GB2314012A

GB2314012A - Removable seat for vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2314012A
Application number: GB9612362A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Angelo Callard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-13
Filing date: 1996-06-13
Publication date: 1997-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-13
Also published as: GB2314012B; GB9612362D0

Abstract

A seat is removably mounted in a vehicle by studs 34 of T-shaped cross section attached to a leg of the seat and which pass through holes in a vehicle-mounted base channel 2. The seat slides along the channel to engage the studs and a spring loaded locking plunger 38 then engages a further hole in the channel to secure the seat. This arrangement is provided on both sides of the seat and the two plungers are operated by a common handle on the seat back via a twin cable mechanism. The handle may have a retaining lock for the withdrawn position of the plungers.

Description

A REMOVABLE SEAT This invention relates to a removable seat and to a removable seating system.

Removable seating is commonly used in a variety of locations and applications.

Removable seating may be used to provide temporary seating at public gatherings, for example.

Removable seating may also be provided in various different types of vehicular transport, such as cars, omnibuses, minibuses and aeroplanes amongst others. In this example, removable seating allows the vehicle to be used for the carriage of passengers when the seating is in place, or, for the carriage of freight or other goods when the seating is removed.

Figure 1 illustrates a floor mounting 2 for traditional removable seating for use in a minibus, for example. As shown, the mounting 2 comprises a linear member having a base 4, two side walls 6 substantially perpendicularly upstanding from each edge of the base 4 and two surface walls 8 substantially parallel to the base 4 and extending from one sidewall 6 towards the other, respectively, such that a gap is maintained between the two surface walls 8. In at least three locations per seat, the surface walls 8 are shaped such that a substantially circular aperture 10 is formed between the walls. The base 4 of the floor mounting 2 is also provided with a plurality of threaded holes 12 into which restraining bolts may be screwed.

Typically, the base 4 of the floor mounting 2 is bolted, or otherwise affixed, to the floor of the minibus, for example.

Also shown in Figure 1 is a substantially planar member 14 to which a seat (not shown) may be welded or otherwise permanently affixed. The member 14 is provided with at least three projections 16, each having a substantially T shaped crosssection. The spacing between projections 16 is identical to the spacing between the apertures 10 in the floor mounting 2.

In this example, each seat is provided with at least a pair of floor mountings and corresponding planar members. Figure 1, and the other accompanying figures all illustrate one set of floor mounting and corresponding planar member.

The planar member 14 is also provided with threaded holes 18 in such a fashion that the planar member threaded holes 18 are alignable with the floor mounting threaded holes 12 when the planar member 14 is fixed to the floor mounting 2.

In use, the planar member projections 16 (and attached seat) are first aligned with the floor mounting apertures 10 and then moved towards the floor mounting base 4 such that the floor mounting surface walls 8 abut the planar member 14 and the projections 16 extend within a cavity 20 formed by the walls of the floor mounting 2.

The planar member projections 16 are then slid within the cavity 20 until the floor mounting holes 12 and planar member holes 18 are aligned. Bolts may then be screwed into the aligned holes so that horizontal movement of the planar member 14 (and attached seat) is prevented.

The seat may then be safely used within a vehicle for the carriage of passengers without fear of any unwanted seat movement.

Whilst the above described arrangement adequately performs the function for which it was designed, it suffers from a number of disadvantages. For example, installation and removal of the seating requires the tightening or loosening of a number of screws which are inconveniently placed on the floor of a vehicle. The large number of screws needed to adequately secure the seat require persons to spend a significant amount of time in the installation or removal of a seat which causes the entire installation/removal process to be relatively expensive and time consuming to perform.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a removable seat comprising: a seat base, a seat back and at least one supporting leg; said at least one supporting leg having depending therefrom at least one locking plunger and at least one retaining projection; said seat back being provided with at least one handle, said at least one handle being connected to said at least one locking plunger to enable the withdrawal and extension of said at least one locking plunger.

Preferably, the removable seat comprises two supporting legs, one connected to each side of said seat base and depending substantially vertically downwards therefrom, base portions of each of said legs being provided with two retaining projections and a locking plunger provided therebetween.

Preferably, the locking plunger is spaced a distance "x" from one retaining projection and a distance "3x" from the other, where "xis is a predetermined distance.

Preferably, said handle is connected to said at least one locking plunger by a cable, and lock means is provided such that said handle may be retained in a position where said at least one locking plunger is withdrawn.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a removable seating system comprising a removable seat as described above and further comprising a mounting capable of engaging with said at least one locking plunger and said at least one retaining projection to releasably secure said removable seat to said mounting.

Preferably, the mounting has a base, two side walls substantially perpendicularly upstanding from each edge of said base and two surface walls substantially parallel to said base and extending from one side wall towards the other, respectively, such that a gap is maintained between said two surface walls; said surface walls each being shaped such that said gap forms a plurality of apertures at regular intervals along said mounting.

Preferably, said apertures are spaced by a distance of "2x".

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation, in perspective, of part of an exemplary traditional removable seating system; Figure 2 is a side elevation, in perspective, of part of the present system; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a side elevation of part of the present system; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a rear elevation of part of the present system; and Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of a side elevation of part of the present system.

It will be appreciated that whilst the embodiment herein described particularly relates to a vehicular seating system, other uses, such as those mentioned above, for the present system are equally apparent. Accordingly, this description is not to be read as limiting the present invention to a removable seating system particularly for use in a vehicle.

As described above, Figure 1 is a view of part of a traditional removable seating system. Figure 2 is a view of part of the present system which, advantageously, may be used with existing floor mountings of traditional systems.

With reference to Figure 2, the present system 30 comprises the above mentioned traditional floor mounting 2 and a planar member 32 to which at least one seat (not shown) is attached.

The planar member 32 is provided with two substantially cylindrical projections 34 of approximately "T" shaped cross-section depending substantially perpendicularly from a base surface of the planar member 32.

Provided between the projections 34 is a cylindrical plunger 36 of substantially "T" shaped cross-section depending substantially vertically from a base surface of the planar member 32. The plunger 36 comprises a first portion 37 (visible in Figure 3) and a second portion 38 wherein the first portion 37 has a smaller cross-sectional radius than the second portion 38.

As with the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, the projections 34 are affixed to the planar member 32 in such a fashion that they are alignable, in use, with apertures 10 in the floor mounting 2. The plunger 36 is mounted on the planar member 32 such that the plunger 36 is closer to one immediately neighbouring projection 34 than the other. As will be later described, the plunger 36 is laterally moveable in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of the planar member.

If the distance between the two projections is "x" units (a predetermined distance), then it is preferred that the distance from the first projection to the plunger is "x/4" units and the distance from the plunger to the second projection is "3x/4" units. In this way, it will be ensured that the plunger is not coincident with an aperture when the projections are coincident with an aperture.

The plunger 36 extends through the planar member 32 and is movably located within a housing (not visible in Figure 2) on the top surface of the planar member 32.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a planar member 32, as described above, that has been fitted to an existing floor mounting 2. In this figure, the housing 40 is clearly visible. The housing 40 may be formed integrally with the planar member 32 or may later affixed thereto. As shown, the housing 40 comprises a cylindrical body that is closed at one end. The closed end of the housing 40 is provided with an aperture 42, preferably at its centre, through which a cable 44 is passed.

Attached to one end of the cable 44 is the first portion 37 of the plunger 36.

The other end of the cable is attached to the remainder of the present system in a fashion that will be later described in relation to Figures 4 and 5.

The housing 40 is sized to allow the plunger 36 to be received therewithin, without allowing excessive lateral movement of the plunger 36. In other words, the cross-sectional radius of the housing 40 is slightly larger than the largest crosssectional radius of the plunger 36.

A spring 46 is provided within the housing 40 such that one end of the spring 46 abuts the closed end of the housing 40 and the other end of the spring 46 abuts the second portion 38 of the plunger 36. As shown, the spring 46 is provided about the first portion 37 of the plunger 36. Movement of the cable 44 in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the planar member 32 causes a corresponding movement of the attached plunger 36 which results in compression of the spring 46.

When the cable 44 is relaxed, the compressed spring 46 causes the plunger 36 to be moved in a direction perpendicular to a base surface of the planar member 32.

As shown in Figure 3, the projections 34 have been passed through respective apertures in the floor mounting 2 and the planar member 32 (and attached seat) has been slid within a cavity formed within the floor mounting 2 such that the projections 34 are prevented from being removed from the floor mounting 2 by virtue of the action of the floor mounting's surface walls 8 on a portion of the projections 34.

When the planar member 32 is moved as described above, the plunger 36 first bears upon the floor mounting's surface walls 8 such that the spring is compressed and the plunger is forced within the housing. At this point, the projections 34 are provided within the apertures of the floor mounting 2. As the planar member is slid along the floor mounting 2, the projections move away from the apertures and into abutment with the underside of the floor mounting's surface walls 8. Simultaneously, the plunger slides along the floor mounting's surface walls 8 until an aperture is encountered, at which point the spring in the housing decompresses and the plunger is extended into the aperture. As the plunger is provided closer to one projection than the other, the location of the plunger in an aperture occurs when the projections are located within the floor mounting 2. This position is illustrated in Figure 3 and is a locked position where lateral movement of the planar member 32 is discouraged by virtue of the plunger and vertical movement is discouraged by virtue of the action of the projections on the floor mounting's surface walls 8.

As an alternative, the plunger may be locked within the housing in a manner to be later described and subsequently unlocked when the plunger is aligned with an aperture, to allow the plunger to extend against the action of the spring into the aperture.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear elevation of a part of the present system. A seat 50; comprising a base 52, a back 54 and two pairs of legs 56; is provided. A first pair of legs 56 is connected (as described above) to a first planar member 32 (also described above) and the second pair of legs 56 is connected to a second planar member 58 identical to the first. First strengthening supports 60 (shown in crosssection) are provided between the legs 56 of the seat 50 and a second strengthening support 62 is provided across the back 54 of the seat 50.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, at least one wheel 100 may be affixed to an end portion of each of the first member 32 and the second member 58. In this way, the seat may tipped backwards so that the wheels 100 come into contact with the ground to enable the seats, when removed, to be easily moved around.

A pair of hollow cylindrical cable guides 64, 66 extend between the first strengthening supports 60 and the second strengthening support 62. The guides 64, 66 are preferably connected to the supports 60, 62 such that any movement thereof is prevented.

The cable 44 runs within the guides 64, 66 from the first plunger 36 to a second plunger provided on the opposite side of the seat 50.

A substantially triangular cable splitter 68 is provided between the guides 64, 66 and the cable 44 passes through a base portion thereof. The apex of the cable splitter 68 is fixedly attached to a handle 70 provided in a handle housing 72 by a second cable 74.

A handle spring 76 is provided within the handle housing 72 such that one end thereof is in abutment with the handle 70 and the other end thereof is in abutment with the handle housing 72.

Movement of the handle 70 in a direction away from the planar members causes a compression of the handle spring 76 and causes the cable splitter 68 to move in a direction away from the planar members. Movement of the cable splitter 68 causes a corresponding movement of the cable 44 and thus causes the plungers attached to each end of the cable (as described above) to be withdrawn into their respective housings.

A handle lock 78 is provided which engages with the handle 70 when the handle spring 76 is compressed and the handle 70 is furthest away from the planar members. In this way, the plungers provided in respective housings may be locked therein so that the seat may be easily laterally slid along the floor mountings 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a part of the present system depicted in Figure 4.

To install a seat 50, the seat and attached planar members 32,58 are first aligned with the floor mountings 2 such that the projections 34 are coincident with the apertures 10 in the floor mountings 2. The plunger 36 may now be locked within the housing 40, or, alternatively, downward pressure may be applied to the seat 50 to cause the plunger 36 to bear upon the floor mounting's surface walls 8 and to be forced within the housing 40 against the action of the spring 46.

The projections 34 will now be located within the apertures 10 in the floor mounting's surface walls 8. The seat 50 is then slid in such a manner that the projections 34 enter a cavity 20 formed by the walls of the floor mountings 2 and move away from the apertures 10. As the projections 34 move within the cavity 20, the plunger 36 approaches an aperture 10.

When the plunger 36 is above the aperture 10, the spring 46 extends and the plunger 36 enters the cavity 20. If the lock 78 is being used to restrain the plunger 36 within the housing 40, then it must be released before the plunger 36 will extend into the aperture 10.

At this point, the plunger 36 is securely located within an aperture 10 and, as a consequence, acts to prevent lateral movement of the seat 50 in relation to the floor mounting 2. Similarly, due to the differential spacing between the plunger 36 and respective projections 34, those projections 34 will not be coincident with an aperture 10 and thus, will be prevented from vertical movement by the floor mounting surface walls 8. In this state, the seat 50 is secured from lateral and vertical movement.

To remove a seat 50, the handle 70 is moved in a direction away from the planar member 14 causing the plunger 36 to be withdrawn into the housing 40. As the plunger 36 is no longer inserted within the aperture 10, the projections 34 (and attached planar members and seat) are now free to slide within the cavity 20.

Accordingly, the seat 50 is slid until the projections 34 are each coincident with an aperture 10. At this point, the seat 50 may be lifted so that the projections 34 are withdrawn through the apertures 10 and the seat 50 may be removed.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications and additions may be made to the present invention within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, whilst a single seat with two pairs of legs and associated planar members has been described, it will be apparent that any number of seats may be joined together. For example, a double seat may be provided with three pairs of legs, three corresponding floor mountings, three planar members and so on. A single handle may be provided or, a plurality of handles may be employed. Numerous other combinations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

It will also be apparent that a greater or fewer number of plungers or projections may be provided. Similarly, the floor mountings need not be mounted on a floor. For example, the mountings may be provided on a wall, in which case, the plunger and projections may extend horizontally from a leg of the seat. Alternatively, for wall mounting, the legs of the seat may have a lower portion extending perpendicularly from the leg, the plunger and projections being provided on a base part of the lower portion.

Also, the floor mountings need not be provided with circular apertures, the aperture could be any other shape so long as the plunger has a complementary shape that allows it to pass through the aperture.

In addition, it will be remembered that this description is not to be read as limiting the present invention to a removable seating system particularly for use in a vehicle, or indeed to a seating system for use with any particular kind of vehicle. A variety of different uses will be apparent.

Claims

1. A removable seat comprising: a seat base, a seat back and at least one supporting leg; said at least one supporting leg having depending therefrom at least one locking plunger and at least one retaining projection; said seat back being provided with at least one handle, said at least one handle being connected to said at least one locking plunger to enable the withdrawal and extension of said at least one locking plunger.

2. A removable seat according to Claim 1, comprising two supporting legs, one connected to each side of said seat base and depending substantially vertically downwards therefrom, base portions of each of said legs being provided with two retaining projections and a locking plunger provided therebetween.

3. A removable seat according to Claim 2, wherein said locking plunger is spaced a distance "x" from one retaining projection and a distance "3x" from the other, where "x" is a predetermined distance.

4. A removable seat according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said handle is connected to said at least one locking plunger by a cable, and lock means is provided such that said handle may be retained in a position where said at least one locking plunger is withdrawn.

5. A removable seating system comprising the removable seat according to any of Claims 1 to 4 and further comprising a mounting capable of engaging with said at least one locking plunger and said at least one retaining projection to releasably secure said removable seat to said mounting.

6. A removable seating system according to Claim 5, wherein said mounting has a base, two side walls substantially perpendicularly upstanding from each edge of said base and two surface walls substantially parallel to said base and extending from one side wall towards the other, respectively, such that a gap is maintained between said two surface walls; said surface walls each being shaped such that said gap forms a plurality of apertures at regular intervals along said mounting.

7. A removable seating system according to Claim 6 when dependent upon Claim 3, wherein said apertures are spaced by a distance of "2x".

8. A removable seat substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A removable seating system substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.