SEATS

Abstract: A seat is formed with a compartment which extends beneath the seat cushioning (12) and up into the backrest (14) so as to accomodate a life preserver (28). The compartment is defined in part by a seat and backrest supporting diaphragm (16) which extends continuously from the seat base into the backrest so as to afford a guide surface which is uninterrupted by any sharp discontinuities. The bottom (18) of the compartment is hinged rearwardly of the seat and includes a door or flap (24) which, when opened, allows the compartment bottom to drop into a downwardly and forwardly inclined position to facilitate withdrawal and subsequent reinsertion of the life preserver.

Description: SEATS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to seats, and more particularly to seats incorporating life preservers and suitable for use in vessels or aircraft such as conventional boats which may carry passengers, hydrofoils, hovercraft, conventional airplanes, helicopters, airships and such like. BACKGROUND ART Vessels or aircraft used to transport passengers on or over water must carry life preservers (commonly called life jackets) for the use of passengers. It has been proposed in GB-A-2026853 to locate a life preserver in a tray formed by the seat pan . and back support of each seat. The life preserver is covered by the seat squab and is sat on by a user of the seat. This proposal has a number of disadvantages. Firstly a passenger must stand and turn to face his seat before he can remove the squab to expose the life jacket for use. This could prove very difficult under emergency conditions, especially if seats are banked together, and successive banks are closely spaced. Secondly, although removal of the squab may be relatively quick and easy, retrimming the seat after the squab has been removed may prove difficult and time consuming. This will be a particular problem during periodic safe checks by Government officials during which all life preservers must be inspected. Finally, the fact that the life preserver is sat on means that the seat will not be as comfortable as a conventionally upholstered seat and the life jacket may suffer damage. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention a seat comprises an upholstered cushion and back and a compartment formed beneath the cushion and behind the back to receive a life preserver, the compartment being openable for removal of the life preserver whilst the seat is occupied. Preferably the compartment is normally closed by a flap or door located at the front of the seat below the seat cushion and openable by the passenger occupying the seat to permit removal of the life preserver for his use. The flap or door is preferably a hingedly connected rigid member normally held in the closed position by suitable means, e.g. VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark) fasteners or clip-type fasteners. With the preferred embodiment of the invention, the occupant of a seat may open the compartment - and remove the life preserver without leaving his seat; the life preserver may be readily removed for inspection and replaced without disturbing the trimming of the seat cushion or back? the seat is as comfortable as a conventional seat? and the life preserver is protected from damage within the compartment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of one of a pair of seats? and Figure 2 is an underside, exploded view of the seat of Figure 1. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a seat 10 which may form one of a pair connected together to form a bank and is suitable for use, e.g. on a passenger ferry. Each seat includes a conventional seat cushion 12 and backrest 14 which may, for example, be formed by moulded foam pads mounted on a tubular steel frame and trimmed with suitable upholstery fabric. The foam pads are supported by means of a flexible diaphragm 16 which extends beneath the seat base and curves smoothly without any sharp discontinuities and continues up the backrest. The diaphragm 16 substantially spans the widths of the seat base and backrest tubular framework and is tensioned by suitable fasteners (not shown) which secure the diaphragm at its edges to the framework. The seats are mounted as a- bank by means of support legs 17. The diaphragm 16 together with a hinged panel structure 13 comprising panel sections 20, 22 and 24 and a fixed back panel 26 forms a compartment which extends beneath the seat base and up at least part of the back rest so as to accommodate a life preserver 28. The panel section 20 is hinged at 30 to the seat and the upper edge of the panel section 24 is provided with means for fastening it to the seat to hold the panel structure 18 in its storage condition. The fastening means may comprise for example VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark) material or some other readily releasable fastening device such as that illustrated in which the end portions of a rod 32 are engageable with a snap-action or frictionally with bifurcated studs 34 attached at the front of the seat. The rod 32 is formed with finger grip portions 36 to enable it to be grasped and pulled away from the studs 34. - It will be understood that when the panel section 24 (which constitutes a door or flap) is freed from the studs 34, the panel structure 18 can be allowed to drop downwardly as indicated in phantom outline in Figure 1 to form a chute which imparts an initial forward movement to the life preserver 28 thereby aiding location and withdrawal thereof. During withdrawal and subsequent reinsertion of the life preserver, the diaphragm acts as a continuous and smooth guide surface thereby preventing snagging of the life preserver which could otherwise obstruct its withdrawal with potentially fatal consequences in an emergency. In use, a passenger seated on one of the seats can reach down to open the door or panel section 24 associated with his seat, lower the panel structure 18, and remove his life preserver for use. All of this may be done while the passenger remains seated. The life preserver is readily available for inspection, and can easily be thrust back into the compartment after inspection, the panel structure 18 raised, and the door 24 closed and fastened. OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A seat comprising an upholstered cushion and back and a compartment formed beneath the cushion and behind the back to receive a life preserver, the compartment being openable for removal of the life preserver whilst the seat is occupied. 2. A seat as claimed in Claim 1 in which the compartment is normally closed by a flap or door located at the front of the seat below the seat cushion and openable by the passenger occupying the seat. 3. A seat as claimed in Claim 2 in which the flap or door is hinged at a lower edge thereof so that the flap or door forms part of a support surface for the life preserver when hinged to its open position. 4. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which a seat and back supporting member in the form of a flexible diaphragm is connected under tension to the frame structure of the seat base and backrest and extends continuously for at least the length of said compartment, i.e. beneath the seat cushioning and at least partway up the backrest. 5. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which the bottom of said compartment is hingedly connected rearwardly of the seat and is arranged to incline downwardly and forwardly when the compartment is opened so as to thereby form a chute facilitating withdrawal of the life preserver. 6. A seat as claimed in Claim 5 when appendent to Claim 3 in which the bottom of the compartment is held in the storage position by fastening means that maintains the flap or door closed whereby release of the fastening means serves to release 1?0R£ the door and simultaneously permit the bottom of the compartment to drop into saic- downwardly inclined chute cond ition . OMPI

Inventors: PERKINS NORMAN WILLIAM, PERKINS, NORMAN, WILLIAM
Applicants: SCANDUS DESIGN LTD, SCANDUS DESIGN LIMITED
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B63C9
IPC codes: A47C7, B63B29, B64D11