Patent ID: 6113175
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A vehicular seat apparatus for mounting in a vehicle, said seat apparatus comprising:a plurality of support rails, said support rails having a predefined length;a first slidable seat section and second slidable seat section that are operatively associated with said support rails, each said seat section being movable from a storage position to an extended position;bracing means for preventing deflection of said support rails; said bracing means including a plurality of linking plates extending below said seat sections, a plurality of translation pistons disposed under said seat cushions, each of said translation pistons having a first end fixed to said vehicle and a second end attached to a corresponding one of said linking plates, a plurality of support pistons each having a first end pivotally linked to a corresponding one of said linking plates and an opposite second end, a plurality of biasing springs each positioned to direct a corresponding one of said support pistons into a bracing orientation, and control means for adjusting the length of each of said pistons,whereby said seat sections cooperate with said support rails to facilitate ingress and egress from said vehicle and, whereby said seat sections are maintained in a horizontal orientation.