Vehicle seating apparatus

#The present invention relates generally to vehicular seating and, more particularly, to a dual purpose or reversible seating apparatus that permits the vehicle operator to occupy a seat in the vehicle in either of two positions, each facing toward an opposite end of the vehicle.

#A variety of multipurpose vehicles are now in commercial use. Among the most popular of such multipurpose vehicles is earth moving equipment having an earth loader operating from one end and a backhoe operating at the other. Because the vehicle cab which houses the operator is relatively small in at least some of these loader/backhoe vehicles, it is advantageous to equip the vehicle with only a single seating apparatus which the operator can easily orient to face toward either end of the vehicle. One prior art apparatus is known which attempts to meet this need by rotating the seat about a horizontal axis; that is, the seat may be “flipped” from a loader orientation to a backhoe orientation. There are, however, disadvantages associated with this prior art device, and the present invention represents an improvement over this known “flip over” arrangement.

#The present invention is directed to a vehicle seating apparatus which permits the operator of the vehicle to occupy a seat in the vehicle in either of two positions, each facing toward an opposite end of the vehicle. The vehicle seating apparatus comprises first and second seat suspensions and a seat assembly. The first seat suspension is located at a first longitudinal location on the vehicle and incorporates a first seat platform having a pair of seat brackets. The first seat platform is movable both vertically and in the fore/aft direction. The second seat suspension is located at a second longitudinal location on the vehicle and incorporates a second seat platform having a fixed pivot bracket. The seat assembly has first and second occupant support members, a pivot rod mounted to the support members, and at least one latch cam connected to the pivot rod. Each of the seat brackets has a pivot rod aperture to cooperate with the seat assembly pivot rod and to permit rotation of the seat assembly from a first to a second orientation. In the first orientation the seat assembly cooperates with the first suspension and the seat occupant faces one end of the vehicle. In the second orientation the seat assembly cooperates with the second seat suspension and the seat occupant faces the other end of the vehicle. As the seat assembly rotates from the first orientation to the second orientation the latch cam on the seat assembly pivot rod engages the second seat suspension pivot bracket. Finally, the pivot rod apertures in the seat brackets are configured to permit vertical and/or horizontal movement of the seat assembly relative to the first seat platform.

#The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the aforementioned objects, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in the several views, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a dual purpose vehicle showing the seat apparatus facing the loader end of the vehicle;

#FIG. 2 is another partial perspective view of the same dual purpose vehicle as shown in FIG. 1 but showing the seat apparatus facing the backhoe end of the vehicle;

#With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat apparatus of the present invention is designated generally as 20 and finds particularly advantageous use in a dual purpose off-the-road vehicle 30. In accord with the present invention, seat apparatus 20 is designed to facilitate operation of vehicle 30 with the operator facing either end of the vehicle; in a first orientation the operator faces the front or loader end of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 1; and in the second orientation the operator faces the rear or backhoe end of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2.

#One preferred embodiment of the present invention and details of its construction are illustrated in FIGS. 3-8. Vehicle seat apparatus 20 includes three basic components: a first suspension 40, a second suspension 50, and a seat assembly 60.

#First suspension 40 is located at a first longitudinal point on vehicle 30 and, as illustrated, may take the form of a conventional scissors type suspension well known to those of skill in the art. The uppermost component of suspension 40 comprises a plate or seat platform 42 which, by virtue of the suspension design, can travel vertically through a range of about four to five inches and may be adjusted horizontally, in the fore/aft direction, by as much as about six inches. Suspension designs of a type suitable for these purposes are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,183,493; 4,856,763; 5,580,027; 5,584,460; 5,720,462; and 5,957,426. The disclosures of these United States patents are incorporated herein by reference.