Rotating vehicle seat

• US 6,557,919 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Tanaka, Mineki, Suga, Yasuo, Miura, Yoshiyuki, Iwatani, Masamitsu, Takenoshita, Tadashi, Hijikata, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Application Number:
  US09/788,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20010038223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.11, 296/65.12, 296/65.06, 296/65.07, 296/65.01, 248/425, 297/344.21, 297/344.22, 297/344.24, 297/344.11, 297/344.03
• 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 2/146 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/245 for handicapped persons

Abstract

With respect to a rotating seat for a vehicle, for example, for the elderly or the handicapped, the known art requires two operations of moving a seat body forward and rotating it to a door opening, and is thus poor in usability. Further, if the seat is positioned to the front such that the seat can be rotated at that position, the space close to occupant'"'"'s feet is sacrificed. It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a rotating vehicle seat having excellent usability without sacrificing the space close to occupant'"'"'s feet. A rotating vehicle seat of the present invention includes a rotating support base 10 for rotatably supporting a seat body 2, a longitudinal support base for supporting and moving the rotating support base in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and a coupling arrangement means 6, 38 disposed between the seat body 2 and the longitudinal support base for coupling the rotational movement and the longitudinal movement of the seat body.

Claims

1. A rotating vehicle seat, comprising a rotating support base for rotatably supporting a seat body, a longitudinal support base for supporting and moving the rotating support base in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and coupling means disposed between the seat body and the longitudinal support base for coupling the rotational movement and the longitudinal movement of the seat body.

2. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a pinion gear that rotates together with the seat body, and a rack mounted on the longitudinal support base along the longitudinal direction thereof for engaging with the pinion gear.

3. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a pinion gear that rotates together with the seat body, an intermediate gear rotatably mounted on the rotating support base, and a rack mounted on the longitudinal support base along the longitudinal direction thereof, the pinion gear engaging with a small gear portion of the intermediate gear and the rack engaging with a large gear portion of the intermediate gear, whereby the rotational movement of the seat body is amplified by a ratio corresponding to a gear ratio of the large gear portion to the small gear portion and is transmitted to the longitudinal movement of the seat body.

4. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 2, wherein the pinion gear has a no-teeth portion so as to provide a range in which the longitudinal movement is not coupled to the rotational movement of the seat body within the total range of the rotational movement of the seat body.

5. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 4, further comprising a slide lock mechanism for locking the longitudinal movement of the seat body, the slide lock mechanism being constructed to be automatically released when the rotational movement and the longitudinal movement of the seat body are coupled to each other.

6. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a link arm of which one end is rotatably connected to the underside of the seat body at a position off center of the rotation of the seat body and the other end is rotatably connected to the longitudinal support base, whereby the one end of the link arm moves around the other end of the link arm and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the seat body rotates, so that the seat body is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

7. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a wire of which one end is secured to the underside of the seat body and the other end is secured to the longitudinal support base, whereby the seat body is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by winding the wire as the seat body rotates.

8. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 1, further comprising a lateral support base for moving the seat body in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the lateral support base being constructed to move the seat body to a lower position as the seat body moves to the exterior in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

9. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 8, further comprising a longitudinal restriction member for restricting the longitudinal movement of the seat body during the lateral movement of the seat body.

10. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 9, wherein the longitudinal restriction member also has a function of restricting the lateral movement of the seat body in the seated position.

11. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 3, wherein the pinion gear has a no-teeth portion so as to provide a range in which the longitudinal movement is not coupled to the rotational movement of the seat body within the total range of the rotational movement of the seat body.

12. The rotating vehicle seat as defined in claim 11, further comprising a slide lock mechanism for locking the longitudinal movement of the seat body, the slide lock mechanism being constructed to be automatically released when the rotational movement and the longitudinal movement of the seat body are coupled to each other.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a seat body,

a first support base supporting the seat body, the first support base capable of rotation,

a second support base supporting the first support base, the second support base capable of moving the first support base in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and

means for coupling the rotational movement and the longitudinal movement of the seat body, the coupling means having a portion with gear teeth and a portion without gear teeth.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the coupling means comprises a pinion gear that rotates together with the seat body, and a rack mounted on the first support base along the longitudinal direction thereof for engaging with the pinion gear.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the pinion gear has a no-teeth portion so as to provide a range in which the longitudinal movement is not coupled to the rotational movement of the seat body within the total range of the rotational movement of the seat body.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising a slide lock mechanism for locking the longitudinal movement of the seat body, the slide lock mechanism being constructed to be automatically released when the rotational movement and the longitudinal movement of the seat body are coupled to each other.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the coupling means comprises a pinion gear that rotates together with the seat body, an intermediate gear rotatably mounted on the first support base, and a rack mounted on the second support base along the longitudinal direction thereof, the pinion gear engaging with a small gear portion of the intermediate gear and the rack engaging with a large gear portion of the intermediate gear, whereby the rotational movement of the seat body is amplified by a ratio corresponding to a gear ratio of the large gear portion to the small gear portion and is transmitted to the longitudinal movement of the seat body.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the pinion gear has a no-teeth portion so as to provide a range in which the longitudinal movement is not coupled to the rotational movement of the seat body within the total range of the rotational movement of the seat body.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising a aide lock mechanism for locking the longitudinal movement of the seat body, the slide lock mechanism being constructed to be automatically released when the rotational movement and the longitudinal movement of the seat body are coupled to each other.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the coupling means comprises a link arm of which one end is rotatably connected to the underside of the seat body at a position off center of the rotation of the seat body and the other end is rotatably connected to the second support base, whereby the one end of the link arm moves around the other end of the link arm and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the seat body rotates, so that the seat body is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the coupling means comprises a wire of which one end is secured to the underside of the seat body and thee other end is secured to the second support base, whereby the seat body is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by winding the wire as the seat body rotates.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a third support base capable of moving the seat body in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the third support base being capable of moving the seat body to a lower position as the seat body moves to the exterior in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22, further comprising a longitudinal restriction member capable of restricting the longitudinal movement of the seat body during the lateral movement of the seat body.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the longitudinal restriction member is also capable of restricting the lateral movement of the seat body in the seated position.

25. A method for rotating a vehicle seat body supported by a rotating support base about a pivotal axis from a sitting position, in which the vehicle seat faces a front direction of a vehicle, to an entry/exit position, in which the vehicle seat faces a door opening, comprising:

rotating the vehicle seat body about the pivotal axis from the sitting position to an intermediate position without moving the vehicle seat body towards the front direction of the vehicle and

simultaneously rotating the vehicle seat body about the pivotal axis and forwardly moving the vehicle seat body along a longitudinal support base towards the front direction of the vehicle from the intermediate position to the entry/exit position, wherein the forward movement is coupled to the rotational movement by coupling means disposed between the seat body and the longitudinal support base for coupling the rotational movement and the longitudinal movement of the seat body.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein the vehicle seat body first rotates without moving forward and thereafter the vehicle seat body simultaneously rotates and moves forward.

27. A method as in claim 26, wherein an occupant is seated in the vehicle seat body during the rotation step and the intermediate position is a position in which the occupant'"'"'s feet are within the door opening.

28. A method as in claim 26, wherein the vehicle seat body comprises a seat cushion and the intermediate position is a position just before the seat cushion will interfere with the door opening or a pillar of the vehicle.

29. A method as in claim 25, wherein the vehicle seat body is manually rotated and the manual rotation drives the forward movement for at least a portion of the rotational movement.

30. A method as in claim 25, further comprising operating a motor coupled to the vehicle seat body in order to drive the rotational and forward movement.

31. A method as in claim 25, further comprising moving the vehicle seat body in a lateral direction towards the door opening in order to assist an occupant'"'"'s entry and exit of the vehicle seat body.

32. A method as in claim 25, further comprising moving the vehicle scat body in a lateral direction towards the door opening and simultaneously lowering the vehicle seat body in order to assist an occupant'"'"'s entry and exit of the vehicle seat body.

33. A method as in claim 25, further comprising locking forward movement of the vehicle seat body while the vehicle seat body is rotating from the sitting position to the intermediate position.

34. A method as in claim 33, further comprising locking lateral movement of the vehicle seat body while the vehicle seat body is rotating from the sitting position to the entry/exit position.

35. A method as in claim 25, wherein the vehicle seat body comprises:

a pinion gear coupled to the vehicle seat body and arranged and constructed to rotate with the vehicle seat body, and

a rack disposed along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the rack is operatively coupled to the pinion gear and is arranged and constructed to move the vehicle seat body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle while the vehicle seat body is rotating about the pivotal axis for at least a portion of the rotational range, and wherein;

the step of rotating the vehicle seat body about the pivotal axis from the sitting position to the intermediate position comprises rotating the pinion gear without engaging the rack; and

the step of simultaneously rotating the vehicle seat body while moving the vehicle seat body forward towards the front direction of the vehicle from the intermediate position to the entry/exit position comprises rotating the pinion gear while engaging the rack.

36. A method as in claim 35, further comprising moving the vehicle seat body in a lateral direction towards the door opening in order to assist an occupant'"'"'s entry and exit of the vehicle seat.

37. A method as in claim 35, further comprising moving the vehicle seat body in a lateral direction towards the door opening and simultaneously lowering the vehicle seat body in order to assist an occupant'"'"'s entry and exit of the vehicle seat.

38. A method as in claim 35, further comprising locking forward movement of the vehicle seat body while the vehicle seat body is rotating from the sitting position to the intermediate position.

39. A method as in claim 38, further comprising locking lateral movement of the vehicle seat body while the vehicle seat is rotating from the sitting position to the entry/exit position.

40. A method as in claim 35, wherein the vehicle seat body further comprises an intermediate gear disposed between the pinion gear and the rack, wherein the intermediate gear engages the rack and the pinion gear during the step of simultaneously rotating the vehicle seat body while moving the vehicle seat body forward towards the front direction of the vehicle from the intermediate position to the entry/exit position.

41. A method as in claim 40, wherein an occupant is seated in the vehicle seat body during the rotation step and the intermediate position is a position in which the occupant'"'"'s feet are within the door opening, the method further comprising:

locking forward movement of the vehicle seat body while the vehicle seat body is rotating from the sitting position to the intermediate position,

locking lateral movement of the vehicle seat body while the vehicle seat body is rotating from the sitting position to the entry/exit position and

after the vehicle seat body has been rotated to the entry/exit position, moving the vehicle seat body in a lateral direction towards the door opening and simultaneously lowering the vehicle seat body in order to assist an occupant'"'"'s entry and exit of the vehicle seat body.

42. A rotating seat arranged and constructed for use in a vehicle comprising:

a seat body arranged and constructed to rotate about a pivotal axis,

a first support base supporting the seat body and comprising a circular-arc pinion gear coupled to the seat body so as to rotate with the seat body, the pinion gear having a first portion with gear teeth and a second portion without gear teeth,

a second support base comprising a rack disposed along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and

means for coupling rotational movement and longitudinal movement of the seat body, wherein the pinion gear and the rack are ranged and constructed such that the rack is not operatively coupled to the pinion gear during rotation of the seat body from a sitting position to an intermediate position, whereby the seat body rotates without moving along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the rack is operatively coupled to the pinion gear during rotation of the seat body from the intermediate position to an entry/exit position, whereby the seat body simultaneously rotates while moving forward along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

43. A vehicle seat as in claim 42, wherein the scat body further comprises a scat cushion and the intermediate position is sufficient to prevent the seat cushion from interfering with a door opening before moving the seat body forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

44. A vehicle seat as in claim 42, wherein the vehicle seat is arranged and constructed to rotate while moving forward only when the first portion of the pinion gear is operatively coupled to the rack.

45. A vehicle seat as in claim 44, further comprising an intermediate gear disposed between the pinion gear and the rack, wherein rotation of the pinion gear is coupled to the rack via the intermediate gear.

46. A vehicle seat as in claim 42, wherein the seat body further comprises an intermediate gear disposed on the first support base, the intermediate gear having a small gear portion and a large gear portion, wherein the pinion gear is operatively coupled to the small gear portion and the rack is operatively coupled to the large gear portion.

47. A vehicle seat as in claim 42, further comprising a rotating dug having a first ring and a second ring, wherein the first and second rings are concentrically disposed with a plurality of bearings disposed between the first ring and the second ring such that the first ring is adapted to rotate with respect to the second ring, wherein the first ring is coupled to the seat body end the second ring is coupled to the first support base.

48. A vehicle seat as in claim 47, wherein the first support base is coupled to the second support base and the first support base is arranged and constructed to move in the longitudinal direction while the seat body is rotating.

49. A vehicle seat as in claim 42, further comprising a lateral support base arranged and constructed to support movement of the seat body in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

50. A vehicle seat as in claim 49, wherein the lateral support base comprises downwardly inclined guide rails and the seat body moves to a lower vertical position when the seat body moves along the lateral direction.

51. A vehicle seat as in claim 42, further comprising a lock arranged and constructed to prevent the seat body from moving forward when the seat body rotates from the sifting position to the intermediate position.

52. A vehicle seat as in claim 42, further comprising a lock arranged and constructed to prevent the seat body from moving in a lateral direction of the vehicle when the seat body rotates from the sifting position to the entry/exit position.

53. A vehicle seat as in claim 42, further comprising:

a seat cushion coupled to the scat body, wherein the intermediate position is sufficient to prevent the seat cushion from interfering with a door opening before moving the seat body forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,

a first lock arranged and constructed to prevent the seat body from moving forward when the seat body rotates from the sitting position to the intermediate position,

a second lock arranged and constructed to prevent the seat body from moving in a lateral direction of the vehicle when the seat body rotates from the sitting position to the entry/exit position,

an intermediate gear disposed between the pinion gear and the rack, wherein rotation of the pinion gear is coupled to the rack via the intermediate gear, the intermediate gear having a small gear portion and a large gear portion, wherein the pinion gear is operatively coupled to the small gear portion and the rack is operatively coupled to the large gear portion,

wherein the first support base is coupled to the second support base, wherein the vehicle seat support base is arranged and constructed to move in the longitudinal direction while the seat body is rotating,

a rotating ring having a first ring and a second ring, wherein the first and second rings are concentrically disposed with a plurality of bearings disposed between the first and second ring such that the first ring is adapted to rotate with respect to the second ring, wherein the first ring is coupled to the seat body and the second ring is coupled to the first support base, and

a lateral support base arranged and constructed to support movement of the seat body in a lateral direction of the vehicle, wherein the lateral support base comprises downwardly inclined guide rails and the seat body moves to a lower vertical position when the seat body moves along the lateral direction.

54. A vehicle seat as in claim 53, wherein the vehicle seat is arranged and constructed rotate while moving forward only when the first portion of the pinion gear is operatively coupled to the rack.

55. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle seat body normally positioned in a sitting position that faces a forward portion of a vehicle,

a vehicle seat support base,

a rotary ring coupling the vehicle seat body to the vehicle seat support base, wherein the rotary ring is arranged and constructed to permit the vehicle seat body to rotate through a rotational range of approximately 90°

with respect to the vehicle seat support base,

a longitudinal support base disposed in a substantially parallel relationship along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the longitudinal support base is operatively coupled to the vehicle seat support base to permit the vehicle seat body to forwardly move in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and

means for rotating the vehicle scat from the sitting position to an intermediate position and for rotating the vehicle seat body while forwardly moving the vehicle seat body along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from die intermediate position to a vehicle entry/exit position, said rotating means including a first portion with gear teeth and a second portion without gear teeth.

56. An apparatus as in claim 55, further comprising a lateral support base disposed along a lateral direction of the vehicle and operatively coupled to the vehicle seat support base, wherein the lateral support base supports movement of the vehicle seat support base in the lateral direction of the vehicle to assist an occupant'"'"'s entry and exit of the vehicle seat body.

57. An apparatus as in claim 56, wherein the lateral support base is downwardly inclined so that the vehicle seat body will simultaneously lower in a vertical direction while moving in the lateral direction.

58. An apparatus as in claim 55, wherein the vehicle seat body further comprises a seat cushion and the intermediate position is sufficient to prevent the seat cushion from interfering with a door opening before moving the vehicle seat body forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

59. An apparatus as in claim 55, wherein the rotating means comprises a pinion gear and a rack, wherein the rotating means first portion and the rotating means second portion are disposed on to pinion gear, wherein the vehicle seat is arranged and constructed rotate while moving forward only when the rotating means first portion is operatively coupled to the rack.

60. An apparatus as in claim 59, wherein the rotating means further comprises an intermediate gear disposed between the pinion gear and the rack, wherein rotation of the pinion gear is coupled to the rack via the intermediate gear.

61. An apparatus as in claim 60, wherein the intermediate gear is disposed on the vehicle seat support base, the intermediate gear has a small gear portion and a large gear portion, the pinion gear is operatively coupled to the small gear portion and the rack is operatively coupled to the large gear portion.

62. An apparatus as in claim 55, further comprising a lock arranged and constructed to prevent the vehicle seat body from moving forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when the vehicle seat body rotates from the sifting position to the intermediate position.

63. An apparatus as in claim 55, further comprising a lock ranged and constructed to prevent the vehicle seat body from moving in a lateral direction of the vehicle when the vehicle seat body rotates from the sitting position to the entry/exit position.