Abstract:
The embodiments described and claimed herein are improved vehicle access systems. In particular, one embodiment includes three compact, motorized mechanisms for pivoting a passenger seat toward a door opening, extending the passenger seat outside the door opening, lowering the passenger seat, and tilting the passenger seat to help the passenger stand. The first mechanism concurrently pivots the passenger seat and moves it sideways during the pivoting operation so that it is aligned with the door opening. The second mechanism extends the passenger seat outside the door opening. The third mechanism lowers the seat.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/800,983 filed on Jul. 16, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,669,738 on Jun. 6, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/025,090, which are incorporated in their entirety herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
       [0005]    The embodiments described and claimed herein relate generally to a method, system, or device that permits easy access to a vehicle for a disabled person. More specifically, at least some of the embodiments described herein relate to a method, system, or device for enabling safe transfer from a wheelchair to the seat of a vehicle by lowering the seat down and out of the vehicle. 
       Background Art 
       [0006]    Current devices known in the art are large and cumbersome, and therefore usually require replacement of the original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) seat. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved device that is compact and allows the user to maintain the OEM seat and associated safety features. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The embodiments described and claimed herein solve at least some of the problems of the prior art vehicle access systems. In one embodiment, 
         [0008]    a vehicle access system comprises a seat base for supporting a vehicle seat. The seat base includes a base flange, a pivot member, and a shuttle. The base flange is adapted for securement to a floor of a vehicle. The pivot member is pivotally attached to the base flange and is configured to pivot the vehicle seat at least partially out of a vehicle door opening. The shuttle is supported by the pivoting member, is movable along a length of the pivot member, and is configured to align the vehicle seat with a vehicle door opening. The trolley base is supported by and tilts relative to the shuttle, and is configured to lower the vehicle seat outside of the vehicle door opening. The trolley is supported by the trolley base, is movable along a length of the trolley base, and is configured to extend the vehicle seat outside of the vehicle door opening and lower the vehicle seat. The seat support assembly is pivotally attached to the trolley, is adapted to support the vehicle seat, and is configured to tilt the vehicle seat relative to the trolley. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment includes a pivoting mechanism. The pivoting mechanism comprises a motor that powers a pivot gear and a linkage assembly. The pivot gear is configured to pivot the pivot member relative to the base flange, while the linkage assembly is configured to move the shuttle along the length of the pivot member. 
         [0010]    Yet another embodiment includes a tilting mechanism. The tilting mechanism comprises a motor that powers a trolley base tilt linkage assembly and a seat tilt linkage assembly. The trolley tilt linkage assembly is configured to tilt the trolley base relative to the shuttle. The seat tilt linkage assembly is configured to tilt the vehicle seat relative to the trolley. 
         [0011]    Yet another embodiment includes an extend mechanism. The extend mechanism comprises a motor for moving the trolley along the length of the trolley base. 
         [0012]    Other embodiments, which include some combination of the features discussed above and below and other features which are known in the art, are contemplated as falling within the claims even if such embodiments are not specifically identified and discussed herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other features, aspects, objects, and advantages of the embodiments described and claimed herein will become better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of a vehicle showing a first embodiment of a seat base (driver side application) in the fully retracted position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the vehicle showing the seat base pivoted partially out of the vehicle; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1C  is a side view of the vehicle showing the seat base fully pivoted and fully extended out of the vehicle and partially lowered; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1D  is a side view of the vehicle showing the seat base fully pivoted out of the vehicle and fully lowered; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1E  is a side view of the vehicle showing the seat base fully pivoted out of the vehicle and tilted to help the passenger stand up; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the seat base (passenger side application) in the fully retracted position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the seat base in a partially pivoted configuration; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the seat base in a fully pivoted configuration; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of the seat base in a fully pivoted and partially extended configuration; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2E  is a perspective view of the seat base in a fully pivoted, partially extended, and lowered configuration; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2F  is a perspective view of the seat base in a fully pivoted, partially extended, lowered, and tilted configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base when placed in a fully pivoted configuration; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3B  is a bottom view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base when placed in a partially pivoted configuration; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base when placed in a partially pivoted configuration; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4B  is a bottom view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base when placed in a fully pivoted configuration; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base when placed in a fully retracted configuration; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the seat base when placed in a fully retracted configuration; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the seat base when placed in a fully retracted configuration; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the seat base when placed in a fully pivoted, partially extended, and lowered configuration; and, 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the seat base when placed in a fully pivoted, partially extended, and lowered configuration. 
       
    
    
       [0034]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments described and claimed herein or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the inventions described herein are not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated. Indeed, it is expected that persons of ordinary skill in the art may devise a number of alternative configurations that are similar and equivalent to the embodiments shown and described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. 
         [0035]    Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like or similar parts from Figure to Figure in the following detailed description of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1A-1E , a first embodiment of a vehicle access system  100  is shown for enabling safe transfer from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat. The first embodiment of the vehicle access system includes an OEM seat  110  and a seat base  120 . The seat base  120  is designed to replace the OEM seat base and to bolt into the OEM bolt holes on the vehicle floor and seat  110 , rendering it unnecessary to modify the structure of the vehicle. 
         [0037]    The seat base  120  comprises a powered mechanism with a programmable controller (not shown) for pivoting, extending, lowering, and tilting the seat  110  from a use position, as shown in  FIG. 1A , to a stand assist position, as shown in  FIG. 1E . More particularly, the seat base  120  pivots the seat  110  from the use position ( FIG. 1A ) to a position at least partially outside of the vehicle ( FIG. 1B ). The seat base  120  then extends the seat  110  to a position at least mostly outside of the vehicle ( FIG. 1C ). The seat base  120  then lowers the seat  110  while maintaining the seat generally parallel to the ground ( FIG. 1D ). Finally, the seat base  120  tilts the seat  110  to help the passenger stand up. Other embodiments of the seat base  120  can be programmed to include any one or more of the previous steps in any order. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2F , the seat base  120  generally comprises a base flange  200 , a pivot mechanism  300 , a pivot member  400 , a shuttle  450 , a trolley base  500 , an extend mechanism  600 , a trolley  700 , a lowering mechanism  800 , and a seat support assembly  900 . The pivot mechanism  300  supports the pivot member  400 , the pivot member  400  supports the shuttle  450 , the shuttle  450  supports the trolley base  500 , the trolley base  500  supports the trolley  700 , and the trolley  700  supports the seat support assembly  900 . The base flange  200  is designed to be secured to the vehicle floor, and for that purpose includes plurality of bores  210  that are designed to engage with a vehicle specific installation kit that aligns with the OEM bolt pattern on the vehicle floor. 
         [0039]    As shown best in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the pivot mechanism  300  interconnects the base flange  200  and the pivot member  400 , and causes the pivot member  400  to pivot relative to the base flange  200 . The pivot mechanism  300  also causes the shuttle  450 , the trolley base  500 , trolley  700 , and seat support assembly  900  to move along the length of the pivot member  400  during the pivot operation to align the seat  110  with the vehicle door opening. 
         [0040]    The pivot mechanism  300  is best shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The pivot mechanism  300  comprises a pivot motor  302 , a motor shaft  303 , a speed-reducing gearbox  304 , a worm  306 , a worm gear  308 , a slot  310 , a slide pin  312 , a slide link  314 , a cam-operated slide lock  316 , a lock cam  317 , a wedge  318 , and a wedge pin  320 . The motor shaft  303  and speed-reducing gearbox  304  transfer power to the worm gear  308  from the pivot motor  302 . Because the worm  306  is affixed to the base flange  200  and the worm gear  308  is affixed to the pivot member  400 , powering the motor  302  in one direction causes the pivot member  400  to pivot away from the base flange  200  whereby the seat  105  is pivoted out the vehicle door opening. Powering the motor  302  in the other direction causes the pivot member  400  to pivot toward the base flange  200  whereby the seat is pivoted back into the vehicle to its use position. 
         [0041]    In some vehicles, depending upon the size and positioning of the door opening, it may be necessary to move the seat laterally, along the length of the pivoting member. To effectuate that lateral movement, the pivot mechanism includes a slot  310 , a slide pin  312 , a slide link  314 , a slide lock  316 , a lock cam  317 , a wedge  318 , and a wedge pin  320 . The size and shape of those components are specific to the vehicle type to ensure precise alignment of the seat  105  with the vehicle door opening. 
         [0042]    The operation of those components are best demonstrated by comparison of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  with  FIGS. 4A and 4B . In particular, the slot  310  is rigidly affixed to the base flange  200 . The slide pin  312  if affixed to a first end of the slide link  314 . The second end of the slide link  314  is pivotally attached to the shuttle  450 . The cam-operated lock  316  is pivotally affixed to the base flange  200 , while the lock cam  317  is affixed to and rotates with the pivot member  400 . The cam-operated lock  316 , when engaged with the lock cam  317  as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , serves to lock the slide pin  312  at a first end of the slot  310 . When the slide pin  312  is locked, the slide link  314  pulls or pushes the shuttle  450  along the length of the pivot member  400  when the pivot motor  302  is powered to rotate the pivot member  400  in one direction (from  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 4A ) or in the other direction (from  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 3A ), respectively. As the pivot member  400  and lock cam  317  are rotated toward the base flange  200 , the cam-operated lock  316  disengages from the lock cam  317  and releases the slide pin  312  so that it can slide toward the second end of the slot  310 . As best shown in  FIG. 5 , wedge  318  engages with wedge pin  320  when the seat  105  is placed in the use position to prevent movement of the shuttle  450  along the length of the pivot member  400 . 
         [0043]    As shown best in  FIGS. 2C, 2D, 6 and 7 , the extend mechanism  600  causes the trolley  700  to move along the length of the trolley base  500 , whereby the seat  105  is extended out the vehicle door opening (compare  FIGS. 1B and 1C ). More particularly, the trolley  700  includes two feet  702 ,  704 , each shaped like an inverted double-“T”, that are encapsulated by a low friction material, such as Nyloil (a self lubricating high density nylon), and ride within two tracks  502 ,  504  in the trolley base  500 . The tracks  502 ,  504  are generally rectangular shaped with an open slot on the top surface to receive and hold the two feet  702 ,  704 . The extend mechanism  600  comprises an extend motor  602  with an extend motor shaft  603  that is engaged with a extend sprocket mechanism  604  and an extend chain  606 . The sprocket mechanism  604  transfers power from the extend motor  602  to the two threaded extend rods  608 ,  610  positioned at opposite sides of and rotationally attached to the trolley. The threaded extend rods  608 ,  610  engage with two extend threaded nuts  612 ,  614  that are affixed to the trolley base  500 . Powering the extend motor  602  in a first direction causes the extend rods  608 ,  610  to rotate within the extend nuts  612 ,  614  in a first direction whereby the trolley  700  and the seat  105  are extended out the vehicle door opening. Powering the extend motor  602  in an opposite direction causes the extend rods  608 ,  610  to rotate within the extend nuts  612 ,  614  in an opposite direction whereby the trolley  700  and the seat  105  are retraced in the vehicle door opening. 
         [0044]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2D, 2E, 8, and 9 , the lowering mechanism  800  lowers the seat  105  and holds the seat  105  generally horizontal, by simultaneous tilting the trolley base  500  relative to the shuttle  450  and erecting the seat support assembly  900 . 
         [0045]    Erection of the seat support assembly  900  is enabled by two seat supports  902 ,  904 , links  906 ,  908 , and sled  910 . The two seat supports  902 ,  904  are vehicle specific and attach to the underside of and support the vehicle seat  105 . The links  906 ,  908  are secured to the trolley  700  at one end and, at the opposite end, to approximately the mid-point of the seat supports  902 ,  904 . The first ends of the seat supports  902 ,  904  are free, while the other ends are pivotally secured to the sled  910 . The sled  910  rides in channels  703 ,  705  formed on the top side of the double-“T” shaped feet  702 ,  704  of the trolley  700 . The sled  910  includes first pin  912 , second pin  912 , the functions of which are described below. The sled  910  also includes a “T”-shaped trailing bar  916  that rides in channels  452 ,  454  that are secured to the shuttle  450 , as described in more detail below. Channels  452 ,  454  are defined by upper and lower members made from low friction materials, such as Nyloil (a self lubricating high density nylon). 
         [0046]    Tilting of the trolley base  500  is enabled by its pivotal securement to the shuttle  450  via a rear link assembly comprising rear support links  506 ,  508 ,  510 ,  512  and a front link assembly comprising front support links  514 ,  516 ,  518 ,  520 ,  522 ,  524 . Front support links  514 ,  516  are each pivotally attached at one end to the shuttle  450  via pins  515 ,  517 , respectively. Front support links  514 ,  516  are pivotally attached at the opposite end to front support links  518 ,  520 , respectively, which in turn are pivotally attached their opposite end to front support links  522 ,  524 , respectively. Front support links  522 ,  524  are pivotally secured to the trolley base  500  by fasteners  523 ,  525 , respectively. Hand members  526 ,  528  are rigidly affixed to the ends of front support links  522 ,  524  and each includes a first slot  530 ,  532  and a second slot  534 ,  536  for engagement with first pin  912  and second pin  914 , respectively, as described in more detail below. 
         [0047]    The lowering mechanism  800  includes a lowering motor  802  with a lowering motor shaft  803  that is engaged with a lowering sprocket mechanism  804  and a lowering chain  806 . The sprocket mechanism  804  transfers power from the lowering motor  602  to the two threaded lowering rods  808 ,  810  positioned to the inside of the feet  702 ,  704 . The threaded lowering rods  808 ,  810  are rotationally affixed to the trolley  700  and engage with two lowering threaded nuts  812 ,  814  that are affixed to the sled  910 . 
         [0048]    Powering the lowering motor  802  in a first direction both erects the seat support assembly  900  and tilts the trolley base  500  downward. More specifically, powering the lowering motor  802  in the first direction causes the lowering rods  808 ,  810  to rotate within the lowering nuts  812 ,  814  in a first direction whereby the sled  910  slides within channels  703 ,  705  toward the connection point between links  906 ,  908  and trolley  700  and the free ends of the seat supports  902 ,  904  are lifted away from the trolley  700 . As the sled  910  begins to move toward the connection point, the trailing bar  916  enters and engages with the channels  452 ,  454 . In addition, the first pin  912  engages with the first slots  530 ,  532  (see  FIG. 2D ) and pushes hand members  526 ,  528 , whereby front support links  522 ,  524  are rotated about the fasteners  523 ,  525 . By virtue of rotation of the front support links  522 ,  524 , the front link assembly pushes the trolley base  500  away from the shuttle  450  and begins to erect the rear link assembly, whereby the trolley base  500  is tilted downward. The engagement between the trailing bar  916  and the channels  452 ,  454  supports the trolley base  500  as it tilts until the rear link assembly is sufficiently erected and can support the trolley base  500 . As the sled  910  continues to slide toward the connection point, the trailing bar  916  exits the channels  452 ,  454  and then the first pin  912  exits the first slots  530 ,  532 . At this point, the second pin  914  engages the second slots  534 ,  536  and continues to push the hand members  526 ,  528  and to rotate front support links  522 ,  524  about the fasteners  523 ,  525 , whereby the trolley base  500  is further tilted downward. Once the sled  910  is slid to its full extent, the seat  105  can be further lowered or raised by extending or retracting the trolley  700  using the extend mechanism  600 . 
         [0049]    Powering the lowering motor  802  in an opposite direction both collapses the seat support assembly  900  and tilts the trolley base upward. More specifically, powering the lowering motor  802  in the opposite direction causes the lowering rods  808 ,  810  to rotate within the lowering nuts  812 ,  814  in an opposite direction whereby the sled  910  slides within channels  703 ,  705  away from the connection point between links  906 ,  908  and trolley  700  and the free ends of the seat supports  902 ,  904  are pulled down toward the trolley  700 . As the sled  910  begins to move away from the connection point, the second pin  914  engages the second slots  534 ,  536  whereby the second pin  914  pushes the hand members  526 ,  528  and rotates front support links  522 ,  524  about the fasteners  523 ,  525 . By virtue of rotation of the front support links  522 ,  524 , the front link assembly pushes the trolley base  500  toward the shuttle  450  and begins to collapse the rear link assembly, whereby the trolley base  500  is tilted upward. As the sled  910  continues to slide away from the connection point, the second pin  914  exits the second slots  534 ,  536  and the first pin  912  enters the first slots  530 ,  532  and continues to push the hand members  526 ,  528  in the same direction. As the rear link assembly nears its collapsed configuration, the trailing bar  916  enters the channels  452 ,  454  and serves to support the weight of the system. 
         [0050]    The stand up feature is obtained by reversing the extend motor  602  and collapsing the seat brackets while the whole assembly is in full extend and tilted down position. 
         [0051]    Although the inventions described and claimed herein have been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventions described and claimed herein can be practiced by other than those embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. It should be understood that the arrangements described herein are for purposes of example only. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and other elements can be used instead, and some elements may be omitted altogether. Further, many of the elements may be implemented as discrete or distributed components or in conjunction with other components, in any suitable combination.