Position adjustable support mechanism

Claim 2

An adjustable seat comprising a seat rest and a seat support mechanism, said seat support mechanism comprising; a base structure; a front rotatable shaft and a rear rotatable shaft each rotatably mounted on said base structure; a frame structure supporting thereon said seat rest and having a front cross member and a rear cross member each connected to said seat rest, first connecting means connecting said front cross member to said front rotatable shaft and second connecting means connecting said rear cross member to said rear rotatable shaft, each of said cross members being raised or lowered as its associated rotatable shaft is rotated through an angular displacement; and a pair of hydropneumetic springs each connected to one of said rotatable shafts for angular displacement thereof, each comprising a rotatable hollow cylinder having means defining an opening in one end, a piston axially moveable in said cylinder and rotatable with said cylinder, said piston dividing said cylinder into a first compartment and a second compartment, a partition member axially slidable in said cylinder and dividing said second compartment into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber containing a pressurized gas having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure and said second chamber and said first compartment containing a liquid, means defining a passageway in said piston for providing fluid communication between said first compartment and said second chamber, a piston rod rotatably connected at one end to said piston and projecting axially therefrom and extending through said first compartment and said opening in said cylinder and connected at its other end to one of said rotatable shafts, a valve member secured to said piston rod for opening and closing said passageway, and a valve actuating means connected to an exterior surface of said cylinder for manual rotation of same and said piston relative to said valve actuating means thereby opening and closing said passageway to enable or prevent fluid communication between said second Chamber and said first compartment to effect axial movement of said piston and said piston rod in said cylinder thereby effecting rotation of said rotatable shaft and adjustment of said seat rest.

Claim 3

An adjustable seat according to claim 1, wherein the end of said piston rod connected to said rotatable shaft has a bifurcated end portion for connecting said piston rod to said shaft.

Claim 4

An adjustable seat according to claim 2, wherein said connecting means connecting said front cross member and said front rotatable shaft comprises a first lever projecting outwardly from said front cross member, a second lever projecting outwardly from said front rotatable shaft, and a connecting member pivotally connected to each of said first lever and said second lever.

Claim 5

An adjustable seat according to claim 3, wherein said connecting means connecting said rear cross member and said rear rotatable shaft comprises a first lever projecting outwardly from said rear cross member and a second lever projecting outwardly from said rear rotatable shaft and pivotally secured to said first lever.

Claim 6

An adjustable seat having a seat rest, a seat back which is tiltable with respect to said seat rest and a seat support mechanism, comprising, in combination: a base structure; a front rotatable shaft and a rear rotatable shaft each rotatably mounted on said base structure; a frame structure for supporting thereon said seat rest and having a pair of spaced side members, a lateral member integral with said side members, and a front cross member and a rear cross member secured to said side members, first connecting means connecting said front cross member to said front rotatable shaft, and second connecting means connecting said rear cross member to said rear rotatable shaft, each of said cross members being raised or lowered as its associated rotatable shaft is rotated through an angular displacement; a pair of spaced bell crank levers pivotally connected respectively to said side members and having a lower arm portion and an upper arm portion secured to said seat back; a first pair of hydro-pneumatic springs each connected to one of said rotatable shafts for angular displacement thereof; and a second pair of hydro-pneumatic springs each connected to one of said lower arm portion of said bell crank levers, each of said hydro-pneumatic springs comprising a rotatable hollow cylinder having means defining an opening in one end, a piston axially movable in said cylinder and rotatable with said cylinder, said piston dividing said cylinder into a first compartment and a second compartment, a partition member axially slidable in said cylinder and dividing said second compartment into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber containing a pressurized gas having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and said second chamber and said first compartment containing a liquid, means defining a passageway in said piston for providing fluid communication between said first compartment and said second chamber, a piston rod rotatably connected at one end to said piston and projecting axially therefrom and extending through said first compartment and said opening in said cylinder and connected at its other end to one of said rotatable shafts, a valve member secured to said piston rod for opening and closing said passageway, and a valve actuating means connected to an exterior surface of said cylinder for manual rotation of same and said piston relative to said valve actuating means thereby opening and closing said passageway to enable or prevent fluid communication between said second chamber and said first compartment to effect axial movement of said piston and said piston rod in said tube, and said piston rods of said first pair of hydro-pneumatic springs effects rotation of its associated rotatable shaft to adjust said seat rest and said piston rods of said second pair of hydro-pneumatic springs connected to its associated bell crank lever effects pivotal rotation of said bell crank lever to adjusT said seat back.

Claim 7

An adjustable seat having a seat rest, a seat back which is tiltable with respect to said seat rest and a seat support mechanism, comprising, in combination: a base structure; a front rotatable shaft and a rear rotatable shaft each rotatably mounted on said base structure; a frame structure for supporting thereon said seat rest and having a pair of spaced side members, a lateral member integral with said side members, and a front cross member and a rear cross member secured to said side members, first connecting means connecting said front cross member to said front rotatable shaft, and second connecting means connecting said rear cross member to said rear rotatable shaft, each of said cross members being raised or lowered as its associated rotatable shaft is rotated through an angular displacement; a pair of spaced bell crank levers pivotally connected respectively to said side members and having a lower arm portion and an upper arm portion secured to said seat back; a first pair of hydro-pneumatic springs each connected to one of said rotatable shafts for angular displacement thereof; and a second pair of hydro-pneumatic springs each connected to one of said lower arm portion of said bell crank levers, each of said hydro-pneumatic springs comprising a rotatable hollow cylinder having means defining an opening in one end, a piston axially movable in said cylinder and rotatable with said cylinder, said piston dividing said cylinder into a first compartment and a second compartment, a partition member axially slidable in said cylinder and dividing said second compartment into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber containing a pressurized gas having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and said second chamber and said first compartment containing a liquid, means defining a passageway in said piston for providing fluid communication between said first compartment and said second chamber, a piston rod rotatably connected at one end to said piston and projecting axially therefrom and extending through said first compartment and said opening in said cylinder and connected at its other end to one of said rotatable shafts, a valve member secured to said piston rod for opening and closing said passageway, and a valve actuating means connected to an exterior surface of said cylinder for manual rotation of same and said piston relative to said valve actuating means thereby opening and closing said passageway to enable or prevent fluid communication between said second chamber and said first compartment to effect axial movement of said piston and said piston rod in said tube, and said piston rods of said first pair of hydro-pneumatic springs effects rotation of its associated rotatable shaft to adjust said seat rest and said piston rods of said second pair of hydro-pneumatic springs connected to its associated bell crank lever effects pivotal rotation of said bell crank lever to adjusT said seat back.

Claim 8

An adjustable seat according to claim 5, wherein said valve actuating means of said second hydro-pneumatic springs are connected to a main operating lever by respective Bowden cables and are operated concurrently by operating said main operating lever.

Claim 9

An adjustable seat comprising: a seat rest; and a seat support mechanism supporting said seat rest and adjustable to vary the position of said seat rest relative to said support mechanism, said support mechanism comprising adjustable supporting means supporting said seat rest and actuatable to adjust the position of said seat rest, and actuating means for actuating said adjustable supporting means and comprising a turnable hollow cylinder having means defining a rod opening in one end, a piston axially movable in said cylinder and turnable therewith, said piston dividing the space within said cylinder into a first compartment and a second compartment, a partition member axially slidable in said second compartment and dividing same into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber containing therein during use of the adjustable seat a pressurized gas having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, said first chamber and first compartment containing therein during use of the adjustable seat a liquid, means defining a passageway in said piston for providing liquid communication between said first compartment and said second chamber, a piston rod extending through said first compartment and said rod opening and connected at one end to said piston for angular displacement relative thereto and axial movement therewith, and connected at its other end to said adjustable supporting means for actuation of same when said cylinder turns a valve member secured to said piston rod and coacting therewith for opening said passageway in said piston to allow liquid to flow between said first compartment and said second chamber in response to turning of said cylinder and for closing said passageway to prevent liquid flow in response to further turning of said cylinder, and valve actuating means connected to said cylinder for turning same thereby turning said piston to a position where said valve member opens said passageway in said piston to provide liquid communication between said first compartment and said second chamber.

Claim 10

An adjustable seat comprising: a seat rest; and a seat support mechanism supporting said seat rest and adjustable to vary the position of said seat rest relative to said support mechanism, said support mechanism comprising adjustable supporting means supporting said seat rest and actuatable to adjust the position of said seat rest, and actuating means for actuating said adjustable supporting means and comprising a turnable hollow cylinder having means defining a rod opening in one end, a piston axially movable in said cylinder and turnable therewith, said piston dividing the space within said cylinder into a first compartment and a second compartment, a partition member axially slidable in said second compartment and dividing same into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber containing therein during use of the adjustable seat a pressurized gas having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, said first chamber and first compartment containing therein during use of the adjustable seat a liquid, means defining a passageway in said piston for providing liquid communication between said first compartment and said second chamber, a piston rod extending through said first compartment and said rod opening and connected at one end to said piston for angular displacement relative thereto and axial movement therewith, and connected at its other end to said adjustable supporting means for actuation of same when said cylinder turns a valve member secured to said piston rod and coacting therewith for opening said passageway in said piston to allow liquid to flow between said first compartment and said second chamber in response to turning of said cylinder and for closing said passageway to prevent liquid flow in response to further turning of said cylinder, and valve actuating means connected to said cylinder for turning same thereby turning said piston to a position where said valve member opens said passageway in said piston to provide liquid communication between said first compartment and said second chamber.

Claim 11

An adjustable seat according to claim 7; wherein said seat further includes an adjustable back rest, and a back rest support mechanism supporting said back rest and adjustable to vary the position of said back rest relative to said support mechanism, said support mechanism comprising adjustable supporting means supporting said back rest and actuable to adjust the position of said back rest and another actuating means alike the first mentioned actuating means defined in claim 7.

Claim 12

An adjustable seat according to claim 7; wherein said support mechanism includes a plurality of actuating means.

Claim 13

An adjustable seat according to claim 9; wherein said plurality of actuating means are each connected to a main operating lever through respective Bowden cables and are simultaneously operated by said main operating lever.

Claim 14

An adjustable seat according to claim 7; wherein said the cross-sectional area of said second compartment varies thereby limiting the distance of axial movement of said partition members.