Sliding seat assembly for an automobile

• US 6,024,398 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce Horton, Horton, Fred
• Original Assignee: Bruce Horton, Horton, Fred
• Inventors: Horton, Fred, Horton, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US09/036,411
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.06, 296/65.07, 296/65.11, 296/65.12, 297/344.21, 297/344.23, 297/344.24
• US Class Current: 296/65.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• 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

Abstract

A new sliding seat assembly for an automobile for aiding a motorist with entering and exiting an automobile. The inventive device includes a pair of extension brackets secured to a floor of an automobile inwardly of a door thereof. The pair of extension brackets each are comprised of a pair of telescopic portions. The telescopic portions include an inner member and an outer member. The outer members have a cross bar extending therebetween. The cross bar has a vertical support extending upwardly therefrom. A car seat is provided including a seat portion and a back portion. A circular gear is secured to a lower surface of the seat portion of the car seat. The circular gear rotatably couples with an upper end of the vertical support of the extension members. A motor is secured to one of the outer members adjacent to the circular gear. The motor has a drive gear in communication therewith on an upper end thereof. The drive gear mates with the circular gear to facilitate rotation of the car seat.

Claims

1. A sliding seat assembly for an automobile for aiding a motorist with entering and exiting an automobile comprising in combination:

a pair of extension brackets for securing to a floor of an automobile inwardly of a door of the automobile, the pair of extension brackets having mounting brackets disposed thereon for securement to the automobile such that the extension brackets are positioned in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other the pair of extension brackets each being comprised of a pair of telescopic portions the telescopic portions including an inner member and an outer member for extending outside the interior space of the automobile the inner member being for being fixedly secured within the automobile by said mounting brackets, the outer members having a cross bar extending therebetween for holding said outer members in parallel spaced relationship to each other, the cross bar having a vertical support extending vertically upwardly from a medial portion of the cross bar;

a car seat for positioning within the automobile, the car seat including a seat portion and a back portion, the car seat including a control panel disposed on a side portion of the seat portion;

a circular gear secured to a lower surface of the seat portion of the car seat, the circular gear rotatably coupling with an upper end of the vertical support of the outer members such that the lower surface of the seat portion is positioned immediately above the gear for minimizing a vertical distance between said outer members and said lower surface of said seat portion whereby said sliding seat assemble is adapted for supporting a person at a minimal vertical height relative to tile floor of the automobile, said car seat being positioned such that a forward edge of said car seat extends outwardly over a forward one of said outer members relative to tile automobile when said car seat is positioned in a forward facing orientation, said car seat being positioned such that a rearward edge of said car seat extends outwardly over a rearward one of said outer members relative to the automobile when said car seat is positioned in said forward facing orientation;

a bushing positioned between the circular gear and the upper end of the vertical support to facilitate rotation of the circular gear with respect to the vertical support; and

a motor secured to one of the outer members adjacent to the circular gear, the motor being positioned such that at least a portion of the motor is positioned within a horizontal plane extending between the outer members, a drive gear connected to an upper end of the motor, the drive gear mating with the circular gear to facilitate rotation of the car seat, the motor being electrically connected to the control panel of the car seat.