Rear Mounted Vehicle Seat Suspension

Abstract

A seat suspension system for a vehicle comprising a system frame, an elongated seat bracket having one end pivotably mounted to said system frame and the opposite end adapted to support a seat, and a dampening device attached between said system frame and a location on said seat bracket between said one end and said opposite end thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seat suspension system comprising:
 a system frame;   an elongated seat bracket having one end pivotably mounted to said system frame and the opposite end adapted to support a seat;   a dampening device connected to said system frame at one end and to the said seat bracket at the other end, wherein the dampening device is attached to the seat bracket between said one end and said opposite end thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening device is comprised of at least one spring. 
     
     
         3 . The suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the dampening device is further comprised of at least one shock absorber. 
     
     
         4 . The suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein said dampening device is attached to said seat bracket at a location that is nearer to said one end than to said opposite end. 
     
     
         5 . The seat suspension system of  claim 4 , wherein said dampening device is attached to said seat bracket at such a location that a force ranging between 5 and 50 pounds applied to said opposite end of the seat bracket causes an extension of the dampening device of approximately one inch. 
     
     
         6 . The seat suspension system of  claim 5 , wherein a force between 10 and 25 pounds applied at said opposite end of the seat bracket causes approximately a one-inch extension of the dampening device. 
     
     
         7 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the system frame further includes a channel and wherein a seat frame mounted to said seat bracket is slidably engaged to the system frame using rollers engaged in the channel. 
     
     
         8 . The seat suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening device further includes a spring carrier, wherein the dampening device is attached to the system frame by the spring carrier and wherein the position of the spring carrier can be adjusted relative to the system frame such that the dampening device can be preloaded to accommodate force applied to the opposite end of the seat bracket.