Cantilevered seat for motorcoach vehicles or the like

Abstract

A multi-passenger seat is supported by a lower cantilever frame which comprises a horizontal seat frame and an inclined arcuate truss support frame. The horizontal seat frame includes two elongated horizontal stretcher members attached at one end to the wall of a vehicle and at least two cross frame members interconnecting the stretcher members at laterally spaced locations. The inclined arcuate truss support frame is located beneath the horizontal seat frame; and it includes fore and aft inclined arcuate frame members rigidly attached at their upper ends to the stretcher tubes respectively at locations preferably on the aisle side of the transverse center of the horizontal seat frame. The inclined arcuate support frame members extend downwardly from the seat frame and preferably they converge toward each other. They are connected to the wall at locations above the floor of the vehicle. Preferably, the attachment means for attaching the seat to the vehicle wall are adjustable to achieve proper horizontal alignment of the seat. A housing surrounds the inclined arcuate support frame members and the area between the inclined members and the horizontal seat frame to house a heater and air conditioner blower and a radio-announcement speaker.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In a multi-passenger seat for a vehicle, the combination comprising: a horizontal seat frame having two elongated horizontal stretcher members and cross frame means interconnecting said stretcher members at laterally spaced locations to form a rigid structure; an inclined arcuate truss frame located beneath said horizontal stretcher members and including .[.forward and rear.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.inclined arcuate truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.rigidly attached at .[.their.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.upper .[.ends.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.adjacent said stretcher members .[.respectively.]. and inclined downwardly from said .[.attachments.]. .Iadd.attachment.Iaddend.; the curvature of said truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.being upwardly toward said horizontal seat frame thereby providing by said arcuate shape less underseat obstruction from the inclined truss .[.member.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and a resultant greater leg and foot room; and means for mounting the wall ends of said stretcher members and the lower .[.ends.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.of said inclined arcuate truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.to the wall of said vehicle at a location above the floor, said seat being characterized in there being no connection between said seat and the floor of the vehicle. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising first and second wall mounted track members connected respectively to the wall ends of said horizontal stretcher members and extending respectively forwardly and rearwardly of the forward and rear stretcher members, each track member including means providing grooves adapted to receive attachment means for securing said seat to said wall of said vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 1 which further comprises a housing surrounding said inclined arcuate truss frame .[.members and the area between said truss frame members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and said horizontal seat frame. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said housing houses a heater-air conditioner blower motor. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said housing further houses an audio speaker. 
     
     
       6. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the lower portion of said housing conforms to the contour of said inclined arcuate truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       7. The seat of claim 1 in which brace members are connected to .[.each of.]. said arcuate truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.intermediate the ends thereof; said brace members extending from said truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.to said horizontal seat frame and being connected thereto. 
     
     
       8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for mounting the wall ends of said stretcher members and the lower ends of said inclined arcuate truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.to the wall of said vehicle are adjustable. 
     
     
       9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein each of said adjustable mounting means includes an attachment means comprising a first portion adapted to be attached to said wall and having an internally threaded barrel projection extending away from said wall, an externally threaded shoulder bolt threadably received within said internally threaded barrel projection, said shoulder bolt including a stepped-down diameter externally threaded portion being adapted to be received within a mounting hole on the wall side of said seat and rigidly connected through said hole by said nut means. 
     
     
       10. A combination according to claim 9 further comprising first and second track members connected respectively to the wall of said vehicle each of said track members being adapted to receive and retain said first portion of at least one of said attachment means. 
     
     
       11. The combination of claim 10 wherein each of said track members includes an internal groove in communication with a channel opening; and wherein said first portion of said attachment means is a generally rectangular plate having a width less than the width of said channel opening and a length greater than the width of said channel opening whereby said first portion can be secured within said track groove by aligning the width of said first portion with the width of said channel opening so that said first portion can be passed into said groove and thereafter rotating said first portion 90° to prevent said first portion from being withdrawn out of said track groove. 
     
     
       12. A cantilever frame for a vehicle comprising a horizontal seat frame including two elongated stretcher members and at least two cross frame members interconnecting said stretcher members at locations adjacent the aisle and wall ends thereof to form a rigid structure; an inclined arcuate truss frame including .[.first and second.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.arcuate truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.rigidly connected at .[.their.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.upper .[.ends.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.adjacent said stretcher members of said horizontal frame at .Iadd.a .Iaddend..[.locations.]. .Iadd.location .Iaddend.toward the aisle end of the transverse center thereof and being inclined and curved downwardly from .[.their respective attachments.]. .Iadd.its attachment .Iaddend.adjacent said horizontal stretcher members; and mounting means connected with the lower .[.ends.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.of said truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and providing attachment means holes for securing the same to said wall; and first and second bracket means connected respectively to the wall ends of said stretcher members and providing attachment means holes for securing the same to said wall. 
     
     
       13. The combination of claim 12 further comprising first and second wall mounted track members connected respectively to the wall ends of said horizontal stretcher members and extending respectively forwardly and rearwardly of the forward and rear stretcher members, each track member including means providing grooves adapted to receive attachment means for securing said seat to said wall of said vehicle. 
     
     
       14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said inclined arcuate truss frame .[.members are.]. .Iadd.means is .Iaddend.connected to .Iadd.an .Iaddend.associated stretcher .[.members.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.at .Iadd.a .Iaddend. .[.locations.]. .Iadd.location .Iaddend.toward the aisle side of the transverse center thereof to enhance resistance of said seat frame to bending and to twisting about a vertical axis. 
     
     
       15. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said means for mounting the wall ends of said stretcher members and the lower .[.ends.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.of said inclined arcuate truss frame .[.members.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.to the wall of said vehicle are adjustable. 
     
     
       16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein each of said adjustable mounting means includes an attachment means comprising a first portion adapted to be attached to said wall and having an internally threaded barrel projection extending away from said wall; an externally threaded shoulder bolt threadably received within said internally threaded barrel projection, said shoulder bolt including a stepped-down diameter externally threaded portion being adapted to be received within a mounting hole on the wall side of said seat and rigidly connected through said hole by said nut means. 
     
     
       17. A combination according to claim 16 further comprising first and second track members connected respectively to the wall of said vehicle each of said track members being adapted to receive and retain said first portion of at least one of said attachment means. 
     
     
       18. The combination of claim 17 wherein each of said track members includes an internal groove in communication with a channel opening; and wherein said first portion of said attachment means is a generally rectangular plate having a width less than the width of said channel opening and a length greater than the width of said channel opening whereby said first portion can be secured within said track groove by aligning the width of said first portion with the width of said channel opening so that said first portion can be passed into said groove, and thereafter rotating said first portion 90° to prevent said first portion from being withdrawn out of said track groove. .Iadd. 19. In a multi-passenger seat for a vehicle, the combination comprising: a horizontal seat frame; an inclined arcuate truss frame located beneath said seat frame and including an inclined arcuate truss frame means rigidly attached at its upper end to said seat frame and inclined downwardly from said seat frame attachment; the curvature of said truss frame means being upwardly toward said horizontal seat frame thereby providing by said arcuate shape less underseat obstruction from the inclined truss means and a resultant greater leg and foot room; and means for mounting the wall ends of said frame and the lower end of said inclined arcuate truss frame means to the wall of said vehicle at a location above the floor; said seat being characterized in there being no connection between said seat and the floor of the vehicle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. The combination of claim 1 in which the inclined truss frame means comprises forward and rear arcuate truss frame members. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. The cantilever frame of claim 12 in which the inclined truss frame means includes first and second arcuate truss frame members. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. The cantilever frame of claim 19 in which the inclined truss frame means includes forward and rear arcuate truss frame members. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 23. In a multi-passenger seat for a vehicle, the combination comprising: a horizontal seat frame having a wall end and an aisle end said seat being elongated in a direction extending from said wall and aisle ends;   an inclined truss means located beneath said frame and including an inclined truss member rigidly attached at its upper end to said frame between said wall and aisle ends and inclined downwardly from said attachment toward said wall end; and   means for mounting said wall end of said frame and the lower end of said inclined truss member to the wall of said vehicle at a location above the floor whereby said seat is characterized in there being no connection between said seat and the floor of the vehicle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. The combination of claim 23 wherein said mounting means includes an upper elongated, longitudinal mounting member extending longitudinally fore and aft of the vehicle for mounting the wall end of said frame, and a lower elongated, longitudinal mounting member extending longitudinally fore and aft of the vehicle for mounting the lower end of said inclined truss frame means to the wall of said vehicle at a location above the floor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. The combination of claim 24 wherein said upper and lower mounting members are concealed by the wall on the other side from said seat. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. The combination of claim 24 wherein said mounting means comprise elongated track channels and generally elongated plates slides for sliding along said track channels, the longitudinal lengths of said plate slides being longer than the transverse widths of said track channels. .Iaddend..Iadd. 27. The combination of claim 23 wherein each of said mounting means further comprises an internally threaded barrel projection coupled to and extending from a plate mounted to said wall and an externally threaded shoulder bolt threadably received within said internally threaded barrel projection and adjustable longitudinally within said barrel projection, said shoulder bolt including a stepped-down diameter externally threaded portion being adapted to be received within a mounting hole on the wall side of said seat and rigidly connected through said hole by nut means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28. The combination of claim 27 wherein said mounting means further comprises a shim inserted between and abutting against the end of one of said barrel projections and the wall end of said frame and a shim inserted between and abutting against one of said barrel projections and the lower end of said inclined truss frame member, for reducing rattles in said seat and rigidifying the attachment of said seat in an adjusted position. .Iaddend..Iadd. 29. In a multi-passenger seat for a vehicle, the combination comprising: a horizontal seat frame having an aisle end and a wall end with elongated horizontal stretcher members extending from said aisle end to said wall end and cross frame means interconnecting said stretcher members at laterally spaced locations to form a rigid structure; an inclined truss frame located beneath said horizontal stretcher members and including an inclined truss frame member rigidly attached at its upper end between said aisle and wall ends to said frame and inclined downwardly from said attachment toward said wall end; and means for mounting the wall end of said frame and the lower end of said inclined arcuate truss frame member to the wall of said vehicle at a location above the floor whereby said seat is characterized in there being no connection between said seat and the floor of the vehicle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 30. The combination of claim 29 wherein said mounting means includes an upper, elongated longitudinal mounting member extending longitudinally fore and aft of the vehicle for coupling to the wall ends of said frame and extending forwardly and rearwardly of the forward and rear stretcher members, and a lower elongated, longitudinal mounting member extending longitudinally along the vehicle for mounting the lower end of said inclined truss frame means to the wall of said vehicle at a location above the floor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 31. The combination of claim 30 wherein said upper and lower mounting members are concealed by the wall on the other side from said seat. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The combination of claim 30 wherein said mounting means includes elongated track channels and generally elongated plate slides for sliding along said track channels, the longitudinal lengths of said plate slides being longer than the transverse width of said elongated track channels. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. The combination of claim 29 wherein each of said mounting means further comprises an internally threaded barrel projection coupled to and extending from a plate and an externally threaded shoulder bolt threadably received within said internally threaded barrel projection and adjustable longitudinally within said barrel projection, said shoulder bolt including a stepped-down diameter externally threaded portion being adapted to be received within a mounting hole on the wall side of said seat and rigidly connected through said hole by nut means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 34. The combination of claim 33 wherein said mounting means further comprises a shim inserted between and abutting against the end of one of said barrel projections and the wall end of said frame and a shim inserted between and abutting against one of said barrel projections and the lower end of said inclined truss frame member, for reducing rattles in said seat and rigidifying the attachment of said seat in an adjusted position. .Iaddend.