Layable seat

Abstract

A layable seat includes front and rear paired supporting legs which are layably raised on a floor at two positions separated from each other in a back-and-forth direction, a seat member pivotably connected to the front paired legs, paired link levers each of which has one end pivotably connected to the corresponding one pivotal center of the seat member and the other end pivotably connected to the corresponding rear leg. The seat member is elastically held at its half-folded position by torsion coil springs, and has paired engaging pins which project sideward therefrom and engage the lower edges of the link levers to hold the seat member at its horizontal position against a user's weight.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A layable seat comprising: 
       supporting leg means which is adapted to be mounted on a floor surface to be pivotable between a raised position where the leg means is raised from the floor surface and a horizontally laid position where the leg means is horizontally laid along the floor surface;  
       a seat member which is mounted on said supporting leg means to be pivotable between a horizontal position where the seat member extends substantially horizontally from said supporting leg means located at the raised position and a folded position where the seat member is raised substantially vertically to extend along said supporting leg means located at the raised position;  
       urging means which is mounted on said supporting leg means and urges said seat member to a half-folded position between the horizontal and folded positions; and  
       forcible moving means which is mounted on said supporting leg means and forcibly moves said seat member from the half-folded position to the folded position against an urging force of said urging means in response to the pivotal movement of said supporting leg means from the raised position to the horizontally laid position.  
     
     
       2. A layable seat according to claim  1 , wherein said supporting leg means is pivotably mounted on an upper surface of a movable deck having traveling means at its lower end portion. 
     
     
       3. A layable seat according to claim  1 , wherein 
       said supporting leg means includes a first supporting leg and a second supporting leg, an extending end of said second supporting leg being located backward from an extending end of said first supporting leg at their raised positions,  
       said seat member has a rotational center shaft at the rear-end portion of said seat member to make said seat member pivotable in a vertical direction, and  
       said forcible moving means includes a link lever which has one end portion coupled to said second supporting leg to be pivotable in the vertical direction and the other end portion of said link lever coupled to said rotational center shaft of the rearend portion of said seat member to be pivotable in the vertical direction, and an engaging pin projecting sideward from a position at the rear-end portion of said seat member located backward from the rotational center shaft of the rear-end portion of said seat member, and said link lever causes said engaging pin of said seat member to move toward the floor surface against the urging force of said urging means while said first and second supporting legs are pivoted from the raised positions to the horizontally laid positions, and sets said seat member at the folded position when said first and second supporting legs reach the horizontally laid positions, so that said seat member is horizontally laid along the floor surface together with said first and second supporting legs at one time.  
     
     
       4. A layable seat according to claim  3 , wherein said engaging pin at said rear-end portion of said seat member is engaged with a portion of said first supporting leg when said seat member is located at a horizontal position, so that said seat member is inhibited to move downward from the horizontal position. 
     
     
       5. A layable seat according to claim  3 , wherein said urging means includes a torsion coil spring which has a central portion supported by said first supporting leg and two extending end portions clamping said engaging pin at the rear-end portion of said seat member. 
     
     
       6. A layable seat according to claim  3 , further comprising a backrest supported by said second supporting leg. 
     
     
       7. A layable seat according to claim  3 , wherein 
       a rotational center of said second supporting leg with respect to the floor surface is located backward from and above a rotational center of said first supporting leg with respect to the floor surface, and  
       said layable seat further comprises an armrest which is supported at each of two positions of said armrest, spaced apart from each other in a back-and-forth direction to be vertically pivotable by said first and second supporting legs.  
     
     
       8. A layable seat according to claim  3 , wherein said supporting leg means is pivotably mounted on an upper surface of a movable deck having traveling means at the lower-end portion of said movable deck. 
     
     
       9. A layable seat comprising: 
       
         a first supporting leg situated on a floor surface and having a first rotational support portion and a distal and portion, the first rotational support portion being supported on the floor surface such that the first rotational support portion is rotatable around a first rotational center shaft, the distal end portion being opposite to the first rotational support portion, said first supporting leg being rotatable between a raised position where said first supporting leg is raised and a horizontally laid position where said first supporting leg is horizontally laid along the floor surface;  
       
       
         a seat member, said seat member having a rotational support portion which is located in the front of the rear end of the seat member and which is supported by the first supporting leg to rotate around a rotational center shaft, said seat member being rotatable between a horizontal position where said seat member extends substantially horizontally from said first supporting leg located in the raised position and a folded position where said seat member is substantially vertically raised along said first supporting leg located in the raised position;  
       
       
         a second supporting leg situated on the floor surface and in the rear of said first supporting leg, and having a second rotational support portion which is supported on the floor surface such that the second rotational support portion is rotatable around a second rotational center shaft, said second supporting leg being rotatable between a raised position where said second supporting leg is raised and a horizontally laid position where said second supporting leg is horizontally laid along the floor surface, the second rotational support portion being located in the rear of the first rotational support portion of said first supporting leg and in a higher position than the first rotational support portion, the second rotational center shaft being located in a higher position than the first rotational center shaft of said first supporting leg with reference to the floor surface;  
       
       
         a backrest supported by said second supporting leg, said backrest extending upwards from the rear end of said seat member when said second supporting leg is located in the raised position thereof, and extending substantially horizontally along the floor surface when said second supporting leg is located in the horizontally laid position thereof;  
       
       
         an armrest supported by the distal end portion of said first supporting leg and said second supporting leg such that said armrest is substantially horizontally located, said armrest having a third rotational support portion and a fourth rotational support portion, said third rotational support portion located at the rear end of said armrest and supported by said second supporting leg to rotate around a third rotational center shaft, said fourth rotational support portion located at a middle portion of said armrest, further forward than said third rotational support portion, and supported by the distal end portion of said first supporting leg to rotate around a fourth rotational center shaft, said armrest being rotatable to move said first and second supporting legs to interlock with each other, and the rotational support portion of said seat member being on a line connecting said fourth rotational center shaft and said first rotational center shaft; and  
       
         urging means, supported by said first supporting leg, for urging said seat member toward a half - folded position between the horizontal position and the folded position.   
     
     
       10. A layable seat according to claim  9 , further comprising forcible moving means for forcibly moving said seat member from the half- folded position to the folded position when said first supporting leg is rotated from the raised position to the horizontally laid position thereof.   
     
     
       11. A layable seat according to claim  9 , wherein the floor surface has a base, projected from the floor surface, for supporting said first and second supporting legs such that said first and second supporting legs are rotatable. 
     
     
       12. A layable seat according to claim  10  wherein said forcible moving means comprises; a link lever having end portions, one of the end portions rotatably connected to said second supporting leg, the other rotatably connected to said seat member; and an engaging pin provided in the rear end portion of said seat member, the link lever is brought into contact with the engaging pin of said seat member to move the engaging pin against an urging force of said urging means toward the floor surface, when said first and second supporting legs are being rotated from the raised positions to the horizontally laid positions, respectively, so that said seat member is set in the folded position when said first and second supporting legs reach the respective horizontally laid positions. 
     
     
       13. A layable seat according to claim  12 , wherein when said first and second supporting legs are rotated to the respective raised position and said seat member is rotated to the horizontal position, the engaging pin of said forcible moving means is brought into contact with the link lever of said forcible moving means to prevent said seat member from being rotated downwards from the horizontal position. 
     
     
       14. A layable seat comprising: 
       
         a supporting leg situated on a floor surface and having a first rotational support portion and a distal end portion, the first rotational support portion being supported on the floor surface such that the first rotational support portion is rotatable around a first rotational center shaft, the distal end portion being opposite to the first rotational support portion, said supporting leg being rotatable between a raised position where said supporting leg is raised and a horizontally laid position where said supporting leg is horizontally laid along the floor surface;  
       
       
         a seat member, said seat member having a rotational support portion which is located in the front of the rear end of the seat member and which is supported by the supporting leg to rotate around a rotational center shaft, said seat member being rotatable between a horizontal position where said seat member extends substantially horizontally from said supporting leg located in the raised position and a folded position where said seat member is substantially vertically raised along said supporting leg located in the raised position;  
       
       
         a backrest situated in the rear of said seat member and having leg member which has a second rotational support portion situated in the rear of said supporting leg such that the second rotational support portion is rotatable around a second rotational center shaft, said backrest being rotatable between a position where said backrest extends upwards from the rear end of said seat member when said supporting leg is located in the raised position and a position where said backrest is laid along the floor surface when said supporting leg is located in the horizontally laid position, the second rotational support portion of said backrest being located in a higher position than the first rotational support portion of said supporting leg with reference to the floor surface;  
       
       
         an armrest supported by the distal end portion of said supporting leg and said backrest such that said armrest is substantially horizontally located, said armrest having a third rotational support portion and a fourth rotational support portion, said third rotational support portion located at the rear end of said armrest and supported by said leg member to rotate around a third rotational center shaft, said fourth rotational support portion located at a middle portion of said armrest, further forward than said third rotational support portion, and supported by the distal end portion of said supporting leg to rotate around a fourth rotational center shaft, said armrest being rotatable to move said leg member and said supporting leg to interlock with each other, and the rotational support portion of said seat member being on a line connecting said fourth rotational center shaft and said first rotational center shaft; and  
       
         urging means, supported by said supporting leg, for urging said seat member toward a half - folded position between the horizontal position and the folded position.   
     
     
       15. A layable seat according to claim  14 , further comprising forcible moving means for forcibly moving said seat member from the half- folded position to the folded position when said supporting leg is rotated from the raised position to the horizontally laid position.   
     
     
       16. A layable seat comprising: 
       
         a first supporting leg situated on a floor surface and having a first rotational support portion and a distal end portion, the first rotational support portion being supported on the floor surface such that the first rotational support portion is rotatable around a first rotational center shaft, the distal end portion being opposite to the first rotational support portion, said first supporting leg being rotatable between a raised position where said first supporting leg is raised and a horizontally laid position where said first supporting leg is horizontally laid along the floor surface;  
       
       
         a seat member, said seat member having a rotational support portion which is located in the front of the rear end of the seat member and which is supported by the first supporting leg to rotate around a rotational center shaft, said seat member being rotatable between a horizontal position where said seat member extends substantially horizontally from said first supporting leg located in the raised position and a folded position where said seat member is substantially vertically raised along said first supporting leg located in the raised position;  
       
       
         a second supporting leg situated on the floor surface and in the rear of said first supporting leg, and having a second rotational support portion which is supported on the floor surface such that the second rotational support portion is rotatable around a second rotational center shaft, said second supporting leg being rotatable between a raised position where said second supporting leg is raised and a horizontally laid position where said second supporting leg is horizontally laid along the floor surface, the second rotational support portion being located in the rear of the first rotational support portion of said first supporting leg and in a higher position than the first rotational support portion, the second rotational center shaft being located in a higher position than the first rotational center shaft of said first supporting leg with reference to the floor surface;  
       
       
         a backrest supported by said second supporting leg, said backrest extending upwards from the rear end of said seat member when said second supporting leg is located in the raised position thereof, and extending substantially horizontally along the floor surface when said second supporting leg is located in the horizontally laid position thereof;  
       
       
         an armrest supported by the distal end portion of said first supporting leg and said second supporting leg such that said armrest is substantially horizontally located, said armrest having a third rotational support portion and a fourth rotational support portion, said third rotational support portion located at the rear end of said armrest and supported by said second supporting leg to rotate around a third rotational center shaft, said fourth rotational support portion located at a middle portion of said armrest, further forward than said third rotational support portion, and supported by the distal end portion of said first supporting leg to rotate around a fourth rotational center shaft, said armrest being rotatable to move said first and second supporting legs in interlock with each other, and the rotational support portion of said seat member being on a line connecting said fourth rotational center shaft and said first rotational center shaft. 
       
     
     
       17. A seating system comprising decks which are arranged in a stepwise manner and have top plates such that the top plates are located at different levels with reference to a floor surface, and seats which are arranged on upper surfaces of the top plates a first decks, each of said seats comprising: 
       
         a first supporting leg situated on the upper surface of the top plate of an associated one of said decks and having a first rotational support portion and a distal end portion, the first rotational support portion being supported on the upper surface of the top plate such that the first rotational support portion is rotatable around a first rotational center shaft, the distal end portion being opposite to the first rotational support portion, said first supporting leg being rotatable between a raised position where said first supporting leg is raised and a horizontally laid position where said first supporting leg is horizontally laid along the upper surface of the top plate;  
       
       
         a seat member, said seat member having a rotational support portion which is located in the front of the rear end of the seat member and which is supported by the first supporting leg to rotate around a rotational center shaft, said seat member being rotatable between a horizontal position where said seat member extends substantially horizontally from said first supporting leg located in the raised position and a folded position where said seat member is substantially vertically raised along said first supporting leg located in the raised position;  
       
       
         a second supporting leg situated on the upper surface of the top plate of said associated one of said decks and in the rear of said first supporting leg, and having a second rotational support portion which is supported on the upper surface of the top plate such that the second rotational support portion is rotatable around a second rotational center shaft, said second supporting leg being rotatable between a raised position where said second supporting leg is raised and a horizontally laid position where said second supporting leg is horizontally laid along the upper surface of the top plate, the second rotational support portion being located in the rear of the first rotational support portion of said first supporting leg and in a higher position than the first rotational support portion, the second rotational center shaft being located in a higher position than the first rotational center shaft of said first supporting leg with reference to the upper surface of the top plate of said associated one of said deck;  
       
       
         a backrest supported by said second supporting leg, said backrest extending upwards from the rear end of said seat member when said second supporting leg is located in the raised position thereof, and extending substantially horizontally along the upper surface of the top plate of said associated one of said decks when said second supporting leg is located in the horizontally laid position thereof;  
       
       
         an armrest supported by the distal end portion of said first supporting leg and said second supporting leg such that said armrest is substantially horizontally located, said armrest having a third rotational support portion and a fourth rotational support portion, said third rotational support portion located at the rear end of said armrest and supported by said second supporting leg to rotate around a third rotational center shaft, said fourth rotational support portion located at a middle portion of said armrest, further forward than said third rotational support portion, and supported by the distal end portion of said first supporting leg to rotate around a fourth rotational center shaft, and the rotational support portion of said seat member being on a line connecting said fourth rotational center shaft and said first rotational center shaft; and  
       
         urging means, supported by said first supporting leg, for urging said seat member toward a half - folded position between the horizontal position and the folded position.   
     
     
       18. A seating system according to claim  17 , wherein each of the top plates of said decks has a base, projected from the upper surface of said each of the top plates, for supporting said first and second supporting legs such that said first and second supporting legs are rotatable. 
     
     
       19. A seating system according to claim  17 , wherein said decks are movable between a use position where said decks are arranged in a stepwise manner and a store position where in said decks are stacked such that space is provided between the top plates of any two adjacent ones of the said decks, and each of said seats is stored in the space between the associated two top plates when said decks are moved to the store position. 
     
     
       20. A system according to claim  19 , wherein each of said decks has wheels which are in contact with the floor surface such that the wheels are rotatable to move said each of said decks. 
     
     
       21. A seating system according to claim  17 , further comprising forcible moving means for forcibly moving said sell member from the half- folded position to the folded position when said first supporting leg is rotated from the raised position to the horizontally laid position thereof.   
     
     
       22. A seating system according to claim  21 , wherein said forcible moving means comprises: a link lever which has end portions, one of the end portions rotatably connected to said second supporting leg, the other rotatably connected to said seat member; and an engaging pin which is provided in the rear end portion of said seat member, the link lever being brought into contact with the engaging pin of said seat member to move the engaging pin against an urging force of said urging means toward the upper surface of the top plate, when said first and second supporting legs are being rotated from the raised positions to the horizontally laid positions, respectively, so that said seat member is set in the folded position when said first and second supporting legs reach the respective horizontally laid positions. 
     
     
       23. A seating system according to claim  22 , wherein when said first and second supporting legs are rotated to the respective raised position and said seat member is rotated to the horizontal position, the engaging pin of said forcible moving means is brought into contact with the link lever of said forcible moving means to prevent said seat member from being rotated downwards from the horizontal position. 
     
     
       24. A seating system comprising decks which are arranged in a stepwise manner and have top plates such that the top plates are located at different levels with reference to a floor surface, and seats which are arranged on upper surfaces of the top plates of said decks, each of said seats comprising: 
       
         a supporting leg situated on the upper surface of the top plate of an associated one of said decks and having a first rotational support portion and a distal end portion, the first rotational support portion being supported on the upper surface of the top plate such that the first rotational support portion is rotatable around a first rotational center shaft, the distal end portion being opposite to the first rotational support portion, said supporting leg being rotatable between a raised position where said supporting leg is raised and a horizontally laid position where said supporting leg is horizontally laid along the upper surface of the top plate;  
       
       
         a seat member, said seat member having a rotational support portion which is located in the front of the rear end of the seat member and which is supported by the supporting leg to rotate around a rotational center shaft, said seat member being rotatable between a horizontal position where said seat member extends substantially horizontally from said supporting leg located in the raised position and a folded position where said seat member is substantially vertically raised along said supporting leg located in the raised position;  
       
       
         a backrest located in the rear of said seat member, and having a leg member having a second rotational support portion which is located in the rear of said supporting leg and supported on the upper surface of the top plate of said associated one of said decks such that the second rotational support portion is rotatable around a second rotational center shaft, said backrest extending towards from the rear end of said seat member when said supporting leg is located in the raised position, and extending substantially horizontally along the upper surface of the top plate when said supporting leg is located in the horizontally laid position, the second rotational support portion being located in a higher position than the first rotational support portion of said supporting leg with reference to the upper surface of the top plate of said associated one of said decks;  
       
       
         an armrest supported by the distal end portion of said supporting leg and said backrest such that said armrest is substantially horizontally located, said armrest having a third rotational support portion and a fourth rotational support portion, said third rotational support portion located at the rear end of said armrest and supported by said leg member to rotate around a third rotational center shaft, said fourth rotational support portion located at a middle portion of said armrest, further forward than said third rotational support portion, and supported by the distal end portion of said supporting leg to rotate around a fourth rotational center shaft, said armrest being rotatable to move said leg member and said supporting leg to interlock with each other, and the rotational support portion of said seat member being on a line connecting said fourth rotational center shaft and said first rotational center shaft; and  
       
         urging means, supported by said supporting leg, for urging said seat member toward a half - folded position between the horizontal position and the folded position.   
     
     
       25. A seating system according to claim  24 , further comprising forcible moving means for forcibly moving said seat member from the half- folded position to the folded position when said supporting leg is rotated from the raised position to the horizontally laid position.   
     
     
       26. A seating system according to claim  24 , wherein said decks are movable between a use position where said decks are arranged in a stepwise manner and a store position where said decks are stacked such that space is provided between the top plates of any two adjacent ones of said decks, and each of said seats is stored in the space between the associated two top plates when said decks are moved to the store position.