159results about "Handicapped seats" patented technology

A rotating car seat mechanism includes a seat base, a sliding plate, a rotating plate, a guiding socket plate, an axle defining an axis of rotation and a cylindrical pivot rod. The sliding plate is placed inside a car, allowing an upper end of the cylindrical pivot rod to be positioned at the exit of the guiding socket, further enabling the rotation out of the car door and sliding the cylindrical pivot rod into the guiding socket. Due to the path defined by the guiding socket customizing the movement of the cylindrical pivot rod, the rotating plate not only rotates on the axle, but also drives the axle forward. After applying a suitable degree of motion, the rotating plate exceeds out of a narrow space of the car, whereas an opposite amount of motion enables the rotating plate to return to the original point.

A vehicle includes a contact-position-dependent type operational intention determining unit that detects a change in posture of a rider using posture sensors for a backrest disposed in areas of a backrest with which left and right shoulder blades of the rider come into contact, and thereby determines whether there is an operational intention of the rider; and a left-right amount-of-change comparison type turn intention determining unit that determines, only when it is determined that there is an operational intention, whether there is a left or right turn intention of the rider from a difference between sensor output values located left-right symmetrically.

It is one object of this invention to provide a technique that is effective in diminishing the range of fluctuation of a load applied to a drive source when a seat main body in a vehicle seat moving apparatus is moved between a raised position and a lowered position.For this purpose, this invention provides a vehicle seat moving apparatus constructed as follows. Provided on a rotation base 31, for rotating a seat main body 10 between a position where it faces the front side of the vehicle and a position where it faces a door opening, is a widthwise slide base 41 that moves horizontally in the vehicle width direction while the seat main body 10 faces the door opening. The seat main body 10 is supported by the slide base 41 via four-bar linkage mechanisms 44. Guide rollers 46 are attached to upper link arms 44a of the four-bar linkage mechanisms 44. The guide rollers 46 are placed on cam surfaces of cam plates 47 provided to the rotation base 31. The cam surfaces have continuously extending inclined guide surfaces 47b that guide such that the guide rollers 46 move obliquely upwards when the widthwise slide base 41 moves.

A seat provided with a seat climbing / descending aid structure, which allows a driver, passenger or physically handicapped person to easily climb onto and descend from the seat. The seat is formed by a seat cushion body forming a seat cushion, and a movable side support member disposed at a side where the driver, passenger or physically handicapped person climbs onto and descends from the seat. The movable side support member are provided separately from the seat cushion body, but arranged therewith in the seat in a manner rotatable to a horizontal use position where its cushion surface is placed on a generally horizontal plane. The seat cushion body is so rotatable as to lower its forward end portion to thereby set the seating surface thereof generally on the same horizontal plane with and generally in registry with the cushion surface of movable side support member set in the horizontal use position, hence allowing the easy climbing and descending of the driver, passenger or physically handicapped person onto and from the seat.

A system for facilitating communication between a vehicle and a user includes a vehicle having a rechargeable battery and a communication and control subsystem. The communication and control subsystem is communicatively coupled to the battery to gather and transmit vehicle information, which may include battery information and a vehicle identifier. The system also includes a charging station having a charging station identifier and an electrical coupling between the charging station, a power source, and the vehicle. The electrical coupling is operable to charge the battery and includes a communicative coupling. The control subsystem is operable to receive communications from the user via the communicative coupling.

The present invention provides a mechanism that can release the rotation lock mechanism without using an actuator.In the present vehicle seat, a nut (73) is moved upon rotation of a screw shaft (72) so that the seat body is moved in the lateral direction of the vehicle. When the nut (73) is moved by a desired distance, a guide roller (69) is pushed so that an operation arm (66) is moved parallel with the guide roller. As a result, a lock plate (64) is rotated in an unlock direction so that a claw (64a) is disengaged from a striker (61).

A four-wheeled vehicle includes a steering mechanism having a bar handle, right and left front wheels, and right and left rear wheels. The vehicle includes a front cover and a windshield disposed in front of the bar handle. The vehicle includes a driver's seat, and a rear passenger seat disposed behind the driver's seat and between the rear wheels. The rear passenger seat is directed forwardly. The vehicle includes a power unit part disposed below the rear passenger seat, and a body cover disposed rearwardly of the driver's seat.

A multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus and method are disclosed. The multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus and method may be realized in primarily two versions, the first being referred to as the single linkage arm version, and the second being referred to as the dual linkage arm version. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus in accordance with the single linkage arm version may be realized as having a first pivot point for rotating an intermediary support member about a first substantially vertical axis, a second pivot point for rotating an electrically or hydraulically powered up / down extension arm about a second substantially vertical axis, and a seat support member for supporting a seat for accommodating at least one person.

A portable transmitter is provided which transmits an operating instruction in the form of a radio wave to a controlled device which continues to operate while receiving the operating instruction. The portable transmitter includes a push switch and a touch sensor. The portable transmitter works to supply the electric power to the touch sensor for a given period of time in response to depression of the push switch. When the touch sensor senses a user's touch thereon, and the push switch is depressed, the portable transmitter transmits the operating instruction to the controlled device and continues such transmission as long as the touch sensor senses the touch thereon regardless of the depression of the push switch. In other words, once the operating instruction has been outputted to the controlled device, the user is required only to touch the touch sensor in order to make the controlled device continue the operation.

The invention relates to a double folding seat for a vehicle, particularly a public transportation vehicle such as a bus or a train, with a bench seat positioned in the direction of travel of the vehicle that has a backrest and a seating surface that can be folded between a home position and a sitting position, with a retaining device for holding a wheelchair or the like that has at least two hooks arranged in extension of the backrest and mounted on a wall supported on a floor of the vehicle, which hooks can be tightened by means of respective tightening members and loosened by respective loosening members, with a safety belt for the wheelchair user and with a covering for the tightening members and loosening members.

A vehicle seat may include a seat main body having a seat cushion, a rotation mechanism that is arranged and constructed to horizontally rotate the seat main body with respect to a vehicle floor, a vertically moving mechanism that is arranged and constructed to vertically move the seat main body while moving the seat main body between vehicle interior and vehicle exterior, and a seat support that is capable of attaching the seat main body to the vertically moving mechanism. A cushion frame of the seat cushion is composed of a pair of longitudinal side frame elements, an anchor frame positioned between the side frame elements and anchor members attached to the anchor frame. The anchor frame is connected to the seat support via reinforcement members.

The invention relates to a double folding seat for a vehicle, particularly a public transportation vehicle such as a bus or a train, with a bench seat positioned in the direction of travel of the vehicle that has a backrest and a seating surface that can be folded between a home position and a sitting position, with a retaining device for holding a wheelchair or the like that has at least two hooks arranged in extension of the backrest and mounted on a wall supported on a floor of the vehicle, which hooks can be tightened by respective tightening members and loosened by respective loosening members, with a safety belt for the wheelchair user and with a covering for the tightening members and loosening members.

A vehicle seat according to the present invention may include a seat cushion that is composed of a stationary cushion portion and a movable cushion portion, in which the movable cushion portion is capable of being tilted so as to be low in a getting in / out side while being raised with respect to the stationary cushion portion, and a cushion tilting mechanism that is disposed under the seat cushion and is configured to tilt the movable cushion portion while raising the same with respect to the stationary cushion portion.

In a swinging apparatus (rotatively moving and swinging apparatus), a swing arm 51 positions a rotatively moving pedestal 45 and a cushion base 51. The swing arm 51 is swung around a driving shaft 60 to swing the cushion base 51, that is, to elevate or lower the cushion base 51 and to move it forward or backward. The cushion base 51 supports a seat portion 30. When the seat is in a forward position in which it is directed toward the front of the vehicle, the swing arm 55 diagonally connects the members 51 and 45 together (Z type). This prevents, in the forward position, the swing arm 55 from extending upward from the cushion base 51 or the rotatively moving pedestal 45 from extending laterally from the seat portion 30. Therefore, the size of the apparatus can be reduced across the width and height.

A multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus and method are disclosed. The multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus and method may be realized in primarily two versions, the first being referred to as the single linkage arm version, and the second being referred to as the dual linkage arm version. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus in accordance with the single linkage arm version may be realized as having a first pivot point for rotating an intermediary support member about a first substantially vertical axis, a second pivot point for rotating an electrically or hydraulically powered up / down extension arm about a second substantially vertical axis, and a seat support member for supporting a seat for accommodating at least one person.

An articulated seating system supports a user seat using a mounting assembly, a fore-aft slide assembly, a swivel assembly and an extension assembly driven by a drive packet having one or more motors or the like. The seat is moved from a secured drive position (e.g., a standard interior vehicle seat position) to an extension position (wherein the seat faces out of a vehicle doorway) and finally to an access position outside the vehicle, facilitating access for a user having limited mobility, strength, etc. Extendible supporting arms engage and enclose guide rollers to allow stable and precise control of lateral and vertical seat movement. Moving between the drive and extension positions, the seat can move through a narrow transition corridor in the motor vehicle. The motors can operate manually to allow securing the seat in the drive position despite power or other failure.

The invention concerns a seat tilt apparatus (3) for an electric wheelchair, which wheelchair comprises a chassis (1) and a seat (2). The seat tilt apparatus comprises; a base member (11), which is fixable to the chassis and provided with at least one first guide slot (16); a seat supporting member (40) which is arranged to supportably receive the seat, movable in relation to the base member and guided by the first guide slot; and a linear drive means (17) which is connected to the base member and to the seat supporting member, for moving the seat supporting member along a motion path, in relation to the base member. The seat supporting member comprises at least one first cam surface (43) facing in a first direction; and the base member comprises at least one first rotational support member (31), said first cam surface being arranged to be in supporting contact with said first rotational support member and formed for altering the angle between the seat supporting member and the base member during movement along a first interval of said motion path. The invention also concerns an electric wheelchair provided with such a seat tilt apparatus.

A compact multi-motion lifting and transferring apparatus and a method of operating same are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the apparatus may comprise an intermediary support member configured to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis, an electrically or hydraulically powered up / down extension arm, a support member for supporting a seat for accommodating at least one person, and a latching mechanism for securing the seat and seat support mechanism in a fully stowed position suitable for traveling in a vehicle.

An electrically actuated lifting and transferring apparatus for assisting disabled persons when entering and exiting a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a horizontal lifting bar disposed longitudinally alongside a seat of the vehicle between the seat and a door opening of the vehicle. The apparatus also comprises an electrical actuator indirectly coupled to the horizontal lifting bar for forcing the horizontal lifting bar between a lowered position directly adjacent and level with the seat and a raised position away from and above the seat. The apparatus further comprises at least one mounting bracket for securing an assembly comprising the horizontal lifting bar and the electrical actuator directly to the seat.

A slide device, comprising first class members having spaces opening to sides formed in the longitudinal directions thereof and second class rail members positioned in the spaces, wherein either of the first and second class rail members movable relative to each other are formed in movable rail members and the other are formed in fixed rail members, the movable rail members are installed at both side parts of slide plates, the slide plates are positioned on brackets parallel with each other, and the movable rail member installed on the slide plate is supported by the fixed rail member installed on the slide plate.

A swivelling assembly comprising a swivel, the swivel comprising a swivel bottom element and a swivel top element rotatable relative thereto; a gear provided with gear teeth along at least a portion thereof, the gear being mounted to the swivel top element; an actuator operatively coupled to the gear teeth for selectively rotating the gear relative to the swivel bottom element; at least one spacer element mounted to the gear and extending away therefrom; and a seat support mounted to the at least one spacer element so as to be spaced apart from the gear, a vehicle seat being mountable to the seat support. The at least one spacer element raises the seat support so that the vehicle seat is above a doorstep when the swivelling assembly is operatively mounted to a vehicle floor and the vehicle seat is operatively mounted to the swivelling assembly.

A vehicle seat lifting unit is provided with a slider and a lift arm assembly that are driven by a drive unit to move a seat with a seat holder between an initial position inside the vehicle occupant compartment and a displaced position outside the vehicle occupant compartment that is lower than the initial position. The lift arm assembly has a pair of arms that cooperate with the slider and the seat holder to form a linkage mechanism. The drive unit moves the slider along the predetermined path between an advance position and a retreat position and causes the first and second arms of the lift arm assembly to selectively swing from backwardly tilted positions to forwardly tilted positions, which in turn selectively shifts the seat between the initial position and the displaced position outside the vehicle occupant compartment that is lower than the initial position.

A detachable wheelchair for the disabled people is provided. The wheelchair is composed of a seat, a right wheel frame, and a left wheel frame. The seat is composed of a seat frame and a seat cushion. Two hollow shafts and one fixing nut are installed on the left-hand and right-hand side of the seat frame respectively. Two positioning shafts and one fixing bolt are arranged on the right and left wheel frame respectively. The positioning shafts on the wheel frames can be inserted into the hollow shafts on the seat frame, and the bolts can be screwed into the nuts. After the left and right wheel frames are fixed firmly onto the seat frame, they are assembled into a wheelchair.

In a vehicle seat that can rotate a seat body between a position where it faces the front side of a vehicle and a position where it faces a door opening and can move the seat body in the lateral direction of the vehicle, an actuator such as an electric motor is conventionally used in order to release a rotation lock mechanism for rotationally locking the seat body. This resulted in high costs. Further, it was necessary to provide a space for providing the cable or the like. As a result, it was difficult to reduce in size of the vehicle seat. The present invention provides a mechanism that can release the rotation lock mechanism without using an actuator. In the present vehicle seat, a nut (73) is moved upon rotation of a screw shaft (72) so that the seat body is moved in the lateral direction of the vehicle. When the nut (73) is moved by a desired distance, a guide roller (69) is pushed so that an operation arm (66) is moved parallel with the guide roller. As a result, a lock plate (64) is rotated in an unlock direction so that a claw (64a) is disengaged from a striker (61).

A swiveling assembly comprising a swivel, the swivel comprising a swivel bottom element and a swivel top element rotatable relative thereto; a gear provided with gear teeth along at least a portion thereof, the gear being mounted to the swivel top element; an actuator operatively coupled to the gear teeth for selectively rotating the gear relative to the swivel bottom element; at least one spacer element mounted to the gear and extending away therefrom; and a seat support mounted to the at least one spacer element so as to be spaced apart from the gear, a vehicle seat being mountable to the seat support. The at least one spacer element raises the seat support so that the vehicle seat is above a doorstep when the swiveling assembly is operatively mounted to a vehicle floor and the vehicle seat is operatively mounted to the swiveling assembly.

A vehicle seat includes a seatback, a seat cushion, and a wheelchair fixing device. The seat cushion is switchable to a tip-up state where the seat cushion has been tipped up so as to extend along the seatback. The seat cushion includes a seating surface and a rear surface that is on the opposite side of the seat cushion from the seating surface. The wheelchair fixing device is provided on the rear surface-side. The wheelchair fixing device is configured to fix a wheelchair to the seat cushion.

A transfer seat base for a vehicle, including a rail frame having rails; a carriage frame positioned to ride along the rails and configured for receipt of a seat mounted thereto; a powered motive mechanism for, upon actuation, longitudinally moving the carriage frame along the rails between a forward driving position and a rearward occupant transfer position; a locking mechanism operable upon cessation of actuation of the motive mechanism to automatically lock the carriage frame against longitudinal movement at various positions between the forward driving position and rearward occupant transfer position.

An arrangement in passenger vehicles, that diverts the impact energy in lateral or side impacts away from the passengers to the remaining mass of the vehicle thereby protecting the passengers, and in the same arrangement provides utilitarian access to the vehicle, such utilitarian access making it possible to both install multi-element contoured surround seats for passengers and the driver, and also a safety device for head-on collision protection that obviates the need for conventional seat belts and front impact airbags. An indo-skeletal structural arrangement proposed for the vehicle, provides further benefits by targeting the strength of the vehicle to protect passengers while minimizing other massive elements in the vehicle.

A seating system has a tiltable seat is coupled to a base, which can be coupled to or part of a motor vehicle or other device. The seat can include a seat bracket coupled to the base by a seat tilt pivot configured to permit limited tilting of the seat relative to the base. The seat also can include a footrest mounted to the seat bracket, a horizontal seat cushion and / or a back support coupled to the seat bracket or cushion. The seat is configured to maintain a user's body in a fixed position during tilting throughout the seat's range of tilt angles. A seat adjustment mechanism allows angular adjustment of the seat relative to the base and locks the seat at a fixed tilt angle relative to the base. In some embodiments the seat tilt pivot, that is the axis about which the seat tilts relative to the base, is located approximately vertically below the center of gravity of a loaded seat, thus reducing the force needed to tilt a loaded seat. By fixing or maintaining the seat tilt pivot nearly or directly vertically beneath the load being pivoted, the loaded seat center of gravity (whether using a static seat tilt pivot or a translating seat tilt pivot), the amount of force needed to control seat tilting through a full range of tilt angles can be limited to forces that a typical user can exert with one or two hands. The seat tilt pivot can be a static seat tilt pivot, where the center of gravity moves in a range of positions above the static seat tilt pivot point, or a translating seat tilt pivot, where the seat tilt pivot point moves generally in concert with the loaded seat center of gravity when a user is seated normally on the seat.