US3744844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable seat having a hydro-pneumatic spring mechanism
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1971-06-24
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable seat having a hydro-pneumatic spring mechanism which includes a cylinder connected to a seat back, a piston axially slidable in the cylinder, a piston rod projecting forwardly from the piston and connected to a seat structure and a valve connected to the piston rod to operatively engage with the piston. The cylinder has formed in its cylinder bore a gas compartment filled with a gas under pressure and a liquid compartment in which the piston and the valve are located. The cylinder together with the piston is rotatable relative to the piston rod through threads formed on the connecting portions of the piston and the piston rod, causing the cylinder to axially move relative to the seat so that the seat back is angularly moved between upright and reclining positions. Arrangements may be made to prevent the piston from being over-screwed and consequently sticking to the piston rod due to application of excess torque to the cylinder. Such arrangements include means to limit the angle of rotation of the cylinder or means to cause the valve to be deformed elastically when depressed by the piston.
Inventors
- 👤 S Sakai
- 👤 M Otaki
- 👤 K Maemori
- 👤 M Nomaki
- 👤 N Hozumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:49
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C1/00; A47C1/02; A47C1/022; A47C1/024; A47C1/0244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
An adjustable seat comprising: a seat structure, a seat back tiltably mounted on said seat structure, a pivot support member secured to said seat back to permit angular movement of the seat back forwardly or backwardly relative to said seat structure, and a hydro-pneumatic spring mechanism interconnecting said seat back and said pivotal support member comprising a cylinder closed at one end by an end wall and at the opposite end by an annular end plug, a piston slidable in said cylinder and having means therein defining a passage extending from one face of the piston to the other, a piston rod projecting from said piston and connected at its forward end to said seat structure through said annular end plug, said piston being rotatably connected to said piston rod relative to the piston rod, a valve member mounted on said piston rod and seated on an outer face of said piston and configured to close and open said passage as said piston is rotated with said cylinder relatively to said piston rod, partition means axially slidably mounted in said cylinder to divide the cylinder bore into a gas compartment filled with a pressurized gas and a liquid compartment filled with a liquid and accommodating therein said piston and said valve member, a connecting rod to which said cylinder is rotatably connected through said end wall and which is pivotally connected to said pivotal support member, spring means biasing said cylinder to a locked condition, an adjustment lever connected to said cylinder for rotating said cylinder to an unlocked condition against the action of said spring means, and means for preventing said valve member from stiffly seating on the outer face of said piston when said cylinder is rotated to the locked condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
An adjustable seat comprising: a seat structure, a seat back tiltably mounted on said seat structure, a pivot support member secured to said seat back to permit angular movement of the seat back forwardly or backwardly relative to said seat structure, and a hydro-pneumatic spring mechanism interconnecting said seat back and said pivotal support member comprising a cylinder closed at one end by an end wall and at the opposite end by an annular end plug, a piston slidable in said cylinder and having means therein defining a passage extending from one face of the piston to the other, a piston rod projecting from said piston and connected at its forward end to said seat structure through said annular end plug, said piston being rotatably connected to said piston rod relative to the piston rod, a valve member mounted on said piston rod and seated on an outer face of said piston and configured to close and open said passage as said piston is rotated with said cylinder relatively to said piston rod, partition means axially slidably mounted in said cylinder to divide the cylinder bore into a gas compartment filled with a pressurized gas and a liquid compartment filled with a liquid and accommodating therein said piston and said valve member, a connecting rod to which said cylinder is rotatably connected through said end wall and which is pivotally connected to said pivotal support member, spring means biasing said cylinder to a locked condition, an adjustment lever connected to said cylinder for rotating said cylinder to an unlocked condition against the action of said spring means, and means for preventing said valve member from stiffly seating on the outer face of said piston when said cylinder is rotated to the locked condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 1, in which said pressurized gas is a nitrogen gas under pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said last named means comprises a pair or spaced limbs projecting from said adjustment lever and rotatable with said cylInder as said adjustment lever is moved, and a member interposed between said limbs and disposed stationary in a direction parallel to said limbs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said last named means includes a bifurcated member having spaced limbs and mounted securely on said end wall of said cylinder with said limbs extending substantially perpendicularly to an axis of said cylinder and wherein said adjustment lever comprises a grip portion located adjacent said cylinder, an upright portion merging from said grip portion and directed substantially at a right angle to said cylinder, said upright portion terminating at a predetermined spacing from an outer peripheral surface of said cylinder, a curved or bent portion merging from said upright portion and extending over the outer peripheral surface of said cylinder, and a straight portion merging from said curved or bent portion and extending in a direction substantially parallel to said axis of the cylinder, said straight portion being pivotally connected at its leading end to a pivotal stud and loosely interposed between said spaced limbs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein said spacing is predetermined in relation to the spacing between said limbs and an operating torque to be required to smoothly rotate said cylinder and piston relatively to said piston rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means comprise resilient means connecting said valve member to said piston rod so as to permit said valve member to be deformed toward said annular end wall when an excess driving force is transferred to the valve member through said cylinder to forcefully press said piston against said piston rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein said piston has an annular projection directed toward said valve member to abut against an inner face of said valve member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein a sealing ring is mounted between said valve member and said piston.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resilient means comprises means inserted into said valve member and said piston rod through aligned holes formed therein at substantially right angles to the axis of said cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 9, wherein said last-mentioned means includes a hollow cylindrical member having formed therein a slot extending longitudinally throughout said cylindrical member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein said slot is meandering from one end of said cylindrical member to the other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein said slot is formed straight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein said resilient means comprises at least one spring washer mounted on an outer face of said valve member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 13, wherein said spring washer is connected to said valve member through a reduced portion of said piston rod.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 13, wherein said spring washer is connected to said valve member by a collar mounted on said piston rod through a knock pin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cup-shaped member securely mounted on said end wall of the cylinder to have its open end directed axially outwardly, a ball member positioned in said cup-shaped member, ball seat means fast on said end wall and on which said ball member is seated, and a ball retainer interposed in said cup-shaped member and having formed in its inner wall a recess for capturing said ball member therein, said ball retainer being connected to said pivotal member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 16, wherein said ball seat means are made of a rigid, abrasion-free and easy-to-slip material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An adjustable seat as claimed in claim 16, wherein said ball seat means is integral with a gas inlet plug mounted on said end wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |