Articulated spacecraft seat and stretcher

Abstract

A seat assembly ( 10 ) that is fully adjustable between a maximum seat configuration a minimum seat configuration and a stretcher configuration. The seat assembly ( 10 ) has a frame ( 11 ) that supports multiple panel elements ( 12 ) that are slidably adjustable with respect to each adjoining panel in order to adjust the size and position of various elements of the seat. The seat has an upper back panel ( 14 ) and a lower back panel ( 16 ) slidably engaged to each other to define the seat back, a rear seat panel ( 20 ) and a front seat panel ( 22 ) slidably engaged with each other to define a seat bottom and a lower leg panel ( 26 ) and a footrest ( 24 ) that are slidably engaged with each other. The seat bottom ( 20 ), the lower leg panel ( 26 ) and the footrest ( 24 ) are hinged to fully extend the seat into a stretcher configuration.

1 . A vehicle seat having at least a minimum and at most a maximum size configuration comprising: 
 a frame assembly    a lower back panel in fixed attachment to the frame assembly;    an upper back panel in slidable engagement to the lower back panel and frame assembly and having    a locking mechanism with respect to the lower back panel;    a rear bottom seat panel in a fixed and hinged attachment to the frame assembly;    a front bottom seat panel in slidable engagement to the rear seat panel and frame assembly and having a locking mechanism with respect to the rear bottom seat panel;    a lower leg panel in hinged attachment to the front bottom seat panel;    a footrest having an upper portion in slidable engagement to the lower leg panel and having a locking mechanism with respect to the lower leg panel, the footrest having a lower portion in hinged attachment to the upper portion of the footrest; and    wherein the upper back panel can be slid between a maximum size configuration and minimum size configuration with respect to the lower back panel and locked in a fixed position thereto anywhere in between and including the maximum and minimum size configurations, the front seat panel being slidable between a maximum size configuration and a minimum size configuration with respect to the rear seat panel and locked in a fixed position thereto anywhere in between and including the maximum and minimum size configurations, and the upper portion of the footrest being slidable between a maximum size configuration and minimum size configuration with respect to the lower leg panel and locked in a fixed position thereto anywhere in between and including the maximum and minimum size configurations.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the frame assembly further comprises at least two members positioned opposite each other and enclosing each of the back panels and each of the seat bottom panels therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising: 
 first and second armrests in adjustable engagement with a respective member of the frame assembly, the adjustability of each armrest being in a vertical position with respect to the respective frame member.    
   
   
       4 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first and second armrests can be folded up in alignment with the respective frame member.  
   
   
       5 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the first and second armrests are removable from the respective frame member.  
   
   
       6 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a folded configuration comprising: 
 the lower portion of the footrest folded onto the upper portion of the footrest;    the upper portion of the footrest in the minimum size configuration with respect to the lower leg panel;    the front bottom seat panel in the minimum size configuration with respect to the rear bottom seat panel;    the lower leg panel folded onto the rear bottom seat panel;    the upper seat back panel in the minimum size configuration with respect to the lower seat back panel; and    the rear bottom seat panel folded up against the upper and lower seat back panels.    
   
   
       7 . The vehicle seat as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a stretcher configuration comprising: 
 the lower portion of the footrest hinged perpendicular to the upper portion of the footrest;    the upper portion of the footrest in a predetermined size configuration with respect to the lower leg panel;    the front bottom seat panel in a predetermined size configuration with respect to the rear bottom seat panel;    the lower leg panel hinged in alignment with the rear bottom seat panel;    the upper seat back panel in a predetermined size configuration with respect to the lower seat back panel; and    the rear bottom seat panel hinged in alignment with the upper and lower seat back panels.    
   
   
       8 . A spacecraft seat comprising: 
 a frame;    a plurality of interdisposed panels in slidable relation to each other that define a seat back, a seat bottom, and a leg rest; and    a lockable hinge disposed between the leg rest and the seat bottom; and    a lockable hinge disposed between the seat bottom and the frame.    
   
   
       9 . The seat as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the plurality of interdisposed and slidable panels further comprises: 
 a lower back panel fixed to the frame and having a fixed height dimension;    an upper back panel slidably engaged to the lower back panel and to the frame;    a rear seat panel having a fixed length dimension;    a front seat panel slidably engaged to the rear seat panel and to the frame;    a lower leg panel hinged to the front seat panel and having a fixed length dimension;    a foot rest having upper and lower portions, the upper portion of the footrest being slidably engaged to the lower leg panel and the lower portion of the footrest hinged to the upper portion of the footrest; and    means for locking the slidably engaged panels relative to the panels having fixed dimensions.    
   
   
       10 . The seat as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the frame further comprises: 
 a first L-shaped frame member;    a second L-shaped frame member; and    the first and second L-shaped frame members being disposed on either side of the plurality of slidably engaged panels.    
   
   
       11 . The seat as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising: 
 first and second removable armrests attached to the first and second L-shaped frame members respectively.    
   
   
       12 . The seat as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising a headrest attached to the upper back panel.  
   
   
       13 . The seat as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the seat is adjustable anywhere in between a maximum size configuration and a minimum size configuration by locking the slidably engaged panels in a desired position.  
   
   
       14 . The seat as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the maximum size configuration further comprises: 
 the upper back panel fully extended along its slidable engagement to the lower back panel and locked in place;    the front seat panel fully extended along its slidable engagement to the rear seat panel and locked in place;    the upper portion of the footrest fully extended along its slidable engagement to the lower leg panel and locked in place.    
   
   
       15 . The seat as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the seat assembly further comprises a stretcher configuration.  
   
   
       16 . The seat as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the stretcher configuration further comprises: 
 the rear seat panel hinged in alignment with the upper and lower back panels and locked in place;    the lower leg panel hinged in alignment with the upper and lower back panels and the rear seat panel and locked in place.    
   
   
       17 . The seat as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the minimum size configuration further comprises: 
 the upper back panel fully retracted and engaged along its slidable engagement to the lower back panel and locked in place;    the front seat panel fully retracted and engaged along its slidable engagement to the rear seat panel and locked in place;    the upper portion of the footrest fully retracted and engaged along its slidable engagement to the lower leg panel and locked in place.    
   
   
       18 . The seat as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the minimum size configuration further comprises a folded configuration.  
   
   
       19 . The seat as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the folded configuration further comprises: 
 the lower portion of the footrest being folded upon the upper portion of the footrest;    the lower leg panel being folded upon the rear seat panel;    the rear seat panel being folded upon the upper and lower back panels; and    the first and second armrests removed from the first and second frame members.    
   
   
       20 . A vehicle seat assembly that is configured in a plurality of positions anywhere within the range of and including a maximum size configuration, a minimum size configuration, a folded configuration and a stretcher configuration, the seat assembly comprising: 
 a first L-shaped frame member;    a second L-shaped frame member;    a lower back panel fixed to an upper portion of the first and second L-shaped frame members, lower back panel having a fixed height dimension and being fixed in place relative to the first and second L-shaped frame members;    an upper back panel slidably engaged to the lower back panel and fixed in slidable engagement to the frame;    a rear seat panel in hinged connection to a bottom portion of the first and second L-shaped frame members, the rear seat panel having a fixed length dimension;    a front seat panel slidably engaged to the rear seat bottom panel and to the bottom portions of the first and second L-shaped frame members;    a lower leg panel hinged to the front seat bottom panel and having a fixed length dimension;    a foot rest having upper and lower portions, the upper portion of the footrest being slidably engaged to the lower leg panel and the lower portion of the footrest hinged to the upper portion of the footrest;    means for locking the slidably engaged panels relative to the panels having fixed dimensions to define a size configuration for the seat assembly;    wherein a maximum size configuration is defined by the upper back panel fully extended along its slidable engagement to the lower back panel and locked in place;    the front seat panel fully extended along its slidable engagement to the rear seat panel and locked in place;    the upper portion of the footrest fully extended along its slidable engagement to the lower leg panel and locked in place;    wherein a minimum configuration is defined by the upper back panel fully retracted and engaged along its slidable engagement to the lower back panel and locked in place;    the front seat panel fully retracted and engaged along its slidable engagement to the rear seat panel and locked in place;    the upper portion of the footrest fully retracted and engaged along its slidable engagement to the lower leg panel and locked in place;    wherein the folded configuration is defined by the seat being in a minimum size configuration and the lower portion of the footrest being folded upon the upper portion of the footrest;    the lower leg panel being folded upon the rear seat panel;    the rear seat panel being folded upon the upper and lower back panels; and    the first and second armrests removed from the first and second frame members; and    wherein the fully extended stretcher configuration is defined by the seat assembly being in its maximum size configuration and    the rear seat panel hinged in alignment with the upper and lower back panels and locked in place;    the lower leg panel hinged in alignment with the upper and lower back panels and the rear seat panel and locked in place.