Folding seat with improved structural linkage

Abstract

The folding seat assembly includes a bottom member with a first free end and a second free end, a first back member having a first free end and a second free end where the first free end of the first back member is pivotally connected about a first pivot axis to the second free end of the bottom member. The assembly also includes a second back member with a first free end and a second free end where the first free end of the second back member is pivotally connected about a second pivot axis to the second free end of the bottom member. A first free end of a cross member is pivotally connected to the second free end of the second back member and the second free end of the cross member is pivotally connected to the second free end of the first back member. As a result, the bottom member is pivotable, relative to the first back member and the second back member, between an open condition and a closed condition.

1 . A folding seat assembly, comprising: 
 a first member having a first free end and a second free end;    a second member having a first free end and a second free end; the first free end of the second member being pivotally connected about a first pivot axis to the second free end of the first member;    a third member having a first free end and a second free end; the first free end of the third member being pivotally connected about a second pivot axis to the second free end of the first member;    a cross member having a first free end and a second free end; the first free end of the cross member being pivotally connected to the second free end of the third member; the second free end of the cross member being pivotally connected to the second free end of the second member;    the first member being pivotable, relative to the second member and the third member, between an open condition and a closed condition.    
   
   
       2 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first seat cover, having a seating surface, positioned over the first member; and    a second seat cover, having a seating surface, positioned over the second member and the third member.    
   
   
       3 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for releasably securing the first member relative to the second member and the third member.    
   
   
       4 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second seat cover includes at least one slot therein; at least one of the first member, the third member and the cross member being pivotally received in the at least one slot to permit compact folding of the first member and first seat cover toward the second cover.  
   
   
       5 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat cover includes at least one slot therein; at least one of the second member, the third member or cross member being pivotally received in the at least one slot to permit compact folding of the first member and first seat cover toward the second cover.  
   
   
       6 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is substantially L-shaped in configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first member and the first seat cover are an integrated unitary structure  
   
   
       8 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second member and the second seat cover are an integrated unitary structure.  
   
   
       9 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat cover includes a pair of armrests emanating upwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       10 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second seat cover defines a pair of recesses therein; the pair of armrests being respectively receivable in the pair of recesses upon pivoting of the first seat cover toward the second seat cover.  
   
   
       11 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first member, the second member, the third member and the cross member are made of steel.  
   
   
       12 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat cover and the second seat cover are made of plastic.  
   
   
       13 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are not co-axial with one another.  
   
   
       14 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first member passes through the seating surface of the second seat cover.  
   
   
       15 . A folding seat assembly, comprising: 
 a first member having a first free end and a second free end;    a plurality of second members being pivotally linked together and defining a first linkage free end and a second linkage free end which are not pivotally connected to one of the plurality of second members;    the first linkage free end being pivotally connected to the second free end of the first member; the second linkage free end being pivotally connected to the second free end of the first member;    the first member being pivotable, relative to the plurality of second members, between an open condition and a closed condition.    
   
   
       16 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a first seat cover, having a seating surface, positioned over the first member; and    a second seat cover positioned over the plurality of second members.    
   
   
       17 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 means for releasably securing the first member relative to the plurality of second members.    
   
   
       18 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the second seat cover includes at least one slot therein; at least one of the members being pivotally received in the at least one slot to permit compact folding of the first member and first seat cover toward the second seat cover.  
   
   
       19 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first seat cover includes at least one slot therein; at least one of members being pivotally received in the at least one slot to permit compact folding of the second member and second seat cover toward the first seat cover.  
   
   
       20 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first member is substantially L-shaped in configuration.  
   
   
       21 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first member and the first seat cover are an integrated unitary structure.  
   
   
       22 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second members and the second seat cover are an integrated unitary structure.  
   
   
       23 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first seat cover includes a pair of armrests emanating upwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       24 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the second seat cover defines a pair of recesses therein; the pair of armrests being respectively receivable in the pair of recesses upon pivoting of the first seat cover toward the second seat cover.  
   
   
       25 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first member and the plurality of second members are made of steel.  
   
   
       26 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first seat cover and the second seat cover are made of plastic.  
   
   
       27 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the pivot axis of the first linkage free end and the pivot axis of the second linkage free end are not co-axial with one another.  
   
   
       28 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first member passes through the seating surface of the second seat cover.  
   
   
       29 . A folding seat assembly, comprising: 
 a first member having a first free end and a second free end;    a plurality of second members being displaceably coupled together and defining a first linkage free end and a second linkage free end which are not displaceably coupled to one of the plurality of second members;    the first linkage free end being displaceably coupled to the second free end of the bottom member; the second linkage free end being displaceably coupled to the second free end of the first member;    the first member being positionable, relative to the plurality of second members, between an open condition and a closed condition.    
   
   
       30 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 a first seat cover positioned over the first member; and    a second seat cover positioned over the plurality of second members.    
   
   
       31 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 means for releasably securing the first member relative to the plurality of second members.    
   
   
       32 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the second seat cover includes at least one slot therein; at least one of the members being received in the at least one slot to permit compact folding of the first seat cover toward the second seat cover.  
   
   
       33 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first seat cover includes at least one slot therein; at least one of the members being received in the at least one slot to permit compact folding of the first seat cover toward the second seat cover.  
   
   
       34 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first member is substantially L-shaped in configuration.  
   
   
       35 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the first member and the first seat cover are an integrated unitary structure.  
   
   
       36 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 30 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second members and the second seat cover are an integrated unitary structure  
   
   
       37 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first seat cover includes a pair of armrests emanating upwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       38 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the second seat cover defines a pair of recesses therein; the pair of armrests being respectively receivable in the pair of recesses upon positioning of the first seat cover toward the second seat cover.  
   
   
       39 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first member and the plurality of second members are made of steel.  
   
   
       40 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first seat cover and the second seat cover are made of plastic.  
   
   
       41 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first linkage free end and the second linkage free end are not displaceably coupled at the same point on the second free end of the first member as each other.  
   
   
       42 . The folding seat assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first member passes through the seating surface of the second seat cover when in a fully closed condition.  
   
   
       43 . A folding support frame assembly, comprising: 
 a first member having a first free end and a second free end;    a second member having a first free end and a second free end; the first free end of the second member being pivotally connected about a first pivot axis to the second free end of the first member;    a third member having a first free end and a second free end; the first free end of the third member being pivotally connected about a second pivot axis to the second free end of the first member;    a cross member having a first free end and a second free end; the first free end of the cross member being pivotally connected to the second free end of the third member; the second free end of the cross member being pivotally connected to the second free end of the second member; and    the first member being pivotable, relative to the second member and the third member, between an open condition and a closed condition.