Relatively Movable Patents (Class 297/257)
  • Patent number: 5611589
    Abstract: A seat arrangement comprises first, second, and third groups of seats arranged lengthwise in order on a vehicle floor. Each of the second and third groups of seats includes left and right side seats arranged abreast with a center space defined therebetween. A rail structure extends longitudinally between the center space of the second group of seats and that of the third group of seats. A center seat is slidably mounted on the rail structure, so that the center seat can move between a front position where the center seat is positioned between the side seats of the second group of seats and a rear position wherein the center seat is put between the side seats of the third group of seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Fujii, Tomoki Matsubara, Mitsuru Tanaka, Naoki Sugihara
  • Patent number: 5605368
    Abstract: A vehicle having a plurality of seats is generally provided with a plurality of seatbelt units and a seat sliding device for adjusting the positions of a first seat and a second seat located rearward of the first seat. The sliding device of the present invention comprises a pair of continuous rail members for guiding the first and second seats in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle. Each of the rails extends across the first and second seats. First and second sliders on the rails carry the first and second seats, respectively, so that both the first and second seats are movable substantially throughout the lengths of the rail members in the lengthwise direction. A first and second latch mechanisms are provided for positioning the first and second seats in place on the rail members, respectively. The first and second latch mechnisms are provided on the first and second sliders so as to be moved together with the corresponding sliders, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kohji Noma, Osamu Kishi, Minoru Toyota
  • Patent number: 5597139
    Abstract: A passenger seat assembly convertible between a two-seat configuration and a three-seat configuration, including a seat assembly base and first, second and third seats for carrying respective seat bottom and seat back cushions. The first and third seats defining outboard seats are moveable on the seat assembly base and the second seat defines a center seat carried in a fixed position on the seat assembly base. A gear drive is carried by the seat assembly base and interconnects the first and third seats for simultaneous movement relative to each other and to the second seat. The first and third seats move towards each other into the two-seat configuration wherein the first and third seats encroach upon the second seat and define a dead zone between the first and third seat. The first and third seats are moveable away from each other into the three-seat configuration wherein the second seat defines a center seat having the same seating width as the first and third seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Burns Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Michael T. Beroth
  • Patent number: 5584532
    Abstract: A convertible seat with variable dimensions for public transportation, comprises back lengthening elements, association and positioning device to fit the lengthening elements on either side of the back opposite to the side-edges, and to position the lengthening elements between a retracted position corresponding to a position of minimum seat dimensions along a dimensional axis and a stretched position corresponding to a position of maximum seat dimensions along the dimensional axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle et Commerciale de Materiel Aeronautique (societe anonyme)
    Inventor: Robert R. L. Marechal
  • Patent number: 5553813
    Abstract: An airplane passenger seat row is disclosed which comprises a seat frame, which is common to all seats and which includes cross members and feet that are fixed to said cross members. Seat cushion carriers and backrests can be adjusted in their position of inclination. A section of the seat cushion carriers and a section of the backrests are designed as components which can be moved in at least two positions in the longitudinal direction of the cross members. A backrest of a center seat includes a center section located between two side sections. Each side section is assigned a locking mechanism, by means of which in the one position of the moveable components both side sections can be connected shape-lockingly to the center section, in order to form sections of the center seat, and in the second position the side sections can be connected shape-lockingly to the seats backrest which adjoin laterally the center seat, in order to form sections of both side seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Harald Merensky
  • Patent number: 5542748
    Abstract: A device for selectively anchoring a seat assembly, such as a stool or chair, relative to a fixed station, such as a gaming machine or service station. The anchoring device includes a sled or support base for the seat assembly and a quick release anchoring system or connector assembly for releasably locking the sled or support base in a desired position relative to the fixed station and limiting lateral sliding movement of the sled in its locked position. The anchoring system is operable using a very small degree of vertical lifting of the seat assembly and sled base and which is locked automatically in the mating bracket against lateral displacement from the bracket after installation of the seat assembly in the mating bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Shelby Williams Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Barile
  • Patent number: 5529376
    Abstract: A vehicle modular three-across seat, or, so-called, split bench seat assembly, including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure. Each outboard seat structure is supported on the floor of the vehicle by four corner anchors for independent forward and aft movement. The middle seat is supported in a fixed manner by four corner support brackets extending outwardly and downwardly to mount on the adjacent two pairs of front and rear corner anchors. The modular three-seat assembly is adapted to be installed as a unit in the vehicle by securing the four corner anchors of each of the two outboard seat structures to the vehicle floor pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Dragi Jovan, David A. Bargiel, Thomas J. Susko, Steven A. Schulte
  • Patent number: 5517789
    Abstract: To assure that each spectator sitting on his seat enjoys a performance in a theater or the like at his desired height, a floor height adjusting mechanism is mounted on each of a plurality of movable platforms constituting a variable floor height telescopic multi-staged spectator seating system. Usually, the floor height adjusting mechanism is constructed in the form of a threaded shaft driving unit which is composed of a motor, a threaded shaft adapted to be rotationally driven by the motor, and a support column fixedly secured to each movable platform. The lowermost end of the support column is operatively connected to the lowermost end of the threaded shaft for rotatably holding the threaded shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kotobuki
    Inventor: Noboru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 5338096
    Abstract: A locking device for a front seat of a double stroller which is capable of locking the front seat after it is turned around 180 degree from a forward position to a backward position includes two engage posts to engage or disengage from a notch of a locating block and a notch of a hook plate fixed on each of two seat locating rods of a main frame of the double stroller so as to lock or unlock the front seat immovable or movable after it is turned around.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Taiwan Charwell Enterprise, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mien-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 5284379
    Abstract: An improved convertible aircraft seating arrangement that is adapted to convert a row of seven economy class seats into a row of six business class seats, and vice versa. A pair of outboard seats (12, 20) are positioned on opposite sides of the passenger cabin (16), and a central set of seats (18) is positioned in between. In the economy class configuration, the central set consists of three seats (36, 38, 48), but is converted to two seats for the business class configuration. When making the conversion, the outboard pairs (12, 20) are slid inwardly a certain distance, and their inboard armrests (32) are extended further into the aisleway (22, 24) on each side of the central set (18). The outer, aisle seats (36, 38) against the centermost seat (48). There, they are joined to lateral sections of the centermost seat (78a, 78b), which are split apart from such seat to form wider, business class seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Arnold, Lek H. Thixton
  • Patent number: 5197776
    Abstract: A seating/bed arrangement for a motor home utilizes freestanding seats which may be moved from place to place within a recreational vehicle. The seats securable to fixed members of the vehicle by latches in various configurations, for example as an L-shaped settee, two oppositely facing seats, two one-behind-the-other seats or as a bed. A single fixed member of the vehicle and a single latch per seat may allow for the majority of the desirable configurations but an additional latch may be provided, notably for the L-shaped settee configuration. When two seats are aligned, it is possible to form at least a full sized double bed by extending the seat fortioins forwards. A table may also be utilized in the bed configuration and the table may be provided with a dual purpose leg to support the table either as a table or as part of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas H. Brown
  • Patent number: 5116100
    Abstract: An apparatus that is placed on a soft seat, such as an easy chair or sofa to help its user in being seated and in arising includes a rigid U-shaped lower frame that is spanned by a sheet of pliable material that is in contact with the seat, and further includes an upper U-shaped frame formed of tubing that is spanned by a rigid panel. The upper frame is resiliently and pivotably mounted to the lower frame by means of left and right torson springs, which apply an upward force to the rigid panel, partially offsetting the user's weight when the user is seated on the rigid panel. The apparatus is provided with left and right hand holds that permit the user to steady himself as he sits down or arises. The apparatus is stable in use and easily portable owing to its lightweight construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Inventor: Howard L. Iversen
  • Patent number: 5104065
    Abstract: Two seat assemblies are provided side-by-side, in a row, on opposite sides of an aisle (16). A first seat assembly comprises window, middle and aisle seats (RW, RM, RA) which are movable between a first narrow seat spacing and a second wider seat spacing (FIGS. 7 and 8). The second seat assembly is convertible between three seats (LA, LM, LW) with the first spacing and two seats with the larger spacing (FIGS. 7 and 8). Each seat assembly includes a tube-in-tube support frame for the seats which allows the conversion and seat size to be accomplished by a simple sliding of movement of the aisle and middle seat frames towards and away from the window seat frame which is fixed in position (FIGS. 9 and 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Daharsh, Wallace A. Peltola, James B. Sterling
  • Patent number: 5102192
    Abstract: A detachable anchoring device for a seat assembly which is attached through a support member to a substantially planar sled support base having a quick release connector assembly capable of releasably connecting the planar base in a desired position with respect to a fixed station. The quick release connector assembly includes a bracket connected to a machine or service counter and a connecting member for releasably connecting a first portion of the planar base to the bracket, the planar base remaining substantially in contact with a portion of a planar floor surface during connecting to the bracket. Locking means may be included to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the anchoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Shelby Williams Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Barile, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5096258
    Abstract: Interfitting furniture formed by the coupling together of a least two elementary pieces of furniture, each of which comprises a supporting portion and all the supporting portions are at the same height above floor level and each of them is formed by a plurality of elongated members, each of which defines with the adjacent ones a space which is substantially occupied by the corresponding elongated members of the supporting portion of other elementary pieces of furniture. Each of the elementary pieces, when slid apart for separate use, provides a furniture article having the same type of functionality as the more massive composite furniture article of which it, when reversibly assembled with one or more like or similar elementary pieces, forms a part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Luis Mestre Boix
  • Patent number: 5088135
    Abstract: The present inventon is a convertible sofa, bed and dinette facility that is designed for use in various compact areas having limited space such as commonly found in mobile recreational vehicles, and the facility being defined by two furniture units that together are adapted to be selectively arranged for use as a sofa, a bed or a table assembly. Each furniture unit comprises a frame structure having a main frame section and a secondary extendible frame section. Each furniture unit is releasably secured to a wall structure for any one of the selective arragements. One furniture unit is adapted to be rotatably slidable from one wall position to an adjacent wall. The other furniture unit is adapted to be rotated from one wall to another in such a manner as to be correspondingly arranged to the oppositely disposed furniture unit so as to define a selective mode of use while located in a given compact space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Inventor: Dennis G. Violette
  • Patent number: 5064244
    Abstract: A sectional sofa having one sofa section that includes a pair of reclining seats that are separated by a console on which push button controls are mounted that separately control the movement of the reclining seats from the upright to the reclined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: The Gentry Gallery, Inc.
    Inventor: James Sproule
  • Patent number: 5028016
    Abstract: A modular work station particularly suited for aircraft slidably mounts computer work station seats. The seats and work stations may be oriented in a modular manner with the seat orientation being directed toward the fore or aft ends of an aircraft to enhance operator comfort during long periods of flight. The seats are provided with a swivel capability of at least 180.degree. to enable ingress into a walkway. During landing and take-off, the operator seat has the capability of being latched in a forward- or rearward-facing position to enhance operator safety during these conditions. The seat is slidably mounted along a track that has rear curved portions that allow a seat to slide back to an angular orientation to facilitate an operator's ingress or egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Allan E. Kelvin, Charles M. Hammerslag
  • Patent number: 4900079
    Abstract: A system which automatically moves a drivers seat between one of a plurality of preselected driving positions and a position wherein ingress and egress is facilitated is inhibited when a passenger is seated on the seat behind the drivers one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Obara, Akira Kimitsuka, Takayuki Yanagishima
  • Patent number: 4881702
    Abstract: Aircraft passenger seat frames (60, 62, 220, 222 and 224) having legs (54, 56, 210, 212) fixed in place in the aircraft and with the seat frames. Each seat frame has generally horizontal supporting members (66, 68, 74, 76) having their opposite ends secured in seat end webs (70, 72, 78, 80). Tubes (84, 86) are associated with each of the seat end webs of the plurality of seat frames in a supporting relationship, the legs (54, 56) being connected to the tubes to support the seat frames. The tubes have a tube-in-tube slip joint (88, 90) at least at one outside end of the one seat frame on which the seat can be moved toward or away from an adjacent seat frame to change the fare class size of the set frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard J. Slettebak
  • Patent number: 4852934
    Abstract: The attitude (as well as the position) of a front one of onboard seats which are disposed one behind the other is controlled. To secure a space for allowing an occupant to be seated upon the rear seat, a retracting limit of an entire front seat and a rear tilting limit for its seat back are determined experimentarily to define an extent of variable attitudes. When an occupant is seated upon the rear seat, the attitude of the front seat is controlled responsive to a command to change the attitude while making a reference to the extent of variable attitudes. A retracting movement of the entire front seat which goes beyond the rear limit as well as a rearward tilting or reclining of the seat back of the front seat which goes beyond the rear tilting limit are both inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomio Yasuda, Kohji Aoki
  • Patent number: 4781412
    Abstract: A rotating child's seat for mounting in the seat backrest of a vehicle, which includes a rotating frame having a seat portion attached to one side thereof and a padded back portion secured to the opposite side. The rotating frame is rotatably and adjustably mounted on fixed supports located in a bifurcation provided in the center section of the seat backrest. When located in functional configuration, the seat portion of the rotating child's seat faces forwardly of the backrest at a selected angle determined by a latch mechanism and extends over the rear bench seat in the vehicle to position a child securely in the back seat of the vehicle. When the rotating child's seat is not in use, the latch mechanism is released and the rotating frame can be rotated or pivoted on pivot pins linking the rotating frame to the fixed supports, in order to position the back portion in alignment with the bifurcated backrest to accommodate one or more additional adults in the rear seat of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: Tommy E. Holman
  • Patent number: 4765678
    Abstract: A collpasible settee having a plurality of seats which are foldable into a smaller number of seats, comprising a rectangular settee frame having a substantial frame for two collapsible seat frames; both ends of the settee frame are connected to a conventional permanently upholstered frame; a crook groove is formed on each of two end walls of the settee frame at a side facing each other; two crook grooves are provided on a central wall; three longitudinal guiding blocks having channels are disposed on the settee frame; a runner longitudinally slidable on the channel is formed on each guiding block; two collapsible seat frames are disposed in two distinct interior sections of the settee frame; each collapsible seat frame has a shaft slidably received by the crook groove, a main frame, a foot-rest panel, and a back panel; and the settee is collapsible with the collapsible seat frames collapsed into folded state, the both end conventional parts of the settee are folded by sliding each end part in a direction towa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Inventor: James Huang
  • Patent number: 4699423
    Abstract: A chair system particularly useful for a dental office or other operatory wherein the head region of a subject is to be treated by a dentist or other operator, comprises a subject's chair for seating the subject in an upright position; an operator's chair for seating the operator in an upright position facing the subject; and a mounting for mounting the operator's chair at a higher elevation than the subject's chair such that the legs of the operator straddle the legs of the subject when both are seated in their respective chairs. The chair system further includes a vertically-extending barrier between the operator's chair and the subject's chair terminating below the head region of the subject when seated in the subject's chair, separating the operator from the subject but permitting free access by the operator over the top of the barrier to the head region of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Ramot University Authority for Applied Research & Industrial Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Simon Fitzig, Barry Marshak
  • Patent number: 4669780
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a plurality of power seats in a vehicle includes a plurality of power seats, each having adjusting mechanisms for configuring the power seat in a number of different operational states. Operational state detectors then detect the operational state of each power seat. A switching device is provided for adjusting the adjustment mechanisms of the power seats to a desired operational state. Control apparatus is responsive to signals output from the operation state detection devices and the switching device for controlling the adjustment mechanisms of the power seats. The control apparatus causes each power seat to reach its desired operational state in response to the detected operational state of that seat and other power seats to prevent interference among the plurality of moving power seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakakibara, Satosi Kuwakado, Toshiaki Shimogawa, Masahiro Taguchi, Sadahisa Onimaru, Toshikazu Ina
  • Patent number: 4660884
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a reclining chair which comprises a seat cushion portion and a seatback portion which are pivotally connected so as to achieve simultaneous pivoting movements thereof. A generally U-shaped pipe frame is used for holding a seat cushion sheet. The portions of side sections of the U-shaped frame are projected in a direction away from the seat cushion sheet so that upon a person sitting on the seat cushion portion, the thigh portions of the seated person do not touch the side sections of the frame thereby providing him or her with comfortable sitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mituru Terui, Masaaki Obata, Noriji Morooka
  • Patent number: 4627659
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inflatable infant's seat which can be mounted on an automobile seat and secured with an existing standard seat-belt-buckle arrangement. The infant's seat comprises a unitary structure which includes a seat portion, an upright back portion, a canopy portion, and side walls, all being inflatable by way of an air inflator valve. The seat further includes portholes in the side walls for increasing the viewing range of the infant. The standard seat belt is passed through ring openings at the side walls and secured to retain the seat. The infant's seat also includes a harness for restraining the infant. The infant's seat is safe, comfortable, and appealing to the infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: T. Ghiglia
    Inventor: Dennis E. Hall
  • Patent number: 4542936
    Abstract: A doctor-patient seating arrangement as might for example be used by a chiropractor during examination of a patient's back is disclosed in a form having a single base or pedestal from which a pair of upright seat support members extend with each upright member providing a degree of vertical adjustability to its respective supported seat. The seats themselves are of the backless variety, i.e., stools with the patient's stool being swivelable centrally about its upright support member while the doctor's stool is supported on an obliquely extending arm so as to be movable in an arc around the other upright support member. The other upright support member is located near the patient's back so that the doctor may move in an arc about the patient examining the sides as well as the central portion of the patient's back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Inventor: David M. Gafken
  • Patent number: 4500134
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to improvements in a dental treatment chair assembly including a unit table having various instruments attached thereto in combination with a unit arm mechanism. The assembly is so constructed that the unit arm mechanism is made slidable in the direction of the mechanism crossing (preferably at right angles with) the body axis of the chair. Such construction makes it possible to meet the convenience of both a doctor and a nurse in their operation of the instruments in dental treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Morita Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kaneko, Jun Tamura
  • Patent number: 4341415
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a vehicle structure that provides for flexible seat rearrangement capability in which the second of two rows of tandem, rotatable seats are mounted on rails. The rails for one of the second rows of seats are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The rails for the other of the second row seats extend across the vehicle at an angle of about 60.degree. to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. These angularly disposed rails, moreover, extend to the front of the longitudinal rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Assignee: Westfalia-Werke Franz Knobel & Sohne KG
    Inventors: Dieter Braun, Peter-Michael Hubner