DESC:FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“TILTABLE SEAT FOR A VEHICLE”

APPLICANT:

Name Nationality Address
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Indian Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.,
MRV, Mahindra World City (MWC),
Plot No. 41/1, Anjur Post, Chengalpattu,
Kanchipuram District – 603204 (TN) INDIA

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relates to seating systems in vehicles, and more particularly but not exclusively to tiltable seating systems in vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, off road vehicles like tractors when engaged in operations like ploughing due to the high depth of cut made by the tractor, the operator’s seat will be at an inclined angle to the horizontal. Further during climbing of steep or inclined surface also, the operator’s seat will be at an inclined angle to the horizontal. Hence the operator tries to maintain his body in an upright or straight position. As the upright position of the operator is not supported by the seat during this period the operator frequently leans forward and back. This leads to physical and driving discomfort and may affect the health of the operator over time.
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for a tiltable seat assembly for a vehicle for adjusting the angle of the seat. Further, there also exists a need for a seat assembly that can eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[004] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tiltable seat assembly for a vehicle for adjusting the angle of the seat.
[005] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tiltable seat assembly that can enhance the driving comfort of the operator of a vehicle.
[006] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[007] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[008] FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a seat assembly of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[009] FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged side view of a portion of the seat assembly according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of a plate of the locking plate assembly according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0012] The embodiments herein achieve a tiltable seat assembly for a vehicle for adjusting the angle of the seat. Further, embodiments herein achieve a tiltable seat assembly that can enhance the driving comfort of the operator of a vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a seat assembly of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The seat assembly 100 includes a seat 101, a sliding plate 102, a plurality of coupler 103, a plurality of angular bracket 104, a locking plate assembly 105, a main bracket 106, a locking plate bracket 107, a plurality of hex bolt 108, a base plate 109, a locking pin 110, a spring 111, a spacer 112, a release lever 113, a spring dowel sleeve 114 and a guide pin 115.
[0014] In an embodiment the sliding plate 102 is arranged under the seat 101 so as to slide the seat in forward and reverse direction. The plurality of coupler 103 is used to connect the sliding plate 102 with the locking plate assembly 105, thereby connecting the seat 101 with the locking plate assembly 105. The plurality of angular bracket 104 is used for supporting the locking plate assembly 105. The seat 101, the sliding plate 102, the couplers 103, the angular brackets 104 and the locking plate assembly 105 are arranged above a main bracket 106. The base plate 109 is used for mounting the main bracket 106 and the locking plate bracket 107. The locking plate assembly 105 is connected to the seat 101 through a plurality of coupler 103 and the sliding plate 102. The main bracket 106 is adapted for mounting the angular brackets 104.
[0015] In an embodiment the locking plate assembly 105 includes a shaft S and a plate P. The shaft S is connected to the seat 101 through the couplers 103 and the sliding plate 102 and the shaft S is rotatably connected to the angular brackets 104 thereby facilitating the tilting of the seat 101. In an embodiment the plate P is used for receiving the locking pin 110 thereby facilitating the locking of the seat 101. In an embodiment the plate P includes a plurality of openings (not shown) for receiving the locking pin 110. Each of the openings (not shown) indicate a predefined angle for the seat 101. The locking plate assembly 105 is used for tilting and locking the seat 101.
[0016] In an embodiment the seat assembly 100 includes two couplers 103. The plurality of coupler 103 is fixed on the shaft of the locking plate assembly 105. The shaft S of the locking plate assembly 105 is journalled between the plurality of angular bracket 104. In an embodiment the seat assembly 100 includes two angular brackets 104. The angular brackets 104 are fixed on the main bracket 106. The shaft S of the locking plate assembly 105 is configured to be freely rotate between the angular brackets 104. In an embodiment each of the angular brackets 104 are provided with an opening (not shown) for receiving the shaft S of the locking plate assembly 105.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged side view of a portion of the seat assembly according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The locking pin 110 is used for locking the seat 101 by locking the plate P of the locking plate bracket 107. The spring 111 is used for loading the locking pin 110. The locking plate bracket 107 is used for supporting the spring 111 and locking pin 110 and the release lever 113. One end (not shown) of the locking pin 110 is received by the openings of the plate P and the other end (not shown) of the locking pin 110 is connected to the release lever 113. The spacer 112 is provided with the spring 112. The release lever 113 is connected to the locking pin 110 by the spring dowel sleeve 114. The release lever 113 is supported by the bracket 107 with the help of a guide pin 115 and a circlip (not shown). The guide pin 115 is used for connecting the release lever 113 with the locking plate bracket 107.
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of a plate of the locking plate assembly according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment the predefined angles defined by the openings in the plate are +80, +160, N, -80, -160. During the operation of the vehicle on flat surface or before tilting of the vehicle the seat 101 is locked at the opening indicating N. During the operation of the vehicle, when the vehicle tilts in left or right side, based on the level of the tilt of the vehicle the user may lock the seat at any of the aforementioned angles to position the seat 101 horizontally. The release lever 113 is used for unlocking or releasing the plate P of the locking plate assembly 105 thereby allowing the tilting of the seat 101. On engagement of the release lever 113, the release lever 113 unlocks or releases the plate P by pulling the locking pin 110 from the openings of the plate P of the locking plate assembly 105. In an embodiment the release lever 113 is pulled by cable or hand to unlock the plate P.
[0019] The working of the seat assembly 100 is as follows. Initially the locking pin 110 locks the plate P at the opening indicating the neutral position N and therefore the seat 101 is locked at a horizontal position. When the vehicle is tilted in the left or right direction in order to keep the seat 101 horizontally, the release lever 113 is pulled or engaged thereby the locking pin 110 is removed from the opening of the plate P. While still holding the release lever 113, the seat 101 is titled to the required angle or position such that the seat 101 is horizontal or flat and the required opening of the plate P is aligned with the locking pin 110 and the release lever 113 is released or disengaged so that the locking pin 110 is received by the required opening of the plate P, thus locking the plate P and hence the seat 101. Similarly the same procedure is followed to restore the seat 101 to its original or neutral position, once the vehicle operates in the flat surface.
[0020] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A seat assembly comprising:
a locking plate assembly comprising a shaft and a plate, the shaft connected to a seat and the shaft rotatably connected to a plurality of angular bracket; and
a spring loaded locking pin operatively connected to the plate of the locking plate assembly and a release lever,
wherein
the locking plate assembly is adapted to tilt and lock the seat at a predefined angle; and the locking pin is adapted to release the plate of the locking plate assembly on engagement of the release lever.
2. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft of the locking plate assembly is connected to the seat through a plurality of coupler and a sliding plate.
3. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a main bracket adapted for mounting the angular brackets.
4. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locking plate bracket adapted for supporting the spring loaded locking pin and the release lever.
5. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate of the locking plate assembly comprises a plurality of opening, each of the openings adapted for receiving the locking pin.
6. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base plate adapted for mounting the main bracket and the locking plate bracket.
7. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spring dowel sleeve adapted for connecting the locking pin with the release lever.
8. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide pin adapted for connecting the release lever with the locking plate bracket.

Dated this 24th December 2015


Signatures:

Name of the Signatory: Dr. Kalyan Chakravarthy

ABSTRACT
Tiltable seat for a vehicle includes a locking plate assembly having a shaft and a plate. The shaft is connected to a seat and the shaft is rotatably connected to a plurality of angular bracket. A spring loaded locking pin is operatively connected to the plate of the locking plate assembly and a release lever. The locking plate assembly is adapted to tilt and lock the seat at a predefined angle. The locking pin is adapted to release the plate of the locking plate assembly on engagement of the release lever.
,CLAIMS: CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A seat assembly comprising:
a locking plate assembly comprising a shaft and a plate, the shaft connected to a seat and the shaft rotatably connected to a plurality of angular bracket; and
a spring loaded locking pin operatively connected to the plate of the locking plate assembly and a release lever,
wherein
the locking plate assembly is adapted to tilt and lock the seat at a predefined angle; and the locking pin is adapted to release the plate of the locking plate assembly on engagement of the release lever.
2. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft of the locking plate assembly is connected to the seat through a plurality of coupler and a sliding plate.
3. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a main bracket adapted for mounting the angular brackets.
4. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locking plate bracket adapted for supporting the spring loaded locking pin and the release lever.
5. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate of the locking plate assembly comprises a plurality of opening, each of the openings adapted for receiving the locking pin.
6. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base plate adapted for mounting the main bracket and the locking plate bracket.
7. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spring dowel sleeve adapted for connecting the locking pin with the release lever.
8. The seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide pin adapted for connecting the release lever with the locking plate bracket.