Patent Publication Number: US-5423280-A

Title: Seat hinge

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a seat to a base member which is particularly useful on boats used for fishing purposes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Seats on pedestals on fishing boats have been used for many years. 
     Summary of the Invention 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a new and useful apparatus for supporting a seat to a base member and which allows the seat to be adjusted to different positions. 
     The apparatus comprises a base plate hinged to a seat plate which is hinged to a support member. The bottom of the base plate is adapted to be connected to a base member and the top of the seat plate is adapted to be connected to a seat. The seat plate can be pivoted close to the base plate with the support member located therebetween to locate the seat in one position and to an inclined position, supported by the support member, to locate the seat in an inclined position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perceptive view of the apparatus of the invention with the seat plate located in an inclined position. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a seat and a base member shown in exploded positions from the apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the seat plate located in a down position and a seat and base member connected to the seat plate and base plate respectively. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a partial folded position for positioning the seat plate from the inclined position of FIG. 1 to the down position of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with all three members in a flat extended position. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section of FIG. 5 taken along lines 6--6 thereof. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus of the invention folded in the position shown in FIG. 3 as seen from the bottom side of the base plate. 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a base member to which the apparatus of the invention may be connected. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, the apparatus of the invention is identified by reference numeral 19. The apparatus comprises a flat metal base plate 21, a flat metal seat plate 23 and a flat metal support member 25. The base plate 21 has a first end 21F, a second end 21S, a top side 21T and a bottom side 21B. The base plate 23 has a first end 23F, a second end 23S, a top side 23T and a bottom side 23B. The support member 25 has a first end 25F, a second end 25S, an outer side 25(O) and an inner side 25(I). A first hinge 31 is connected to the top side 21T of the base plate 21 at its second end 21S and to the bottom side 23B of the seat plate at its first end 21F. A second hinge 41 is connected to the bottom side 23B of the base plate 23 at its second end 23S and to the inner side 25(I) of the support member at its first end 25F. 
     The base plate 21 has three elongated apertures 51A, 51AB, and 53C formed therethrough near its first end 21F. A tab 25T1 extends from the end 25S of the support member 25 and a tab 25T2 extends from the outer side 25(O) of the support member 25. Tab 25T1 has an aperture 61 extending therethrough and tab 25T2 has an aperture 62 extending therethrough. 
     Four threaded apertures 71 extend through the base plate 21 for receiving bolts 73 for attaching the bottom side 21B of plate 21 to side flanges 75F on each side of a base member 75 of a conventional pedestal 77 which may be attached to a boat. The base member 75 may be rotatable relative to pedestal 77. The flanges 75F have apertures 75A for receiving the shafts of the bolts 73. The base 75 has front and rear side plates 75FP and 75RP that extend beyond the front and rear edges 75FE and 75RE for supporting front and rear portions of side the flanges 75F. The side flanges 75 do not extend across the front and rear ends of the base 75 leaving openings 76 between the side flanges 75 at the front and rear portions of the base 75 for receiving the tab 25T1 depending on which direction the apparatus of the invention is secured to the base 75. 
     Four elongated apertures 81 extend through the seat plate 23 for receiving bolts 84 allowing the top side of the seat plate 23 to be secured to the bottom of a seat 85. 
     The seat plate 23 may be located at an acute angle theta relative to the base plate 21 with the support member 25 located at an acute angle alpha relative to the seat plate 23 to allow the tab 25T1 to be located in either of apertures 51A, 51B, or 51C to support the seat 2. A pin (not shown) may be inserted through the aperture 61 of the tab 25T1 to removably lock the tab 25T1 in the selected aperture 51A, 51B, or 51C. In the inclined position of the seat 85 the user will in effect lean against the seat 85. 
     For setting on the seat 85, the tab 25T1 may be removed from the selected aperture 51A, 51B, and 51C and the member 25 folded against the bottom side of the seat plate 23 as shown in FIG. 4 and both the seat plate 23 and support member 25 folded next to the top side 21T of the base plate 21 as shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the tab 25T2 extends through the aperture 51B and apertures 71 are in alignment with the apertures 81 as shown in FIG. 7. A pin may be inserted through the aperture 25T2 to removably lock it in place. 
     The hinges 31 and 41 are the type which will limit the angles theta and alpha to about 270 degrees each.