Automatically adjustable seat

Abstract

Automatically adjustable seating apparatus are described. The automatically adjustable seating apparatus include first and second seat bottom portions that at least one of which is moveable. The first and/or second seat bottom portions are moveable by automatic adjusters that alter the position of a seat bottom portion between a retracted position and an extended position. When the moveable seat bottom portion or portions are in their retracted position, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the seat bottom portion or portions are in their extended positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.

1 . An automatically adjustable seating apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a first seat bottom portion slideably attached to the frame, the first seat bottom portion moveable on the frame by a first seat bottom portion automatic adjuster to alter the position of the first seat bottom portion between a first seat bottom portion retracted position and a first seat bottom portion extended position; and   a second seat bottom portion slideably attached to the frame, the second seat bottom portion moveable on the frame by a second seat bottom portion automatic adjuster to alter the position between a second seat bottom portion retracted position and a second seat bottom portion extended position;   wherein when the first seat bottom portion and second seat bottom portion are in their retracted positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the first seat bottom portion and second seat bottom portion are in their extended positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.   
     
     
         2 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first seat back having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion pivotally attached to the first seat bottom portion; and   a second seat back having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion pivotally attached to the second seat bottom portion and the upper portion pivotally attached to the upper portion of the first seat back.   
     
     
         3 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operatively interconnected with the first seat bottom portion automatic adjuster and the second seat bottom portion automatic adjuster for controlling the position of the first seat bottom portion and the second seat bottom portion. 
     
     
         4 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is capable of adjusting the first seat bottom portion automatic adjuster and the second seat bottom portion automatic adjuster to maintain a position between the retracted and extended positions. 
     
     
         5 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller has selectable pre-selected positions between the retracted and extended positions. 
     
     
         6 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat bottom portion automatic adjuster and the second seat bottom portion automatic adjuster are electrically driven. 
     
     
         7 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat bottom portion is attached to a first seat frame and the first seat frame is slideably attached to the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second seat bottom portion is attached to a second seat frame and the second seat frame is slideably attached to the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate position between the first seat bottom portion retracted position and the first seat bottom portion extended position. 
     
     
         10 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate position between the second seat bottom portion retracted position and the second seat bottom portion extended position. 
     
     
         11 . An automatically adjustable seating apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a first seat bottom portion slideably attached to the frame, the first seat bottom portion moveable on the frame by an automatic adjuster to alter the position of the first seat bottom portion between a retracted position and an extended position; and   a second seat bottom portion;   wherein when the first seat bottom portion is in the retracted position, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the first seat bottom portion is in the extended position, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.   
     
     
         12 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first seat back having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion pivotally attached to the first seat bottom portion; and   a second seat back having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion pivotally attached to the second seat bottom portion and the upper portion pivotally attached to the upper portion of the first seat back.   
     
     
         13 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller operatively interconnected with the automatic adjuster for controlling the position of the first seat bottom portion. 
     
     
         14 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is capable of adjusting the automatic adjuster to maintain a position between the retracted and extended positions. 
     
     
         15 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the controller has selectable pre-selected positions between the retracted and extended positions. 
     
     
         16 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the automatic adjuster is electrically driven. 
     
     
         17 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first seat bottom portion is attached to a first seat frame and the first seat frame is slideably attached to the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an intermediate position between the first seat bottom portion retracted position and the first seat bottom portion extended position. 
     
     
         19 . The automatically adjustable seating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an intermediate position between the second seat bottom portion retracted position and the second seat bottom portion extended position. 
     
     
         20 . An automatically adjustable seating apparatus comprising:
 a first seat bottom portion, the first seat bottom portion moveable by a first seat bottom portion automatic adjuster to alter the position of the first seat bottom portion between a first seat bottom portion retracted position and a first seat bottom portion extended position;   a first seat back having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion pivotally attached to the first seat bottom portion;   a second seat bottom portion, the second seat bottom portion moveable by a second seat bottom portion automatic adjuster to alter the position between a second seat bottom portion retracted position and a second seat bottom portion extended position;   a second seat back having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion pivotally attached to the second seat bottom portion and the upper portion pivotally attached to the upper portion of the first seat back; and   a controller operatively interconnected with the first seat bottom portion automatic adjuster and the second seat bottom portion automatic adjuster for controlling the position of the first seat bottom portion and the second seat bottom portion,   wherein when the first seat bottom portion and second seat bottom portion are in their retracted positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the first seat bottom portion and second seat bottom portion are in their extended positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.