WO2012103195A1

WO2012103195A1 - Boat seat adjuster assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2012103195A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/022521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph KABABIK; James Musser
Original assignee: H.O. Bostrom Company, Inc.
Priority date: 2011-01-25
Filing date: 2012-01-25
Publication date: 2012-08-02

Abstract

A seat adjuster assembly (10) is disclosed that includes a base (12), a first tube (16), and a second tube (18) slidingly received within the first tube (16) for allowing for adjustment therebetween. A motor assembly (26) includes a motor (28) and a gear box (30) and is operatively connected to a drive shaft (32). The drive shaft (32) extends into the first and second tubes (16, 18) and a drive plate (34) secured within the second tube (18) operatively receives the drive shaft (32). A first spacer (22) is mounted to the first tube (16) and a second spacer (36) is mounted to the second tube (18) for spacing the first and second tubes (16, 18) from one another. The second tube (18) also has a tab 38 extending therefrom and the first tube (16) has a slot (40) receiving the tab (38) and the tab (38) slides within the slot (40) while the seat adjuster assembly (10) is adjusted vertically.

Description

BOAT SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The subject invention relates to boat seat adjuster assemblies, and specifically, to pedestal style boat seat adjuster assemblies.

SUMMARY OF ^'fi ll- INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

[0002] The subject invention provides a seat adjuster assembly that includes a base, a first tube, and a second tube slidingly received within the first tube for allowing for adjustment therebetween. A motor assembly includes a motor and a gear box and is operatively connected to a drive shaft. The drive shaft extends into the first and second tubes and a drive plate secured within the second tube operatively receives the drive shaft. A first spacer is mounted to the first tube and a second spacer is mounted to the second tube for spacing the first and second tubes from one another. The second tube also has a tab extending therefrom and the first tube has a slot receiving the tab and the tab slides within the slot while the seat adjuster assembly is adjusted vertically.

10003 J The subject invention improves boater safety because the operator of the watercraft has better sight of obstacles in the water, including other watercrafts and individuals, and the operator has improved alertness. The operator of the watercraft experiences less fatigue because the seat adjuster assembly properly positions the operator throughout use when compared to prior stationary seat assemblies. The subject invention also provides for confident operation of the watercraft for various sized individuals as a result of the improved sight lines and being able to adjust the height of the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0005] Figure 1 is a front view of a seat adjuster assembly according to the subject invention;

[0006] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a seat adjuster assembly in a collapsed position; [0007] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the seat adjuster assembly of Figure

2 in an extended position;

[0008] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the seat adjuster assembly according to the subject invention shown in Figure 1 ;

[0009] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a seat adjuster assembly according to the subject invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a seat adjuster assembly is shown generally at 10 in Figure 1. The seat adjuster assembly 10 is adjustable to allow for movement between a collapsed position and an extended position. The seat adjuster assembly 10 is preferably for use in a watercraft, such as a boat to adjust the height of a seat for an operator or other occupants relative to a watercraft floor. The seat adjuster assembly 10 is particularly advantageous because it allows for adjustment vertically of the seat to accommodate differently sized operators and meet individual needs. This allows for safer operation of the watercraft and improves alertness of the drive of any obstacles, including other watercraft, in the vicinity.

[00111 The seat adjuster assembly 10 includes a base 12, a first tube 16, and a second tube 18. The second tube 18 is slidingly received within the first tube 16 for allowing for adjustment therebetween. The base 12 includes fasteners 20 for mounting to a floor 14 of the watercraft. The first tube 16 has s first spacer 22 mounted at one end for spacing the first tube 16 from the second tube 18, as will be described more fully below. It is to be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the first and second tubes 16, 18 are preferably hollow and formed of a sturdy material, such as metal or plastic or the like. The first and second tubes 16, 18 may be altered without deviating from the scope of the invention so long as the first and second tubes 16. 18 are slidingly received therein to allow for adjustment therebetween.

[0012] Referring to Figure 4, a cross-sectional view of the seat adjuster assembly

10 is shown in a collapsed state on the left side and in an extended state on the right side. It is to be appreciated that the seat adjust assembly 10 is shown only for illustrative purposes in both states. The seat adjuster assembly 10 includes a motor assembly 26. The motor assembly 26 includes a motor 28 and a gear box 30. The motor assembly 26 is shown mounted underneath the floor 14. One advantage to such mounting is to allow for a shorter vertical height of the seat. The motor assembly 26 is operatively connected to a drive shaft 32. Preferably, the motor 28 is an electric motor that allows for one touch height adjustment. The drive shaft 32 extends into the first and second tubes 16, 18. A drive plate 34 is secured within the second tube 18 and operatively receives the drive shaft 32. The drive plate 34 may include a nut (not shown) that receives the drive shaft 32. It is also preferably that the drive shaft 32 and drive plate 34 are threadably receiving each other.

[0013] Referring back to Figure 2, another embodiment of the seat adjuster assembly 10 is shown having the motor assembly 26 mounted above the floor and within the base 12. The second tube 18 has a second spacer 36 mounted at one end for spacing the second tube 18 from the first tube 16. A seat base 24 is mounted to the other end of the second tube 18 and the seat base 24 may also include a rotation mechanism 42 for allowing the seat base 24 to rotate. The second tube 18 also has a tab 38 extending therefrom and the first tube 16 has a slot 40 receiving in the tab 38. The slot 40 preferably extends vertically along the first tube 16 and the tab 38 slides within the slot 40 while the seat adjuster assembly 10 is adjusted vertically. The tab 38 and slot 40 configuration prevents rotation between the first and second tubes 16, 18.

1 14) With reference to Figure 3, the seat adjuster embodiment of Figure 2 is shown in an extended position. In operation, the motor 28 is actuated to turn the gear box 30 and rotate the drive shaft 32. Since the drive plate 34 is fixed within the second tube 18, rotation of the drive shaft 32 moves the drive plate 34 up and down the drive shaft 32. Movement along the drive shaft 32 causes the second tube 18 to move vertically and adjust the height of the boat seat. The drive plate 34, along with the tab 38 and slot 40, allow for the vertical adjustment of the seat adjuster assembly 10. In Figure 3, the first and second spacers 22, 36 are closer to one another, but still sufficiently spaced to prevent tilting of the second tube 18 relative to the first tube 16. The first and second spacers 22, 36 are preferably formed of a resilient material to allow for the first and second tubes 16, 18 to slide while also preventing tilting. One preferred material is plastic. An alternate embodiment is shown in Figure 5 having an additional tube 44 for allowing for additional vertical adjustment. Similarly to Figure 4, Figure 5 illustrates on the left side the seat adjuster assembly 10 in a collapsed state and on the right side in an extended state. [0015] The seat adjuster assembly 10 is adequately sealed to prevent water from contacting the motor assembly 26. Alternatively, the motor assembly 26 may be adequately waterproof or water-resistant. The motor assembly 26 may be operated off the power system of the watercraft or have its own power system. The controls for adjusting the height of the seat adjuster assembly 10 may be incorporated into the instrument cluster or built into the seat adjuster assembly 10.

[0016] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A seat adjuster assembly comprising:

a base;

a first tube fixed to and extending from the base;

a second tube slidingly received within the first tube for extension and retraction relative thereto, the second tube supporting a seat thereon, and including a drive plate secured therein; and

a motor assembly including a motor operatively connected to a gear box, and a rotatable drive shaft operatively connected to the gear box, and extending into a hollow interior of the first and second tubes, the drive plate operatively receiving the drive shaft such that operation of the motor and the gear box rotate the drive shaft moving the drive plate up and down the draft shaft and causing the second tube to move vertically within the first tube for adjusting height of the seat relative to the base.

2. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 1, wherein a first spacer is mounted to the first tube, and a second spacer is mounted to the second tube for spacing the first and second tubes from one another.

3. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second tube has a tab extending therefrom, and the first tube has a slot formed therein for receiving the tab such that the tab slides in the slot while the seat is adjusted relative to the base.

4. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 3, wherein engagement of the tab in the slot prevents rotation of the first and second tubes relative to one another.

5. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base is secured to a support surface which is stationary relative to the base.

6. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive plate and the drive shaft threadably receive one another.

7. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor and the gear box are housed inside the base.

8. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 5, wherein the first tube extends beneath the base and the support surface.

9. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second tube includes a rotation mechanism for rotating the seat relative to the second tube.

10. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 1 , wherein an additional tube is interposed between the first and second tubes.

1 1. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 5, wherein the motor and the gear box are located beneath the support surface.

12. A seat adjuster assembly for a watercraft having a floor comprising:

a base secured to the floor of the watercraft;

a first hollow tube fixed to and extending upwardly from the base; a second hollow tube slidingly received within the first tube for extension and retraction relative thereto, the second tube supporting a seat at an upper end thereof, and including a drive plate secured therein; and

a motor assembly including a motor operatively connected to a gear box, and a rotatable drive shaft operatively connected to the gear box and extending into a hollow interior of the first and second tubes, the drive plate operatively receiving the drive shaft,

wherein the first and second tubes are spaced apart from one another by a spacing arrangement and are prevented from rotating relative to one another.

13. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 12, wherein the spacing arrangement includes a first spacer secured to an upper end of the first tube, and a second spacer secured to a lower end of the second tube.

14. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second tubes include a tab and slot aiTangement for guiding the second tube vertically relative to the first tube, and preventing relative rotation of the first and second tubes.

15. The seat adjuster assembly of claim 12, wherein the motor and gear are located either upon the support surface and within the base, or below the support surface and the base.