AU2012209034B9

AU2012209034B9 - A Bus or Coach Seat

Info

Publication number: AU2012209034B9
Application number: AU2012209034A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Noel Dabelstein; Matthew Lukan
Original assignee: Styleride Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Styleride Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-08-12
Filing date: 2012-08-01
Publication date: 2017-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-01
Also published as: AU2012209034B2; AU2012209034A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bus or coach seat. The seat includes a frame. A mounting bracket is provided for releasably fastening to the frame and to which a seat belt reel can be fastened. The present invention also relates to a mounting bracket. if0

Description

ι 2012209034 13 Oct 2016

A BUS OR COACH SEAT TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to a bus or coach seat. BACKGROUND

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

The presence of seatbelts on coach seats is generally a statutory requirement and more and more bus seats are being equipped with seatbelts. A known bus seat has a frame and a stitched cloth cover for covering the frame. A retractable seat belt reel can be attached to the frame beneath the cloth cover. In practice, the seat belt reel must be invariably serviced or replaced, particularly after an accident. In this event, the cloth cover needs to be unstitched to gain access to the internal seat belt reel. Not only is this unstitching process laborious, but a tailor is undesirably required to repair the stitching once the seat belt reel has been serviced and replaced.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved coach seat for facilitating servicing of the seat belt reel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bus or coach seat including: a frame intended to be mounted in a bus or coach in use, and including seating positions to facilitate concurrent seating of people; a mounting bracket formed from a plate and for releasably fastening to the frame so as to be wholly fastened on one side of a vertical plane 2 2012209034 13 Oct 2016 extending centrally through the front of one of the seating positions, the bracket including a sash guide for guiding a seat belt sash and a reel support to which a seat belt reel can be fastened.

The sash guide may define one or more fastening holes for receiving fasteners. The sash guide may include a face plate defining a slot through which the sash extends and a receptacle for receiving the frame when mounting the face plate relative to the frame.

The reel support may extend from the sash guide. The reel support may extend obliquely and orthogonally from the face plate. The reel support may define fastening means at its free end to facilitate fastening of the seat belt reel to the support. The reel support may include an alignment shelf against which the reel can be aligned.

The coach seat may further include the seat belt reel. The seat belt reel may be a retractable reel. The coach seat may further include a cover for covering the frame with the seat belt reel located beneath a cover. When servicing the seat belt reel in one embodiment, the mounting bracket bearing the seat belt reel can be released from the frame and pulled out from the cover without affecting the stitching of the cover.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a a bus or coach seat mounting bracket formed from a plate and for releasably fastening to a seat frame, the frame intended to be mounted in a bus or coach in use and including seating positions to facilitate concurrent seating of people, the fastened mounting bracket being wholly fastened on one side of a vertical plane extending centrally through the front of one of the seating positions , the bracket including: a sash guide for guiding a seat belt sash and for releasably fastening to a seat frame; and a reel support for supporting a seat belt reel and for extending from the sash guide. 2012209034 13 Oct 2016 3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an uncovered bus or coach seat in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2a is a front perspective view of a fastened mounting bracket of the seat of Figure 1;

Figure 2b is a rear perspective view of a fastened mounting bracket of the seat of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear view of a fastened mounting bracket bearing a seat belt reel of the seat of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 4 mounted . The leg 1 and the wallmount 2 can be interchangably mounted to the base portion 3 of the frame 12, depending on which side of the vehicle seat 10 is to be mounted. The seat frame 10 is hereby rendered usable for both sides of a vehicle. Each back portion 4 of the seat 10 can terminate in either a fixed or replaceable headrest to which the mounting bracket 14 is fastened.

The frame 12 of Figure 1 is constructed from steel sections, as are the leg 1 and wallmount 2. In addition, the frame has support crossbars 6 of flat steel section on the base portion 3 and support crossbars 7 at the base of the back portions 4. The frame also has tabs 8 on the base portion 3 and may have similar tabs (not shown) on the back portion 4 for attachment of panels of plywood, plastic, foam or metal.

The panels and frame 12 are then covered with a stitched fabric cover (not shown). The seat belt reel 16 borne by the mounting bracket 14 is located beneath the cover. When servicing the seat belt reel 16, the mounting bracket 14 bearing the seat belt reel 16 can be advantageously released from the frame 12 and pulled out through a hole in the cover without affecting the stitching of the cover.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the mounting bracket 14 includes a sash guide 20 for guiding a seat belt sash 22. The sash guide 20 defines a quartet of fastening holes arranged in opposing pairs for receiving two bolts 24a, 24b engaged with respective nuts. With reference to Figure 2, the sash guide 20 includes a face plate 26 defining a slot 28 through which the sash 22 extends and a U-shaped receptacle 30 from which the face plate 26 extends. The receptacle 30 receives the frame 12 and the bolts 24a, 24b when mounting the face plate 26 relative to the frame 12.

The mounting bracket 14 further includes a reel support 32 extending from the sash guide 20. The reel support 32 extends obliquely and orthogonally from 5 the face plate 26. Furthermore, the reel support 32 defines a hole 34 (i.e. fastening means) at its free end to facilitate fastening of the seat belt reel 16 to the support 32 with a bolt 36 and threaded nut (not shown). As can best be seen in Figure 2b, the reel support 32 includes a shelf retainer 40 for retaining and guiding the seat belt sash 22.

In use, the receptacle 30 is bolted to the frame 12 and the face plate 26 sits flush against the outside of the seat cover. The face plate 26 obscures a hole through which the reel support 32 of the mounting bracket 14 extends into the seat 10. When servicing the seat belt reel 16, the bolts 24 can be loosened to release the mounting bracket 14 bearing the seat belt reel 16 from the frame 12. The reel support 32 and reel 16 can be pulled out through the hole in the cover without affecting the stitching of the cover. Once serviced, the reel 16 can be returned into the seat 10 and the bolts 24 returned to fasten the mounting bracket 14 to the frame 12 once more.

Figure 4 shows a steel plate mounting bracket 14 in isolation where like reference numerals refer to like features previously described. The reel support 32 defines a pair of locating protrusions 50a, 50b at its free end to engage with and locate the seat belt reel 16 on the support 32. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

As can best be seen in Figure 1, the mounting brackets 14 are mounted in pairs and centrally on two back portions 4 so that the sashes 22 extend from the center of the double seat 10. Alternatively, the mounting brackets 14 can be mounted on corresponding sides of the back portions 4.

In one embodiment, the receptacle 30 may receive and completely surround the frame 12. 2012209034 01 Aug 2016 6

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of 5 putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A bus or coach seat including: a frame intended to be mounted in a bus or coach in use, and including seating positions to facilitate concurrent seating of people; a mounting bracket formed from a plate and for releasably fastening to the frame so as to be wholly fastened on one side of a vertical plane extending centrally through the front of one of the seating positions, the bracket including a sash guide for guiding a seat belt sash and a reel support to which a seat belt reel can be fastened.
2. A seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is a bent plate.
3. A seat as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sash guide defines one or more fastening holes for receiving fasteners.
4. A seat as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sash guide includes a face plate defining a slot through which the sash extends and a receptacle for receiving the frame when mounting the face plate relative to the frame.
5. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reel support extends from the sash guide.
6. A seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reel support extends obliquely and orthogonally from a face plate.
7. A seat as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the reel support defines fastening means at its free end to facilitate fastening of the seat belt reel to the support.
8. A seat as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the reel support includes a retention shelf for retaining a seat belt sash.
9. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including the seat belt reel.
10. A seat as claimed in claim 9, wherein the seat belt reel is a retractable reel.
11. A seat as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, further including a cover for covering the frame with the seat belt reel located beneath a cover.
12. A seat as claimed in claim 11 wherein, when servicing the seat belt reel, the mounting bracket bearing the seat belt reel can be released from the frame and pulled out from the cover without affecting the stitching of the cover.
13. A bus or coach seat mounting bracket formed from a plate and for releasably fastening to a seat frame, the frame intended to be mounted in a bus or coach in use and including seating positions to facilitate concurrent seating of people, the fastened mounting bracket being wholly fastened on one side of a vertical plane extending centrally through the front of one of the seating positions , the bracket including: a sash guide for guiding a seat belt sash and for releasably fastening to a seat frame; and a reel support for supporting a seat belt reel and for extending from the sash guide.
14. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sash guide defines one or more fastening holes for receiving fasteners.
15. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the sash guide includes a face plate defining a slot through which the sash extends and a receptacle for receiving the frame when mounting the face plate relative to the frame.
16. A mounting bracket as claimed in claims 15, wherein the reel support extends obliquely and orthogonally from the face plate, the support including one or more locating formations for locating the seat belt reel on the support.
17. A mounting bracket as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the reel support defines fastening means at a free end to facilitate fastening of the seat belt reel to the support.
18. A mounting bracket as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the reel support includes a retention shelf for retaining a seat belt sash.