Adjustable boat seat handles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9511692-B2
Application number	US-201414543469-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

Adjustable boat seat handles are described. A described apparatus comprises an elongated lever having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having a hand grip and the second end having a first flange extending away from the first end, the first flange having a first bore extending through the first flange, a rocker arm having a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the third end having a second flange extending away from the third end, the second flange having a second bore extending through the second flange and a pin extending through the first and second bores rotatably coupling the first and second flanges, wherein rotation of the lever in a first direction relative to the rocker arm causes the lever to rotate the rocker arm to enable adjustment of a seat and rotation of the lever in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the lever to fold relative to the rocker arm to be in a stowed position under the seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an elongated lever having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having a hand grip and the second end having a first flange extending away from the first end, the first flange having a first bore extending through the first flange;
a rocker arm having a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the third end having a second flange extending away from the third end, a second bore extending through the second flange; and
a pin extending through the first and second bores rotatably coupling the first and second flanges, wherein rotation of the lever in a first direction relative to the rocker arm causes the lever to rotate the rocker arm to enable adjustment of a seat and rotation of the lever in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the lever to fold relative to the rocker arm to be in a stowed position under the seat.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a stop integrally formed at the second end of the lever adjacent the first flange, the stop to engage the second flange of the rocker arm to limit rotation of the lever relative to the rocker arm in the first direction so that further rotation of the lever in the first direction causes the lever and the rocker arm to rotate in unison.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising an indent on a surface of the third end adjacent the second flange of the rocker arm.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising a first detent on the first flange of the lever to engage the indent of the second flange to hold the lever in a first position relative to the rocker arm.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising a second detent on a curved edge of the first flange of the lever to engage the indent of the second flange to hold the lever in a second position relative to the rocker arm, the second position different from the first position.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein a first flat edge of the first flange and a second flat edge of the second flange meet when the lever is in the first position.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a fastener to couple the fourth end of the rocker arm to a mechanism to adjust the seat.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein rotating the lever and rocker arm in the first direction causes the fourth end of the rocker arm to actuate the mechanism to enable adjustment of the seat.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein the mechanism is a slide system to slide the seat forward or rearward.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second pin to rotatably couple the rocker arm to a base of the seat, the second pin disposed between the third and fourth ends of the rocker arm.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a spring disposed in a cavity of the rocker arm to provide a force in the second direction to return the rocker arm to a position after the rocker arm and lever have been rotated in the first direction to enable adjustment of the seat, the spring disposed between the third and fourth ends of the rocker arm.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hand grip is to facilitate gripping of the lever.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one rib disposed on the lever beginning at the first flange and tapered toward the hand grip.

14. An apparatus comprising:
a handle to adjust a seat, the handle having a rocker arm and a lever, the lever rotatably coupled to a first end of the rocker arm;
a fastener to operatively couple a second end of the rocker arm to a slide system to slide the seat; and
a pin rotatably coupling the rocker arm to a base of the seat, the pin disposed between the first and second ends of the rocker arm.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a handle to adjust a seat, the handle having a rocker arm and a lever, the lever rotatably coupled to a first end of the rocker arm;
a fastener to operatively couple a second end of the rocker arm to a slide system to slide the seat;
a pin rotatably coupling the rocker arm to a base of the seat, the pin disposed between the first and second ends of the rocker arm; and
an indent on an edge of the rocker arm and a first detent disposed on an edge of the lever, wherein the first detent engages the indent to hold the lever in a first position relative the rocker arm.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 further comprising a second detent disposed on the edge of the lever, wherein the second detent engages the indent to hold the lever in a second position relative the rocker arm.

Assignees

• Downey Kevin
• Brunswick Corp

Inventors

• Downey Kevin

Classifications

• B60N2/919 Primary

  Positioning and locking mechanisms (B60N2/16, B60N2/18, B60N2/22, B60N2/225 take precedence) · CPC title

• B63B29/04

  Furniture peculiar to vessels (floatable furniture B63C9/30) · CPC title

• B63B2029/043

  Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels · CPC title

• B60N2/442 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic