seat cushion and a seat pan assembly supporting the seat cushion that is pivotably mounted to the pivot mount so that the seat cushion assembly is pivotable relative to the seat frame. The seat pan assembly includes a flat perimeter plate at an outer perimeter of the seat pan assembly, wherein each of the plurality of roller assemblies is arranged to contact the flat perimeter plate to support the seat cushion assembly while permitting pivoting of the seat cushion assembly relative to the seat frame.

Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat structure supported on a base structure and having a swivel mechanism for permitting pivoting of the seat structure, includes a seat swivel limiter that limits the swivel angle of the seat depending on the fore-aft position of the seat structure. The limiter includes a swivel stop connected to the seat structure to pivot with the seat structure and a plate connected to the base structure and arranged to be contacted by the swivel stop after the seat structure pivots through a predetermined swivel limit angle to thereby prevent further swiveling of the seat structure. In a further aspect, the swivel stop and the plate are configured to provide different swivel limit angles depending on the fore-aft location of the seat.

Abstract: A lumbar support device for a vehicle seat permits vertical and fore-aft adjustment of the support or forces exerted on the back of an operator seated on the vehicle seat. The lumbar support device includes a lumbar panel resiliently flexibly attached to the seat frame and/or seat shell to permit fore and aft movement of the lumbar panel relative to the seat back, the lumbar panel arranged to bear against the seat back, and a cam element having a cam surface bearing against the lumbar panel to apply force to the lumbar panel toward the seat back, the cam element supported on the seat frame and/or seat shell for movement relative to the lumbar panel and relative to the seat shell and/or seat frame, the cam element configured to vary the force applied to the seat back based on the movement of the cam element.

Abstract: An adjustment assembly or mechanism that permits adjustment of the height and angle of tilt of a vehicle seat includes front and rear latch gears with multiple cogs corresponding to discrete angular positions of the latch gears and consequently discrete heights of the front and rear of the adjustment assembly. The front latch gears pivot about a fixed pivot axis while the rear latch gears pivot about a sliding pivot axis to accommodate tilt angles for the seat. Torsion springs bias the four latch gears to a maximum rotation or pivot position in which the respective ends of the seat are at their highest vertical position. A spindle engages the cogs of the latch gears to hold the latch gears in a particular discrete angular position. Separate front and rear manual actuation levers at the front of the seat can be lifted to release a respective front and rear spindle from a particular cog and allow the driver to adjust the seat position.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for a fire extinguisher which has a base configured for attachment to a vehicle or seat; an endcap pivotably mounted to the base, wherein the endcap includes at least one receptacle which is configured to accommodate a fire extinguisher tank; and a neck clamp configured to engage a bottle neck on a fire extinguisher.

Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension comprises a scissors assembly connecting lower and upper housings and permitting vertical movement of the upper housing; reciprocating means; an elongated guide member; and guide engaging rollers. Laterally extending front and rear cross members engage upper ends of the scissor links. The reciprocating means allows the upper housing to move fore and aft, and includes horizontally disposed rollers supported by the scissors assembly and received within side tracks forming part of the upper housing. The guide member is mounted to the upper housing and oriented parallel to the fore and aft travel path. Two vertically disposed guide engaging rollers are mounted to the scissors assembly cross members. The guide engaging rollers cooperate with the guide member at spaced locations to stabilize the upper housing in a direction generally perpendicular to its fore and aft travel path.

Abstract: A seat suspension system for a vehicle comprising a system frame, an elongated seat bracket having one end pivotably mounted to said system frame and the opposite end adapted to support a seat, and a dampening device attached between said system frame and a location on said seat bracket between said one end and said opposite end thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle seat apparatus comprising a base, a seat, a fore and aft seat adjustment mechanism, an armrest bracket, and a fore and aft armrest adjustment mechanism. The fore and aft seat adjustment mechanism connects the seat to the base and includes seat slide rails and spacers thereby defining a vertical space between the seat and seat slide rails. The armrest bracket is positioned below the seat in the vertical space between the seat and seat slide rails and includes side supports to which armrests or armrest associated components may be mounted. The bracket also has a plurality of slots positioned coincident with the spacers of the fore and aft seat adjustment mechanism. The fore and aft armrest adjustment mechanism connects the bracket to the seat and includes a pair of armrest slide rails, whereby the position of the armrest bracket relative to the seat may be adjusted.

Abstract: An adjustable headrest and integrated seat belt D-ring for a seat including a height adjustable headrest, D-rings on either side of the headrest and attached to the headrest for unitary movement with the headrest, slots in the D-rings configured to receive harness webbing which are also slanted to accommodate spacing adjustment between the two harnesses fed through the slots.

Abstract: A seat tilt mechanism comprising a cam connected to a lever wherein the lever moves horizontally from a first position to a second position to actuate the cam; a latch configured to engage with the at least one detent and disengage with the cam when the lever is in the first position and configured to engage with the cam and disengage with the at least one detent when the lever is in the second position; said detent includes at least two positions which can be selectively engaged by the latch; and a seat rod configured for attachment between a seat frame and the at least one detent such that when the latch is engaged with the selected position, the tilt of the seat is defined.

Abstract: A seat tilt mechanism comprising a cam connected to a lever wherein the lever moves horizontally from a first position to a second position to actuate the cam; a latch configured to engage with the at least one detent and disengage with the cam when the lever is in the first position and configured to engage with the cam and disengage with the at least one detent when the lever is in the second position; said detent includes at least two positions which can be selectively engaged by the latch; and a seat rod configured for attachment between a seat frame and the at least one detent such that when the latch is engaged with the selected position, the tilt of the seat is defined.

Abstract: A seat suspension system for a vehicle comprising a system frame, an elongated seat bracket having one end pivotably mounted to said system frame and the opposite end adapted to support a seat, and a dampening device attached between said system frame and a location on said seat bracket between said one end and said opposite end thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle seat apparatus comprising a base, a seat, a fore and aft seat adjustment mechanism, an armrest bracket, and a fore and aft armrest adjustment mechanism. The fore and aft seat adjustment mechanism connects the seat to the base and includes seat slide rails and spacers thereby defining a vertical space between the seat and seat slide rails. The armrest bracket is positioned below the seat in the vertical space between the seat and seat slide rails and includes side supports to which armrests or armrest associated components may be mounted. The bracket also has a plurality of slots positioned coincident with the spacers of the fore and aft seat adjustment mechanism. The fore and aft armrest adjustment mechanism connects the bracket to the seat and includes a pair of armrest slide rails, whereby the position of the armrest bracket relative to the seat may be adjusted.

Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension comprises a scissors assembly connecting lower and upper housings and permitting vertical movement of the upper housing; reciprocating means; an elongated guide member; and guide engaging rollers. Laterally extending front and rear cross members engage upper ends of the scissor links. The reciprocating means allows the upper housing to move fore and aft, and includes horizontally disposed rollers supported by the scissors assembly and received within side tracks forming part of the upper housing. The guide member is mounted to the upper housing and oriented parallel to the fore and aft travel path. Two vertically disposed guide engaging rollers are mounted to the scissors assembly cross members. The guide engaging rollers cooperate with the guide member at spaced locations to stabilize the upper housing in a direction generally perpendicular to its fore and aft travel path.

Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension assembly comprises a base, a support member, first and second latch members, and first and second actuators. The seat support member slides forward horizontally and pivots vertically upward. The first latch member has horizontally spaced locking elements and a movable first latch cooperating with one of the locking elements to lock the support member in one of a plurality of horizontal positions. The second latch member has vertically spaced locking elements and a movable second latch cooperating with one of these locking elements to lock the support member in one of a plurality of vertical or tilted positions. The first and second actuators are mounted adjacent the front end of the support member and operatively connected to the first and second latches, respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprises a base; a seat mounted to swivel relative to the base; and a console having first and second segments, the first segment mounted to swivel with the seat relative to the base and the second segment being mounted to remain in fixed position as the seat and first console segment swivel. The console's two segments lie in a generally common horizontal plane and are separated by an arcuate spacing so that the first segment is located proximate the operator and the second segment is located distally of the operator. This arrangement of the seat assembly components allows the seated operator to rotate in the seat through a substantial arc, with the first console segment rotating as well while the second console segment remains stationary.

Abstract: In accord with the present invention, a vehicle seat suspension apparatus is provided comprising: a seat suspension base; an isolator plate disposes above the base and adapted to support a vehicle seat; means for allowing reciprocating horizontal movement of the isolator plate relative to the base; an elongated guide mounted to one of either the base or the isolator and oriented along the travel path of the isolator; and a guide engaging member mounted to the other of the base or the isolator and engaging the guide to stabilize the isolator as it moves along its travel path.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a seat and seat suspension assembly comprising a seat mounted to a seat supporting platform and suspension mechanism, the platform and suspension mechanism being rotationally mounted to a base by a pedestal so that the platform, suspension mechanism and seat may rotate through 360 degrees. The pedestal comprises two swivel housings, the first swivel housing being mounted in fixed position on the base and the second swivel housing being rotationally mounted to the first and supporting the suspension mechanism, platform and seat. A suspension spring and damper are associated with the suspension mechanism to enhance the ride characteristics of the seat, with the damper being positioned inside the pedestal and having one end connected to the first swivel housing and the other end connected to the suspension mechanism.