Convertible seating for marine vessels

Abstract

A convertible seat for a marine vessel includes a seat base having a seat bottom and a seat back which extends transversely upwardly relative to the seat bottom, a back supporting cushion for an occupant seated on the seat bottom, a table coupled to the back supporting cushion, and a pivot mechanism which couples the table to the seat back, the pivot mechanism being configured such that the back supporting cushion and the table are movable into a storage position in which the table is sandwiched between the seat back and the back supporting cushion and a deployed position in which the table provides a supporting surface over the seat bottom.

Claims

1. A convertible seat for a marine vessel, the convertible seat extending from top to bottom in a vertical direction, from a first side to a second side that is opposite the first side in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction, and from front to back and a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, the convertible seat comprising: a seat base comprising a seat bottom and a seat back which extends transversely upwardly relative to the seat bottom, a seatback assembly comprising a back supporting cushion for an occupant seated on the seat bottom and a table coupled to the back supporting cushion, a pivot mechanism that couples the seatback assembly to the seat base, the pivot mechanism being configured such that the seatback assembly is movable relative to the seat base into a storage position in which the table is sandwiched between the seat back and the back supporting cushion and alternately into a deployed position in which the table provides a supporting surface over the seat bottom, the pivot mechanism including an upper pivot arm and a lower pivot arm that are pivotably coupled to the seat base and to the seatback assembly, wherein in the deployed position the lower pivot arm extends transversely to and provides bracing support for the upper pivot arm, and further wherein in the storage position the upper pivot arm and the lower pivot arm are collapsed in a laterally overlapping position relative to each other alongside the seatback assembly, and a supporting protrusion that laterally extends from a side of the lower pivot arm, the supporting protrusion configured to support the upper pivot arm when the seatback assembly is in the deployed position, wherein the upper pivot arm is pivotably coupled to the seat base at a first inner pivot joint and to the seatback assembly at a first outer pivot joint, and wherein the lower pivot arm is pivotably coupled to the seat base at a second inner pivot joint located below the first inner pivot joint and to the seatback assembly at a second outer pivot joint, wherein the upper pivot arm between the first inner pivot joint and the first outer pivot joint is straight and wherein the lower pivot arm between the second inner pivot joint and the second outer pivot joint is straight, and wherein the upper pivot arm comprises a cutout between the first inner pivot joint and the first outer pivot joint that nests the second inner pivot joint in the laterally overlapping position and wherein the lower pivot arm comprises a cutout between the second inner pivot joint and the second outer pivot joint that nests the first outer pivot joint in the laterally overlapping position.

2. The convertible seat according to claim 1, wherein the upper pivot arm and the lower pivot arm are pivotably coupled to a side of the table.

3. The convertible seat according to claim 2, wherein the upper pivot arm and the lower pivot arm in the laterally overlapping position are located laterally alongside of the table and entirely longitudinally forwardly of the seat base.

4. The convertible seat according to claim 1, wherein in the storage position the upper pivot arm and the lower pivot arm are located laterally alongside the table and entirely longitudinally between the back supporting cushion and the seat base.

5. The convertible seat according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket that couples the upper pivot arm and the lower pivot arm to the seat base, and wherein the upper pivot arm and the lower pivot arm in the laterally overlapping position are located laterally between the seatback assembly and the bracket.

6. The convertible seat according to claim 5, wherein the upper pivot arm and the lower pivot arm are mounted to opposite sides of the bracket, respectively.

7. The convertible seat according to claim 1, wherein the upper pivot arm and the lower pivot arm are a first upper pivot arm and a first lower pivot arm which are located proximate to the first side of the seatback assembly, and further comprising a second upper pivot arm and a second lower pivot arm that are pivotably coupled to the seat base and the seatback assembly at a location proximate to the second side of the seatback assembly, wherein in the storage position the second upper pivot arm and the second lower pivot arm are collapsed in a laterally overlapping position relative to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure includes the following Figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a convertible seat.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the convertible seat in a stored position.

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the convertible seat.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the convertible seat in the stored position.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the convertible seat in a first intermediate deployment position.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side view of the convertible seat in a second intermediate deployment position.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the convertible seat in a deployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) In the present disclosure, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different systems and methods described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems and devices. Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

(10) In marine vessels that do not include a galley, it can be helpful to have the option to convert unnecessary seating into a tabletop workspace. The inventors recognized a need in the art for a compact pivot mechanism which can pivot a seat cushion into and out of a stored and deployed position without the need for a large pivot mechanism storage space. The present disclosure provides an improved pivot mechanism for a flip out seat cushion and table which provides countertop workspace in the interior of a marine vessel where a galley would have alternatively been.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a convertible seat 10 which includes a seat base 12. The seat base 12 includes a seat bottom 14 which is joined to a seat back 16 at an intersecting location 26. The seat 10 extends vertically from the intersecting location 26 upwards toward a top end 28 of the seat back 14, longitudinally from the intersecting location 26 toward a front end 30 of the seat bottom 14, and laterally from a left side 32 to a right side 34.

(12) The seat 10 further includes a back supporting cushion 18, a table 20, and a first pivot mechanism 24, and a second pivot mechanism 46 which together constitute a seatback assembly 44 capable of being pivoted into and between a stored position (FIG. 1) and a deployed position (FIG. 7). Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the back supporting cushion 18 extends laterally from a first side 54a to a second side 54b, substantially vertically from a lower end 56 to an upper end 58, and longitudinally from an inner face 36 to an outer face 38. The table 20 is sized such that the table 20 and the back supporting cushion 18 have substantially the same vertical and lateral dimensions. The table 20 is positioned longitudinally between the inner face 36 of the back supporting cushion 18 and the seat back 16. The table 20 extends vertically from a bottom end 48 to a top end 50, laterally from a first side 45a to a second side 45b, and longitudinally from top surface 40 to a bottom surface 42. The table 20 is coupled at the top end 50 to the back supporting cushion 18 at the upper end 58 via a piano hinge 51, as shown in FIG. 2, which extends laterally from the first side 45a to the second side 45b. As best shown in FIG. 5, the pivot mechanism 24 is pivotably coupled to the seat back 16 and pivotably coupled to the table 20 proximate the bottom end 48.

(13) Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the seat 10 further includes a seat bottom cushion 52 which is positioned vertically on top of the seat bottom 14 is configured to provide cushioning below an occupant seated on the seat 10. The second pivot mechanism 46 is positioned on the opposing side of the table 20 from the first pivot mechanism 24. The first pivot mechanism 24 is essentially a mirror image of the second pivot mechanism 46. As such, it should be understood that the following description of the first pivot mechanism 24 equally applies to the second pivot mechanism 46.

(14) Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the pivot mechanism 24 includes an upper pivot arm 60 and a lower pivot arm 62. The upper pivot arm 60 and the lower pivot arm 62 are coupled to the seat back 16 via a base mounting bracket 64 and coupled to the table 20 via a table mounting bracket 78 such that the base mounting bracket 64, the upper pivot arm 60, the lower pivot arm 62, and the table 20 constitute a four-bar mechanism 92. The base mounting bracket 64 has a mounting face 66 which extends vertically and laterally and a seat base mounting flange 68 which extends vertically and longitudinally outward from the seat back 16. The mounting face 66 is secured to the seat back 16. The seat base mounting flange 68 has a first face 67 and a second face 69 which oppose one another laterally. The table mounting bracket 78 has a mounting face 80 which extends vertically and laterally and a table mounting flange 82 which extends vertically and longitudinally. The mounting face 80 is secured to the bottom surface 42 of the table 20 and the table mounting flange 82 is secured to the first side 45a of the table 20.

(15) The upper pivot arm 60 and the lower pivot arm 62 each include an inner end 61, 63 and an outer end 65, 67 respectively. The upper pivot arm 60 is pivotably secured to an upper end 70 of the seat base mounting flange 68 via a first inner pivot joint 72. The lower pivot arm 62 is pivotably secured to a lower end 74 of the seat base mounting flange 68 via a second inner pivot joint 76. Relative to the seat bottom 14, the first inner pivot joint 72 is located vertically above the second inner pivot joint 76, and both remain stationary throughout deployment and storing of the seatback assembly 44. The upper pivot arm 60 is pivotably secured to a middle point 84 of the table mounting flange 82 via a first outer pivot joint 86. The lower pivot arm 62 is pivotably secured to a lower end 88 of the table mounting flange 82 via a second outer pivot joint 90. The upper pivot arm 60 further includes a downwardly facing cutout 92 positioned between the inner end 61 and the outer end 65. The lower pivot arm 62 further includes an upwardly facing cutout 94 and a support protrusion 96, wherein the upwardly facing cutout 94 is positioned between the inner end 63 and the outer end 67 and the support protrusion 96 is positioned at a middle portion between the inner end 63 and the upwardly facing cutout 94.

(16) The first inner pivot joint 72, the second inner pivot joint 76, the first outer pivot joint 86, and the second outer pivot joint 90 each include a pin 72a, 76a, 86a, 90a and a fastener 72b, 76b, 86b, 90b, respectively. The pin 72a extends outward from the first face 67 of the seat base mounting flange 68 and through the inner end 61 of the upper pivot arm 60 where it is secured via the fastener 72b. The pin 76a extends outward from the inner end 63 of the lower pivot arm 62 and through the second face 69 of the seat base mounting flange 68 where it is secured via the fastener 76b. The pin 86a extends outward from the table mounting flange 82 and through the outer end 65 of the upper pivot arm 60 where it is secured via the fastener 86b. The pin 90a extends outward from the table mounting flange 82 and through the outer end 67 of the lower pivot arm 62 where it is secured via the fastener 90b. The pin 86a extends laterally further outward than the pin 90a. Such a configuration in combination with the pins 72a, 76a passing through opposing faces of the seat mounting flange 68 ensures that the upper pivot arm 60 and the lower pivot arm 62 remain adjacent to one another, but are not laterally co-planar.

(17) In use, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, the seatback assembly 44 is pivotable into and between the stored position and the deployed position. In the stored position, as shown in FIG. 4, the four bar mechanism 92 is compressed, such the table 20 is sandwiched between the seat back 16 and the back supporting cushion 18 and the inner face 36 of the back supporting cushion 18 and the bottom surface 42 of the table 20 abut one another. The pivot mechanism 46 is oriented such that the upper pivot arm 60 and the lower pivot arm 62 are generally adjacent to and aligned vertically with the table 20 and each other. In the stored position, the first outer pivot joint 86 and the second outer pivot joint 90 are located vertically below the first inner pivot joint 72 and the second inner pivot joint 76 such that the first outer pivot joint 86 is located between the second inner pivot joint 76 and the second outer pivot joint 90. Furthermore, the first outer pivot joint 86 is nested within the upwardly facing cutout 94 of the lower pivot arm 62 and the second inner pivot joint 76 is nested within the downwardly facing cutout 92 of the upper pivot arm 60.

(18) During deployment, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, the four bar mechanism 92 is extended and the pivot mechanism 46 is pivoted into two intermediate positions before pivoting the seatback assembly 44 into the deployed position. In the first intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 5, the back supporting cushion 18 and the table 20 are moved upward, thus pivoting the upper pivot arm 60 and the lower pivot arm 62 such that the first outer pivot joint 86 and the second outer pivot joint 90 are moved vertically upward and longitudinally outward with respect to the seat base 12. The back supporting cushion 18 and the table 20 remain vertically aligned and adjacent one another such that the inner face 36 of the back supporting cushion 18 and the bottom surface 42 of the table 20 abut one another.

(19) In the second intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 6, the back supporting cushion 18 and the table 20 are moved further upwards and pivoted outward with respect to the seat base 12. The upper pivot arm 60 is pivoted such that the first outer pivot joint 86 is moved further upwardly and outwardly with respect to the seat base 12. The lower pivot arm 62 is pivoted such that the second outer pivot joint 90 is moved further upwardly with respect to the seat bottom 14 and inwardly with respect to the seat back 16. The inward movement of the second outer pivot joint 90 pivots the top end 50 of the table 20 about the hinge 51 such that the table 20 is angled upwardly and outwardly with respect to the seat back 16 and the back supporting cushion 18 remains substantially vertical.

(20) To pivot the seatback assembly 44 into the deployed position, as shown in FIG. 7, the top end 50 of the table 20 and the upper end 58 of the back supporting cushion 18 are pivoted downward with respect to the seat back 16 until the table 20 is substantially horizontal and provides a supporting surface over the seat bottom 14 and the back supporting cushion 18 hangs downwardly from the top end 50 of the table 20. The top surface 40 of the table 20 faces upward in a position for supporting an article, the back supporting cushion 18 remains pivotably coupled to the table 50 via the hinge 51, and the lower end 56 of the back supporting cushion 18 lies in contact with the bottom cushion 52. The upper pivot arm 60 is pivoted such that the first outer pivot joint 86 is moved downwardly with respect to the seat bottom 14 and further outwardly with respect to the seat back 16. The lower pivot arm 62 is pivoted such that the second outer pivot joint 90 is moved further upwardly with respect to the seat bottom 14 and further inwardly with respect to the seat back 16 until the second outer pivot joint 90 resides between the first inner pivot joint 72 and the first outer pivot joint 86. The upper pivot arm 60 is held in a horizontal orientation by the support protrusion 96 on the middle portion of the lower pivot arm 62. The lower pivot arm 62 is oriented at upwardly and outwardly with respect to the seat base 12 such that the lower pivot arm 62 provides an angular bracing support for the upper pivot arm 60. To move the setback assembly 44 from the deployed position into the stowed position, the previous steps are carried out in reverse order.