SEAT DEVICE FOR USE IN A VEHICLE

• US 20120261955A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: IIDA, FUJIO, SASAKI, MASAMI
• Granted Patent: US 9,016,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/188.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0209 with storage means for unused wheelchair or stretcher
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/0816 folding side to side, e.g. reducing or expanding the overall width of the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0742 rotated about the vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0745 the slide path being curved
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/245 for handicapped persons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/753 movable to an inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/76 in a recess of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/767 Angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/79 Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/905 the head-rest or seat used as an anchorage point, for an object not covered by groups in B60N, e.g. for a canvas

Abstract

A seat device for use in a vehicle that can move through an opening of a vehicle between a loading and unloading position positioned outside the vehicle, where a passenger can load and unload as well as be seated, and a seating position positioned in the cabin of the vehicle, where the passenger can maintain a seated disposition. A securing member of the seat device can secure a wheelchair in a folded state to a side surface or a back surface of the seat. The wheelchair together with the seat can move from the loading and unloading position to inside the cabin of the vehicle, with the passenger in a seated position.

Claims

1. A seat device comprising:

a securing member to secure a wheelchair in a folded state to a side surface or a back surface of a vehicle seat such that the wheelchair together with the vehicle seat can move from a loading and unloading position to a cabin of a vehicle with a passenger in a seated position.

2. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the loading and unloading position outside a vehicle is a position where the passenger can load and unload as well as be seated, and the seated position is a position where the passenger can maintain a seated disposition.

3. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a raising and lowering mechanism that can raise and lower, in relation to the vehicle seat, the wheelchair secured by the securing member.

4. The seat device according to claim 3, wherein the raising and lowering mechanism comprises an armrest that can swing up and down, provided on a side part of the vehicle seat.

5. The seat device according to claim 1, further comprising, in a configuration that secures the wheelchair to the back surface of the vehicle seat, a displacement mechanism to move the securing member between a side surface position, where the wheelchair in the folded state is arranged on the side surface of the vehicle seat, and a back surface securing position, where the wheelchair from the side surface position is secured to the back surface of the vehicle seat.

6. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the securing member comprises a belt shaped member that can roll up in an inner part of the vehicle seat.

7. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the seat device comprises a driver'"'"'s seat for an automobile.

8. The seat device according to claim 1, wherein the securing member comprises a belt with a ratchet to regulate a belt reel.

9. A method comprising:

positioning a vehicle seat outside of a vehicle associated with the vehicle seat;

connecting a wheelchair to the vehicle seat using a securing device of the vehicle seat; and

positioning the vehicle seat to a seating position for a passenger, where the seating position is a position for movement of a passenger along with the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion and where the positioning involves the device moving the wheelchair with the vehicle chair and the positioning results in the wheelchair being stowed in the vehicle cabin.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the positioning of a vehicle seat outside of the vehicle results in the vehicle seat being in a loading and unloading position where the passenger can load and unload as well as be seated, and the seating position is a position where the passenger can maintain a seated disposition.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a raising and lowering mechanism that can raise and lower, in relation to the vehicle seat, the wheelchair secured by the securing device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the raising and lowering mechanism comprises an armrest that can swing up and down, provided on a side part of the vehicle seat.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle seat further comprises a displacement mechanism to move the securing member device a side surface position, where the wheelchair in a folded state is arranged on the side surface of the vehicle seat, and a back surface securing position, where the wheelchair from the side surface position is secured to the back surface of the vehicle seat.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the securing device comprises a belt shaped member that can roll up in an inner part of the vehicle seat.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a driver'"'"'s seat for an automobile.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a seat device comprising;

a securing member to secure a wheelchair in a folded state to a side surface or a back surface of a vehicle seat such that the wheelchair together with the vehicle seat can move from a loading and unloading position to a cabin of the vehicle with a passenger in a seated position.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the loading and unloading position outside the vehicle is a position where the passenger can load and unload as well as be seated, and the seated position is a position where the passenger can maintain a seated disposition.

18. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a raising and lowering mechanism that can raise and lower, in relation to the vehicle seat, the wheelchair secured by the securing member.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the raising and lowering mechanism comprises an armrest that can swing up and down, provided on a side part of the vehicle seat.

20. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.