SE540792C2 - Wheelchair-to-vehicle access system with a detachable vehicle seat and a method of using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) with detachable vehicle seat for transferring a physically impaired person between a wheel chair and a vehicle seat is disclosed, said wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) comprisinga detachable vehicle seat assembly (110), a wheel frame assembly (130) and a vehicle access assembly (150). The detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) comprises one or more slider members (118) for sliding transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) between the wheel frame assembly (130) and the vehicle access assembly (150). The wheel frame assembly (130) comprises docking receiving means (142) for docking to the vehicle access assembly (130), and wheel frame slider receiving means (139, 140) configured to receive the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110). The vehicle access assembly (150) comprises docking means (194) for docking to the wheel frame assembly (130), and vehicle access slider receiving means (192, 193) configured to receive the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110). Furthermore the vehicle access assembly (110) comprises a seat receiving pan (190) having a seat axis S, said seat receiving pan (190) is provided with said docking means (194) and said vehicle access slider receiving means (192, 193), and is slidable in the S direction.

Description

WHEELCHAIR-TO-VEHICLE ACCESS SYSTEM WITH A DETACHABLE VEHICLE SEAT AND A METHOD FOR USING THE SAME TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a wheelchair-to-vehicle access system with a detachable vehicle seat to facilitate transfer of a physically impaired person between a wheelchair and a vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Transferring a physically disabled person from a wheelchair into a seat of a motor vehicle may be cumbersome operation. In order to facilitate the entry of physically disabled persons into a motor vehicle, motor vehicles may be fitted with seats, seating assemblies, seating structures, etc. (referred to collectively at times herein as "seating systems") either originally installed or retrofitted to address mobility and other issues for drivers and passengers. A common and simple solution in earlier systems is based on two subsystems or members including a lower base attached in a fixed position to the motor vehicle floor pan and a top base (with an attached user seat) attached to the lower base via a swivel, allowing the top base to rotate outward or inward relative to the motor vehicle to facilitate ingress and egress. Such a solution can be manually operated (e.g. with a lever or the like), but also can be powered and operated by a switch, a pendant or the like.

Another solution is based on integrated movement of three sub-systems or members, including a lower base fixed to the motor vehicle floor pan. A middle base is attached to the lower base via rails, and allows forward linear movement parallel to a motor vehicle longitudinal axis during outward rotation of the user seat and rearward linear movement parallel to the motor vehicle longitudinal axis during inward rotation of the user seat to improve the occupant's rotation position relative to the B-pillar of the motor vehicle. A top base (with an attached user seat) is attached to the middle base via a swivel, allowing the top base to rotate outward or inward relative to the motor vehicle for ingress and egress. This 3-member solution can be manually operated (e.g., with a lever or the like), or can be powered.

Limitations with two-member and/or three-member swivel solutions is that they often increase the height hence limiting the head distance relative to the roof line and sometimes the vehicle seat is positioned outside the vehicle manufacturers boundaries for crashworthiness. To compensate for this issue it is common to replace the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicle seat with a low profile aftermarket seat to reduce the increased sitting height.

The patent US 8,936,295 and the patent applications WO2015/184267 and US2016/0016489 disclose examples of such two- or three-membered rotation/sliding mechanisms which facilitate entry of a physically disabled person to a motor vehicle. However all of them are electrically powered which add to height and width when such seating systems are fitted in vehicles.

Furthermore, under certain circumstances it may not be possible for the physically disabled person to actually transfer themselves between the wheelchair seat and the vehicle seat. One solution may be to use vehicles such as vans, small buses, and ambulances equipped with tail lift mechanisms which enable wheelchairs to be lifted and driven into the back of the vehicle. The advantage of this solution is that the wheelchair occupant can enter or leave the car without having to get out of the wheelchair. But such mechanisms are cumbersome and unsuited for use in a normal family-sized car.

The direct transfer of a physically disabled person from a wheelchair to a vehicle is disclosed in JP 200498845 which describes a wheelchair-to-vehicle access system comprising a revolving two-part platform inside a vehicle together with a two-part wheelchair constituted by a wheel chassis and a detachable seat portion. The revolving platform onto which the seat portion can be fitted is used to revolve the seat from a frontfacing position inside the vehicle to a door-facing position. In the door-facing position the seat portion can be removed out of the vehicle or combined with the wheel chassis to form a wheelchair. The seat portion is transferred between the revolving platform inside the vehicle and the wheel chassis on sliding tracks into which the seat portion slides. The advantage with this system is that the person occupying the seat may remain seated throughout the entire transfer between the wheelchair and the vehicle.

When the vehicle seat is rotated outward or inward it is critical to provide as much knee room as possible for the physically disabled person, such as those with limited mobility. In earlier solutions the revolving platform onto which the seat portion is fitted, is provided with sliding tracks onto which the seat portion slides during transfer from the swivel base to the wheelchair chassis. In order for the vehicle seat to be able to reach far enough outside the vehicle door opening to reach the wheelchair chassis, the sliding tracks reach far beyond the front edge of the seat. These sliding tracks are a hindrance to the user as they will limit the leg room to the sides when the user is occupying the seat. Protruding sliding tracks may also prevent the vehicle seat to slide forward within the vehicle compartment when the vehicle seat is in the drive position.

It has therefore been an object of the inventors to optimize current seating systems available on the market to enable a smooth and simple transfer of physically impaired persons between a vehicle seat and wheelchair seat. A further object of the invented system has been to reduce the total size of such a seating system. This means decreasing the volume of the seating system in all three dimensions (height, width, and length) in order to be able to fit the seating system also in ordinary sized private cars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention relates to a wheelchair-to-vehicle access system with a detachable vehicle seat, said system comprising a detachable vehicle seat assembly; a wheel frame assembly; and a vehicle access assembly. The detachable vehicle seat assembly comprises one or more slider members for sliding transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly between the wheel frame assembly and the vehicle access assembly. The wheel frame assembly comprises docking receiving means for docking to the vehicle access assembly, and wheel frame slider receiving means configured to receive the detachable vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle access assembly comprises docking means for docking to the wheel frame assembly and vehicle access slider receiving means configured to receive the detachable vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle access assembly comprises a seat receiving pan having a seat axis S, said seat receiving pan is provided with said docking means and vehicle access slider receiving means, and is slidable in the S direction.

The detachable vehicle seat assembly comprises a vehicle seat including a cushioned seat, a backrest and optionally a head rest. The detachable vehicle seat assembly as disclosed herein fulfills all vehicle manufacturers’ requirements for crashworthiness when coupled to the vehicle access assembly and positioned in a drive position in the motor vehicle interior.

The wheel frame assembly corresponds to a wheelchair but without a seat portion, comprising at least two larger wheels, at least two smaller castor wheels and a brake system.

The vehicle access assembly is installed in a motor vehicle interior on either a driver’s side or a passenger side of the motor vehicle. The vehicle access assembly is configured to move the detachable vehicle seat assembly between an internal drive position inside the motor vehicle and the docking position position generally lateral to the drive position and at the outside of the motor vehicle, using multiple axis movements as the detachable vehicle seat assembly is rotated and moved linearly simultaneously.

The advantage of the vehicle access assembly as disclosed herein is that it may be installed in cars of almost any size as its design is very compact in height, width and length. The compactness also enables the detachable vehicle seat assembly to be installed in the drive position within the motor vehicle manufacturers’ boundaries for crashworthiness.

When installed in a motor vehicle the vehicle access assembly may be viewed as a stack of assemblies that includes from the lowermost to the uppermost a mounting assembly, a fore-aft assembly, a swivel assembly and a seat receiving pan.

In the vehicle access assembly the lowermost assembly of the stack is a vehicle mounting assembly configured to be affixed to a motor vehicle floor at an internal seat position adjacent to a motor vehicle door, said vehicle mounting assembly comprising an adapter plate having a longitudinal axis A extending parallel to the longitudinal direction L of a motor vehicle. The adapter plate A axis is static.

The vehicle access assembly further comprises a fore-aft slide assembly slidably coupled to the adapter plate. Said fore-aft slide assembly is configured to move the detachable vehicle seat assembly linearly relative to the adapter plate and parallel with the adapter plate A axis. The fore-aft assembly moves in the fore and aft direction in parallel with the car longitudinal axis L. This first linear movement of the fore-aft assembly relative to the adaptor plate, positions the rotation mechanism of the vehicle access system to begin rotation of the detachable vehicle seat assembly toward the vehicle door between an “A”-pillar and a “B”-pillar of the motor vehicle.

The next assembly in the vehicle access assembly stack is a swivel assembly mounted to and configured to swivel the detachable vehicle seat assembly relative to the fore-aft slide assembly. The swivel assembly comprises an over-plate and an off-center swivel mechanism mounted to the over-plate and rotatably engages the fore-aft slide assembly.

The swivel post engages the fore-aft assembly and controls rotation of the detachable vehicle seat assembly relative to the adapter plate axis A to pivot the detachable vehicle seat assembly around the B-pillar towards the vehicle door such that the seat receiving pan axis S ends up perpendicular to the adapter plate axis A.

The vehicle access assembly further comprises a seat receiving pan slidably coupled to the over plate of the swivel assembly. The seat receiving pan is configured to move linearly and slidably in the direction parallel to the axis S and relative to the over-plate. When the swivel assembly starts to rotate the detachable vehicle seat assembly towards the vehicle door, the seat receiving pan may first slide along the axis S to a retracted position to increase leg room for a vehicle seat occupant.

After the swivel assembly has completed the rotation of the detachable seat access assembly such that the axis S is generally perpendicular to the adapter plate axis A and the detachable vehicle assembly is facing the vehicle door opening, the seat receiving pan is slidably moved in a linear fashion along the S axis to an extended position such that the detachable vehicle seat assembly reaches outside the vehicle door opening to enable docking of the vehicle access assembly to the wheel frame assembly.

Advantageously the fore-aft slide assembly is coupled to and slidably engaged in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the adapter plate by means of a pair of first linear sliding members. The first linear sliding members enable a sliding and linear movement of said for-aft assembly relative to said adapter plate in a backward and forward direction parallel to the A axis of the adapter plate.

Furthermore, said fore-aft slide assembly is rotatably coupled to the swivel assembly by means of the off-center swivel mechanism. Said swivel mechanism enables rotation of the vehicle seat assembly relative the adapter plate A axis and the for-aft assembly.

The seat receiving pan is coupled to the over plate of the swivel assembly and is slidably engaged thereto parallel to the longitudinal axis S of the seat receiving pan by means of a pair of second linear sliding members. The second linear sliding members enable a sliding and linear movement of said seat receiving pan relative to said over plate of the swivel assembly in a backward and forward direction parallel to the S axis of the seat receiving pan.

Advantageously said first and second pairs of linear sliding members are linear guiding rails, or ball bearing slides. Use of linear guiding rails or ball bearing slides to enable the sliding motion between the adapter plate and the fore-aft assembly (first linear sliding members) and between the over-plate of the swivel assembly and the seat receiving pan (second sliding members), reduces the total height and width of the vehicle access assembly considerably compared to earlier solutions of similar rotatable seating systems. A reduction in total height of as little as a few centimeters may enable the vehicle access assembly to be mounted in an even smaller sized car.

The detachable vehicle seat assembly is advantageously detachably coupled to either the seat receiving pan or the wheel frame assembly. Transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly between the vehicle access assembly and the wheel frame assembly is accomplished by means of slider members arranged on the detachable vehicle seat assembly and slider receiving means arranged on the vehicle access assembly and wheel frame assembly respectively.

Advantageously the vehicle access slider receiving means is a pair of seat receiving pan side wall channels, each seat receiving pan side wall channel is mounted to a lateral side on an upper surface of the seat receiving pan and configured to inter-engage with one or more slider members arranged on the detachable vehicle seat assembly.

The wheel frame slider receiving means is a pair of wheel frame side wall channels, wherein each wheel frame side wall channel is mounted to a lateral side of the detachable vehicle seat assembly and configured to inter-engage with one or more slider members on the detachable vehicle seat assembly.

The slider members arranged to each lateral side of the detachable vehicle seat assembly is one or more pairs of roller sliders configured to inter-engage with said vehicle access slider receiving means arranged on the seat receiving pan and/or with said wheel frame slider receiving means arranged on the wheel frame assembly The slider members arranged to each lateral side of the detachable vehicle seat assembly is one or more pairs of roller sliders configured to inter-engage with said seat receiving side wall channels arranged on the seat receiving pan and/or with said wheel frame side edge wall channels arranged on the wheel frame assembly Advantageously said slider members are integrated with the vehicle seat assembly.

Integration of the coupling means with the vehicle seat assembly lowers the sitting height of the detachable vehicle seat assembly considerably compared to known rotatable seating systems. Known seating systems have sliding systems comprising brackets for sliding rails as well as electrical motors to power the seating system that are fitted to the underside of the vehicle seat, thereby adding to the total height and width of the seating system.

Docking of the wheel frame assembly to the vehicle access system during transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly between the vehicle seat assembly and the wheel frame assembly is enabled by means of docking means arranged on the vehicle access assembly which inter-engages with docking receiving means arranged on the wheel frame assembly.

Advantageously the docking receiving means is a pair of docking recesses arranged on the wheel frame assembly, and the docking means is a pair of docking knobs arranged on the vehicle access assembly. The docking knobs are configured to inter-engage with said pair of docking recesses arranged on the wheel frame assembly.

When the detachable vehicle seat assembly is coupled to either the vehicle access assembly or the wheel frame assembly, it is secured thereto by means of a locking arrangement. The locking arrangement prevents the detachable vehicle seat assembly from accidently becoming detached from the vehicle access assembly or the wheel frame assembly during use. Said locking mechanism arrangement comprises a vehicle seat assembly locking mechanism arranged on the detachable vehicle seat assembly for locking the detachable vehicle seat assembly to the wheel frame assembly or the vehicle access assembly.

The locking mechanism arrangement further comprises locking receiving mechanisms arranged on the vehicle access assembly and on the wheel frame assembly for locking said vehicle seat assembly to the vehicle access assembly or the wheel frame assembly respectively.

The fore-aft assembly, swivel assembly and the seat receiving pan are configured to move the detachable vehicle seat assembly between an internal drive position and a docking position generally lateral to the drive position and outside the motor vehicle door.

The fore-aft assembly, the swivel assembly and the seat receiving pan are configured to move the detachable vehicle seat assembly between the internal drive position and the docking position generally lateral to the drive position and outside the motor vehicle door using multiple axis movements as the detachable vehicle seat assembly is rotated and moved linearly parallel to one or two axes, including axis S that changes orientation relative to axis A as the detachable vehicle seat assembly s rotated using the swivel assembly.

The fore-aft assembly is mounted to the adapter plate to allow linear movement parallel to the adapter plate A axis using first linear sliding members to positon the detachable vehicle seat assembly prior to starting rotation of the detachable vehicle seat assembly. The seat receiving pan is mounted to the fore-aft assembly via a swivel assembly that allows controlled rotation of the detachable vehicle seat assembly. The seat receiving pan engages the swivel assembly employing second linear sliding members to permit linear movement of the detachable vehicle seat assembly parallel to the seat receiving pan axis S that pivots as the swivel assembly rotates the detachable vehicle seat assembly towards the motor vehicle door.

The movement of the detachable vehicle seat assembly between an internal drive position and an docking position generally lateral to the drive position is performed manually by actuating a sliding /rotation actuating member. The sliding/rotation movement of the foreaft assembly, the swivel assembly and the seat receiving pan are advantageously operated manually, but may also be operated by means of one or more motors or the like, wherein such motors coordinate movement of the vehicle access assembly together with the detachable vehicle seat assembly to increase leg room for a seat occupant when moving the detachable vehicle seat assembly from a drive position to a access position and thereafter to the outside the vehicle door opening to facilitate docking of the detachable vehicle seat assembly to the wheel frame assembly.

The seat receiving pan is slidably repositioned relative to the over-plate along the S axis direction by actuating a seat position lever. Said seat position lever locks said seat receiving pan in an extended position, a retracted position or in one or more intermediate positions.

The present invention also relates to a method for moving a detachable vehicle seat assembly from a secured drive position inside a motor vehicle, to a position in which the detachable vehicle seat assembly is coupled to a wheel frame assembly located exterior to the motor vehicle, the method comprising: - releasing a sliding /rotation actuation member from a locked position; and - moving a fore-aft assembly, together with a swivel assembly, a seat receiving pan and said detachable vehicle seat assembly from the secured drive position and in a linear movement relative to an adapter plate of a mounting assembly secured to the motor vehicle interior, said linear movement is parallel to a longitudinal axis A of an adapter plate, while - simultaneously rotating said swivel assembly, together with the seat receiving pan and the detachable vehicle seat assembly laterally to a position wherein a seat axis S of the seat receiving pan is oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the adapter plate; and - securing the sliding /rotation actuation member into a locked position; and - releasing a seat position lever; and - linearly moving said seat receiving pan with the detachable vehicle seat assembly parallel to the seat axis S and in relation to said swivel assembly into an extended position exterior to the motor vehicle; and - locking said seat receiving pan with the vehicle seat assembly in an extended position; and - aligning and joining a docking receiving means arranged on the wheel frame assembly to docking means arranged on the seat receiving pan; and - releasing a locking mechanism arrangement which locks said detachable vehicle access assembly to the vehicle access assembly; and - sliding said detachable vehicle seat assembly from said seat receiving pan onto the wheel frame assembly; and - actuating a locking mechanism arrangement between said detachable vehicle seat assembly and said wheel frame assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an overview of the wheelchair-to-vehicle access system with a detachable vehicle seat.

Figure 2 is a view of the detachable vehicle seat assembly.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the different component assemblies in the vehicle access assembly.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the mounting assembly and the fore-aft assembly when mounted in a vehicle.

Figure 5 is a view of the vehicle access assembly.

Figures 6a-f illustrate the linear and rotational movements of the detachable vehicle seat assembly as executed by the vehicle access assembly from a drive position inside the motor vehicle to a docking position on the outside of the motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying set of drawings that form a part of the description hereof and in which are shown by way of illustration several specific implementations of the invention. It is to be understood that other implementations are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Certain terms are used throughout the description and the claims that, while for the most part are well known, may require some explanation. It should be understood that, as used herein: It should be noted that the word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed and the words “a” or “an” preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims.

The term “motor vehicle” when used herein is intended to include cars, buses, off-road vehicles, light trucks and regular trucks.

When used herein the vehicle seat assembly is considered to be in the “drive position” or “internal drive position” when it is located in the interior of the motor vehicle and in a locked position that permits normal operation of the motor vehicle, whether this is in on the driver’s side or on the passenger side of the vehicle, in which the vehicle seat assembly is in a generally forward-facing orientation in the motor vehicle seat location.

When used herein the vehicle seat assembly is considered to be in the “access position” or “door facing position” when it is located generally lateral to the drive position and in which the generally forward-facing orientation of the detachable vehicle seat assembly is directed towards the vehicle door opening. The detachable vehicle seat may also extend at least partially outside the motor vehicle when it is in the access position. In the access position or door facing position, the S axis of the seat receiving pan is approximately 90° (or another angle relative to the mounting assembly and the A axis of the adapter plate), and a seat user occupying a vehicle seat assembly faces the vehicle door opening.

When used herein the vehicle seat assembly is considered to be in the “docking position” when the seat receiving pan with the detachable vehicle seat assembly is in the fully extended position outside the motor vehicle door and alignment and docking of the wheel frame assembly is enabled.

Figure 1 is a view of the complete wheelchair-to-vehicle access system 100 with a detachable vehicle seat for facilitating transfer for a physically impaired person between a wheelchair and a vehicle seat inside a motor vehicle. The system comprises a detachable vehicle seat assembly 110, a wheel frame assembly 130 and a vehicle access assembly 150. In this view the detachable vehicle seat 110 is coupled to the wheel frame assembly 130 and the wheel frame assembly 130 is docked to the vehicle access assembly 150. The detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 may be transferred between the wheel frame assembly 130 and the vehicle access assembly 150 in a sliding motion (see arrow in figure 1) which is simple and effortless also for a caretaker aiding the physically impaired person in the transfer.

The detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 comprises a generally horizontal cushioned seat 111 upon which a person may be supported in a sitting position. A backrest 112 and optionally a head rest 113 are mounted thereto. The detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 has a front facing end 114, a rear-facing end 115, a first and a second lateral side 116, 117.

The detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 is further provided with slider members 118 configured to enable the sliding transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 between the wheel frame assembly 130 and the vehicle access assembly 150.

Advantageously said slider members 118 is one or more pairs of roller sliders 118 mounted to the lower part of each of the first and second lateral sides of the detachable vehicle seat assembly (see figure 2). Said slider members are configured to inter-engage with slider receiving means 139, 140, 192,193 arranged on the wheel frame assembly 130 and vehicle access assembly 150 respectively. The slider members 118 are integrated with the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110. This means that the slider members 118 are attached directly onto the lower parts on each of the first and second lateral sides 116, 117 on the horizontal seat cushion 111. This integrated design of the slider members 118 will only add an insignificant height to the total height of the vehicle seat assembly 110.

The detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 further comprises a locking mechanism 119 for locking the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 to the wheel frame assembly 130 or the vehicle access assembly 150 in a secure locking arrangement. The locking mechanism 119 is in this implementation illustrated as a spring-loaded pin 119 which may by means of a lock actuating mechanism 120 (not shown) be retracted from or alternatively ejected into a lock receiving means 148,151 arranged on the wheel frame assembly 130 and the vehicle access assembly 150 respectively. Retraction of the locking mechanism 119 from a lock receiving means 148,151 will unlock the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 from the wheel frame assembly 130 or the vehicle access assembly 150. Ejection of the locking mechanism 119 into a lock receiving means 148,151 will lock the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 to the wheel frame assembly 130 or the vehicle access assembly 150.

The wheel frame assembly broadly designed as 130 in the drawings comprises a pair of laterally spaced fore and-aft extending subframe structures 131, 132 which are interconnected by a plurality of laterally extending crossbars 133. The subframe structures 131, 132 as well as the crossbars 133 comprise a lattice of metal tubing sections attached to one another by suitable means such as e.g. welding. The wheel frame assembly 130 has a wheel frame front-facing end 134 and a wheel frame rear-facing end 135.

A pair of rear drive wheels 136 and a pair of relatively smaller front castor wheels 137 provide mobility to the wheel frame assembly 130. The front castor wheels 137 are allowed to swing freely about a general vertical axis so that the wheelchair may be turned from side to side. Extending from the front-facing end 134 of the wheel frame assembly 130 is a pair of detachable footrests 138 which serve to support a user’s feet off the ground during transport. The wheel frame assembly also comprises a height adjusting member 149 such as e.g. a crank for adjusting the height of the wheel frame assembly during alignment of the wheel frame assembly to the vehicle access assembly in the docking position, The wheel frame assembly 130 further comprises a pair of wheel frame slider receiving means 139, 140 for enabling a sliding transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 between the wheel frame assembly 130 and the vehicle access assembly 150. In the illustrated embodiment the wheel frame slider receiving means 139, 140 is a pair of wheel frame linear rail guides or wheel frame side wall channels (which in this implementation are edges of subframe supporting plates 141 that are bent or formed to create channels) fixed to the upper sides of the wheel frame fore and-aft extending subframe structures 131, 132. Said wheel frame side wall channels 139, 140 extend from the wheel frame rear-facing end 135 of the two fore and-aft extending subframe structures 131, 132 towards the front-facing end 134.

Slider members 118 arranged on each of the first and second lateral sides 116, 117 of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 are configured to inter-engage with said wheel frame slider receiving means 139, 140. In the illustrated implementation the slider members 118 are one or more pairs of roller bearings 118. Said roller bearings 118 will engage with said wheel frame slider receiving means 139, 140 enabling a low-friction sliding motion of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 during its transfer between the wheel frame assembly 130 and the vehicle access assembly 150.

The wheel frame assembly 130 also comprises a docking receiving means 142 configured to firmly dock to docking means 194 arranged on the vehicle access assembly 150 during transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 between the wheel frame assembly 130 and the vehicle access assembly 150. In this disclosure the docking receiving means 142 are a pair of docking recesses 143 configured to receive docking means 194 arranged on the vehicle access assembly 150.

The docking receiving means 142 are arranged on the wheel frame rear-facing ends 135 of each fore and-aft extending subframe structures 131, 132 and may be implemented as vertical guide plates 144 having an outwardly facing side 145 and an inwardly facing side 146 (see Figure 6e and insert of 6e). The inwardly facing side 146 is provided with a docking recess 143 into which the docking means 194 will fit. Fan-shaped guiding tracks 147 are arranged to the inwardly facing side 146 of the vertical guide plate 144 that will steer or guide the docking means 194 to the docking recess 143. The vertical plate 144 is advantageously made from a material which is slightly flexible such that when docking means 194 (e.g. docking knobs) arranged on the vehicle access assembly 150 are aligned with the vertical guide plates 144, the docking means 194 will be guided by the fan-shaped guiding tracks 147 and press the slightly flexible vertical docking plate 144 outwardly. Once the docking means 194 reach the docking recess 143 the vertical guide plate 144 will flex back and the docking means 194 will be safely retained in the docking recesses 143.

The wheel frame assembly further comprises wheel frame lock receiving means 148 configured to receive locking means 119 arranged on the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110. In the implementation illustrated in figures 6e and f the wheel frame lock receiving means 148 are openings arranged on the lateral sides of each fore-and aft extending subframe structures 131,132.

The locking mechanism (e.g. a spring-loaded pin 119) which may by means of a lock actuating mechanism 120 be retracted from or alternatively ejected into the lock receiving means 148 arranged on the wheel frame assembly 130. Retraction of the locking mechanism 119 from the lock receiving means 148 will unlock the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 from the wheel frame assembly. Ejection of the locking mechanism 119 into the lock receiving means 148 will lock the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 to the wheel frame assembly 130.

Turning now to figures 3, 4, 5, 6a-f, the wheelchair-to-vehicle access system 100 further comprises a vehicle access assembly 150 which is installed in a motor vehicle interior on either a driver’s side or a passenger side of the motor vehicle 101. The vehicle access assembly 150 can when installed in a motor vehicle, be viewed as a "stack" of assemblies that can include, from lowermost to uppermost, a mounting assembly 160, a fore-aft slide assembly 170, a swivel assembly 180 and a seat receiving pan 190 (see figure 3).

The mounting assembly 160 is configured to be secured to a motor vehicle interior in approximately the same location as an OEM motor vehicle seat. As shown in figure 4, mounting assembly 160 has an adapter plate 161 configured to be affixed to a motor vehicle internal seat position adjacent to a motor vehicle door 102 (e.g., being bolted to the motor vehicle chassis or secured in some other appropriate fashion and/or at other appropriate attachment points or structures). The mounting assembly 160 is mounted generally parallel to the motor vehicle longitudinal axis L and includes an adapter plate 161 having a longitudinal axis A which is generally parallel to the motor vehicle longitudinal axis L. The adapter plate is firmly fixed to the motor vehicle floor (see figure 4).

The adapter plate may include a crush zone (not shown) that is configured to absorb kinetic energy (and/or other forces) applied when a motor vehicle in which detachable vehicle seat assembly is mounted stops suddenly or otherwise generates forces that affect the mounting of adapter plate to the motor vehicle. The crush zone can be created using laser cutting of the plate, and/or in other ways known to those skilled in the art.

The adapter plate 161 is provided with a generally parallel first linear sliding members 162, 163 (as seen in Figures 3 and 4) mounted to each lateral side of adapter plate 164, 165. These lateral first linear sliding members 162, 163 allow and guide the fore-aft slide assembly 170 to move linearly parallel to adapter plate axis A (which is parallel to the longitudinal motor vehicle axis L), as indicated by arrow 129 in Figure 4. Mounting assembly 160 with the adapter plate 161 serves as the base from which the other assemblies operate - the relative positioning and components of the assemblies can be seen in the cross-sectional views of Figures 3 and 4.

The fore-aft slide assembly 170 is configured to move the vehicle seat assembly 110 linearly forward and backward relative to the mounting assembly 160 and relative to the front and back of a motor vehicle in which the assembly is mounted (see Figure 6a). The fore-aft assembly 170 moves parallel to a static axis (e.g., adapter plate axis A) and relative to the fixed mounting assembly 160 to establish the initial rotation position relative to the B-pillar 103, as the fore-aft assembly 170 slides the swivel assembly 180 of the vehicle seat assembly 110 into position to begin rotation of the vehicle seat assembly 110 away from the vehicle's central transmission tunnel and toward the vehicle door opening 102 (between the A-pillar 104 and the B-pillar 103).

The first linear sliding members 162, 163 provided on the adapter plate 161 coupled to the underside of the fore-aft assembly 170 allow the fore-aft assembly 170 to slide with a lowfriction linear sliding translation as it moves fore and aft relative to the adapter plate 161 during operation. In the illustrated implementation the first linear sliding members 162, 163 are linear ball bearing slides (see Figure 4).

Swivel assembly 180 is mounted atop said fore-aft slide assembly 170 (see Figure 3) and configured to rotate the vehicle seat assembly 110 relative to the fore-aft slide assembly 170 using an off-center swivel mechanism 171 (see Figure 6b). The vehicle seat assembly 110 is rotated from a secured drive position to a vehicle access position (door facing position) as seen in Figures 6a-c).

The swivel assembly 180 comprises an over-plate 182 affixed to a weldment or the like. As seen in Figure 3, a swivel mechanism 181 such as a swivel post or other similar structure is coupled between the fore-aft assembly 170 and the over plate 182. The swivel mechanism 181 is coupled to the underside of over-plate. However in the Figures 3, 4 and 6a the swivel mechanism is shown as coupled to the fore-aft assembly for illustration purposes. The swivel mechanism 181 permits controlled rotation of the swivel assembly 180 together with the seat receiving pan 190 and the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 relative to the fore-aft slide assembly 170. The swivel assembly 180 also includes a pair of second linear sliding members 183, 184 fixed to the lateral sides 185, 186 of the over-plate 182. Said second linear sliding members 183, 184 enable movement of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 relative to the swivel assembly over plate 182.

In the implementation illustrated in Fig. 3 such second linear sliding members 183, 184 are advantageously linear ball bearing slides which allow the seat receiving pan 190 to slide with a low-friction linear motion relative to the over-plate 182 during operation.

Movement of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 between an internal drive position and an access position generally lateral to the drive position is performed manually by actuating a sliding /rotation actuating member 187 which when released from a locked mode will initiate the simultaneous sliding/rotational motion (see Figures 5 and 6a).

The seat receiving pan 190 has an axis S which is parallel to the vehicle seat assembly axis extending from the front-facing end 114 to the rear-facing end 115 of the vehicle seat assembly 110.

The second linear sliding members 183, 184 provided on the upper side of the over-plate 182 are coupled to the underside of the seat receiving pan 190, to allow the seat receiving pan 190 to slide with a low-friction linear sliding translation as it moves fore and aft relative to the over-plate 182 and parallel to the S axis during operation. The seat receiving pan 190 is configured to move said vehicle seat assembly 110 from a door facing position (access position), to a docking position outside the motor vehicle 101.

The seat receiving pan 190 may be slidably repositioned relative to the over-plate 182 along the S axis direction by actuating a seat position lever 191 (see Figures 3 and 4). Said seat position lever 191 locks said seat receiving pan 190 in an extended position 195, a retracted position 196 or in one or more intermediate positions 197. In the extended position 195 the seat receiving pan 190 extends the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 through the vehicle door 102, exterior to the motor vehicle 101 and to a position wherein the wheel frame assembly 130 may be docked to the vehicle access assembly 150 (see Figure 6e).

During rotation of the swivel assembly 180, seat receiving pan 190 and the vehicle seat assembly 110 from a drive position to an access position the seat receiving pan 190 is advantageously pulled back into a retracted position, (i.e. the seat receiving pan 190 including the vehicle seat assembly 110 is moved away from dashboard and A-pillar) to increase the legroom or knee room for a seat occupant substantially during rotation (and possibly during fore-aft movement along axis A as well) as seen In Figure 6b.

The seat receiving pan 190 further comprises seat receiving pan slider receiving means 192, 193 for enabling a sliding transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 between the wheel frame assembly 130 and the vehicle access assembly 150. In the illustrated embodiment the seat receiving pan slider receiving means 192, 193 is a pair of seat receiving pan side wall channels (which in this implementation are edges of the seat receiving pan 190 that are bent or formed to create channels) fixed to the upper sides of the seat receiving pan 190. Said seat receiving pan wall channels 192, 193 extend along each lateral side of the seat receiving pan 190.

Slider members 118 arranged on each of the first and second lateral sides 116, 117 of the detachable vehicle seat assembly are configured to inter-engage with said seat receiving pan slider receiving means 192, 193. In the illustrated implementation the slider members 118 are one or more pairs of roller bearings (see Figure 2). Said roller bearings 118 will engage with said seat receiving pan slider receiving means 192, 193 enabling a lowfriction sliding motion of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 during its transfer between the wheel frame assembly 130 and the vehicle access assembly 150 (see Figures 5, 6e and f).

The seat receiving pan 190 further comprises docking means 194 (see Figures 3, 5 and insert of 6e) for docking of the wheel frame assembly 130 to the vehicle access assembly 150 (seat receiving pan 190) during transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 between the vehicle access assembly 150 and the wheel frame assembly 130. In the illustrated embodiment the docking means 194 (see insert 6e) are knobs which are configured to dock into docking receiving means 142 arranged on the rear facing ends 135 of the wheel frame fore and-aft extending subframe structures 131,132. The docking between the wheel frame assembly 130 and the seat receiving pan 190 is described in connection with the wheel frame assembly 130 above.

Method of operation Figures 6a-f illustrate how the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 is moved from the drive position to a position in which the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 is coupled to a wheel frame assembly 130 located exterior to the motor vehicle 101 by coordinating the following movements of the vehicle seat assembly 110: (1) linear movement along a first axis that is static relative to an adapter plate 161 mounted within the motor vehicle 101 (e.g., adapter plate axis A, as discussed in more detail herein); (2) rotating the vehicle seat assembly 110 relative to the static (first) axis; and (3) linear movement along a second axis that is pivotable, the second axis's orientation depending upon the amount of seat rotation (e.g., seat receiving pan axis S, as discussed in more detail herein).

In order to initiate the sliding and rotational movement the sliding/rotation actuation member 187 must be released from a locked position.

The fore-aft assembly 170, together with the swivel assembly 180, the seat receiving pan 190 and the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 is moved from the secured drive position and in a linear movement relative to an adapter plate 161 of the mounting assembly 160 which is secured to the motor vehicle interior (see Figure 6a). The linear movement is parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the adapter plate 161. The swivel assembly 180, together with the seat receiving pan 190 and the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 is simultaneously rotated laterally to a position wherein a seat axis S of the seat receiving pan 190 is oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the adapter plate 161 (see Figures 6b-c). The sliding/rotation actuation member 187 is secured into a locked position to prevent further rotation. The front-facing end 114 of the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 and the seat occupant is now generally facing the vehicle door opening 102 (see Figure 6c).

To initiate the linear sliding motion of the seat receiving pan 190 with the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 into an extended position exterior to the motor vehicle 101, the seat position lever 191 is released from a retracted, or alternatively an intermediate position, and the seat receiving pan 190 with the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 is moved parallel to the seat receiving pan axis S and in relation to said swivel assembly 180 with a sliding motion into an extended position exterior to the motor vehicle 101 (see Figures 6d-f).

After having reached the extended position (see Figure 6e) the seat receiving pan 190, with the vehicle seat assembly 110 is locked in an extended position by means of the seat position lever 191.

The docking receiving means 142 arranged on the wheel frame assembly 130 are aligned with the docking means 194 arranged on the seat receiving pan 190. The height adjusting member 149 arranged on the wheel frame assembly may be used to adjust any difference in height between docking receiving means 142 on the wheel frame assembly 130 and the docking means 194 arranged on the vehicle access assembly 150. The docking means are docked and secured to the docking receiving means 142.

A locking mechanism arrangement which locks said detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 to the vehicle access assembly 150 is released from a locking position, and the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 is transferred from said seat receiving pan 190 in a sliding motion onto the wheel frame assembly 130 (see Figures 6e and f). During transfer said slider members 118 on the vehicle seat assembly 110 inter-engage with the slider receiving means 139, 140 on the wheel frame assembly 130 enabling the transfer of the vehicle seat assembly 110 in a simple and effortless manner. When the transfer is completed the locking mechanism arrangement between said detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 and said wheel frame assembly 130 is firmly locked and the wheel frame assembly 130 coupled to the detachable vehicle seat assembly 110 is released from the docking means 194.

Claims (21)

1. A wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) with detachable vehicle seat comprising a detachable vehicle seat assembly (110); a wheel frame assembly (130); and a vehicle access assembly (150); - said detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) comprising one or more slider members (118) for sliding transfer of the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) between the wheel frame assembly (130) and the vehicle access assembly (150); and - said wheel frame assembly (130) comprising docking receiving means (142) for docking to the vehicle access assembly (130) and wheel frame slider receiving means (139, 140) configured to receive the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110); and - said vehicle access assembly (150) comprising docking means (194) for docking to the wheel frame assembly (130), and vehicle access slider receiving means (192, 193) configured to receive the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110); and - a seat receiving pan (190) having a seat axis S, said seat receiving pan (190) is provided with said docking means (194) and said vehicle access slider receiving means (192, 193), and is slidable in the S direction, characterized in that said seat receiving pan (190) is slidably repositioned relative to an over-plate (182) of the vehicle access assembly (150) along the S direction by actuation of a seat position lever (191), said seat position lever (191) locks said seat receiving pan (190) in an extended position (195), a retracted position (196) or in one or more intermediate positions (197).

2. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said vehicle access assembly (150) further comprises - a vehicle mounting assembly (160) configured to be affixed to a motor vehicle floor at an internal seat position adjacent to a motor vehicle door (102), said vehicle mounting assembly (160) comprising an adapter plate (161) having a longitudinal axis A extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of a motor vehicle axis L.

3. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that a fore-aft slide assembly (170) is coupled to said adapter plate (161), said fore-aft slide assembly (170) is configured to move the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) linearly relative to the adapter plate (161) and in parallel with the adapter plate A axis.

4. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that a swivel assembly (180) is mounted to the fore-aft slide assembly (170) and configured to swivel the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) relative to the foreaft slide assembly (170), said swivel assembly (180) comprising said over-plate (182) and an off-centre swivel mechanism (181) coupled to the over-plate (182) rotatably engaging the fore-aft slide assembly (170).

5. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that said seat receiving pan (190) is slidably engaged to said over plate (182) of the swivel assembly (180) in parallel to the longitudinal axis S of the seat receiving pan (190) by means of a pair of second linear sliding members (183, 184).

6. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 3-5, characterized in that said fore-aft slide assembly (170) is coupled to the adapter plate (161) and slidably engaged thereto parallel to the longitudinal axis A by means of a pair of first linear sliding members (162, 163).

7. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 4-6, characterized in that said fore-aft slide assembly (170) is rotatably coupled to the swivel assembly (180) by means of the off-centre swivel mechanism (181).

8. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said first and second pairs of linear sliding members (162, 163, 183, 184) are linear guiding rails, or ball bearing slides.

9. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said vehicle access slider receiving means (192, 193) is a pair of seat receiving pan side wall channels, each seat receiving pan side wall channel (192, 193) is mounted to a lateral side on an upper surface of the seat receiving pan (190) and configured to inter-engage with one or more slider members (118) arranged on the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110).

10. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wheel frame slider receiving means (139, 140) is a pair of wheel frame side wall channels, each wheel frame side wall channel (139, 140) is mounted to an upper lateral side of the wheel frame assembly (130) and configured to inter-engage with one or more slider members (118) arranged on the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110).

11. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slider members (118) is one or more pairs of roller sliders mounted to each lateral side of the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) and configured to inter-engage with said vehicle access slider receiving means (192, 193) arranged on the seat receiving pan (190) and/or with said wheel frame assembly slider receiving means (139, 140) arranged on the wheel frame assembly.

12. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slider members (118) are integrated with the vehicle seat assembly (110).

13. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said docking receiving means (142) is a pair of docking recesses arranged on the wheel frame assembly (130).

14. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said docking means (194) is a pair of docking knobs arranged on the vehicle access assembly (150) arranged to inter-engage with the pair of docking receiving means (142) arranged on the wheel frame assembly (130).

15. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) is secured to the vehicle access assembly (150) and the wheel frame assembly (130) respectively by means of a locking arrangement (119, 148, 151).

16. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to claim 15, characterized in that said locking arrangement (119, 148, 151) comprises a locking mechanism (119) arranged on the detachable vehicle seat (110) assembly for locking the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) to the wheel frame assembly (130) and vehicle access assembly (150) respectively.

17. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 15-16, characterized in that said locking mechanism arrangement (119, 148, 151) further comprises locking receiving mechanisms (151, 148) arranged on the vehicle access assembly (150) and on the wheel frame assembly (130) for locking said detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) to the vehicle access assembly (150) or the wheel frame assembly (130) respectively.

18. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 4-17, characterized in that said fore-aft slide assembly (170), swivel assembly (180) and the seat receiving pan (190) are configured to move the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) between an internal drive position and a docking position generally lateral to the drive position and outside the motor vehicle door (102).

19. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 4-18, characterized in that said fore-aft slide assembly (170), swivel assembly (180) and the seat receiving pan (190) are configured to move the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) between the internal drive position and the docking position generally lateral to the drive position and outside the motor vehicle door using multiple axis movements as the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) is rotated and moved linearly parallel to one or two axes, including axis S that changes orientation relative to axis A as the vehicle seat assembly (110) is rotated using the swivel assembly (180).

20. The wheelchair-to-vehicle access system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement of the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) between an internal drive position and an access position generally lateral to the drive position is performed manually by actuating a sliding/rotation actuating member (187).

21. A method for transferring a detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) from a secured drive position in a motor vehicle interior, to a position in which the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) is coupled to a wheel frame assembly (130) located exterior to the motor vehicle (101), the method comprising: - releasing a sliding /rotation actuation member (187) from a locked position; and - moving a fore-aft slide assembly (170), together with a swivel assembly (180), a seat receiving pan (190) and said detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) from the secured drive position and in a linear movement relative to an adapter plate (161) of a mounting assembly (160) secured to the motor vehicle interior, said linear movement is parallel to a longitudinal axis A of an adapter plate (161) of the mounting assembly (160), while - simultaneously rotating said swivel assembly (180), together with the seat receiving pan (190) and the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) laterally to a position wherein a seat axis S of the seat receiving pan (190) is oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the adapter plate (161); and - securing the sliding /rotation actuation member (187) into a locked position; and - releasing a seat position lever (191); and - linearly moving said seat receiving pan (190) with the detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) parallel to the seat axis S and in relation to said swivel assembly (180) into an extended position exterior to the motor vehicle (101); and - locking said seat receiving pan (190) with the vehicle seat assembly (110) in an extended position (195); and - aligning and joining a docking receiving means (142) arranged on the wheel frame assembly (130) to docking means (194) arranged on the seat receiving pan (190); and - releasing a locking arrangement (119, 148, 151) arrangement which locks said detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) to the vehicle access assembly (150); and - sliding said detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) from said seat receiving pan (190) onto the wheel frame assembly (130); and - actuating a locking mechanism arrangement (119, 148, 151) between said detachable vehicle seat assembly (110) and said wheel frame assembly (130).