Abstract:
An electrically-actuated lifting and transferring apparatus designed to facilitate the lifting and transfer process of a disabled person into and out of a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention is realized as having a vertical or semi-vertical electric or hydraulic extension arm, a mounting apparatus, a seat belt interlock system or foldaway safety arm, a support member along a plane having a horizontal component with option to pivot from its end point from a horizontal to a substantially vertical axis, and a seat surface with locking device pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/651,093, filed Aug. 29, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,765, issued Apr. 24, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/921,300, filed Aug. 3, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,802, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/222,942, filed Aug. 4, 2000, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for lifting and transferring persons into and out of vehicles and, more particularly, to an electrically-actuated transfer seat for assisting persons when entering and exiting a vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Difficulties are often encountered when a disabled person transfers from one location to another whether independently or assisted. Particularly in the case of wheelchair-bound persons or persons with severe mobility impairments, it is often quite difficult to lift and transfer persons to and from their wheelchair when entering or exiting a motor vehicle. Additionally, persons who are semi-ambulatory may have difficulties entering or exiting vehicles which are substantially higher or lower than the level required for comfortable entry or egress. 
   There have been some inventive efforts directed at alleviating the problems associated with transferring disabled persons from one location to another. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,365,924 and 5,459,891 are both directed toward devices for transferring disabled persons. 
   The aforementioned disclose devices which allow a disabled person to be lifted from a wheelchair into a vehicle. However, the devices disclosed in these patents, as well as other known devices, have drawbacks in the areas of cost and complexity which could limit the potential mobility of a disabled individual. 
   For instance, a product called Easy Rizer™, which is presently on the market, requires extensive modifications to the chassis of a vehicle, thus incurring substantial costs and delays in installation times, substantial modifications to the original appearance and esthetics of the vehicle, as well as important safety concerns as to potential compromises of the structural integrity and occupant crash protection. Additionally, this type of product, due to inherent limitations of its size and design, is applicable only to a limited range of body styles in the van and truck vehicle category. 
   In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a lifting and transferring apparatus for assisting persons when entering and exiting a vehicle which overcomes the above-described inadequacies and shortcomings, while providing a universally-applicable, low-cost, safe, easy-to-install solution for its user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention, a seat lifting and transferring apparatus and method is provided for assisting persons when entering and exiting a vehicle. The present invention seat lifting and transferring apparatus has a mounting bracket wherein the mounting bracket has a first support means for attachment to the chassis of the vehicle, a second support means for attachment of the first support means to a vertical extension arm, an electric or hydraulic extension arm for moving a horizontal support and seat along a substantially vertical axis, a horizontal support member which can alternatively pivot about a substantially horizontal axis located at the base of the extension arm, a cam-locking device to secure the horizontal support member once it has reached a substantially vertical orientation, a seat surface which rotates about a substantially horizontal axis when the horizontal support member is placed in a horizontal position, and a biaxial foldaway safety arm pivoting about a substantially vertical, then a substantially horizontal axis. 
   The present invention may be realized in two or more versions, including a single-fold version and a bi-fold version. The bi-fold version incorporates the aforementioned capability of pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis at the base of the extension arm to a locking position once it has reached a substantially vertical orientation for purposes of easy storage and greater lifting range. 
   In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, the electric or hydraulic extension arm can move the horizontal support member and seat between a first position and a second position along a plane having a vertical component. 
   In accordance with still further aspects of the present invention, the alternatively pivoting horizontal support member can incorporate a cam-style locking mechanism with a spring-loaded locking pin to facilitate secure storage of the horizontal support member and seat assembly when in a substantially vertical stored position. This feature alleviates concerns of potential impact and injury associated with frontal collisions. 
   In accordance with still further aspects of the present invention, the seat assembly can alternatively incorporate a lever-operated locking mechanism for purposes of securing the seat in a substantially vertical plane when the horizontal support member and seat assembly are in the upright and locked position. This feature alleviates concerns of potential impact and injury associated with unintended rotation of the seat assembly due to normal vehicle motion or impact. 
   In accordance with still further aspects of the present invention, the seat assembly can alternatively incorporate a biaxial folding safety arm pivoting about a substantially vertical axis at its attachment point to the seat, then about a substantially horizontal axis at its central articulation point to form an effective barrier, stabilization, and transfer aid for the user during the entry and egress process. 
   In accordance with still further aspects of the present invention, the seat lifting and transferring apparatus may alternatively incorporate a first means of support designed to attach to the electric or hydraulic extension arm to the chassis of the vehicle via a support structure having a horizontal support member aligned with the axis of the electric or hydraulic extension arm, and vertical support members aligned with the plane of the vehicle floor board for purposes of affixing the support structure to pre-existing vehicle seat and belt system fasteners. This feature alleviates concerns of compromise to vehicle structural integrity due to drilling, and greatly reduces installation times and vehicle degradation due to the installation of this equipment. 
   In accordance with still further aspects of the present invention, the electric or hydraulic extension arm is preferably electrically configured to operate from an electric control unit. The electric control unit can be a remote control unit, or a hard-wired pendant control unit. 
   The present invention apparatus and method is typically used to transfer disabled persons in and out of a vans, trucks, recreational vehicles, and other vehicles, but can also be used to transfer persons and/or things for other purposes. The present invention can be configured to incorporate the vertical pivot axis feature of the horizontal support member, or alternatively, can be configured with a fixed angle between the electric or hydraulic extension arm and the horizontal support member according to the particular application demands of the vehicle into which the lift is being installed. 
   This product has a broad range of applications including cars, vans, and trucks. 
   The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the appended drawings. While the present invention is described below with reference to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fields of use, which are within the scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed herein, and with respect to which the present invention could be of significant utility. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the appended drawings. These drawings should not be construed as limiting the present invention, but are intended to be exemplary only. 
       FIG. 1  is a rear view of a lifting and transferring apparatus in accordance with the present invention with seat in horizontal plane, safety arm deployed, and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “down” position. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  with seat in vertical plane, safety arm stowed, and horizontal support member in the vertical and fully “up” position. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  with seat in horizontal plane, and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “down” position. Additionally,  FIGS. 3B and 3C  provide detail of the front view of the safety arm mechanism. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side view of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  with seat in vertical plane, and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “up” position. Additionally,  FIG. 4B  provides detail of the side view of the seat vertical latch mechanism. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  with seat in vertical plane, and horizontal support member in the vertical and fully “up” and locked position. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  with seat in horizontal plane and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “down” position. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  with seat in vertical plane and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “up” position. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  with seat in vertical plane and horizontal support member in the vertical and fully “up” position. 
       FIG. 9  is a rear view of an alternate embodiment of a lifting and transferring apparatus in accordance with the present invention with seat in horizontal plane, safety arm deployed, and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “down” position. 
       FIG. 10  is a rear view of an alternate embodiment of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 9  with seat in vertical plane, safety arm stowed, and horizontal support member in the vertical and fully “up” position. 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 9  with seat in horizontal plane, and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “down” position. 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 9  with seat in vertical plane, and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “up” position. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 9  with seat in vertical plane, and horizontal support member in the vertical and fully “up” and locked position. 
       FIG. 14  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 9  with seat in horizontal plane, and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “down” position. 
       FIG. 15  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 9  with seat in vertical plane, and horizontal support member in the horizontal and fully “up” position. 
       FIG. 16  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a lifting and transferring apparatus shown in  FIG. 9  with seat in vertical plane, and horizontal support member in the vertical and fully “up” position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , there is shown a lifting and transferring apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention in two respective positions. Beginning from the bottom of the apparatus  10  upward, the apparatus  10  includes a horizontal 1-support member  36  secured by three mounting tabs  44  for securely mounting the apparatus  10  to, for example, the floor  37  of a vehicle or other structure. It should be noted that an important feature of this 1-support member  36  is that its structure is located adjacent to common vehicle seat-mounting stud locations, allowing for convenient placement of mounting tabs  44  such that vehicle seat-mounting studs would protrude through an aperture in mounting tabs  44 , thus eliminating the need for drilling and other custom modifications to the vehicle and mounting structure. The apparatus  10  also includes a gusset  34  to stabilize the main vertical support  32  which, in turn, supports two mounting tabs  26  and  27  (obscured due to view) that serve to support the electrically-actuated extension arm  24 . The electrically-actuated extension arm  24  may, depending on the constraints of the vehicle into which the lift is being installed, be attached to a side wall of the vehicle via mounting tabs  26  and  27  in certain applications rather than to be supported by a frame support structure as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The lengthening/shortening of the assembly of extension arm  24  with inner member  22  is controlled by a control unit  28  and a motor assembly  30 , which can be a direct-drive electric motor and gear assembly or, alternatively, a hydraulic power pack. The inner member  22  is movable in a telescoping manner relative to the extension arm  24  with inner member  22  supported by extension arm  24 . An important feature of the apparatus  10  is that the electric motor  30  comprises a manual crank to allow for emergency operation under conditions of power or equipment failure. For the hydraulic power pack version of motor assembly  30 , a hydraulic release valve is incorporated for the same purpose. 
   At this point it should be noted that, although  FIGS. 1-2  show the extension arm  24  positioned at a 30 degree angle with respect to a horizontal axis, other angles are also possible. Additionally, the fore/aft orientation of extension arm  24  may vary considerably from the depicted fore/aft inclination angle of 15 degrees, again depending on the specific requirements of a particular vehicle application. 
   The lower end of inner member  22  has a support axle  21  for securely supporting a pivoting support member  20 . Additionally, cam  18  allows pivoting support member.  20  to rotate in excess of 90 degrees from a substantially horizontal orientation, as indicated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  6 , and  7 , through a substantially vertical orientation, as indicated in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 , and  8 , by means of positional detents at each extremity of the desired motion. 
   It should further be noted that the pivoting action made possible by support axle  21 , to allow pivoting support member  20  to pivot from a substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation, may not be desirable or possible, given the constraints of a particular vehicle application. In this case, pivoting support member  20  can be permanently affixed to inner member  22 . 
   It should be further noted that, for vehicle applications where space constraints or desired interior layout make this a requirement, the lifting and transferring apparatus  10  may be constructed such that extension arm  24  and its support frame may be located in a position forward of the vehicle original seat, rather than rearward, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-8 . Such a lifting and transferring apparatus  10  would, in effect, be rendered as a mirror image of  FIGS. 1-8 , as shown in  FIGS. 9-16 . 
   It should be further noted that, for vehicle applications where space constraints or desired interior layout make this a requirement, the lifting and transferring apparatus  10  may be constructed such that seat  16  and pivoting support member  20  would be located to the right of the vehicle original seat, rather than to the left, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-8 . Such a lifting and transferring apparatus  10  would, in effect, be rendered as a mirror image of  FIGS. 1-2 , mirrored along the horizontal axis. 
   Pivoting support member  20  is attached to seat  16  via two hinges  38  to allow seat  16  to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis when pivoting support member  20  is in a substantially horizontal orientation or about a substantially vertical axis when pivoting support member  20  is in a substantially vertical orientation. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , there are shown side views of apparatus  10  in three respective stages of operation through the entry/exit sequence. Locking pin  40 , working in conjunction with cam  18 , allows pivoting support member  20  to rotate in excess of 90 degrees from a substantially horizontal orientation through a substantially vertical orientation as indicated above. It should be noted that locking pin  40  incorporates a tensioner spring whose purpose is to maintain pressure on the locking pin  40  along the upper surface of cam  18  in order to insure positive engagement with detents at both the horizontal and vertical positions of pivoting support member  20 . 
     FIGS. 3A-3C  incorporate front side-view detail drawings of the safety arm upright support  14 , barrier handle  12  and locking pin  52 . Upon deployment, safety arm upright support  14  is pivoted along the horizontal axis of safety arm horizontal support axle  48  until its structure contacts stop gusset  58 . Subsequently, the user would rotate barrier handle  12  along a substantially horizontal axis through barrier handle support axle  62  from the substantially vertical position within safety arm upright support  14  through a 270-degree arc to a substantially horizontal resting position. This action, due to the cam-shaped end of barrier handle  12 , provokes a downward movement of safety handle locking pin  52 , guided by two safety handle locking pin guides  54 , through an aperture in safety handle detent pad  56  thus immobilizing safety handle  14 , and activating safety handle limit switch  60 . The safety handle limit switch is electrically tied to motor assembly  30  in such manner that the motor assembly  30  will not operate unless safety handle limit switch  60  is activated. The passive locking pin feature and safety handle limit switch  60  is an important feature of the safety arm, due to the fact that any other design which relies on user intervention to assure a proper locking action is subject to user error, and potential harm to the user if the user fails to deploy the safety arm, or if the safety arm should release during the entry, exit, or transfer processes. 
   It should be additionally noted that, for vehicles in which the safety handle is not feasible due to space or layout constraints, it can be replaced by a seat belt attached to the seat and incorporating a limit switch which allows motor assembly  30  to be activated only when the belt is secured. This feature, although it can be defeated, provides a measure of security to ensure that the user does not fall from the seat while the lift is in motion. 
     FIGS. 4A-4C  incorporate detail drawings of the seat vertical stow lock mechanism  42 . Once seat  16  has been rotated to a substantially vertical position along the axis of hinges  38 , in preparation for movement of horizontal support member  20  towards its horizontal detent, it is useful for reasons of safety and convenience to secure the seat in a substantially vertical orientation while the horizontal support member  20  is being rotated, and while the vehicle is in motion. This feature is particularly important in vehicles where clearance between the left side of the seat back and the innermost surface of the b-pillar is tight, requiring precise alignment of seat  16  and safety arm assembly  12  and  14  during the rotation process. 
   In summary, some of the unique aspects of the present invention are listed below. One unique aspect includes the location of the extension arm mechanism behind the seat rather than underneath the seat or underneath the vehicle which facilitates easy installation, and which allows for an outward motion when there are obstacles such as sill plates, seat belt hardware, rocker panels, trim panels, and running boards. This is very important for high vehicles such as four wheel drive vehicles. The location of the extension arm mechanism behind the seat also allows for compound angles of descent/ascent incorporating varying degrees of vertical and horizontal components to facilitate avoidance of components of the vehicle structure such as the forward edge of the B-pillar. 
   Another unique aspect includes the location of the extension arm mechanism within the passenger compartment so as to avoid structural modifications to the vehicle where the extension arm mechanism and/or the structure of the lift must pass through the vehicle structure. In contrast, most prior art devices require substantial chassis modification. 
   Another unique aspect includes the foldaway feature at the joint between the platform support bar and the vertical extension arm, which allows the platform and platform support bar to be rotated completely away from the from the driver&#39;s compartment, thus eliminating any possible concern about impact between user and equipment in case of an accident. 
   Another unique aspect includes avoiding expensive door panel modifications and elimination and/or modification of seat trim panels. 
   Another unique aspect includes the integrated safety arm and handle assembly interlock system, which takes a passive approach. That is, if the user deploys the safety handle at all and puts any kind of weight on it, it is positively locked in position. Additionally, if it is not properly deployed, the lift will not work at all. This is important in terms of liability end-user safety. Alternatively, if this can&#39;t be done, due to space or other constraints, a belt may be used, which must be secured in order for the lift to function. The primary advantage of this system is safety, in that it would be impossible for the user to fall from the seat while using the lift due to the interlocks. 
   Another unique aspect includes the cam-style design of the safety handle and all of the mechanisms of the safety handle, including the integration of the safety handle limit switch into the motion of the safety handle locking pin. 
   Another unique aspect includes the design of the pivoting support member locking cam  18 . 
   Another unique aspect includes the uniqueness of the support mechanism which can be integrated with factory seat bolts, thus greatly reducing installation time and hassle. 
   Another unique aspect includes the seat vertical stow lock mechanism. Without this, it would be very difficult to rotate the horizontal support and seat assembly backwards, and the seat would be flapping around as you drove if it were not secured. 
   The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the present invention, in addition to those described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.