American Safety Equipment Corporation

Creative Presentations, Inc.

William J Sieber

Akira Tanaka

William M Hollowell

Avraham Ziv

Munir J Ahad

Tim M Nordella

The present invention relates to a mechanical seat apparatus for simulating motion which includes a novel spherical bearing located below each seat for providing realistic simulation of motion in the yaw, pitch and roll directions. The spherical bearing includes means for preventing movement of the spherical bearing in the event of a power failure or other similar event to avoid injury to the viewers. The mechanical seat apparatus of the present invention also includes supporting structure which enables movement of each seat in the backward and forward, side to side and upward and downward directions, for a total of six degrees of freedom. Common hydraulics are provided to simultaneously impart motion to a plurality of seats.

Mechanical seat apparatus for simulating motion

An inertia switch resettably breaks an electrical contact upon a change in the momentum of the switch body above a predetermined level or upon inversion of the switch body. An inertia sensing pendulum detects momentum changes upon the switch body and upwardly moves an actuator shaft upon a momentum change above a level determined by a biasing mechanism. The actuator shaft is coupled to an electric contact mechanism, which resettably interrupts an electrical connection upon the upward movement of the actuator shaft. A moveable mass in a cylindrical cavity is coupled to the contact mechanism and causes the electrical connection to be broken in response to an inversion of the body. A reset mechanism coupled to the contact mechanism, reestablishes the interrupted electrical connection when manual force is applied to the reset means.

Inertia switches

A wheelchair comprises a pair of frame members of one piece of solid material. A well indented into each frame member accommodates an axle for mounting a wheel therein. A pair of braces supports the frame members in a spaced-apart position and allows the frame members to be brought together. A vertical pivot pivotally mounts the brace members with respect to each other at a central portion of each brace member. Each brace member pivots with respect to a frame member about a vertical axis on an anchor. The other end of each brace member is releasably anchored to the frame member opposite the one to which the one end of the brace member is anchored. A brake on the frame moves against the wheels to lock them, and a hill holder connected to the brake prevents movement of the wheels in one direction. A brake handle is movable between at least two positions, a locking one and a hill holder one. The handle is mounted in an indentation on each frame member adjacent the well. The brake passes through the well upon movement of the handle to the locking position and the hill holder passes through the well upon movement of the handle to the hill holding position. Side members are mounted on the top of the frame members to extend either upward or outward from each frame member. There is also a foot rest housing, a telescoping section extending downward from the housing and a mounting bracket for mounting a foot rest on the telescoping section. A grip on the top part of the housing is connected to the telescoping section within reach of the user whereby pulling the grip raises the foot rest. A seat supporting the user between the frame members includes a platform mounted below the top of the frame. A pit is provided in the platform, and a cushion on the platform extends into the pit. The cushion is flush with the top of the frame members.

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Northridge, CA, United States of America

William J Sieber