Folding motor vehicle entry seat for persons who use wheelchairs and others who have physical limitations

A folding motor vehicle entry seat for persons who use wheelchairs and others who have physical limitations, which vehicle entry seat attaches to the body of the vehicle such as by utilizing existing vehicle connecting means used to mount a seat of the vehicle to the body of the vehicle and/or to the floor of the body of the vehicle, which vehicle entry seat mounts adjacent to the vehicle seat above the lower doorway portion of the vehicle body, comprising:

• a main frame means which extends generally adjacent to the vehicle seat, which main frame means attaches to the body of the vehicle, and which includes a seat stop means attached thereto;
• a seat means which is pivotally connected to said main frame means at an inside edge portion of said seat means generally adjacent the vehicle seat, said seat means having a deployed position with the vehicle door open extending generally horizontally, laterally of the vehicle over the lower doorway portion of the vehicle body, wherein said seat stop means contacts and retains said seat means in such deployed position, and wherein said seat means includes a stowed position wherein said seat means pivots to a generally vertical position adjacent the vehicle seat allowing the vehicle door to close;
• and
• wherein said main frame means includes a guide means such that said inside edge portion of said seat means moves from the stowed position vertically upwardly along said guide means to the deployed position wherein said seat stop means vertically retains said seat means in the deployed position and wherein to return said seat to the stowed position said seat means is moved to a generally vertical position and said seat means is moved vertically downwardly along said guide means to the stowed position so as to fit in such stowed position adjacent the vehicle seat, and wherein said main frame means includes respective front and rear adapter brackets attached thereto which extend laterally inwardly of the vehicle at respective front and rear ends of such main frame means so as to connect to the body of the vehicle.

A folding motor vehicle entry seat for persons who use wheelchairs and others who have physical limitations, which vehicle entry seat attaches to the body of the vehicle such as by utilizing existing vehicle connecting means used to mount a seat of the vehicle to the body of the vehicle and/or to the floor of the body of the vehicle, which vehicle entry seat mounts adjacent to the vehicle seat above the lower doorway portion of the vehicle body, comprising:

• a main frame means which extends generally adjacent to the vehicle seat, which main frame means attaches to the body of the vehicle by extending laterally inwardly of the vehicle at respective front and rear ends of such mainframe to attach to the connecting means, and which includes a seat stop means attached thereto;
• a seat means which is pivotally connected to said main frame means at an inside edge portion of said seat means generally adjacent the vehicle seat, said seat means comprising a seat assembly having a seat and a pivot means for pivotally slidably connecting said inside edge portion of said seat to the guide means, said seat having a deployed position extending generally horizontally, laterally of the vehicle with the vehicle door open over the lower doorway portion of the vehicle chassis, wherein said seat stop means contacts and retains said seat means in such deployed position, and wherein said seat means includes a stowed position wherein said seat means pivots to a generally vertical position adjacent the vehicle seat allowing the vehicle door to close;
• and
• wherein said main frame means includes a guide means such that said inside edge portion of said seat moves from the stowed position vertically upwardly along said guide means to the deployed position wherein said seat stop means vertically retains said seat in the deployed position and wherein to return said seat to the stowed position said seat is moved to a generally vertical position and said seat is moved vertically downwardly along said guide means to the stowed position so as to fit in such stowed position adjacent the vehicle seat, and wherein said seat stop means includes a brace means which extends between said seat and the lower doorway portion of the vehicle body in the deployed position to further support said seat in such deployed position and which brace means pivots to a position generally adjacent to and parallel to said seat in the stowed position of said seat, said brace means comprising a brace member which is pivotally connected to said seat generally parallel to and toward an outside edge thereof, said brace means including a brace stop means which comprises a flexible strap which connects said brace member to said seat which prohibits said brace member from moving beyond a predetermined included angle between said seat and said brace member at which said brace means correctly contacts the lower doorway portion of the vehicle body.