Detachable mobile seat for vehicle usable as wheelchair

A detachable mobile seat includes a first part connected to a motor; a second part attached to the seat; and two links, each connected to the first part, the second part, and a wheel. The links transfer movement of the first part to the wheels. The first part includes a shaft connected to the motor, and two nuts disposed around the shaft that have screw threads in opposite directions and move along the shaft in response to operation of the motor. Each link includes a first link connected to the second part and to the nut, and a second link connected to the nut and to the wheel. The end of each second link that is nearest the wheel is rotatably connected to a connecting arm that has a rotating bar that rotates the wheel in response to operation of the links.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0126548, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 12, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a detachable mobile seat for a vehicle that is usable as a wheelchair, that allows handicapped persons to easily board a vehicle.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Wheelchair height differs from a height suitable for a vehicle seat. Therefore, a wheel supporting part of a conventional detachable mobile seat is foldable. However, the wheels may interfere with the surrounding parts of the seat during folding, and a conventional folding structure is not structurally stiff.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A detachable mobile seat includes a first part connected to a motor; a second part attached to the seat; and two links, each connected to the first part, the second part, and a wheel. The links transfer movement of the first part to the wheels.

The first part may include a rotating shaft connected to the motor and supported near first and second ends by a support frame, and two nuts disposed around the rotating shaft that move axially along the rotating shaft in response to operation of the motor. The nuts may have screw threads in opposite directions. The first part may also include a support bar connected to the support frame.

Each link may include a first link connected to the second part and to the nut, and a second link connected to the nut and to the wheel.

The end of each second link that is nearest the wheel may be rotatably connected to a connecting arm that has a rotating bar that rotates the wheel in response to operation of the links.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, a motor shaft of a motor10is connected to a transportation part100, which is disposed in a horizontal direction at a front lower side of a wheelchair seat (not shown). One end of a folding link200is connected to a mount part20, which is attached to the underside of the wheelchair seat. The other end of the folding link200is connected to a front wheel2of the wheelchair so as to transfer movement of the transportation part100to the front wheel2.

The transportation part100includes a rotating shaft110, which is connected to the motor shaft of the driving motor10, and both ends of which are fixed to a support frame30. The rotating shaft110is inserted into transportation nuts120. The transportation nuts120each include screw threads in opposite directions. The nuts120move toward the center of the rotating shaft110when the driving motor10rotates in one direction, and move toward the ends of the rotating shaft110when the driving motor10rotates in the other direction.

The transportation part100also includes at least one support bar130which is horizontally connected to the support frames30to provide stiffness.

The folding link200includes a first folding link210, one end of which is connected to the mount part20, and the other end of which is connected to the transportation nut120; and a second folding link220, one end of which is connected to the transportation nut120, and the other end of which is connected to a joint40of the front wheel2.

The joint40is provided with a joint groove42, one end of which is connected to a rotating shaft of the front wheel2.

The second folding link220is rotatably connected to one end of a connecting arm222. The other end of the connecting arm222is provided with a rotating bar224which is inserted into the joint groove42to rotate the front wheel2inward in response to operation of the folding link200.

Operation of a detachable mobile seat for a vehicle usable as a wheelchair according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings.

Referring toFIG. 2A, to allow a person to board the vehicle, the driving motor10is operated and the rotating shaft110rotates in a first direction. Referring also toFIG. 2B, while the rotating shaft110rotates, the transportation nuts120move along the rotating shaft110in the directions of the arrows.

The folding links200fold from the position shown inFIG. 2Ato that ofFIG. 2B. At this time, the rotating bars224rotate in the direction of the arrows along the joint grooves42and the front wheels2are folded inward. The support bar130supports the transportation nuts120.

As described above, the wheels of a seat according to the present invention do not interfere with surrounding structures, and sufficient structural stiffness is provided. Furthermore, a structural weak point is supported.