Self cleaning swivel seat assembly

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a swivel seat assembly comprising a seat and a seat support. The seat support includes upper and lower swivel plates each having an annular recess or track. The lower plate track has one or more openings. A plurality of ball bearings are disposed between the upper and lower plate track, with each of the ball bearings having a diameter greater than the width of the lower plate track. As a result, each of the ball bearings rides on the sides of the lower track and is spaced from the bottom of the track. The seat support also includes an annular retainer having a plurality of apertures and at least one wiper, with each aperture sized to receive one of the ball bearings and the wiper configured to direct debris from the lower plate recess into the one or more openings of said lower plate recess.

1 . A swivel seat assembly, comprising:
 a seat;   a support for the seat including upper and lower swivel plates each having a continuous annular recess; the lower plate recess having a bottom with a plurality of slot openings;   a plurality of ball bearings disposed between the upper and lower plate recesses, each of the ball bearings having a diameter greater than the width of the lower plate recess so that each of the ball bearings is spaced from the bottom of the recess and each of said plurality of slot openings being positioned in the lower plate recess along the path of travel of said bearings; and   an annular retainer having a plurality of apertures and a wiper, with each aperture sized to receive one of the ball bearings and the wiper configured to direct debris from the lower plate recess into the one or more openings of said lower plate recess.   
   
   
       2 . The swivel seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the apertures in said retainer are equally spaced around the retainer and a plurality of wipers are employed with a wiper located between each pair of apertures. 
   
   
       3 . The swivel plate assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the plate recesses is generally semicircular in cross section and the wiper has a generally semicircular shape. 
   
   
       4 . The swivel plate assembly of  claim 1  wherein the lower plate recess has a plurality of openings and each opening comprises an elongated slot. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled)