Side mounted energy attenuating vehicle seat

A side mounted energy attenuating vehicle seat, comprising:

• a rigid seat base with a first side;
• a substantially vertically oriented mounting plate adjacent the first side of the seat base;
• a vertical slide mechanism comprising a fixed portion attached to the mounting plate, and a sliding portion attached to the first side of the seat base, the mechanism configured to allow for a downward stroke of the seat base relative to the mounting plate, wherein the fixed portion of the vertical slide mechanism comprises a bracket with a through bore at each end, and the sliding portion comprises a vertical guide rod slidably received in the bracket bores;
• a roller attached to the first side of the seat base substantially below the point of attachment to the sliding portion of the vertical slide mechanism, wherein the roller is configured to roll in a vertical direction while bearing against the mounting plate, and supporting the seat base in a horizontal orientation;
• and
• an energy attenuating member positioned so as to prevent the seat from stroking downward relative to the mounting plate during normal use.

A side mounted energy attenuating vehicle seat, comprising:

• a rigid seat base with a first side;
• a substantially vertically oriented mounting plate adjacent the first side of the seat base;
• a vertical slide mechanism comprising a fixed portion attached to the mounting plate, and a sliding portion attached to the first side of the seat base, the mechanism configured to allow for a downward stroke of the seat base relative to the mounting plate, wherein the vertical slide mechanism comprises a front vertical slide member proximate a front edge of the seat, and a rear vertical slide member proximate a rear edge of the seat;
• a roller attached to the first side of the seat base substantially below the point of attachment to the sliding portion of the vertical slide mechanism, wherein the roller is configured to roll in a vertical direction while bearing against the mounting plate, and supporting the seat base in a horizontal orientation;
• and
• an energy attenuating member positioned so as to prevent the seat from stroking downward relative to the mounting plate during normal use.

A side mounted energy attenuating seat supported from a substantially vertical interior surface of a vehicle, comprising:

• a rigid seat frame with a first side adjacent the substantially vertical interior surface;
• a mounting plate disposed between the first side of the seat frame and the substantially vertical interior surface, the mounting plate attached to the substantially vertical interior surface;
• a vertical slide mechanism comprising a fixed portion attached to the mounting plate, and a sliding portion attached to the first side of the seat frame, the mechanism configured to allow for guided vertical relative motion between the seat frame and the mounting plate, wherein the vertical slide mechanism comprises a front vertical slide member proximate a front edge of the seat, and a rear vertical slide member proximate a rear edge of the seat;
• a roller mounted to the first side of the seat frame below the attachment point of the sliding portion of the vertical slide mechanism, wherein the roller is configured to roll in a vertical direction while bearing against the mounting plate;
• and
• an energy attenuating member adapted to resist vertical motion of the seat frame relative to the mounting plate.

A side mounted energy attenuating seat supported from a substantially vertical interior surface of a vehicle, comprising:

• a rigid seat frame with a first side adjacent the substantially vertical interior surface;
• a mounting plate disposed between the first side of the seat frame and the substantially vertical interior surface, the mounting plate attached to the substantially vertical interior surface;
• a vertical slide mechanism comprising a fixed portion attached to the mounting plate, and a sliding portion attached to the first side of the seat frame, the mechanism configured to allow for guided vertical relative motion between the seat frame and the mounting plate;
• a roller mounted to the first side of the seat frame below the attachment point of the sliding portion of the vertical slide mechanism, wherein the roller is configured to roll in a vertical direction while bearing against the mounting plate;
• and
• an energy attenuating member adapted to resist vertical motion of the seat frame relative to the mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the substantially vertical interior surface in a vertically adjustable manner, and wherein the substantially vertical interior surface is a vertical column with a vertically adjustable seat attachment plate.

A side mounted energy attenuating seat supported from a substantially vertical interior surface of a vehicle, comprising:

• a rigid seat frame with a first side adjacent the substantially vertical interior surface;
• a mounting plate disposed between the first side of the seat frame and the substantially vertical interior surface, the mounting plate attached to the substantially vertical interior surface;
• a vertical slide mechanism comprising a fixed portion attached to the mounting plate, and a sliding portion attached to the first side of the seat frame, the mechanism configured to allow for guided vertical relative motion between the seat frame and the mounting plate;
• a roller mounted to the first side of the seat frame below the attachment point of the sliding portion of the vertical slide mechanism, wherein the roller is configured to roll in a vertical direction while bearing against the mounting plate;
• and
• an energy attenuating member adapted to resist vertical motion of the seat frame relative to the mounting plate wherein the seat is configured to be reversible, such that the roller and the sliding portion of the vertical slide member are detachable from the seat frame, and both sides of the seat frame are configured for attachment of a roller and vertical slide member.

A method for side mounting a vehicle seat to an interior structural surface, comprising:

• attaching a first side of the vehicle seat to the interior structural surface with a vertically sliding connection, wherein the vertically sliding connection comprises a bushing connected to the first side of the seat, the bushing slidably disposed on a substantially vertical guide rod fixed to the structural surface;
• reacting the seat moment load with a roller mounted to the first side of the seat substantially below the attachment point of the vertically sliding connection, wherein the roller is configured to bear against a substantially vertical plate attached to the structural surface of the vehicle;
• and
• preventing vertical motion of the seat with an energy attenuating member disposed between the vertically sliding connection and the structural surface.