Stacked disk spring vibration isolator with increased lateral load capacity

A vehicle, comprising:

• a floor;
• a seat comprising;
• a backrest;
• a cushion;
• a seat frame;
• a slide rail coupled to and parallel to the floor in a direction of desired movement for the seat;
• a vibration isolator comprising:
• at least two disk spring washers, wherein each disk spring washer comprises an inner edge, an outer edge, and a central opening;
• at least one ring-shaped outer spacer, wherein each outer spacer is coupled to the outer edges of one or two disk spring washers of the at least two disk spring washers, such that each disk spring washer of the at least two disk spring washers is coupled to an outer spacer of the at least one ring-shaped outer spacer;
• at least one ring-shaped inner spacer, wherein each inner spacer is coupled to the inner edges of one or two disk spring washers of the at least two disk spring washers;
• a flexible central shaft concentric with the at least two disk spring washers, the at least one outer spacer, and the at least one inner spacer;
• a bottom attachment portion fixedly attached to a lower end of the flexible central shaft and configured to support the at least two disk spring washers;
• and
• a top attachment portion not attached to the central shaft and configured to slide along the flexible central shaft,
• wherein the top attachment portion is configured to, with an application of a downward force, reversibly compress the at least two disk spring washers,
• wherein the vibration isolator is positioned between the slide rail and the seat frame,
• wherein the slide rail is fixedly attached to the floor,
• wherein the vibration isolator is fixedly attached to the seat frame, and
• wherein the vibration isolator is slidably coupled to the slide rail.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a floor;
• a seat comprising;
• a backrest;
• a cushion;
• a seat frame;
• a slide rail coupled to and parallel to the floor in a direction of desired movement for the seat;
• a vibration isolator comprising:
• at least two disk spring washers, wherein each disk spring washer comprises an inner edge, an outer edge, and a central opening;
• at least one ring-shaped outer spacer, wherein each outer spacer is coupled to the outer edges of one or two disk spring washers of the at least two disk spring washers, such that each disk spring washer of the at least two disk spring washers is coupled to an outer spacer of the at least one ring-shaped outer spacer;
• at least one ring-shaped inner spacer, wherein each inner spacer is coupled to the inner edges of one or two disk spring washers of the at least two disk spring washers;
• a flexible central shaft concentric with the at least two disk spring washers, the at least one outer spacer, and the at least one inner spacer;
• a bottom attachment portion fixedly attached to a lower end of the flexible central shaft and configured to support the at least two disk spring washers;
• and
• a top attachment portion not attached to the central shaft and configured to slide along the flexible central shaft,
• wherein the top attachment portion is configured to, with an application of a downward force, reversibly compress the at least two disk spring washers,
• wherein the vibration isolator is positioned between the slide rail and the floor,
• wherein the vibration isolator is fixedly attached to the slide rail and the floor, and wherein the seat frame is slidably coupled to the slide rail.

An apparatus comprising:

• a seat comprising;
• a seat frame;
• a slide rail coupled to and parallel to a floor in a direction of desired movement for the seat;
• a vibration isolator comprising:
• at least two disk spring washers, wherein each disk spring washer comprises an inner edge, an outer edge, and a central opening;
• at least one ring-shaped outer spacer, wherein each outer spacer is coupled to the outer edges of one or two disk spring washers of the at least two disk spring washers, such that each disk spring washer of the at least two disk spring washers is coupled to an outer spacer of the at least one ring-shaped outer spacer;
• at least one ring-shaped inner spacer, wherein each inner spacer is coupled to the inner edges of one or two disk spring washers of the at least two disk spring washers;
• a flexible central shaft concentric with the at least two disk spring washers, the at least one outer spacer, and the at least one inner spacer;
• a bottom attachment portion fixedly attached to a lower end of the central shaft and configured to support the at least two disk spring washers;
• and
• a top attachment portion not attached to the central shaft and configured to slide vertically along the central shaft;
• at least one tab disposed at a top edge or a bottom edge of the at least one inner spacer and configured to retain at least one disk spring washer of the at least two disk spring washers against the at least one inner spacer,
• wherein the top attachment portion is configured to, with an application of a downward force, compress the at least two disk spring washers
• wherein the vibration isolator is positioned between the slide rail and the floor,
• wherein the vibration isolator is fixedly attached to the slide rail and the floor, and
• wherein the seat frame is slidably coupled to the slide rail.