Charles D Stephens

US Patent:

49540513, Sep 4, 1990

Filed:

Jan 12, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/282515

Inventors:

Rod Smith - Seymour TN
Timothy L. Oliphant - Federal Way WA
Charles E. Stephens - Kent WA

Assignee:

National Seating Company - Vonore TN

International Classification:

F04B 4900

US Classification:

417305

Abstract:

An air spring seat principally for buses, trucks, boats or other vehicles includes a manual air pump for inflating and deflating the air spring. The manual air pump includes a piston having a rearward air intake stroke, a forward compression stroke to deliver pressurized air through a check valve delivery and venting system to the air spring, a pressure stabilized at rest position at the end of the compression stroke and a forward venting stroke from the at rest position mechanically to release air from the air spring through the check valve delivery and venting system. A floating seal carried by the piston provides a fluid tight seal between the piston and pump body during the piston compression stroke but permits air to move from the intake side of the piston to the compression side of the piston during the piston intake stroke. The piston movements are all controlled by a manual lever handle readily accessible to the seat occupant. The lever handle is nested adjacent the seat cushion in the at rest position of the piston, is pulled upwardly from the at rest position to effect the piston intake stroke, is pushed downwardly to the at rest position to effect the piston compression stroke, and is pushed further downwardly from the at rest position to effect the piston venting stroke.

US Patent:

48099449, Mar 7, 1989

Filed:

Oct 2, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/103934

Inventors:

Rod Smith - Seymour TN
Timothy L. Oliphant - Federal Way WA
Charles E. Stephens - Kent WA

Assignee:

National Seating Company - Vonore TN

International Classification:

F16M 1300

US Classification:

248631

Abstract:

An air spring seat principally for buses, trucks, boats or other vehicles includes a manual air pump for inflating and deflating the air spring. The manual air pump includes a piston having a rearward air intake stroke, a forward compression stroke to deliver pressurized air through a check valve delivery and venting system to the air spring, a pressure stablized at rest position at the end of the compression stroke and a forward venting stroke from the at rest position mechanically to release air from the air spring through the check valve delivery and venting system. A floating seal carried by the piston provides a fluid tight seal between the piston and pump body during the piston compression stroke but permits air to move from the intake side of the piston to the compression side of the piston during the piston intake stroke. The piston movements are all controlled by a manual lever handle readily accessible to the seat occupant. The lever handle is nested adjacent the seat cushion in the at rest position of the piston, is pulled upwardly from the at rest position to effect the piston intake stroke, is pushed downwardly to the at rest position to effect the piston compression stroke, and is pushed further downwardly from the at rest position to effect the piston venting stroke.