Dynamic seating system for personal mobility vehicle

Abstract

A dynamic seating system includes a seat tray that is positioned within a base and mounted for forward and rearward sliding movement with respect to the base. A biasing element is connected relative to the base and the seat tray for biasing the seat tray rearward relative to the base.

1 . A seating system for a personal mobility vehicle, the seating system comprising: 
 a base;    a seat tray positioned within the base and mounted for forward and rearward sliding movement with respect to the base; and    a biasing element connected relative to the base and the seat tray for biasing the seat tray rearward relative to the base.    
   
   
       2 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat tray is mounted to the base by a low-friction slide.  
   
   
       3 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the slide limits the sliding movement of the seat tray to a substantially horizontal movement.  
   
   
       4 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring has a dampening effect.  
   
   
       5 . The seating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a seat back pivotally mounted relative to the seat tray.  
   
   
       6 . The seating system of  claim 5 , wherein the seat back is connected to a back support member, and wherein downward movement of the back support member in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the base causes the seat back to pivot at the seat tray, thereby reclining the seat back, and thereby causing the seat tray to slide forward with respect to the base.  
   
   
       7 . The seating system of  claim 6 , further comprising a locking mechanism supported with respect to the base for locking the back support member in a fixed position with respect to the base.  
   
   
       8 . The seating system of  claim 5  wherein the seat back is pivotally mounted to the seat tray at pivot points that approximate anatomical pivot points of a user's body.  
   
   
       9 . The seating system of  claim 5 , further comprising a leg support pivotally mounted with respect to the seat tray so that the leg support pivots automatically at the knee joint of a user as the seat back reclines.  
   
   
       10 . A seating system for a personal mobility vehicle, the seating system comprising: 
 a base;    a seat tray positioned within the base and mounted for forward and rearward sliding movement with respect to the base;    a seat back pivotally mounted with respect to the seat tray to permit the seat back to recline and thereby cause the seat tray to slide forward with respect to the base; and    a biasing element between the base and the seat tray for biasing the seat tray rearward relative to the base to a non-reclined condition.    
   
   
       11 . The seating system of  claim 10 , wherein the seat tray is mounted to the base by a low-friction slide.  
   
   
       12 . The seating system of  claim 10 , wherein the slide limits the sliding movement of the seat tray to a substantially horizontal movement.  
   
   
       13 . The seating system of  claim 10 , wherein the spring has a dampening effect.  
   
   
       14 . The seating system of  claim 14 , wherein the seat back is connected to a back support member, and wherein downward movement of the back support member in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the base causes the seat back to pivot at the seat tray, thereby reclining the seat back, and thereby causing the seat tray to slide forward with respect to the base.  
   
   
       15 . The seating system of  claim 14 , further comprising a locking mechanism supported with respect to the base for locking the back support member in a fixed position with respect to the base.  
   
   
       16 . The seating system of  claim 10 , wherein the seat back is pivotally mounted to the seat tray at pivot points that approximate anatomical pivot points of a user's body.  
   
   
       17 . The seating system of  claim 10 , further comprising a leg support pivotally mounted with respect to the seat tray so that the leg support pivots automatically at the knee joint of a user as the seat back reclines.  
   
   
       18 . The seating system of  claim 10 , wherein sliding movement of the seat tray is substantially horizontal movement.  
   
   
       19 . A seating system for a personal mobility vehicle, the seating system comprising: 
 a base;    a seat tray positioned within the base;    low-friction slides for mounting the seat tray to the base for forward and rearward sliding movement of the seat tray with respect to the base, wherein the sliding movement is substantially horizontal movement;    a seat back pivotally mounted with respect to the seat tray to permit the seat back to recline and thereby cause the seat tray to slide forward with respect to the base;    a leg support pivotally mounted with respect to the seat tray so that the leg support pivots automatically at the knee joint of a user as the seat back reclines; and    a biasing element between the base and the seat tray for biasing the seat tray rearward relative to the base to a non-reclined condition.