US2357825A - Seat - Google Patents

Description

A. F.- HICKMAN ET-AL 2,357,825

SEAT

Filed Oct. 16, 1941 Sept. 12; 1944.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 48 1 IN ENTORS d%t& M4 BY M A62, 68 79 0,0 9, l 0

ATTORNEYi-Y Sept. 12, 1944. A. F. HICKMAN ET AL SEAT Filed Oct. 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 p A F. HICKMAN ET AL 72,357,825

SEAT

Filed Oct. 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS BY zT Patent d Sept. 12,1944

SEAT

Albert 1-". Hickman, Eden, and Harold r; Pom.

Bnil'alo, N. Y., jasslgnors to Hickman Pneumatic Seat 00. Inc., Eden, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 16, 1941, Serial No. 415,180

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a seat and more particularly to a resiliently mounted floating chair type seat particularly adapted for use in vehicles, such as truck, busses, locomotive cabs, pleasure cars, airplanes and the like to cushion the driver or passengers against objectionable or harmful shocks, jars and virbations caused by the vehicle passing over uneven roads or rails or, in the case of airplanes, in landing. The floating chair type seat forming the subject of the invention is, however, also available for use in boats or on vibrating stationary machinery or wherever a resiliently mounted seat is desirable.

The present invention is of the same general type as the resiliently suspended seats described in the Hickman United States Patents Nos. 1,774,009 and 1,929,023, granted August 26, 1930, and October 3, 1933, respectively, and in the copending Hickman applications for patent, Ser. Nos. 373,273 and 387,642, filed January 6, 1941, and April 9, 1941, respectively, the latter of which became Patent No. 2,300,422 on Nov. 3, 1942.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a spring suspension for supporting a chair type'seat which has thee superior ride characteristics of the seats shown in the said patents and copending applications and at the same time is of such design that the moving parts of the spring suspension can be arranged under the plane of the seat part of the chair frame thereby avoiding the necessity of providing .a subframe with a back part carrying a part of the spring suspension.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a resiliently mounted floating chair type s'eat having a spring suspension capable of being arranged below the plane of the seat and which provides the maximum vertical movement. of the seat frame without interference with the parts and which adequately prevents objectionable jars and vibrations of all frequencies from being transmitted to the body of the seated passenger or operator of the vehicle and in whichthe spring suspension. yieldingly prevents undue movement of the seat and has rapid loading and unloading characteristics beyond the normal range of movement of the seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a resiliently mounted floating chair type seat having a spring suspension capable of being arranged below the plane of theseat and in which the spring suspension controls the direction of movement of the seat frame.

Another object isto provide such a spring suspension in which the springing means is in the form of inexpensive metal springs.

Another object is to provide such a resilientlly mounted floating chair type seat which is made of simple parts and of a construction adapted to mass production and in which seats of different sizes can be made with the simple alteration in length of only a few parts of the mechanism.

Another object is to provide such a spring suspension for a chair type seat which is strong and durable in construction and will operate smoothly and easily without damage; which is light in weight to permit its use in airplanes and in which the moving parts are adequately guarded so that there is no danger of the passenger suffering injury while riding on the seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a spring suspension for a chair frame in which the support for the spring suspension can be in the form of a simple casting and can be readily attached to an upright post or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a suspension for a floating chair type seat in which the seat can be of relatively light and flexible construction, the operation of the spring suspension not being dependent upon the rigidity of the seat frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a floating chair type seat in which the chair frame can be in the form of a piece of bent plywood, the spring suspension being capable of being attached directly to the plywood and the cushioning likewise being capable of being attached directly to the plywood thereby to employ a material now available in greater quantities in a low cost resiliently mounted floating chair type seat.

Another aim is to provide such a floating chair type seat in which the chair frame can be made of spring metal so as to provide an inherently resilient back and reduce the amount of spring required in the back cushion.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a floating chair type seat in which the front and sides of the seat can be substantially completely encased in the leather or fabric with which the seat cushions are upholstered thereby to render the seat neat and trim in appearance.

Another aim is to provide such. a floating chair type seat which is free from lateral projections thereby permitting the seats to be arranged side by side substantially in contact with one another and thereby permit the seating space with in all standard cabs to be filled with the minimum number of sizes of seats.

Other objects of the invention are to provide such a floating chair type seat which is simple and inexpensive in construction, is composed of few parts which are not liable to get out of order, which does not require frequent servicing and which will not develop objectionable squeaks and noises even when subjected to conditions of severe and constant use.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of one form of resiliently mounts chair type seat embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertical section, taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertical section, taken on line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modifled form of our invention.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 5 showing a further modified form of our invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal section, taken on line 6-8, Fig. '7.

- side bars 25 in any suitable manner.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 1, 5 and 6 showing a further modified form of our invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, horizontal section, taken on line ill-40, Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section, taken through one of the bearings I shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, horizontal section, taken on line |2l2, Fig. 11.

In the various forms of the invention illustrated the seat is shown as comprising a cushioned chair-like seat frame having a back part which is relatively rigidly connected with a seat frame, although springiness can be provided between the two parts, a support or subframe adapted to be secured to the body of the vehicle and a resilient spring suspension between the chair-like seat frame and the support or subframe and which resiliently supports the chairlike seat frame and permits resilient, guided movement of the seat frame relative to the subframe. While the seat frame is shown as being made in the form of a rigid structure it will be understood that if desired the back part could be adiustably secured to the seat part so as to permit of adjusting the back part to different reclining positions.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 the cushioned chair frame or seat frame is shown as comprising a seat part. indicated generally at I5, and a backpart indicated generally at l6, which is rigidly connected with the seat part l5. The frame of the seat part is shown as comprising a pair of side bars l1 in the form of angle irons, these angle irons being arranged so that their upper flanges l8 oppose each other and are arranged in the same horizontal plane and the vertical flanges I! of these bars extending downwardly from the outer sides of these bars. At their front ends the side bars I! are connected by a cross bar 26 which is also preferably in the form .of an armle iron and the ends of this cross bar 20 being shown as welded to the undersides of the horizontal flanges l8 of the side bars IT. The

rear ends of the side bars I! are connected by a rearwardly a substantial distance beyond the cross bar 2 I, as indicated at 22, and the horizontal flange of each of these extensions 22 is shown as beingput away as indicated at 23.

The back part I6 is shown as comprising two side bars 25 in the form of angle irons, these bars being arranged so that their flanges 26 oppose each other and are arranged in the same plane, the other flanges 21 of these bars extending rearwardly. The lower ends of the side bars 25 of the back part Hi can be welded to the rear ends of the side bars I! of the seat frame l5 and to the opposite ends of the cross bar 2| in any suitable manner and the side bars 25 of the back part ii of the seat frame are also shown as connected by cross bars 28 and 29 which can be welded or otherwise secured to the opposed flanges 26 of the The back part I6 is also shown as braced by a pair of diagonal braces or struts 30, each of which is welded at its upper end to the corresponding side bar 25 of the back part l6 of the chair frame and at its lower end to the corresponding extension 22 of the seat part of the seat frame. The support or subframe, indicated generally at 35, is shown as comprising two wooden bars 36 which extend fore and aft in spaced relation to each other and are adapted to be secured to the body of the vehicle in any suitable manner (not shown). These wooden bars 36 are shown as supporting a sheet metal cross plate 31 which is provided with upturned flanges 38 at its front and rear edges, these flanges being adapted to embrace and retain the lower coils of a plurality of helical compression springs 39 which form the major resilient resistance to the movement of the chair frame relative to the subframe. The coil springs 39 can be provided in any desired number and are shown as held against lateral displacement by a plurality of lips 40 which are struck upwardly from the center of the supporting, plate 31 in position to embrace the lower coils of the helical compression springs 39. The upper ends of the coils of the helical compression springs are similarly secured to a cross plate 4|, the ends of which can be welded to the undersides of the upper flanges l8 of the side bars I! of the seat frame and this plate being formed with downturned flanges 42 at its front and rear edges to prevent fore and aft displacement of the upper coils of the springs 39 and being also provided with central downturned lips or fingers 43 which are arranged to embrace the upper coils of these springs to prevent their sidewise displacement.

The chair frame is guided to move in a generally vertical direction by a pair of yokes which are preferably constructed and secured to the wooden bars 36 of the subframe and the side bars I! of the seat part l5 of the seat frame as follows:

The rear ends of the side bars I! of the seat part l5 of the seat frame are secured to the rear ends of the wooden bars 36 of the subframe by a yoke 45 which is in the form of a rod bent to provide a cross rod 46 and a pair of forwardly projecting end arms 41 to the end of each of which is secured a tubular eye 43, these tubular eyes being arranged in line with each other and parallel with the rod 46. Each of these eyes embraces the shank of a. carriage bolt 50, these bolts being secured to the vertical side flanges IQ of the side bars I! of the chair frame and projecting inwardly therefrom, as best shown in Fig. 3. A metal sleeve or bushing 5| is pressed on the shank of each bolt 50 and a resilient pivotal connection between each eye 43 and its bolt 50 is provided by 2,357,325 3 of the two yokes 45. This connecting rod "is a resilient bushing 52 of resilient rubber-like material, this bushing being held in firm engagement with the corresponding eye 48 and the sleeve or bushing 5| press fltted on the shank of the corresponding carriage bolt 68 by a nut 63 and washer 54 secured to the threaded inner end of the bolt 68. The extent of the compression of each rubber bushing 62 in the space between its eye 48 and the metal bushing 5i is determined by the length of this metal bushing 5 I, the washer 64 seating against the end of this metal bushing 51 and preventing further compression of the rubber bushing 62. The extent of the compression of the rubber bushing is preferably such that the rubber firmly adheres to both the interior face of the eye 48 and the exterior face of the metal bushing 5| and is stressed and distorted as the eye oscillates about the bolt 50 as an axis thereby to add to the resilient resistance of the helical compression springs 39 in resisting the movement of the seat frame relative to the subframe.

A pair of spaced, generally similar rubberbushed bearings 66 is shown as connecting the cross rod 46 of the rear yoke 45 with each of the wooden bars 36 of the subframe. As best shown in Fig. 4, each of these bearings 66 comprises a half bearing made of a wooden block 6| having a horizontally extending half round socket for the reception of a bushing 62 of resilient yielding material, such as rubber. This bushing surrounds the corresponding part of the cross rod 46 of the yoke and is firmly held in engagement therewith and with the socket in the hall. bearing block 6| by a half bearing plate 63 which is formed at its center to provide a horizontally extending socket embracing the upper half of the rubber bushing 62. The half bearing plate 63 and the half hearing block of each bearing 60 are secured to each other and to the rear end of the corresponding wooden bar 36 by a pair of screws 64. The rubber bushings 62 are tightly confined between the two half bearings so that the rubber is flexed and distorted to provide the necessary rocking movement of the rear yoke.

The cross bar 46 of the yoke 45 is also shown as provided with a pair of closely spaced crank arms 65 which. are shown as being welded to the cross bar 46 and can be arranged at any desired location along the length of this cross rod. These crank arms, for a purpose which will presently appear, project in a different direction from the end arms 41 of the yoke and are shown as normally projecting downwardly at approximately a 90 angle to the end arms 41, although the relative angularity of these arms and the length of the crank arms 65 is not critical. The free ends of the pair of crank arms 65 carry a bolt 66 which, between the crank arms 65 carries a rubber bushing 6'! to provide a rubber hushed, pivotal connection for a purpose which will presently appear.

At its front end, the seat part iii of the seat frame has suitably secured thereto a pair of depending brackets or ars 68, each of these brackets being shown as welded to the corresponding side bar I! of the seat part l5 of the seat frame. The brackets 68 of the seat frame are secured to the front ends of the wooden bars 36 of the subframe by a yoke and bearings which are identical with the yoke 45 and bearings supporting the rear of the seat frame and hence the same reference numerals have been applied.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a connecting rod between the pivot bolts 66 of the crank arms 65,

shown as being formed at its opposite ends to proents and patent applications.

iii

vide a pair of eyes II which tightly embrace the rubber bushings 61 at the ends of the crank arms of the two yokes so that the rubber bushings are stressed and flexed as the yokes oscillate. I With the arrangement of the yokes 45, as shown, the connecting rod 18 is necessary to prevent the yokes from locking as they swing into line with one another. Thus, in the absence of the connecting rod 18, when the end arms 41 of the two yokes 45, swing into line with each other (in a horizontal plane with th arrangement shown) one yoke would be capable of turning clockwise while the other yoke would be capable of turning counterclockwise. Such opposite movement of the yokes would throw the seat to an inoperative cocked position and the parts would look in this position. Bythe provision of the cranks 65 and the connecting rod 10, it is insured that the yokes rotate at all times uniformly in the same direction and hence there is no possibility of the sus-- pension locking in any condition of operation. By the provision of the conencting rod 18 it will be seen that the yokes can be arranged generally in horizontal alinement and below the plane of the seat part of the seat frame instead of one above the other as in the aforesaid Hickman pat- The use of the connecting rod 18 thereby eliminates the. necessity for a back part for the subframe and enables the substitution of the two bars 36 for the more complicated subframe structure required by the aforesaid Hickman patents and patent applications. 7

In order to enclose the space between the subframe and the seat part of the seat frame at the front and sides thereof and hence improve the appearance of the seat as a whole; the two wooden load carrying bars 36 of the subframeare shown as secured to a sheet of plywood 15 to whichare secured marginal front, rear and side bars l6, l1, l8 and 13, respectively, these marginal bars being shown as secured to the upper face of the sheet 15 of plywood and as being rounded at their outer corners. The seat cushion is shown as comprising a sheet of plywood 66 which can be bolted to the side bars H of the seat frame by bolts 8| and is shown as carrying a cushion 82 composed of sponge rubber, rubberized hair or like soft, resilient material suitable for a seat cushion and having the neces ary durability to stand up under the severe service conditions to which seats of this character are subjected. A sheet 83 of fabric or the like is shown as being interposed between the rubberized hair or sponge rubber cushion 82 and the plywood sheet 86 and the front and rear edges of this sheet of fabric 83 is shown as projecting from under the cushion 82. To the rear projecting edge of this sheet 83 of fabric is also secured the rear edge of the fabric, leather or leatheroid cover 85 for the seat cushion 82, this preferably being 'by tacks or screws which anchor in the rear ed'te of the sheet of plywood 86 so that these fastenings also serve to hold the rear edge of the seat cushion 82 to the plywood panel 88. 83 of upholstery fabric extends over the top of the sponge rubber or-rubberized hair cushion 82 and in front of the cushion extends downwardly, as indicated at 86, and is secured both to the forwardly projecting edge of the under piece of fabric 83, as indicated at 81, by sewing and also to the front marginal bar 16 of the subframeby tacks 88 or in any other suitable manner. The

The piece piece 89 of upholstery fabric is also formed'to provide side panels 89 which extend downwardly alongside the sponge rubber or rubberized hair seat cushion 82 and are secured at their lower.

. very materially add to the appearance of the seat.

The back of the seat frame can be provided with a spring filled back cushion 90 of any suitable form, this back cushion preferably being of .the vented type, as discussed in the Hickman patent application Ser. No. 373,273 and being shown as secured to the back part I8 of the seat frame by bolts 9| which anchor in the cross bars 28 and 29 of this back part of the seat frame.

In the operation of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4, the seat is shown in its normally unloaded position in which the arms 41 of the two yokes 45 are elevated slightly above the horizontal and the front and side panels 88, 89 of the upholstery fabric for the seat cushion and which are secured along their lower edges to the subframe are fully extended. When the rider sits upon the seat, the arms 41 of the two yokes are brought to a generally horizontal normal position and the weight of the driver is supported by the helical compression springs 39 as well as by the eight rubber bushings 52, 62 which pivotally connect the two yokes 45 with the seat frame and with the two wooden bars 38 of the subframe. Additional resilient support is provided by the two rubber bushings 01 which connect the ends of the connecting rod I with the two yokes. When the vehicle frame is moved upwardly upon encountering a bump in the road, the weight of the occupant of the seat moves the seat frame downwardly, this movement of the seat frame being downwardly and rearwardly, as determined by the arms 41 of the yokes l and the seat frame being held a ainst tipping forwardly or backwardly during this downward movement. Since the arms 'of the two yokes connect with opposite sides of the seat frame there is also no tendency for the seat frame to tip or twist in its downward movement. Upon rebound movement of the occupant and the seat frame the seat frame moves forwardly and upwardly to its normal loaded position in which the arms 41 of the seat frame are arranged in a horizontal-plane. In this position the arms of the two yokes are arranged in the same horizontal plane and in this position the arms of the front yoke would normally be free to rotate in one direction while the arms of the other yoke would be free to rotate in the opposite direction. This would, of course, cause the seat frame to lurch to a forwardly or backwardly tipped position and also the parts would become locked in this lurched position of the seat frame and render the suspension wholly useless. To avoid this, the connecting rod I0 is provided, this connecting rod being secured to the crank arms 85 of the two yokesand these crank arms 85 being set at a different angle from the end arms 41 of these yokes. By virtue of this interconnection of the two yokes by an independent connecting rod I0, the yokes are always compelled to rotate in the same direction; so that even when their end arms 41 are arranged in the same plane there is no danger of these yokes ronecting rod I9 both yokes can be arranged below the plane of the seat thereby permitting the subframe to be composed of the two bars 88 instead of a more complicated structure, including a back support which would be necessary if the two yokes were required to be arranged one above the other, as shown in the said Hickman patents I of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is shown as tating so as to throw the seat to a cooked position in which the parts interlock and render the composed of two arms of spring steel. the lower part of which is bent horizontally so as to be capable of being bolted to the upper horizontal flanges of the side bars ll of the seat I frame by bolts 96 or in any other suitable manner. The lower part of each spring back 99 can be reinforced by a separate spring leaf 9! which can also be secured to the seat part of the chair frame by the bolts 98 as illustrated. I The back cushion 98 can be of any suitable construction and can be secured to the spring back 95 by bolts 99 or in any other suitable manner. By providing inherent resilience in the back of the seat frame, the back cushion 98 need not be spring loaded but can be composed of the same upholstered sponge rubber or rubberized hair asthe sheet metal back part I00, the sides of which are bent to provide sides IM and depending side aprons I02. The seat part of the chair frame is shown as comprising a sheet of metal I03 which can be welded at its edges to the back part I00 and sides IOI of the seat frame and can be formed at its front to provide a depending flange or apron I 04 which can be welded to the front vertical edges of the side aprons I02. The chair frame can be upholstered with the usual seat cushion I 05 and back cushion I06 which can be made removable if desired. The bucket type chair frame preferably is not provided with a depending apron along its rear side.

' This bucket type of seat is shown as supported on the post IIO of a vehicle, such as a bus, by a subframe or bracket indicated generally at III which is shown as being in the form of a casting formed to provide, at its rear end, a split tubular portion or pair of Jaws II2 which are adapted to be drawn into engagement with the post Ill by means of bolts H9. The casting or subframe I I I is shown as formed at its rear end to provide a pair of laterally extending arms III, the extremity of each of which is formed to provide a vertical riser 5. At its front end the casting or subframe III is shown asprovided at its opposite sides with similar risers II8, the risers II at each side being shown as arranged directly in front of'the corresponding riser IIB. 'Adiacent its center the subframe or casting III is shown as being formed to provide a plurality of bosses or lips I", which lips or bosses are arranged to embrace and anchor the lower coils of one or more helical compression springs H8. The upper ends of these springs II3 are similarly embraced and held by a plurality of flanges or fingers II3 punched downwardly from the seat part I03 of the metal seat frame.

The chair frame is guided to move in a generally vertical direction by a pair of yokes which are preferably constructed and secured to the subframe III and the chair frame as follows:

The apron or depending flange I04 is connected to the upper risers II5 of the subframe or casting III by a yoke I which is in the form of a rod bent to provide a cross rod I2I and a pair of forwardly projecting arms I22 each of which terminates in an inward extension I23 arranged parallel with the cross rod I2I. At its center the cross rod I 2I is formed to provide a crank I24, this crank being set at a different angle from the arms I22, the crank being shown as extending downwardly and forwardly when the arms I22 are in a horizontal position. Each of the inward extensions I23 is secured to the front flange or apron I04 of the seat frame by a rubber bushed bearing, indicated generally at I and each end of the cross rod I2I is connected to the corresponding riser II6 of the subframe or casting III by a similar rubber busher bearing. As these rubber bushed bearings are identical in construction a description of one will be deemed to apply toall.

As best shown in Fig. 11, each of these bearings comprises a half bearing made of a wooden block I3I having a horizontally extending half round socket for the reception of a bushing I32 of resilient yielding material, such as rubber. This bushing surrounds the corresponding inward extension I23 of the adjacent arm I 22 of the yoke and is held firmly in engagement with the extension of this yoke and with the socket in the half bearing I 3i by a half bearing plate I33 which is formed at its center to provide a horizontally extending socket embracing the rear halfof the rubber bushing I32. The rear half bearin plate I33 and the half bearing block I3I are secured to each other and to the front apron or flange I04 of the seat frame by a pair of bolts I34. The upper bushings I32 are tightly confined between the two half bearings so that the rubber is flexed and distorted to provide the necessary rocking movement of the front yoke I20.

At its rear, the seat part I03 of the seat frame has suitably secured thereto a pair of depending brackets I35 of any suitable form, each of these brackets being arranged immediately in front of the corresponding riser H5 at the rear of the subframe or casting III. The brackets I35 of the seat frame are secured to the risers N5 of the subframe by a. yoke which is identical with the yoke I 20 supporting the front of the seat frame and hence the same reference numerals have been applied.

As with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-3, in order to prevent the yokes I20 from looking when their arms I22 swing into line with one another, the cranks I24 of these yokes are connected by a connecting rod I40. For this purpose each of the crank arms I24 is provided with a rubber bushing MI and the connecting rod I is made of two identical halves I43, each of which is formed at its opposite ends to provide half round sockets I44 embracing the corresponding rubber bushings I4 I. The two halves I43 of the connecting rod I40 are secured together and the ends I44 are held in tight clamping engagement with the rubber bushings MI by bolts I45. It will be seen that by this arrangement the rubber bushings I4I add to the resilience provided by the two rubber bushings I32 and the springs II 8-also serve as the pivotal means for connecting. the connecting rod I40 with the two cranks I24 of the front and rear yokes I20. By the provision of the cranks I24 in these yokes and by the provision of the connecting rod- I40 connecting these crank arms, it is insured that the yokes rotate at all times uniformly in the same direction and hence there is no possibility of the suspension locking under any condition of operation.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 942, the frame of the seat is shown as composed of a piece I50 of plywood which is bent to resiliently provide a seat part I5I, a back part I52, a curved part I53 connecting the seat part with the back part, and a front depending flange I54. The seat part I5I is upholstered by a seat cushion I55, the upholstery of which can be directly secured to the plywood by tacks or in any other suitable'manner and similarly the back cushion I56 can be directly tacked or otherwise secured to the back part I52 of the plywood frame. The seat part I5I preferably extends upwardly from the curve I53 so as to provide adequate space for the operation of the front yoke of the seat frame as hereinafter described. The curved part I53 of the seat frame is preferably reinforced by inner and outer blocks I58 and I59. the outer block I59 also serving as the anchorage for the two rubber bushed bearings for the rear yoke as hereinafter described. The seat is shown as supported from a base I60 on U-shaped brackets IGI by means of a double yoke suspension identical with that shown in Figs. 6-8. Accordingly, the same reference numerals have been applied and the description is not repeated.

In the event that additional support is desired for the back part I 52 of the seat frame, this back part can be connected, as shown, to a rising part I62 of the base I60 by a yoke, indicated at I20a, this yoke being connected by rubber bushed bearings to the back part I52 of the seat frame and to the vertical part I62 of the support. This yoke I20; is identical in construction with the yokes I20 except that it is not provided with a crank arm and the bearings for this yoke are identical with the bearings for the yokes I 20. Accordingly, the same reference numerals have been applied to the yoke I20a and its bearings and distinguished by the sufllx a.

It will be seen that in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9-12 the same advantages are obtained as in the spring suspensions of the other forms of the invention and further that the seat frame can be composed of a piece of preformed plywood and supported with suificient rigidity to stand up under conditions of severe and constant use. It will further be seen that by forming the seat part I5I of the plywood seat frame to extend upwardly from its curve I53, suiflcient space is afforded at the front of the seat for the full operation of the front yoke 45.

From the'foregoing it-will be seen that the present invention provides a floating chair type seat of simple and inexpensive construction. in

with all vehicles, particularly in absorbing Jars and vibrations of all violence and frequencies and in moving in a substantially straight line downwardly and rearwardly from its normally loaded position, thereby to avoid any lurching or undesired action of the seat. Further, the seat is so constructed as to have a very small vertical movement of its chair frame and at the same time is capable of adequately absorbing violent jars or shocks, thereby permitting'the use of the seat in the extremely confined space permitted in a passenger bus, railroad car or airplane. It will further be seen that with the arrangement of the spring suspension below the plane of the seat, the necessity for an elaborate subframe is avoided and an economy is effected. The seat also has no lateral projections so that the seats can be placed side by side without interfering with each other, this permitting seats of, say 16 inch and 20 inch widths to meet practically all cab widths and arrangements desired. The arrangement of the suspension below the plane of the seat also permits the space between the seat frame and the subframe to be completely concealed by carrying the upholstery fabric from the seat cushions directly down to the subframe.

We claim as our invention:

1. A unitary self-contained seat structure, including a subframe, a chair frame comprising a seat part arranged in closely spaced relation to and above said subframe and a back part connected with said seat part, means interposed between said subframe and said chair frame for guiding said chair frame in its vertical movements toward and from said subframe and preventing said chair frame from. tipping and twisting, comprising a yoke having a horizontal cross part extending parallelwith the front part of said chair frame and a pair of spaced, generally parallel arms fast to said cross part and arranged within the confines of said chair frame and extending laterally outward from said cross 'part in a generally horizontal plane, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said horizontal cross part of said yoke to one of said frames adjacent the front end thereof, means pivotally connecting the arms of said yoke to the other of said frames adjacent the front end thereof, a seat mounted on said seat part of said chair frame to extend substantially the full width thereof and being inclined forwardly and 'upwardly to provide clearance for the movement of said yoke, a second yoke arranged rearwardly of said seat and having a horizontal cross part extending parallel with the front pa t of said chair frame and a pair of spaced, generally parallelarms fast to said cross part and arranged within the confines of said chair frame and extending laterally outward from said cross part in a generally horizontal plane, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said horizontal cross part of said second yoke to one of said frames adjacent the rear end thereof, means pivotally connecting the arms of said second yoke to the other of said frames adjacent the rear end thereof, the arrangement of said second yoke rearwardly of the depressed end of said seat preventing interference with the free movement of said second yoke when said seat frame is fully deconnecting the outer ends of said cranks to compel the arms of both yokes to oscillate in unison in the same direction, and spring means directly interposed between said frames and restraining movement of said chairframe relative to said subframe.

2. A unitary self-containedseat structure, including a subframe, a generally horizontal seat frame arranged in closely spaced relation to and above said subframe, means interposed between said subframe and said seat fram for guiding said seat frame in its vertical movements and preventing said seat frame from tipping and twisting, comprising a pair of parallel yokes arrangedone in advance of the other and each having a horizontal cross part extending parallel with the front part of the seat frame and a pair of spaced, normally horizontal, generally parallel arms of substantially the same effective length fast to said cross part and extending laterally outward therefrom, means pivotally connecting the opposit ends of said horizontal cross part of each yoke to one of said frames, means pivotally connecting the said arms of each yoke to the other of said frames and means interposed between and independent of said seat frame and subframe and interconnecting sad yokes compel said arms of both yokes to oscillate in unison in the same direction, and a single row of helical compression springs interposed between said subframe and said seat frame and arranged under the bottom part of said seat frame between said yokes to extend parallel with said front part ofsaid seat frame.

3. A unitary, self-contained seat structure, including a subframe, a chair frame comprising a seat part arranged in closely spaced relation to and above said subframe and a back part connected with said seat part, means interposed between said subframe and said chair frame for guiding said chair frame in its vertical movements and preventing said chair frame from tip-' ping and twisting, comprising a pair of parallel yokes each having a horizontal cross part extending parallel with the front part of the chair frame and a pair of spaced, generally parallel arms fast to said cross part and extending laterally outward therefrom, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said horizontal cross part of each yoke to one of said frames, means pivotally connecting each of the said arms of each yoke to the other of said frames and a crank fast to the horizontal cross part of each of said yokes, said cranks being shorter in length than said arms and being arranged generally parallel with each other and extending in a different direction from said arms, a connecting rod pivotally connecting the outer ends of said crank to compel said arms of both yokes to oscillate in unison in the same direction, and springs each having one end seated on said subframe and its other end connected with said seat frame and resiliently restraining movement of said chair frame relative to said subframe.

4. A unitary, self-contained seat structure, including a pair of transversely spaced, generally horizontal supporting bars extending fore-andaft and forming a subframe, a generally hori- .zontal seat frame arranged in closely spaced re transversely of said supporting bars and journaled on one of said frames adjacent the rear end thereof and having spaced, forwardly extending arms of substantially the same effective length pivotally connected to the other of said frames adjacent the rear end thereof, a crank fast to the horizontal cross part of each of said yokes, said cranks being shorter in length than said arms and being arrangedgenerally parallel with each other and extending inadifferent di rection from said arms, and a connecting rod pivotally connecting the outer ends of said cranks to compel said arms of both yokes to oscillate in unison in the same direction, and springs each having one end seated on said subframe and its other end connected with said scat frame and resiliently restraining movement of said seat frame relative to said subframe, said yokes, cranks, connecting rod and springs all being arranged above the base of said horizontal supporting bars in all positions thereof.

5. A unitary, self-contained seat structure, including a subframe, a generally horizontal seat frame arranged in closely spaced relation to and above said subframe and including side bars extending fore-and-aft, means interposed between said subframe and said seat frame for guiding said seat frame in its vertical movement and preventing said seat frame from tipping and twisting, comprising a yoke having a horizontal cross part extending transversely of said subframe and joumaled at its opposite ends thereon adjacent the front end thereof and a pair of spaced arms of substantially the same effective length fast to said cross part and extending forwardly therefrom and each pivotally connected to the corresponding side bar of said seat frame adjacent the front end thereof, a seat mounted on and extending across the space between said side bars of said seat frame and being inclined forwardly and upwardly to provide clearance for the movement of said yoke, a second yoke arranged rearwardly of said seat and having a horizontal cross part extending transversely of said subframe and journaled at its opposite ends thereon and a pair of spaced arms of substantially the same effective length fast to the cross part of said second yoke and extending forwardly therefrom and each pivotally connected to the rear end of the corresponding side bar of said seat frame, the arrangement of said second yoke rearwardly of said seat preventing interference with the free movement of said second yoke when said seat frame is fully depressed, a crank fast to the horizontal cross part of each of said yokes, said cranks being arranged generally parallel with each other and extending in a different direction from said arms and a connecting rod pivotally connecting the outer ends of said cranks to compel said arms of both yokes to oscillate in unison in the same direction, and springs each having one end seated on said subframe and its other end connected with said seat fram and resiliently restraining movement of said seat frame relative to said subframe, said yokes, cranks, connecting rod and springs all being arranged above the base of said subframe in all positions thereof.

ALBERT F. HICKMAN. HAROLD I. POPP.

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