Vehicle seat and method for facilitating access to a vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle seat, a vehicle including the vehicle seat, and a method of facilitating ease of access to the vehicle are provided. A vehicle seat includes: a frame coupled to a floor of a vehicle, the vehicle having front, rear, and oppositely disposed sides; a seatback coupled to the frame and configured to support a back of the individual when the individual is seated on a vehicle seat; and a seat cushion coupled to the frame and configured to support the individual when the individual is seated on a vehicle seat. The seat cushion includes a front portion movably coupled to the frame and a rear portion disposed in a fixed position between the front portion and the seatback. The front portion is configured to selectively move from a driving position to a boarding position by moving the front portion on the frame toward a first side of the vehicle.

Description

[0001] The technical field generally relates to vehicle seats, and more particularly to vehicle seats having a cushion configured to rotate towards the door of the vehicle to facilitate entry into the vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Persons with disabilities or limited mobility may have difficulty getting in and out of a vehicle. For example, those who rely on a wheelchair may find it challenging to move from the wheelchair to the vehicle seat, in part due to the gap between the two.

[0003] Accordingly, there is a desire to provide systems and methods for facilitating entry into a vehicle, particularly for persons with disabilities or limited mobility. Additionally, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing introduction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A method for facilitating entry into a vehicle having a front, a rear, and relatively disposed sides is provided. In one example, the method includes: converting a front portion of a seat cushion of a vehicle seat from a driving position to an entry position, wherein the seat cushion is coupled to a frame and the frame is coupled to a vehicle floor, and wherein converting the front portion includes moving the front portion on the frame towards a first one of the sides of the vehicle; supporting an individual with the front portion of the seat cushion when the individual is sitting on the seat cushion and the front portion is in the entry position; converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position by moving the front portion of the seat cushion away from the first side of the vehicle on the frame; and supporting the individual with the front portion of the seat cushion, a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a seat back of the vehicle seat when the individual is sitting on the seat cushion and the front portion is in the driving position, wherein the rear portion of the vehicle seat is disposed in a fixed position between the front portion of the seat cushion and the seat back.

[0005] In various examples, when the front portion is in the driving position, the front portion of the seat cushion is entirely within the vehicle, and when the front portion is in the entry position, the front portion of the seat cushion is at least partially outside the vehicle.

[0006] In various examples, converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the driving position to the entry position and converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position are both electric processes initiated by actuating a motor switch located on the vehicle seat.

[0007] In various examples, converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the driving position to the entry position and converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position are both electric processes initiated by actuating a button on a remote key of the vehicle.

[0008] In various examples, converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position is performed when the individual is sitting on the front portion.

[0009] In various examples, the method includes: when an individual is sitting on the front part, converting the front part of the seat cushion from a driving position to an entry position; using one or more processors of a controller in the vehicle to determine that the individual is no longer sitting on the front part; and automatically converting the front part of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position.

[0010] In various examples, the method includes: switching a gear system of a vehicle seat from a first arrangement to a second arrangement, the first arrangement being configured to convert the front part of the vehicle seat between a driving position and an entry position, and the second arrangement being configured to adjust the height of the seat cushion relative to the vehicle's floor panel.

[0011] In various examples, converting the front part of the seat cushion from a driving position to an entry position includes moving the front part along a curved travel path on a frame.

[0012] A vehicle seat is provided for facilitating entry into a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle seat includes: a frame coupled to the vehicle's floor panel, the vehicle having a front, a rear, and relatively disposed sides; a seat back coupled to the frame and configured to support an individual's back when the individual is sitting on the vehicle seat; and a seat cushion coupled to the frame and configured to support an individual when the individual is sitting on the vehicle seat. The seat cushion includes a front part movably coupled to the frame and a rear part disposed in a fixed position between the front part and the seat back. The front part is configured to selectively move from a driving position to an entry position by moving the front part on the frame toward a first one of the vehicle's sides.

[0013] In various examples, when the front part is in the driving position, the front part of the seat cushion is configured to be entirely disposed within the vehicle, wherein when the front part is in the entry position, the front part of the seat cushion is configured to be at least partially disposed outside the vehicle.

[0014] In various examples, the vehicle seat includes: an electric gear system configured to move the front part on the frame between a driving position and an entry position; and a motor switch configured to activate the electric gear system.

[0015] In various examples, the vehicle seat includes: an electric gear system configured to move the front part on the frame between a driving position and an entry position; and a vehicle's remote key configured to activate the electric gear system.

[0016] In various examples, when an individual is sitting on the front part, the front part of the seat cushion is configured to be convertible between an entry position and a driving position.

[0017] In various examples, a vehicle seat includes: a sensor configured to sense whether an individual is sitting on a front portion of a seat cushion; and a controller configured by one or more processors to: determine that the individual is sitting on the front portion of the seat cushion when the front portion is transitioning from a driving position to an entry position; determine that the individual is no longer sitting on the front portion when the front portion is in the entry position; and automatically transition the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position.

[0018] In various examples, a vehicle seat includes: an electric gear system configured to operate in a rotational mode to move a front portion on a frame between a driving position and an entry position, and to operate in a height adjustment mode to move the seat cushion toward or away from a floorboard of the vehicle; and a motor switch configured to activate the electric gear system.

[0019] In various examples, the front portion of the seat cushion is configured to transition from a driving position to an entry position by moving on the frame along a curved travel path.

[0020] A vehicle is provided. In one example, the vehicle includes: a body having a passenger compartment defined between a front, a rear, and relatively disposed sides, a floorboard, and a top of the body; at least one door providing access to the passenger compartment of the body; and a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat includes: a frame coupled to the floorboard of the body; a seat back coupled to the frame and configured to support the back of an individual when the individual is sitting on the vehicle seat; and a seat cushion coupled to the frame and configured to support the individual when the individual is sitting on the vehicle seat, and the seat cushion includes: a front portion movably coupled to the frame and a rear portion disposed in a fixed position between the front portion and the seat back; and an electric gear system configured to selectively move the front portion on the frame from a driving position to an entry position by moving the front portion on the frame toward a first side of the sides of the vehicle.

[0021] In various examples, the vehicle includes a motor switch located on the vehicle seat and configured to activate the electric gear system, and a remote key configured to activate the electric gear system.

[0022] In various examples, a vehicle includes: a sensor configured to sense whether an individual is sitting on a front portion of a seat cushion; and a controller configured by one or more processors to: determine that the individual is sitting on the front portion of the seat cushion when the front portion is transitioning from a driving position to an entry position; determine that the individual is no longer sitting on the front portion when the front portion is in the entry position; and automatically transition the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position.

[0023] In various examples, an electric gear system is configured to operate in a rotational mode to move a front portion on a frame between a driving position and an entry position, and to operate in a height adjustment mode to move a seat cushion toward or away from a vehicle floorboard. The vehicle includes a shift switch configured to switch the electric gear system between the rotational mode and the height adjustment mode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to the following drawings, in which like numbers represent like elements, and in which:

[0025] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle including a seat having a cushion configured to rotate;

[0026] Figure 2 and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a seat according to an example Figure 1 wherein its seat cushion is in a driving position and an entry position, respectively;

[0027] Figure 4 and Figure 5 is a top view of a seat according to an example Figures 1 - 3 wherein its seat cushion is in a driving position and an entry position, respectively;

[0028] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a frame of a seat according to an example Figures 1 - 5 thereof;

[0029] Figure 7 is a perspective side view of a panel of a seat according to an example Figures 1 - 5 thereof;

[0030] Figure 8 and Figure 9 include perspective views of a front portion of a seat cushion of a seat according to an example, viewed from above and below, respectively Figures 1 - 5 thereof;

[0031] Figure 10 is a front view of an electric gear system of a seat according to an example Figures 1 - 5 thereof;

[0032] Figure 11 、 Figure 12 、 Figure 13 and Figure 14 include various perspective views of certain components of an electric gear system according to an example Figure 10 thereof; and

[0033] Figure 15 is a flowchart showing a method of facilitating entry into a vehicle according to an example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding introduction or the following detailed description.

[0035] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and use. In addition, there is no intention to be bound by any express or implied theory presented in the preceding introduction or the following detailed description. As used herein, the term module refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic and / or processor device, alone or in any combination, including but not limited to: an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit and / or other suitable components that provide the described functions.

[0036] Examples of the present disclosure may be described herein in terms of functions and / or logic block components and various processing steps. It should be understood that such block components may be implemented by any number of hardware, software and / or firmware components configured to perform a specified function. For example, examples of the present disclosure may employ various integrated circuit components, such as memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, lookup tables, etc., which may perform various functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that examples of the present disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with any number of systems, and the systems described herein are merely examples of the present disclosure.

[0037] For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques related to other functional aspects of signal processing, data transmission, signaling, control, and systems (and the various operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein. In addition, the connecting lines shown in the various figures included herein are intended to represent example functional relationships and / or physical couplings between various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may exist in the examples disclosed herein.

[0038] Figure 1 A vehicle 10 according to an example is shown. In some examples, the vehicle 10 comprises an automobile. In various examples, the vehicle 10 can be any of a number of different types of automobiles, such as, for example, a sedan, a van, a truck, or a sport utility vehicle (SUV), and in some examples can be two-wheel drive (2WD) (i.e., rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive), four-wheel drive (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) and / or various other types of vehicles or mobile platforms.

[0039] like Figure 1As depicted, exemplary vehicle 10 generally includes a chassis 12, a body 14, front wheels 16, and rear wheels 18. The body 14 is disposed on the chassis 12 and substantially encloses the components of the vehicle 10. The body 14 and the chassis 12 may together form a frame. At least one door 60 is provided, which can be opened to provide access to the interior compartment of the vehicle 10 through a door opening. The wheels 16 - 18 are each rotatably coupled to the chassis 12 near a respective corner of the body 14. For convenience, vehicle 10 is referred to herein as having a front, a rear, and relatively - disposed sides.

[0040] Vehicle 10 further includes a propulsion system 20, a transmission system 22, a steering system 24, a sensor system 28, an actuator system 30, at least one data storage device 32, at least one controller 34, and a seat 36. The propulsion system 20 includes an engine and / or a motor 21, such as an internal combustion engine (e.g., an internal combustion engine fueled by gasoline or diesel), an electric motor (e.g., a three - phase AC motor), or a hybrid system including more than one type of engine and / or motor. The transmission system 22 is configured to transfer power from the propulsion system 20 to the wheels 16 - 18 according to selectable speed ratios. According to various examples, the transmission system 22 may include a step - ratio automatic transmission, a continuously variable transmission, or other suitable transmissions. The steering system 24 affects the position of the wheels 16 - 18. Although depicted for illustrative purposes as including a steering wheel 24a, in some examples contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure, the steering system 24 may not include a steering wheel.

[0041] The sensor system 28 includes one or more sensing devices 40a - 40n that sense observable conditions of the external environment, the internal environment, and / or the state or condition of corresponding components of the vehicle 10 and provide such conditions and / or states to other systems of the vehicle 10, such as the controller 34. It should be understood that the vehicle 10 may include any number of sensing devices 40a - 40n. The sensing devices 40a - 40n may include, but are not limited to, current sensors, voltage sensors, temperature sensors, motor speed sensors, position sensors, etc.

[0042] The actuator system 30 includes one or more actuator devices 42a - 42n that control one or more vehicle features, such as but not limited to the propulsion system 20, the transmission system 22, and / or the steering system 24.

[0043] The controller 34 includes at least one processor 33, a communication bus 32, and a computer-readable storage device or medium 35. The processor 33 performs the computing and control functions of the controller 34. The processor 33 can be any custom or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the controller 34, a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chipset), a macroprocessor, any combination thereof, or any device commonly used to execute instructions. For example, the computer-readable storage device or medium 35 can include volatile and non-volatile storage in a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and a keep-alive memory (KAM). The KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that can be used to store various operating variables when the processor 33 is powered off. The computer-readable storage device or medium 35 can be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices, such as a PROM (programmable read-only memory), an EPROM (erasable PROM), an EEPROM (electrically erasable PROM), a flash memory, or any other electrical, magnetic, optical, or combined memory device capable of storing data, some of which represents executable instructions used by the controller 34 in controlling the vehicle 10. The bus 32 is used to transfer programs, data, status, and other information or signals between the various components of the vehicle 10. The bus 32 can be any suitable physical or logical means of connecting computer systems and components. This includes, but is not limited to, direct hardwired connections, fiber optics, infrared, and wireless bus technologies.

[0044] The instructions can include one or more individual programs, each program including an ordered list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. When executed by the processor 33, the instructions receive and process signals from the sensor system 28, perform logic, calculations, methods, and / or algorithms, and generate data based on the logic, calculations, methods, and / or algorithms. Although Figure 1 only one controller 34 is shown, an example of the vehicle 10 can include any number of controllers 34, which communicate via any suitable communication medium or combination of communication media and cooperate to process sensor signals, perform logic, calculations, methods, and / or algorithms, and generate data.

[0045] It will be appreciated that the controller 34 can otherwise be different from Figure 1The example depicted. For example, the controller 34 may be coupled to or otherwise utilize one or more remote computer systems and / or other control systems, such as as part of one or more of the vehicle devices and systems described above. It should be understood that although the example is described in the context of a full-featured computer system, those skilled in the art will recognize that the mechanisms of the present disclosure can be distributed as a program product with one or more types of non-transitory computer-readable signal-bearing media for storing the program and its instructions and effecting its distribution, such as non-transitory computer-readable media that carry the program and contain computer instructions stored therein for causing a computer processor (such as processor 33) to execute and implement the program. Such a program product may take many forms, and the present disclosure applies equally regardless of the specific type of computer-readable signal-bearing media used to effect the distribution. Examples of signal-bearing media include: recordable media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, memory cards, and optical discs, and transmission media such as digital and analog communication links. It should be understood that in some examples cloud-based storage and / or other technologies may also be utilized. Similarly, it should be understood that the computer system of the controller 34 may otherwise be different from Figure 1 the example depicted. For example, the computer system of the controller 34 may be coupled to or otherwise utilize one or more remote computer systems and / or other control systems.

[0046] The seat 36 may include a frame 50 fixed to the floorboard of the vehicle 10, a seat cushion 45 coupled to the frame 50, a seat backrest 48 fixed to the frame 50 at its lower end, and a headrest 54 fixed to the upper end of the seat backrest 48. The seat cushion 45 may be configured to support an occupant sitting thereon, the seat backrest 48 may be configured to support the back of the occupant when the occupant is sitting on the seat cushion 45, and the headrest 54 may be configured to support the head of the occupant. The seat 36 may include systems for providing adjustment of various components of the seat 36, such as for adjusting the height of the seat 36 relative to the floorboard of the vehicle 10, the tilt angle of the seat backrest 48, lumbar support, and the height of the headrest 54 relative to the upper end of the seat backrest 48.

[0047] The seat 36 is configured to facilitate entry into the vehicle 10. For example, an individual may enter the vehicle 10 through a door opening from a position sitting in a wheelchair or otherwise having limited mobility. Specifically, the seat 36 is configured to selectively move at least a portion of the seat cushion 45 toward one side of the vehicle 10 such that the distance between an individual outside the door opening and the moving portion of the seat cushion 45 is reduced.

[0048] Now refer to Figures 2 - 14, presents a non - limiting example of a seat 36 that includes a seat cushion 45 and a seat back 48 each coupled to a frame 50. The seat cushion 45 includes a front portion 44 movably coupled to the frame 50 and a rear portion 46 fixed to the frame 50. The rear portion 46 is disposed between the front portion 44 and the seat back 48. The seat 36 is configured to selectively move the front portion 44 from a driving position to an entry position by moving the front portion 44 on the frame 50 toward a first side of the vehicle 10 (e.g., toward a door opening of the door 60), while the rear portion 46 remains in a fixed position. For example, Figure 2 and Figure 4 shows the front portion 44 in the driving position, and Figure 3 and Figure 5 shows the front portion 44 in the entry position.

[0049] Figure 4 presents that when the front portion 44 is in the driving position, the front portion 44, the rear portion 46, and the seat back 48 are all aligned along a common first central axis 150. In Figure 5 , the rear portion 46 and the seat back 48 still align along the first central axis 150; however, the front portion 44 is disposed toward one side of the vehicle 10 in the entry position, and a second central axis 160 of the front portion 44 is at a non - parallel angle 170 with respect to the first central axis 150. In various examples, when the front portion 44 is in the entry position, the angle 170 can be about 15 to 45 degrees, such as 30 degrees.

[0050] Figures 6 - 9 presents various individual components of the seat 36, including the frame 50 ( Figure 6 ), side panels 52 ( Figure 7 ), and top and bottom views of the front portion 44 of the seat cushion 45 ( Figure 8 and Figure 9 ), respectively. Figure 10 presents a separate front view of an electric gear system configured to move the front portion 44 laterally along the frame 50. Figures 11 - 14 Additional separate views of the components of the electric gear system are presented in

[0051] Generally, the front portion 44 includes a front cushion 66 having a front bracket 68 fixed to its lower part, and the front bracket is configured to move within a guide 64 of the frame 50. The front bracket 68 includes a roller or bearing 70 that contacts the inner surface of the guide 64 and is configured to rotate as the front bracket 68 moves within the guide 64. In various examples, the guide 64 guides the moving front portion 44 along a curved travel path. The movement of the front portion 44 of the seat cushion 45 can be performed by a manual or electric gear system. In this example, the front bracket 68 includes an arcuate or curved surface 110 having teeth (not shown) protruding from its inner surface. The teeth of the curved surface 110 are configured to interlock and cooperate with the teeth (not shown) of an internal gear 108. The internal gear 108 is functionally coupled to the electric gear system by a shaft 106 and a first bevel gear 104.

[0052] The gear system includes a motor 88 coupled to a second bevel gear 84 by a shaft 86. The motor 88 is configured to rotate the shaft 86, thereby rotating the second bevel gear 84. The second bevel gear 84 includes teeth (not shown) that interlock and cooperate with the teeth of the first bevel gear 104. Thus, the rotation of the second bevel gear 84 causes the first bevel gear 104 to rotate, thereby rotating the internal gear 108 and thereby moving the front bracket 68 along the guide 64. The direction of rotation of the shaft 86 determines the direction of movement of the front bracket 68.

[0053] In some examples, the gear system can act only on the lateral (rotational) movement of the front portion 44 of the seat cushion 45. However, in this example, the gear system also has the function of raising and lowering the seat cushion 45 relative to the floor of the vehicle 10. To provide this function, the gear system includes a first height gear 90 coupled to the shaft 86, a second height gear 92 coupled to a second shaft 94, and a height adjustment mechanism 96 coupled to the second shaft 94. The first height gear 90 and the second height gear 92 each include teeth configured to interlock and cooperate. Thus, the rotation of the first height gear 90 causes the second height gear 92 and the second shaft 94 to rotate and operates the height adjustment mechanism 96 to move the seat 36 toward or away from the floor of the vehicle 10. The direction of rotation of the second shaft 94 determines the direction of movement of the seat 36.

[0054] The gear system can include various structures configured to selectively switch between its functions, i.e., the lateral movement of the front portion 44 and the vertical movement of the seat cushion 45. In this example, the gear system includes a constant mesh gear assembly that includes a second bevel gear 84, a first height gear 90, and a shift gear 82 therebetween. The constant mesh gear assembly is configured to selectively transfer rotational power from the shaft 86 to either the second bevel gear 84 or the first height gear 90, while the other of the two remains stationary. To achieve this, the shift gear 82 is configured to move between the second bevel gear 84 or the first height gear 90 and separately contact the second bevel gear 84 or the first height gear 90 to selectively provide rotation thereto via the shaft 86 and the motor 88. That is, the shaft 86 rotates only one of the two depending on which of the second bevel gear 84 and the first height gear 90 contacts the shift gear 82. The shift gear 82 can contact and transfer rotation from the shaft 86 to the second bevel gear 84 or the first height gear 90 in various ways, such as by interlocking teeth or magnetic coupling.

[0055] The position of the shift gear 82 can be adjusted with a gear shift assembly that includes a gear shifter 98 fixed to a third shaft 78 and a spring-operated switch 72 configured to rotate the third shaft 78 180 degrees. The gear shifter 98 includes a projecting member 100 received within a channel 102 of the shift gear 82. The projecting member 100 extends continuously around the circumference of the gear shifter 98 and is angled thereon to be disposed adjacent its first end at a first position thereon and adjacent its second end at a second position thereon opposite the first position. Figure 13 and Figure 14 illustrates the operation of the gear shift assembly. In Figure 13 , the shift gear 82 is in contact with the second bevel gear 84, and the operation of the motor 88 causes the lateral movement of the front portion 44 of the seat cushion 45. The articulation of the switch 72 causes the third shaft 78 to rotate 180 degrees, thereby rotating the gear shifter 98 180 degrees. As the gear shifter 98 rotates, a portion of the projecting member 100 in contact with the shift gear 82 transitions from the first position to the second position and pushes the shift gear 82 away from the second bevel gear 84 and toward the first height gear 90 until contact is made with the first height gear 90, as shown in Figure 14 . In this arrangement, the operation of the motor 88 causes the vertical movement of the seat cushion 45.

[0056] Now refer to Figure 15 and continue to refer to Figures 1 - 14 , according to various examples, a flowchart provides a method 200 for facilitating entry into a vehicle, such as performed by the seat 36. It will be understood in accordance with the present disclosure that the order of operations within the method 200 is not limited to as shown in Figure 15Rather than being performed in the order shown, one or more variations of the order can be performed where applicable and in accordance with the present disclosure. For convenience, method 200 will be described with reference to vehicle 10 and seat 36, but method 200 is not limited to this example.

[0057] In one example, method 200 can begin at 210. At 212, method 200 can include converting a front portion 44 of a seat cushion 45 of vehicle seat 36 from a driving position to an entry position. Converting front portion 44 includes moving front portion 44 along frame 50 toward a first side of vehicle 10. If conversion gear 82 is in a vertical adjustment position, switch 72 can be used to rotate gear shifter 98 and move conversion gear 82 to a lateral adjustment position. Motor switch 74 can be used to activate motor 88 and move front portion 44 along guide 64 from the driving position to the entry position. Alternatively, motor 88 can be activated with a remote device (such as a key fob). In one example, motor 88 can be activated by holding the unlock button of the key fob for a pre-programmed time (such as three to four seconds). In some examples, door 60 must be opened to provide sufficient space for front portion 44 to reach the entry position.

[0058] At 214, method 200 can include supporting an individual with front portion 44 of seat cushion 45 when the individual is sitting on seat cushion 45 and front portion 44 is in the entry position. For example, the individual can move from a seated position in a wheelchair to a seated position on front portion 44. In some examples, the convenience of this operation is facilitated by setting front portion 44 at least partially outside of vehicle 10 when in the entry position.

[0059] At 216, method 200 can include converting front portion 44 of seat cushion 45 from the entry position to the driving position by moving front portion 44 of seat cushion 45 along frame 50 away from the first side of vehicle 10 when the individual is sitting on front portion 44. Similar to 212, motor 88 can be activated by using motor switch 74 or a remote device. In one example, motor 88 is activated by holding the lock button of the key fob for a pre-programmed time (such as three to four seconds).

[0060] At 218, method 200 can include supporting an individual with front portion 44 of seat cushion 45, rear portion 46 of seat cushion 45, and seat back 48 of vehicle seat 36 when the individual is sitting on seat cushion 45 and front portion 44 is in the driving position. Method 200 can end at 220.

[0061] In some examples, certain operations of the seat 36 can be performed automatically in addition to, or as an alternative to, manual control. For example, a user intending to exit the vehicle 10 can manually initiate the transition of the front portion 44 from the driving position to the entry position, for example, by using the motor switch 74. Once in the entry position, the user can move from the front portion 44 to, for example, a wheelchair. In such a case, the controller 34 can determine that the user is no longer sitting on the front portion 44 based on signals received from one or more of the sensing devices 40a - 40n (e.g., pressure sensors) thereby. The controller 34 can then activate the motor 88 or activate one or more of the actuator devices 42a - 42n to activate the motor 88, thereby automatically initiating the transition of the front portion 44 from the entry position to the driving position.

[0062] The systems and methods disclosed herein provide various benefits over certain existing systems and methods. For example, the systems and methods facilitate the convenience of entering a vehicle, especially for disabled persons. Since only a portion of the seat cushion moves, the systems and methods can be implemented with limited components. This can reduce the cost of manufacturing the systems and methods and can have other benefits such as a limited impact on the space within the vehicle and a limited or no impact on adjacent systems and components.

[0063] Although at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be understood that there are numerous variations. It should also be understood that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit in any way the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure. Instead, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient roadmap for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made to the functions and arrangements of the elements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating entry into a vehicle, the vehicle having a front, a rear, and opposing sides, the method comprising: converting a front portion of a seat cushion of a vehicle seat from a driving position to an entry position, wherein the seat cushion is coupled to a frame and the frame is coupled to a floor of the vehicle, and wherein converting the front portion includes moving the front portion on the frame toward a first one of the sides of the vehicle; supporting an individual with the front portion of the seat cushion when the individual is sitting on the seat cushion and when the front portion is in the entry position; converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position by moving the front portion of the seat cushion away from the first side of the vehicle on the frame; and supporting the individual with the front portion of the seat cushion, a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a seat back of the vehicle seat when the individual is sitting on the seat cushion and when the front portion is in the driving position, wherein the rear portion of the vehicle seat is disposed in a fixed position between the front portion of the seat cushion and the seat back.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein When the front portion is in the driving position, the front portion of the seat cushion is entirely within the vehicle, and when the front portion is in the entry position, the front portion of the seat cushion is at least partially outside the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the driving position to the entry position and converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position are both electric processes initiated by actuating a motor switch located on the vehicle seat or by actuating a button on a remote key of the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the driving position to the entry position when the individual is sitting on the front portion; determining, by one or more processors of a controller on the vehicle, that the individual is no longer sitting on the front portion; and and automatically converting the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising switching a gear system of the vehicle seat from a first arrangement configured to convert the front portion of the vehicle seat between the driving position and the entry position to a second arrangement configured to adjust a height of the seat cushion relative to the floor of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle seat, comprising: a frame coupled to a floor of a vehicle, the vehicle having a front, a rear, and opposing sides; a seat back coupled to the frame and configured to support a back of an individual when the individual is sitting on the vehicle seat; and A seat cushion, coupled to the frame and configured to support an individual when the individual is seated on the vehicle seat, wherein the seat cushion includes a front portion movably coupled to the frame and a rear portion disposed at a fixed position between the front portion and the seat back, and wherein the front portion is configured to selectively move from a driving position to an entry position by moving the front portion on the frame toward a first side of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein, When the front portion is in the driving position, the front portion of the seat cushion is configured to be fully disposed within the vehicle, and when the front portion is in the entry position, the front portion of the seat cushion is configured to be at least partially disposed outside the vehicle.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, further comprising: An electric gear system configured to move the front portion on the frame between the driving position and the entry position; A motor switch configured to activate the electric gear system; And A remote key of the vehicle configured to activate the electric gear system.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, further comprising: A sensor configured to sense whether the individual is seated on the front portion of the seat cushion; And A controller configured by one or more processors to: Determine that the individual is seated on the front portion of the seat cushion when the front portion is switched from the driving position to the entry position; Determine that the individual is no longer seated on the front portion when the front portion is in the entry position; And Automatically switch the front portion of the seat cushion from the entry position to the driving position.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, further comprising: An electric gear system configured to operate in a rotational mode to move the front portion on the frame between the driving position and the entry position, and to operate in a height adjustment mode to move the seat cushion toward or away from the floor of the vehicle; And A motor switch configured to activate the electric gear system.

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