Seat assembly with ignition switch and switch actuator

An off-highway vehicle comprising:

• a chassis;
• a wheel supporting the chassis;
• a prime mover mounted to the chassis;
• a transmission for driving the wheel in response to the operation of the prime mover;
• a seat frame;
• a resilient web supported by the seat frame, the web adapted for movement between an at rest condition in which no operator is seated on the seat, and a deflected condition in which the web is deflected with respect to the frame in response to an operator seated on the seat;
• a switch actuator mounted to the web and movable between a non-actuating position when the web is in the at rest condition and an actuating position when the web is in the deflected condition;
• and
• a switch mounted to the frame, the switch having first and second parts movable with respect to each other to open and close an electrical circuit to enable and disable operation of the prime mover, in response to the switch actuator moving between the non-actuating and actuating positions, wherein the first part of the switch is mounted to the frame and wherein the switch actuator applies a force to the second part of the switch in response to the switch actuator moving into the actuating position, the force applied to the second part of the switch moving the second part with respect to the first part;
• wherein the switch includes a biasing member biasing the first and second parts away from each other, and wherein the switch actuator applies a compressive force to the biasing member through the second part of the switch in response to the switch actuator moving into the actuating position, such that the biasing member deflects to permit the second part of the switch to move with respect to the first part of the switch, wherein the seat includes a front portion proximate the legs of a person sitting in the seat, a rear portion opposite the front portion, and left and right side portions between the front and rear portions on opposite sides of the seat;
• wherein the web is mounted to the frame at the right and left side portions of the seat;
• wherein the switch actuator includes an elongated rigid member having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being mounted to the web in the rear portion of the seat and the switch actuator extending along the web in cantilever fashion to position the distal end in the front portion of the web;
• and wherein the switch is mounted to the frame in the front portion of the seat beneath the distal end of the switch actuator, such that the distal end engages the switch when the switch actuator is in the actuating position in response to an operator sitting on substantially any portion of the seat.