Seat support structure for the driving of an earth moving machine

In a vehicle having a body structure above a portion of a mechanism of the vehicle with an access opening in the body structure to provide access to the mechanism and a seat support assembly above the access opening, said seat support assembly comprising:

• first pivot means attached to the vehicle body structure adjacent to the access opening adjacent to the rear of the vehicle, flat base means having one edge attached to the first pivot means for selective pivotal movement about a first axis, first latching means operable to secure said base means in a fixed position relative to the vehicle above the access opening and being releasable to permit selective pivotal movement about said first axis, seat support means coupled to an opposite edge of said base means and supporting a seat of the vehicle, second pivot means to attach said seat support means to said base means for selective pivotal movement about a second axis, said second pivot means being spaced from the first pivot means a distance greater than the height of the vehicle body structure adjacent to the access opening above the first pivot means, second latching means operable to secure said seat support means in a fixed position relative to said base means and being releasable to permit said selective pivotal movement of said base means about said second axis independent of said selective pivotal movement about said first axis, and said selective pivotal movement about said first and second axis allowing said base means and said seat support means to be moved to a position wherein the base means is pivoted away from the access opening to an attitude substantially parallel to the vehicle body structure adjacent to the access opening, and the seat support is positioned away from the access opening and above said vehicle body structure to provide access to portions of the vehicle disposed beneath said base means and said seat support in said fixed position.