FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a seating assembly and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a seating structure for a three-wheeled vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, a three-wheeled vehicle, colloquially called as auto rickshaw, has a driver compartment in a front portion and a passenger/load compartment in a rear portion of the vehicle. The passenger compartment comprises of a passenger seat. In the posterior portion of the rear compartment an internal combustion (IC) engine is provided, which is coupled to the rear wheel(s) for providing motion to the vehicle. The driver operates the vehicle form the first compartment. A seating structure is provided in the front compartment so the driver can operate the vehicle in a sitting position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0003] The detailed description of the present subject matter is described with
reference to the accompanying figures. Same numbers are used throughout the
drawings to reference like features and components.
[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a left side view of an exemplary three-wheeled
vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0005] Fig. 2 (a) illustrates a left side perspective view of a three-wheeled
vehicle employed with a seating assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of
the subject matter.
[0006] Fig. 2 (b) depicts an exploded view of the seating assembly depicted in
Fig. 2 (a).
[0007] Fig. 2 (c) illustrates a left side perspective view of seating assembly in
accordance with the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2 (a).
[0008] Fig. 3 (a) illustrates a front view of the seating assembly of Fig. 3 (a).

[0009] Fig. 3 (b) illustrates a front view of the seating assembly of Fig. 3 (b)
at one position.
[00010] Fig. 3 (c) illustrates a front view of the seating assembly of Fig. 3 (b)
at another position.
[00011] Fig. 4 depicts the seating assembly, in accordance with another
embodiment of the present subject matter.
[00012] Fig. 5 depicts the seating assembly, in accordance with an additional
embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00013] Generally, in a three-wheeled vehicle a driver seat structure is provided in the driver compartment. The driver seat is positioned anterior to a handle bar assembly. Further, a fixed backrest is provided for the driver to rest his back, which is known in the art. The driver operates the vehicle in a sitting position. The vehicle is operated as a passenger vehicle or a load carrier vehicle, the driver is subjected to long hours of driving. Moreover, irrespective of the driver height and preference, the backrest position is fixed. Further, this may lead to fatigue to the driver
[00014] Hence, an objective of the present subject matter is to provide a three-wheeled vehicle with an improved seating. Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a seating assembly that enables driver to adjust according to their preference. Further, said seating assembly enables selectively adjusting the backrest of the seat in more than one direction according to driver preference. Additional aspect being, the seating assembly made reliable by providing a cover assembly.
[00015] In an embodiment, the seating assembly comprises a seat base and backrest. The backrest is mounted to one or more support members that are disposed in the anterior portion of the backrest and supporting the backrest. Further,

the support members are adjustably secured to an adjustment member that enables selective adjustment of said support members in at least one of a first direction or a second direction.
[00016] In an embodiment, the support members are secured to adjustment members are secured to the adjustment members through vertical plate(s). Therefore, the support members are selectively adjustable to the adjustment member in a first direction. Also, the support members holding the. backrest are adjustable in a second direction through the vertical plates.
[00017] In an embodiment, the first direction is in a vertical direction of the vehicle. The height of the backrest is adjustable accordance to the driver preference. The second direction is along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which enables adjustment of the backrest in forward direction or rearward direction according to driver preference.
[00018] In an embodiment, the support members enable in tilting of the backrest either forwardly or rearwardly. In a preferred embodiment, the backrest is adjusted in the range of 8° to 15°, for providing optimal support to driver. In an embodiment, the backrest is provided with lumbar to providing cushioning support to the driver. [00019] Further, in an embodiment, a cover assembly is provided covering at least portion of the seating assembly and to secure from atmosphere, water, or dust. Moreover, the seating assembly is made of a rigid material including metal. Therefore, the cover assembly enables protection of the seating assembly and prevents the seating assembly to come in contact with driver or passenger. [00020] The aforesaid and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.
[00021] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary three-wheeled vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The vehicle

100 has a frame assembly (not shown) including a head tube, a main tube assembly extending rearward from the head tube. The vehicle 100 has a front cowl 105 positioned in the anterior portion of the head tube. A windshield 110 is mounted on the front cowl 105, A floorboard 115 is extending rearward from a bottom portion of the front cowl 105 and is supported by the main tube assembly. A handle bar assembly 120 is rotatably supported by the head tube, which is positioned behind the front cowl 105. A steering assembly connects a front wheel 125 to the handle bar assembly 120 through one or more suspension(s) (not shown). A. front fender 130 is disposed above the front wheel 125 and is covering at least a portion of the front wheel 125. A rear panel 135 is disposed in a rear portion of the vehicle 100 and is connecting a posterior portion of the floorboard 115. Two rear wheels 140 are connected to a swing arm 145 through one or more suspension(s) 150, and the swing arm 145 is in turn connected to the frame assembly; A hood 155 connects a top portion of the front cowl 105 and a top portion of the rear panel 135.
[00022] The vehicle 100 is longitudinally divided into two portions along a partition line X-X\ a driver compartment DC has a driver's seat assembly 200 and a passenger compartment PC has a long passenger seat 160 with a seating capacity of minimum three passengers. The driver's seat assembly comprises a seat base 205A and a fixed backrest 205B (as shown in Fig. 2 (a)). [00023] The vehicle can be used as a passenger carrier vehicle or a load carrier vehicle. In case of a load carrier vehicle, the passenger compartment comprises of load carriage instead of a passenger seat.
[00024] A power unit (not shown) is mounted to the frame assembly in rear portion of the vehicle 100. The power unit comprises of an internal combustion (IC) engine (not shown) or a traction motor (not shown), a transmission system (not shown) is functionally connected to the rear wheels for transmitting power

from the power unit.
[00025] Fig. 2 (a) depicts a left side perspective view of a three wheeled vehicle 100 employed with a seating assembly 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. A partition wall 210 sections the vehicle 100 forming two compartments, i.e., the driver compartment DC and the passenger compartment PC. The partition wall 210 may be part of the frame assembly or a cabin forming the two compartments DC, PC. The seating assembly comprises a driver seat 205A that is disposed rearwardly of the handle bar assembly 120 and a backrest 205B that is disposed upwardly of the driver seat 205A. The seat assembly 200 is supported by the partition wall 210. [00026] Fig. 2 (b) depicts an exploded view of the seat assembly 200 as depicted in Fig. 2 (a). Fig. 2 (c) depicts a left side perspective view of the seating assembly 200. The backrest is mounted to one or more support member(s) 220A, 220B are secured to the partition wall 210 by welding or the like. In a preferred embodiment, a first cross-tube 220A and a second cross-tube 220B are used as support member(s). The one or more support member(s) 220A, 220B securely hold the backrest 205B. In a preferred embodiment, the first cross-tube 220A and . the second cross-tube 220B are disposed in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The cross-tubes are made of a rigid material including any known metal. [00027] Further, the seat assembly 200 comprises an adjustment assembly including a vertical plate(s) 225A, 225B that are connected to the cross-tube(s) 220A, 220B on lateral end(s). In a preferred embodiment, a first vertical plate 225A is connecting at a right end of the first cross-tube 220A and the second cross-tube 220B, and a second vertical plate 225B is connecting a left end of the first cross-tube 220A and the second cross-tube 220B. Each of the one or more vertical plate(s) 225A, 225B are provided with plurality of holes 240 (shown in Fig. 2 (c)) selectively spaced from each other that enable adjustment of the

backrest 205B in a first direction, which is a vertical direction UD-DD. [00028] The seating assembly further comprises adjustment members 230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB. The support members 220A, 220B being secured to the adjustment members 230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB through the vertical plate(s) 225A, 225B. A first mounting tube(s) 235AA, 235AB is positioned on a top portion of the partition wall 210 at a right end and a second mounting tube(s) 235BA, 235BB is positioned on the top portion of the partition wall 210 at a left end. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more mounting tube(s) 235AA, 235AB, 235BA, 235BB are made of a rigid material. In an embodiment, each of the mounting tube(s) 235AA, 235AB, 235BA, 235BB is formed by an L-shaped tube and a support bracket supporting the L-shaped tube.
[00029] In a preferred embodiment, the support members 220A, 220B are supported by the mounting tubes 235AA, 235AB, 235BA, 235BB, which are mounted to the partition wall 210. In a preferred embodiment, the support members include cross-bracket(s) 230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB. Further, the present embodiment depicts a first right cross-bracket 230AA and a second right cross-bracket 230AB disposed in the right hand side and being supported by the mounting tubes 235AA, 235AB.
[00030] The cross-bracket(s) 230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB are each provided with at least one slot(s) 245 extending in the longitudinal direction. The vertical plates 225A, 225B are secured to the cross-brackets 230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB by fastener(s) 250. The slot(s) 245 enable adjustment of the backrest in a second direction. The vertical plates 225A, 225B are selectively adjustable in the longitudinal direction FD-RD of the vehicle. This enables adjustment of the backrest 205B in the longitudinal direction FD-RD of the vehicle.
[00031] Further, the adjustment members, which are the cross-bracket(s)

230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB enables in tilting of the backrest 205B. Each of the vertical plate(s) 225A, 225B is secured to each of the cross-bracket(s) 230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB. The vertical plate(s) 225A, 225B enables selectively adjusting the backrest in a longitudinal direction FD-RD thereby each cross tube 220A, 220B is adjustable in longitudinal direction FD:RD, thereby enabling tilting of the backrest 205B. Furthermore, the seating assembly 200 enables selectively tilting of the backrest 205B within a range of 8° to 15°, the range in which comfortable seating posture is attained. However, driver can adjust the backrest 205B in accordance with driver preference beyond the specified range. Moreover, the backrest 205B is provided with a lumbar support that provides additional cushioning to the user.
[00032] Therefore, the cross-bracket(s) 230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB,
which are adjustment members, enables adjustment of the one or more cross-tube(s) 220 along second direction, which is substantially along the longitudinal FD-RD direction of the vehicle 100.
[00033] As depicted in Fig. 2 (c), the second vertical plate 225B is fastened to the first left cross-bracket 230BA and the second left cross-bracket 230BB using fasteners including nut and bolt, or the like. The slot(s) 245 provided enables in adjusting the first cross-tube 220A in a forward direction FD or in a rearward direction RD with respect to the second cross-tube 220B resulting in tilting of the backrest 205B. In addition, the seating assembly 200 enables adjustment of the backrest 205B in the forward direction FD or the rearward direction RD depending on the driver preference.
[00034] Fig. 3 (a) depicts a front view of seating assembly 300, in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter. The backrest 205B is mounted to cross-tubes 220A, 220B, which are support member(s) 220A, 220B. The cross-tubes 220A, 220B being adjustably secured to an adjustment member(s)

230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB, that enables selective adjustment of said support members in at least one of a first direction UD-DD or a second direction FD-RD. The seating assembly 200 enables adjustment of the backrest 205B vertically, which is in an upward direction UD and a downward direction DD. The first cross-tube 220A and the second cross-tube 220B are connected to first vertical plate 225A at the right and to the second vertical plate 225B at the left. The first vertical plate 225A and the second vertical plate 225B are provided with plurality of holes 240, which are selectively spaced from each other.
[00035] The vertical plate(s) 225A, 225B enables varying height of the backrest 205B from the seat base. Fig. 3 (b) depicts the backrest 205B positioned at a first height from the seat base 205A (not shown). Fig. 3 (c) depicts the seating assembly of Fig. 3 (a) with the backrest 205B at a second height form the seat base 205A (not shown) such that the backrest 205B is adjusted in the downward direction DD. The ends of the first cross-tube 220A and the second cross-tube 220B are connected to the uppermost holes 240 of the first vertical plate 225A and the second vertical plate 225B, and relatively the second cross-tube 220B is adjusted and connected to the matching holes 240 of the first vertical plate 225A and the second vertical plate 225B. Further, the holes 240 are provided on the first vertical plate 225A and the second vertical plate 225B such that the height of the backrest 205B from the seat base 205A can be selectively adjusted in the vertical direction UD-DD.
[00036] Fig. 4 depicts a left side perspective view of a seating assembly 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The seating assembly 300 enables adjustment of the backrest 205B in forward direction FD, rearward direction RD, upward direction UD, and downward direction DD. In a preferred embodiment, the seating assembly 300 is mounted to the partition wall 210 (shown in Fig. 1) and is disposed substantially at the lateral ends of the

vehicle 100. For reliable functioning of the seating assembly 300, a cover assembly 400 is provided that covers at least a portion of the seating assembly 200. The cover assembly cover(s) 400 provided protects the directional seating assembly 300 from water and dust. In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 4, the cover assembly includes a first cover 410A and a second cover 410B cover at least a portion of the seating assembly 300 and is disposed at lateral ends. Furthermore, the first cover 410A and the second cover 410B protect the seating assembly 300 from being exposed to atmosphere, dirt, or dust. The seating assembly 300 comprises of moving parts that are to be secured from corroding or rusting. [00037] Fig. 5 depicts a left side perspective view of a seating assembly 300, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present subject matter. A cover assembly 500 covering at least a portion of the seating assembly 300 is provided. The cover assembly 500 includes a central cover 510C disposed adjacently rearward to the seating assembly covering at least a portion of the support members. Further, the cover assembly 500 comprises a first cover 510A and a second cover 510B disposed on lateral ends of the seating assembly 300 covering a left side portion, a right side portion of the seating assembly 300. In an embodiment, the first cover 510A, the second cover 510B and the central cover 510C are integrally formed. The cover assembly 500 is made of a rigid material including any known synthetic material. For example, synthetic material is plastic. Additionally, the cover assembly 510 prevents the rigid parts to come in contact with driver or passengers. Also, the cover assembly provides aesthetic look by covering the at least a portion of the seating assembly 300. [00038] The seating assembly of the present subject matter enables driver to have a comfortable seating posture. Further, the seating assembly provides a comfortable ride to the as the driver can adjust the position of the backrest with respect to the seat. The seating assembly enables the driver to tilt the backrest. The

cover assembly improved the reliability of the seating assembly and also adds aesthetic look.
[00039] Many modifications and variations of the present subject matter are possible in the light of above disclosure. Therefore, within the scope of claims of 5 the present subject matter, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.

I/We claim:
1. A seating assembly (200, 300) for a three-wheeled vehicle (100), said vehicle
(100) comprising a frame assembly comprising a head tube and a main frame
extending rearward from the head tube, a partition wall (210) extending along a
partition line (X-X') sections said vehicle (100) into a driver compartment (DC)
disposed in a front portion and a passenger compartment (PC) disposed in a rear
portion of the vehicle (100), said seat assembly (200, 300) comprising:
a driver seat (205A) disposed in the driver compartment (DC) and positioned
rearwardly of the head tube; and
a backrest (205B) disposed substantially upwardly of the driver seat (205A),
wherein
the backrest (205B) is mounted to a one or more support members (220A, 220B)
and said support member(s) (220A, 220B) being adjustably coupled to an
adjustment member(s) (230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB) that enable selective
adjustment of said support members (220A, 220B) in at least a first direction
(UD-DD) and a second direction (FD-RD).
2. The seating assembly (200) of claim 1, wherein said first direction (UD-DD)
is substantially along a vertical direction (UD-DD) of the vehicle (100) and said
second direction is substantially along a longitudinal direction (FD-RD) of the
vehicle (100).

3. The seating assembly (200) of claim 1, wherein said support members (220A, 220B) includes one or more cross-tube(s) (220A, 220B) extending substantially in a lateral direction (RS-LS) of the vehicle (100) and said cross-tube(s) (220A, 220B) being made of a rigid material including any known metal.
4. The seating assembly (200) of claim 1, wherein said support member(s) (220A, 220B) being adjustably coupled to said adjustment member(s) (230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB) through a vertical plate(s) (225A.225B) and said vertical plate(s) (225A, 225B) being provided with plurality of holes (240) that enable adjustment of the backrest (205B) through said support member(s) (220A, 220B) in said second direction (FD-RD).
5. The seating assembly (200) of claim 1 or 4, wherein said adjustment member(s) (230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB) includes cross-bracket(s) (230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB) and each cross-bracket of said cross-bracket(s) (230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB) being provided with a slot(s) (245) and said vertical plate(s) (225A.225B) are adjustably coupled to said slot(s) (245).
6. The seating assembly (200) of claim 1, wherein said adjustment members (230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB) are supported by a mounting tube(s) (235AA, 235AB, 235BA, 235BB) and said mounting tube(s) (235AA, 235AB, 235BA, 235BB) being mounted to the partition wall (210) of said vehicle (100).
7. The seating assembly (200) of claim 1, wherein said adjustment member(s)

(230AA, 230AB, 230BA, 230BB) enable tilting of the back rest (205B) in range of 8-15 degrees whereby optimum contact area is provided between driver and the backrest (205B).
8. The seating assembly (200) of claim 1, wherein said backrest (205B) is
5 provided with lumbar support by providing cushioning material.
9. The seating assembly (200, 300) of claim 1 further comprises of a cover
assembly (400, 500) disposed adjacently of the seating assembly (300) and
covering said seating assembly (300) in at least two directions.
10. The seating assembly (300) of claim 1 or 9, wherein said cover assembly (400,
10 500) being made of a synthetic material including plastic and said cover assembly
(400, 500) being secured to the seating assembly (300).