Universal device for facilitating movement into and out of a seat

• US 6,340,189 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avenue Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: N/Amp Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Pordy, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US09/466,252
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.1, 164/36, 161/101
• US Class Current: 296/1.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/023 movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/026 characterised by the fixing means B60N3/023 takes precedence

Abstract

A universal device facilitates egress and/or ingress of a passenger from a vehicle having a door opening through which any passenger and/or driver can move into and out of a seat in the vehicle, and has a post or pillar to one side of the individual'"'"'s seat. The device includes an elongate member having a handle at one end suitable for being gripped by the passenger. The other end of the elongate member is formed with an engaging member or element for securing the elongate member on a lateral surface of the post in proximity to the seated user. In one form, the engaging members or elements are in the form of tapered bodies having a smaller apex at one end and gradually increasing in thickness with or without an indented, scalloped edge to facilitate and to secure insertion of the engaging member through an upper opening of a striker mounted on the lateral surface of the post. Preferably, a heel is mounted or forms part of the engaging member at a point remote from the apex or pointed end that can be used to limit movement of the device when same is pulled towards the vehicle interior or towards the passenger situated on the seat of the vehicle. In other embodiments of the engaging members, indentations may be provided for engaging forward and/or rear leg portions of the striker to prevent slippage relative thereto when the user applies a pushing or pulling force on the handle. This device can also be used with appropriately prepared seats/seating situations, such as theater seats, wheelchairs, home seating, as needed.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating movement into and out of a seat, comprising an elongate member having a handle at one end suitable for being gripped by an individual, and securement means cooperating with the other end of said elongate member for securing said elongate member to a fixed surface proximate to a seat to enable said elongate member to extend away from the seat and position said handle at a point remote from the seat during use for providing support to the user independently of whether the user pulls on said handle in a direction generally upwards or pushes on said handle in a direction generally downwards, said securement means mounting said elongate member for limited movements within a plane substantially parallel to the fixed surface to at least one operative position most convenient to the user when pulling or pushing on said handle.

2. Device for facilitating egress and/or ingress of any passenger and/or a driver from a vehicle having a door opening through which said individual(s) can move into or out of a seat in the vehicle and having a post or pillar to one side of the seat that defines a lateral surface generally proximate to the individual;

the device comprising an elongate member having a handle at one end suitable for being gripped by the individual and securement means cooperating with the other end of said elongate member for removably securing said elongate member to lateral surface to enable said elongate member to extend away from the lateral surface during use and position a portion of said handle exteriorly of the vehicle and for providing a support for the passenger to grip while entering or leaving said vehicle independently of whether the passenger pulls on said handle in a direction generally upwards or pushes on said handle in a direction generally downwards, said securement means mounting said elongate member for limited movements within a plane substantially parallel to the fixed surface to at least one operative position most convenient to the user when pulling or pushing on said handle.

3. Universal device for facilitating egress and/or ingress of any passenger and/or a driver from a vehicle having a door opening through which said individual(s) can move into or out of a seat in the vehicle and having a post or pillar to one side of the seat that defines a lateral surface generally proximate to the individual and provided with a generally U-shaped striker mounted on said lateral surface for normally engaging a latch of a door lock when the door of the vehicle is closed, the striker extending in the direction of the door opening;

the device comprises an elongate member having a handle at one end suitable for being gripped by the individual and securement means cooperating with the other end of said elongate member for removably securing said elongate member to said lateral surface to enable said elongate member to extend away from the lateral surface and position a portion of said handle exteriorly of the vehicle and for providing a support for the passenger to grip while entering or leaving said vehicle independently of whether the passenger pulls on said handle in a direction generally upwards or pushes on said handle in a direction generally downwards, said securement means comprising an engaging element at said other end of said elongate member for engaging the striker when the door is open and used by the passenger to move into or out of the seat of the vehicle.

4. Device as defined in claim 3, wherein the striker defines a generally rectangular opening, said engaging element comprising an engaging portion dimensioned to extend through said rectangular opening.

5. Device as defined in claim 4, wherein said engaging portion is tapered to generally provide an increasingly larger dimensions in the direction of said handle to provide a maximum dimension which cannot pass through said rectangular opening, whereby initial insertion of said engaging portion through said rectangular area is facilitated by a pointed edge of said tapered engaging portion and the extent of penetration through said rectangular area is a function of the relative dimensions of said rectangular area and the taper portion on said engaging portion.

6. Device as defined in claim 5, wherein either the U-shaped or the rectangular shaped striker is formed of two spaced substantially parallel leg portions mounted on and extending from the lateral surface and a bridging portion extending between said leg portions and spaced from the lateral surface a distance W, and said engaging portion having a width less than W.

7. Device as defined in claim 5, wherein either the U-shaped or the rectangular shaped striker is formed of two spaced substantially parallel leg portions mounted on and extending from the lateral surface and a bridging portion extending between said leg portlons and spaced from the lateral surface a distance W, and said engaging portion having a width approximately equal to W.

8. Device as defined in claim 6, wherein said leg portions are spaced a distance D and said taper in said engaging portion has a maximum dimension greater than D.

9. Device as defined in claim 6, further comprising general self covering means for covering at least a portion of said engaging portion improving the “

grab”

of the engaging portion and reducing the likelihood of scratching either the striker or the device during use.

10. Device as defined in claim 6, wherein said engaging portion defines a tapered portion of generally triangular cross section having a base and an opposing apex, said elongate member being secured to said base.

11. Device as defined in claim 6, wherein said engaging portion defines a convex outer surface (10k) and a scalloped inner surface (10j).

12. Device as defined in claim 10, wherein said elongate member defines a longitudinal axis and a bisector line extending through said apex is offset or inclined from said longitudinal axis to define a forward surface facing the direction of the offset and a rearward surface facing the direction opposite to the direction of the offset.

13. Device as defined in claim 12, wherein one of said leg portions closer to the exterior of the vehicle is a front leg portion and the other of said leg portions closer to the interior of the vehicle is a rear leg portion, said forward and rearward surfaces being arranged so that when said engaging portion is inserted into said rectangular opening from the top said forward surface generally applies a downward force on said front leg portion and said rearward surface generally applies an upward force on said rear leg portion when a passenger pushes on said handle and said forward surface generally applies an upward force on said front leg portion and said rearward surface generally applies a downward force on said rear leg portion when the passenger pulls on said handle.

14. Device as defined in claim 13, wherein the vertical post or pillar has a generally outwardly facing surface between the striker and the interior of the vehicle in proximity to the striker, and further comprising a heel portion extending from said rearward surface and dimensioned to abut against the outwardly facing surface with engagement between said rearward surfaces engages said rear leg portion when the passenger pulls on said handle, said front leg portion serving as a limit stop for controlling the extent of movement of said handle.

15. Device as defined in claim 14, wherein the extent of movement of said handle when pulled by the passenger is a function of the size of said heel portion and the extent of penetration of said tapered portion into said rectangular opening, wherein said heel portion having a length less than length of said engaging portion.

16. Device as defined in claim 14, wherein said heel portion defines a direction generally normal to the direction of said bisector.

17. Device as defined in claim 14, wherein said heel portion extends from said engaging portion in the region of said base and remote from said apex.

18. Device as defined in claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said heel arranged to engage or abut against said outwardly facing surface is made from non-scratching material.

19. Device as defined in claim 18, wherein said material is an elastomeric material.

20. Device for facilitating ingress and/or egress of any passenger and/or driver from a vehicle having a door opening through which the individual can move into or out of a seat in the vehicle and having a post or pillar to one side of the passenger seat that defines a lateral surface generally proximate to the individual and a generally U-shaped striker mounted on the lateral surface defining an opening for normally receiving a latch of a door lock when the vehicle door is closed, the device comprising an elongate member having a handle at one end suitable for being gripped by the individual;

and engagement means cooperating with the other end of said elongate member for cooperating with the striker when the door is open and for securing said elongate member to the striker to enable said elongate member to extend away from the vehicle and position said handle exteriorly of the vehicle and for providing support to the individual when entering or exiting the vehicle.

21. Universal device for facilitating egress and/or ingress of any passenger and/or a driver from a vehicle having a door opening through which said individual(s) can move into or out of a seat in the vehicle and having a post or pillar to one side of the seat that defines a lateral surface generally proximate to the individual;

the device comprises an elongate member having a handle at one end suitable for being gripped by the individual and securement means cooperating with the other end of said elongate member for removably securing said elongate member to said lateral surface to enable said elongate member to extend away from the lateral surface and position a portion of said handle exteriorly of the vehicle and for providing a support for the passenger to grip while entering or leaving said vehicle independently of whether the passenger pulls on said handle in a direction generally upwards or pushes on said handle in a direction generally downwards, wherein said elongate member comprises telescoping tubes, and further comprising means for selectively fixing said telescoping tubes in desired relative positions to accommodate different passengers.

22. Universal device for facilitating egress and/or ingress of any passenger and/or a driver from a vehicle having a door opening through which said individual(s) can move into or out of a seat in the vehicle and having a post or pillar to one side of the seat that defines a lateral surface generally proximate to the individual;

the device comprises an elongate member having a handle at one end suitable for being gripped by the individual and securement means cooperating with the other end of said elongate member for removably securing said elongate member to said lateral surface to enable said elongate member to extend away from the lateral surface and position a portion of said handle exteriorly of the vehicle and for providing a support for the passenger to grip while entering or leaving said vehicle independently of whether the passenger pulls on said handle in a direction generally upwards or pushes on said handle in a direction generally downwards, wherein said lateral surface forming with an associated door a clearance space when the door is closed, and wherein said elongate member comprises at least one generally flat member having a thickness selected to be received within said clearance space without interfering with the normal operation of the door; and

said securement means comprises locking means for enabling said at least one flat member to be pivoted to an operative position and maintained in said position.

23. Device as defined in claim 22, wherein two articulated flat members are provided, one of which is pivotally connected to said lateral surface and said locking means includes first lock maintaining said two flat members aligned in extended condition during use and second lock for maintaining said flat members in a desired operative position during use.