Abstract:
A seat that may be transported from a deployed position, where it is adjacent to the side of the support member, to a stowed position above the support member. The deployed position provides seating for an occupant. The stowed position provides a space for storing an item in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The device uses a linkage system that supports the stowable swing away flip seat and is able to transport the stowable swing away flip seat, upon the exertion of a lifting force, along a predetermined path from a deployed to a stowed position above the support member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The adoption of the Americans with Disabilities Act has caused the transit industry to equip current bus designs with expensive and difficult to maintain wheelchair lifts. These lifts enable wheel chairs to have access to a bus, but require the vehicle driver to leave his seat and operate the lift, thereby slowing down bus service. The industry response to these initial efforts has been to design the bus so that a lift is not necessary. This is being accomplished by lowering the floor of the bus to the level of the street curb, whereby a wheel chair will be able to roll directly from the sidewalk onto the bus without the use of a mechanical lift. This lowering permits wheelchair access to the vehicle without the impediment of the traditional set of stairs. 
     The lowered floor bus, while easy to access, has the consequence of making the wheel wells protrude further into the interior of the bus. Consequently, the aisle space will be quite narrow between the wheel wells. When the aisle space is narrow, it cannot be used as effectively for holding passengers or cargo as other parts of the bus. However, two flip seats may be placed on each side of the aisle, with their backs proximate to opposing wheel wells and their fronts facing the aisle. Each flip seat has a back support portion and a flip seating portion that are hingedly associated with one another. The flip seating portion has a substantially horizontal position, where it is substantially perpendicular to the back support portion. Additionally the flip seating portion has a substantially vertical position, where it is proximate and substantially parallel with the back support portion. The flip seating portion may be limitedly rotated about the hingedly associated end, from its substantially horizontal position to the substantially vertical position. A wheelchair or other object may occupy the space formerly occupied by any one flip seating portion in the substantially horizontal position. While this provides more room, the flip seat will still occupy some space between the aisle and the wheel well. Therefore, simply rotating the seating portion of each flip seat will not provide enough space to position wheelchairs in these spaces without the wheelchairs also extending into part of the aisle. The solution is to make a swing away flip seat that is completely removable from the space between a wheel well and an aisle by being stored in the space above the wheel well. 
     One method of operation which would permit a swing away flip seat to be removed from the space between an aisle and a wheel well by being stored in the space above the wheel well, is pivoting it about an axis which runs substantially coextensive and parallel with the top of the back support portion and swinging it through an arc. Although this stores the stowable swing away flip seat out of the way it is very awkward, as the heavy part must be lifted a large distance above the floor. Additionally, this method causes the stowable swing away flip seat to swing further out into the aisle while it travels through the arc. Consequently, losing control of the stowable swing away flip seat while lifting could result in personal injury to an operator or a bystander. A second method of operation would entail pivoting the swing away flip seat about an axis that is substantially coextensive and parallel with the bottom of the back support portion of the stowable swing away flip seat. While this makes the load height lower it does not get the seat entirely out of the aisle area when stowed. Because the stowable swing away flip seat will extend into the aisle walkway, the use of the aisle by riders will be impeded. 
     The instant invention also relates to a method which permits a swing away flip seat to be removed from the space between an aisle and a wheel well by being rotated and stowed in the space above a wheel well or similar obstruction. The stowable swing away flip seat has a flip seating portion that can be limitedly rotated from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. The stowable swing away flip seat can be transported from a deployed position to a stowed position above a wheel well or similar obstruction. Additionally, the stowable swing away flip seat is completely removable from the space between the wheel well and the aisle walkway. During the stowage operation the stowable swing away flip seat can be transported from a deployed position to a stowed position, all the while without extending further in the forward aisle walkway direction than while deployed with the flip seating portion in the substantially horizontal position. Additionally, during the stowage operation consistent weight distribution is maintained and the stowage operator is spared from performing awkward maneuvers. The instant invention will allow efficient and flexible utilization of the space adjacent to a wheel well or similar obstruction in low floor buses and will permit the transit industry to more effectively comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a stowable swing away flip seat for mounting to a support member, such as a wheel well, that can be deployed adjacent to the support member and then stowed above the support member. The stowable swing away flip seat is stowed to provide space for a wheelchair, or other article, in the space formerly occupied by the deployed seat. The invention comprises a seat and a linkage system. 
     The linkage system comprises multiple bars, which further comprise multiple arms, preferably made from steel, that associate the stowable swing away flip seat with a support member. The linkage system supports the stowable swing away flip seat while deployed and stowed. Additionally, when a lifting force is applied to the stowable swing away flip seat, the linkage system, upon the exertion of a lifting force, generates a path that transports the stowable swing away flip seat from a deployed position to a stowed position above a support member. The arms may of the linkage system may be tailored so that the generated path confines the route traveled by the stowable swing away flip seat during the stowage operation so that it does not protrude further in the forward horizontal plane, relative to the support member, then it does while in its original deployed position. The preferred embodiment utilizes a four bar linkage system having two upper bars and two lower bars. 
     In some embodiments, the linkage system includes a biasing means to ensure a consistent distribution of weight during the stowage operation. The biasing means also allows the stowage operation to occur without invoking awkward movements from the stowage operator. Furthermore, the biasing means may comprise one or more pressurized cylinders. 
     The stowable swing away flip seat comprises of a seating portion, a back support portion, and a means for hingedly associating the two. The seating portion and back support portion are both preferably made from steel. The seating portion and back support portion collectively provide seating for an occupant while in the deployed position. The preferred embodiment has a means for hingedly associating the seating portion with the back support portion, however it is conceivable that the two could be fixedly attached. In the preferred embodiment, a seat plate portion, preferably made from steel, acts as a means for hingedly associating the seating portion with the back support portion. The seat plate portion may comprise a series of individual plates collectively fixedly to form the seat plate portion or a solid one-piece seat plate portion. The means of fixedly attaching the individual plates may comprise welding, or using nuts and bolts, or the like. In some embodiments, the seating portion is limited to rotating from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, relative to the back support portion in a substantially vertical position. 
     The preferred embodiment utilizes the linkage system and support legs as a means of supporting the stowable swing away flip seat while deployed. The support legs act to channel the downward force of the stowable swing away flip seat to a support structure, such as a floor. The support legs extend from the stowable swing away flip seat to a floor, and thereby transfer the downward force of the stowable swing away flip seat to the floor. In the preferred embodiment the support legs are hingedly associated, however, conceivably they may be fixedly associated. 
     In addition to the linkage system the preferred embodiment utilizes a deflector plate, preferably made from steel, to limit the rotation of the stowable swing away flip seat upon the completion of the stowage operation. In such an embodiment, the deflecting plate is associated with the seat and limits rotation upon contacting a fixed structure, such as a wall. 
     For security, the preferred embodiment utilizes a positive locking means to lock the stowable swing away flip seat in a stowed position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order to satisfy the objects of the invention discussed herein, a stowable swing away flip seat for mounting to a wheel well of a vehicle is provided as illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the stowable swing away flip seat illustrating the flip seating portion in a substantially horizontal position and the stowable swing away flip seat in a deployed position. 
     FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the stowable swing away flip seat illustrating the flip seating portion in a substantially vertical position and the stowable swing away flip seat in a stowed position. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the flip seating portion in both a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position and the stowable swing away flip seat in both its stowed and deployed position. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view illustrating the flip seating portion in a substantially horizontal position and the support legs in a substantially vertical position. 
     FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the stowable swing away flip seat illustrating the linkage system while the stowable swing away flip seat is stowed. 
     FIG. 6 is a motion study illustrating the flip seating portion in a substantially horizontal position and the stowable swing away flip seat in a deployed position. 
     FIG. 7 is a motion study illustrating the flip seating portion in a substantially vertical position/and the stowable swing away flip seat in an intermediate position in between the deployed and stowed position. 
     FIG. 8 is a motion study illustrating the flip seating portion in a substantially vertical position and the stowable swing away flip seat in an intermediate position in between the deployed and stowed position. 
     FIG. 9 is a motion study illustrating the flip seating portion in a substantially vertical position and the stowable swing away flip seat in an intermediate position in between the deployed and stowed position. 
     FIG. 10 is a motion study illustrating the flip seating portion in a substantially vertical position and the stowable swing away flip seat in a deployed position. 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view illustrating the locking mechanism locking the stowable swing away flip seat in a stowed position. 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom view illustrating the seating plates and the support legs in a substantially vertical position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 , the stowable swing away flip seat  10  is shown. The stowable swing away flip seat  10  has a limitedly flip seating portion  11  and a fixed angled back support portion  12 . Additionally, as seen in FIG. 4, the means for associating the flip seating portion  11  with the back support portion  12  includes seat plates  13 ,  14 , and  15 . The invention also includes two support legs  18  and  19 , and a linkage system  20 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, which associates stowable swing way flip seat  10  with support member  31 . 
     Briefly, in operation, stowable swing way flip seat  10  is typically utilized in the deployed position as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. Flip seating portion  11  is substantially horizontally and parallel to a horizontal floor base  22 . Back support portion  12  is in a fixed and substantially vertical position, relative to floor base  22 . Support legs  18  and  19  are in a substantially vertical position relative to floor base  22 . Flip seating portion  11  is limited to moving hingedly from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, as shown in FIG.  3 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, support legs  18  and  19  are hingedly associated with the bottom of seat plate  15 , with each having a range of motion indicated by arrows B. Support legs  18  and  19  are limited to moving hingedly, relative to floor base  22 , from a substantially vertical position, as seen in FIG. 4, to a substantially horizontal position, as seen in FIG.  2 . Linkage system  20  associates back support portion  12  with support member  31 . Upon the exertion of lifting force A, as seen in FIG. 6, linking system  20  generates a predetermined path of motion, as seen in the motion study of FIGS. 6,  7   8 ,  9 , and  10 , to raise the stowable swing way flip seat  10  along the path from a deployed position to a stowed position above support member  31 . The linkage system  20  ensures that stowable swing away flip seat  10  does not extend any further in the forward horizontal plane, relative to support member  31 , than it did while in its original deployed position with the flip seating portion in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     To provide a space for a wheelchair or other article, first support legs  18  and  19  are folded from a substantially vertical position, as seen in FIG. 4, to a substantially horizontal position, as illustrated in FIG.  2 . Next, as seen in FIG. 6, an upward force C is applied to flip seating portion  11 . As shown in FIG. 7, upward force C causes flip seating portion  11  to be flipped to a substantially vertical position relative to the floor base  22  that is shown in FIG.  3 . Finally, upward force A is applied to the stowable swing way flip seat  10 , as shown in FIG.  6 . As illustrated in the motion study of FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 , upward force A causes the linkage system  20  to raise the stowable swing away flip seat  10  from a deployed position to a stowed position above support member  31 . Throughout the stowage operation, stowable swing away flip seat  10  does not extend further in the forward horizontal plane, relative to support member  31 , than it does while deployed with flip seating portion in a substantially horizontal position. As seen in FIG. 3, once stowable swing away flip seat  10  reaches the stowed position, deflector plate  25  will be located proximate to wall  63 . Upon further force in the stowed direction, deflector plate  25  will contact the wall  63  and prevent further movement. The stowable swing away flip seat  10  may be locked into position by the locking pins  23  and  24 , as seen in FIG.  11 . The stowable swing away flip seat  10  may be transported from a stowed to a deployed position by reversing the aforementioned steps and reversing upward force A to a downward force. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, a means for associating flip seating portion  11  with back support portion  12  comprises seat plate  13 ,  14 , and  15  that are preferably made from steel. Seat plates  13  and  14  are mirror images. The configuration of seat plate  13  is collectively shown in FIGS. 1,  4 ,  5 , and  12 . Seat plates  13  and  14  are used to fix seat plate  15  in a substantially horizontal position, as illustrated in FIG.  4 . Additionally, seat plate  16 , which is used to support flip seating portion  11  while in a substantially horizontal position, is an L shaped structure preferably made from steel that is fixedly attached to seat plate  15 , as shown in FIGS.  4  and  12 . Seat plates  13 ,  14 ,  15 , and  16  may be fabricated as one solid piece or may comprise individual plates collectively fixedly attached. The seat plates may be secured by welding them together or by using fasteners such as nuts and bolts. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, support legs  18  and  19 , preferably made from steel, are used as a means of supporting stowable swing way flip seat  10  while deployed. Support legs  18  and  19  are mirror images. In FIG. 4, the support legs  18  and  19  are shown hingedly associated with the bottom of seat plate  15 . Support legs  18  and  19  are confined to a range of motion indicated by arrows B. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, flip seating portion  11  is generally rectangular and preferably made from steel. Flip seating portion  11  has a substantially horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 6, and a substantially vertical position, as shown in FIG.  7 . Flip seating portion has limited rotation about a rotational axis. The rotational axis passes through mounting pivot  41  and an identical mirror image mounting pivot (not shown) that is associated with seat plate  14  in the same way as mounting pivot  41  is with seat plate  13  in FIG.  3 . Furthermore, stopping device  43  is associated with one side of flip seating portion  1   1  and the mirror image stopping device is associated with the opposite side of flip seating portion in identical fashion. When flip seating portion  11  reaches a substantially vertical position relative to floor base  22 , stopping device  41  contacts seat plate  13 . While not shown, at the same time the other stopping device contacts seat plate  14  in identical fashion. The dual contact prevents further rotation. As illustrated in FIG. 4, when flip seating portion  11  reaches a substantially horizontal position, the bottom of flip seating portion  11  rests upon seat plates  13 ,  14 , and  16 , which thereby prevents further rotation. 
     Back support portion  12  comprises bars  65 ,  66 ,  67 ,  68 ,  69 ,  70 , and  71 , preferably made from steel, which are fixedly associated as illustrated in FIG.  4 . The means of associating back support portion  12  with seat plates  13  and  14  comprises brackets  49  and  50  and mounting bolts  45 ,  46 ,  47 , and  48 . Brackets  49  and  50  are fixed near the bottom and at opposite sides of support bar  65 , as illustrated in FIG.  1 . Mounting bolts  45  and  46  pass from plate  13  through bracket  49 , and mounting bolts  47  and  48  pass from plate  14  and then through bracket  50 . The bolts may be secured by any number of means, including nuts, or welding, or the like. Bolts  45 ,  46 ,  47 , and  48  are positioned so that back support portion  12  is fixed at a substantially vertical position relative to a horizontal flat floor base  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, back support portion  12  is hingedly associated with support member  31  via a four bar linkage system  20 . Linkage system  20 , preferably made from steel, comprises biasing brackets  57  and  60 ; linkage bars  21 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32 ; and biasing cylinders  61  and  62 . The means of associating linkage system  20  with back support  12  comprises back support brackets  51 ,  52 ,  53 , and  54 , which are positioned as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The means of associating linkage system  20  with support member  31  comprises support member brackets  55 ,  56 ,  58 , and  59 , which are positioned as illustrated in FIG.  1 . As seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, one end of linkage arm  26  is hingedly associated with back support bracket  51  and the other end is hingedly associated with support member bracket  55 . One end of linkage arm  27  is hingedly associated with back support bracket  52  and the other end is hingedly associated with linkage arm  30 . The other end of linkage arm  30  is fixedly attached to support member bracket  56 . Thus, linkage arm  30  is fixed in a substantially vertical position relative to the horizontal top of support member  31 . One end of linkage arm  28  is hingedly associated with back support bracket  53  and the other end is hingedly associated with support member bracket  58 . One end of linkage arm  29  is hingedly associated with back support bracket  54  and the other end is hingedly associated with linkage arm  31 . The other end of linkage arm  31  is fixedly attached to support member bracket  59 . Thus, linkage arm  31  is fixed in a substantially vertical position. As illustrated in FIG. 5, linkage arm  32  has two ends. One end of linkage arm  32  is fixedly associated with linkage arm  27  and the other end is fixedly associated with linkage arm  29 . Linkage arm  32  is oriented such that it is perpendicular to linkage arms  27  and  29  and spans the distance between linkage arms  27  and  29 . Biasing brackets  57  and  60  are fixedly associated at opposite sides of linkage arm  32 . 
     Linkage system  20  utilizes biasing cylinders  61  and  62  as a means of biasing. One end of biasing cylinder  61  is hingedly associated with biasing bracket  57  and the other end is hingedly associated with support member bracket  56 . One end of biasing cylinder  62  is hingedly associated with biasing bracket  60  and the other end is hingedly associated with support member bracket  59 . When performing the stowage operation, linkage system  20  works as illustrated in the motion study of FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 . The stowable swing away flip seat  10  is transported above support member  31 . Deflector plate  25  is fixedly associated with the top center portion of bar  65  and, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is proximate to wall  63  when the stowable swing away flip seat  10  is in the stowed position. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 11 locking pins  23  and  24 , preferably made from steel, are used to lock stowable swing away flip seat  10  in its stowed position. Locking pin  23  is fixedly attached to a front lip of seat plate  14 . Locking pin  24  is fixedly attached to support member  31 . Locking pins  23  and  24  are positioned so that locking pin  24  will pass through a hole in locking pin  23  and prevent deployment of stowable swing away flip seat  10 . Locking pin  24  can disengage from locking pin  23  by removing it from the hole in locking pin  23 . Locking pin  23  can then be lifted, which will permit deployment of stowable swing away flip seat  10 . 
     It may thus be seen that the objects of the present inventions set forth herein as well as those made apparent from the foregoing descriptions, are officially obtained. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for purposes of disclosure, modification of disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.