초록 ▼

A seat suspension includes a lower support frame having a first slot, an upper support frame having a second slot, and a biasing member between the upper and lower support frames. A first suspension arm is connected to the lower support frame at a first end for rotation with respect to the lower sup

A seat suspension includes a lower support frame having a first slot, an upper support frame having a second slot, and a biasing member between the upper and lower support frames. A first suspension arm is connected to the lower support frame at a first end for rotation with respect to the lower support frame and connected to the upper support frame at a second end for rotation with respect to the upper support frame. A second suspension arm is connected to the first slot in the lower support frame for rotation with respect to the lower support frame and for translation with respect to the lower support frame along the first slot, and a second end coupled to the second slot in the upper support frame for rotation with respect to the upper support frame and for translation with respect to the upper support frame along the second slot.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A suspension configuration for a seat, the suspension configuration comprising: a lower support frame mountable to a vehicle body, the lower support frame including a first slot;an upper support frame spaced a distance vertically above the lower support frame, the upper support frame including a

1. A suspension configuration for a seat, the suspension configuration comprising: a lower support frame mountable to a vehicle body, the lower support frame including a first slot;an upper support frame spaced a distance vertically above the lower support frame, the upper support frame including a second slot, the upper support frame adapted to support a seat;at least one biasing member coupled to the lower support frame and coupled to the upper support frame, the at least one biasing member biasing the upper support frame away from the lower support frame;a first suspension arm having a first end coupled to the lower support frame for rotation with respect to the lower support frame and a second end coupled to the upper support frame for rotation with respect to the upper support frame; anda second suspension arm having a first end coupled to the first slot in the lower support frame for rotation with respect to the lower support frame and for translation with respect to the lower support frame along the first slot, and a second end coupled to the second slot in the upper support frame for rotation with respect to the upper support frame and for translation with respect to the upper support frame along the second slot,wherein the first suspension arm is coupled to the second suspension arm at a coupling location between the first and second ends of the second suspension arm and between the first and second ends of the first suspension arm, the first suspension arm being rotatable with respect to the second suspension arm about the coupling location. 2. The suspension configuration of claim 1, wherein the first slot permits substantially horizontal movement of the first end of the second suspension arm and wherein the second slot permits substantially horizontal movement of the second end of the second suspension arm. 3. The suspension configuration of claim 1, wherein the upper support frame moves a distance of between about two inches and about eight inches with respect to the lower support frame between a fully raised position in which at least one of the first and second ends of the second suspension arm is at an end of one of the respective first and second slots and a fully lowered position in which at least one of the first and second ends is at another end of the respective first and second slots. 4. The suspension configuration of claim 3, wherein the upper support frame moves a distance of between about three inches and about six inches with respect to the lower support frame in response to the first suspension arm rotating with respect to the second suspension arm about the coupling location. 5. The suspension configuration of claim 1, wherein the upper support frame moves substantially vertically with respect to the lower support frame in response to the first suspension arm rotating with respect to the second suspension arm about the coupling location. 6. The suspension configuration of claim 1, further comprising a user actuable control coupled to the seat and operable to alter the stiffness of the at least one biasing member which thereby alters the stiffness of the suspension. 7. The suspension configuration of claim 1, further comprising a first roller on the first end of the second suspension arm, wherein the first roller rolls along the first slot, and a second roller on the second end of the second suspension arm, wherein the second roller rolls along the second slot. 8. The suspension configuration of claim 1, further comprising a first slider on the first end of the second suspension arm, wherein the first slider slides along the first slot, and a second slider on the second end of the second suspension arm, wherein the second slider slides along the second slot. 9. The suspension configuration of claim 1, further comprising a first pin on the first end of the first suspension arm, wherein the first pin permits rotation of the first suspension arm with respect to the lower support frame and prevents translation of the first suspension arm with respect to the lower support frame, and a second pin on the second end of the first suspension arm, wherein the second pin permits rotation of the first suspension arm with respect to the upper support frame and prevents translation of the first suspension arm with respect to the upper support frame. 10. A 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 lower support frame mounted to the vehicle, the lower support frame including a first slot;an upper support frame spaced a distance vertically above the lower support frame, the upper support frame including a second slot;a seat cushion positioned on the upper support frame;at least one biasing member coupled to the lower support frame and coupled to the upper support frame, the at least one biasing member biasing the upper support frame away from the lower support frame;a first suspension arm having a first end coupled to the lower support frame for rotation with respect to the lower support frame and a second end coupled to the upper support frame for rotation with respect to the upper support frame; anda second suspension arm having a first end coupled to the first slot in the lower support frame for rotation with respect to the lower support frame and for translation with respect to the lower support frame along the first slot and a second end coupled to the second slot in the upper support frame for rotation with respect to the upper support frame and for translation with respect to the upper support frame along the second slot,wherein the first suspension arm is coupled to the second suspension arm at a coupling location between the first and second ends of the second suspension arm and between the first and second ends of the first suspension arm, the first suspension arm being rotatable with respect to the second suspension arm about the coupling location. 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first slot permits substantially horizontal movement of the first end of the second suspension arm and wherein the second slot permits substantially horizontal movement of the second end of the second suspension arm. 12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the upper support frame moves a distance of between about two inches and about eight inches with respect to the lower support frame between a fully raised position in which at least one of the first and second ends of the second suspension arm is at an end of one of the respective first and second slots and a fully lowered position in which at least one of the first and second ends is at another end of the respective first and second slots. 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the upper support frame moves a distance of between about three inches and about six inches with respect to the lower support frame in response to the first suspension arm rotating with respect to the second suspension arm about the coupling location. 14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the upper support frame moves substantially vertically with respect to the lower support frame in response to the first suspension arm rotating with respect to the second suspension arm about the coupling location. 15. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a user actuable control coupled to the seat and operable to alter the stiffness of the at least one biasing member which thereby alters the stiffness of the suspension. 16. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a first roller on the first end of the second suspension arm, wherein the first roller rolls along the first slot, and a second roller on the second end of the second suspension arm, wherein the second roller rolls along the second slot. 17. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a first slider on the first end of the second suspension arm, wherein the first slider slides along the first slot, and a second slider on the second end of the second suspension arm, wherein the second slider slides along the second slot. 18. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a first pin on the first end of the first suspension arm, wherein the first pin permits rotation of the first suspension arm with respect to the lower support frame and prevents translation of the first suspension arm with respect to the lower support frame, and a second pin on the second end of the first suspension arm, wherein the second pin permits rotation of the first suspension arm with respect to the upper support frame and prevents translation of the first suspension arm with respect to the upper support frame.