Vehicle access system
AssigneeAdapt Solutions
InventorsChristian Lemay, Etienne Carbonneau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
A vehicle access system comprising:
- a seat base connectable to a vehicle floor;
- a support assembly comprising a first support member operably connected to the seat base and configured to pivot relative to the vehicle floor to enable tilting a vehicle seat, and a second support member slidably coupled to the first support member to enable selectively raising and lowering the vehicle seat, the second support member having an actuation member;
- and
- a motion system operably coupled to the support assembly and operable to slide the second support member along the first support member and tilt the first support member relative to the vehicle floor, the motion system comprising:
- a motor operable to displace the second support member relative to the first support member;
- a plurality of links pivotally connected to one another and comprising:
- a first link pivotally connected about a first axis to the first support member;
- and
- a second link pivotally connected about a horizontal axis to the seat base;
- and
- a motion system actuator operatively coupled to the plurality of links, wherein the actuation member is configured to engage the motion system actuator upon sliding the second support member along the first support member, the motion system actuator being configured to pivot the first link about the first axis, whereby rotation of the first link about the first axis engages the second link in rotation about the horizontal axis, thereby tilting the first support member relative to the vehicle floor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.