Seating systems for motor vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A seating system, comprising:
- a frame mountable on a mounting surface within a motor vehicle and comprising a first and a second gear rack;
a carriage assembly mounted on the frame and translating linearly in relation to the frame, the carriage assembly comprising;
a first motor coupled to the first gear rack so that the carriage assembly translates in relation to the frame when the first motor is activated, and a first and a second side plate;
a plurality of bearings mounted on the first and second side plates and positioned in part within channels formed in the frame so that the carriage assembly translates in relation to the frame on the bearings;
a bearing plate having the first motor mounted thereon;
a first gearbox mounted on the bearing plate, the first gearbox being coupled to the first gear rack and the first motor so that torque generated by the first motor is transmitted to the first gear rack by way of the first gearbox;
a bearing shaft mounted on the bearing plate; and
a bearing assembly mounted on the bearing shaft;
a base assembly mounted on the carriage assembly and rotating in relation to the carriage assembly, the base assembly comprising;
a second and a third motor, a second gearbox, the second motor being coupled to the second gearbox and the second gear rack so that the base assembly rotates in relation to the carriage assembly when the second motor is activated and torque generated by the second motor is transmitted to the second gear rack by way of the second gearbox;
a base pan having the second and third motors and the second gearbox mounted thereon and being coupled to the bearing shaft of the carriage assembly by way of the bearing assembly so that the base pan can rotate in relation to the carriage assembly;
a trolley assembly mounted on the base assembly and translating linearly in relation to the base assembly, the trolley assembly comprising;
a third and a fourth gear rack, the third motor being coupled to the third gear rack so that the trolley assembly translates in relation to the carriage assembly when the third motor is activated;
a first and a second rail secured to opposite sides of the base pan; and
a trolley plate assembly comprising a first and a second plate and a cross brace positioned between and secured to the first and second plates, the trolley plate assembly being mounted on and translating linearly in relation to the first and second rails;
a seat mounted on the third and the fourth rails of the trolley assembly; and
a drive shaft mounted on the base pan so that the drive shaft can rotate in relation to the base pan, the drive shaft being coupled to the third motor and the third and fourth gear racks so that torque generated by the third motor is transmitted to the third and fourth gear racks by way of the drive shaft.
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Abstract
Embodiments of seating systems for motor vehicles facilitate two-dimensional movement of a seat in a horizontal plane. The seating systems can also facilitate vertical movement of the seat. The seating systems are motorized, and can be automatically controlled so that minimal movement and effort are required on the part of the user to enter and exit the vehicle.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A seating system, comprising:
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a frame mountable on a mounting surface within a motor vehicle and comprising a first and a second gear rack; a carriage assembly mounted on the frame and translating linearly in relation to the frame, the carriage assembly comprising;
a first motor coupled to the first gear rack so that the carriage assembly translates in relation to the frame when the first motor is activated, and a first and a second side plate;
a plurality of bearings mounted on the first and second side plates and positioned in part within channels formed in the frame so that the carriage assembly translates in relation to the frame on the bearings;
a bearing plate having the first motor mounted thereon;
a first gearbox mounted on the bearing plate, the first gearbox being coupled to the first gear rack and the first motor so that torque generated by the first motor is transmitted to the first gear rack by way of the first gearbox;
a bearing shaft mounted on the bearing plate; and
a bearing assembly mounted on the bearing shaft;a base assembly mounted on the carriage assembly and rotating in relation to the carriage assembly, the base assembly comprising;
a second and a third motor, a second gearbox, the second motor being coupled to the second gearbox and the second gear rack so that the base assembly rotates in relation to the carriage assembly when the second motor is activated and torque generated by the second motor is transmitted to the second gear rack by way of the second gearbox;
a base pan having the second and third motors and the second gearbox mounted thereon and being coupled to the bearing shaft of the carriage assembly by way of the bearing assembly so that the base pan can rotate in relation to the carriage assembly;a trolley assembly mounted on the base assembly and translating linearly in relation to the base assembly, the trolley assembly comprising;
a third and a fourth gear rack, the third motor being coupled to the third gear rack so that the trolley assembly translates in relation to the carriage assembly when the third motor is activated;
a first and a second rail secured to opposite sides of the base pan; and
a trolley plate assembly comprising a first and a second plate and a cross brace positioned between and secured to the first and second plates, the trolley plate assembly being mounted on and translating linearly in relation to the first and second rails;a seat mounted on the third and the fourth rails of the trolley assembly; and a drive shaft mounted on the base pan so that the drive shaft can rotate in relation to the base pan, the drive shaft being coupled to the third motor and the third and fourth gear racks so that torque generated by the third motor is transmitted to the third and fourth gear racks by way of the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A seating system, comprising:
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a frame mountable on a mounting surface within a motor vehicle and comprising a first and a second gear rack; a carriage assembly mounted on the frame and translating linearly in relation to the frame, the carriage assembly comprising a first motor coupled to the first gear rack so that the carriage assembly translates in relation to the frame when the first motor is activated; a base assembly mounted on the carriage assembly and rotating in relation to the carriage assembly, the base assembly comprising a second and a third motor, the second motor being coupled to the second gear rack so that the base assembly rotates in relation to the carriage assembly when the second motor is activated; a trolley assembly mounted on the base assembly and translating linearly in relation to the base assembly, the trolley assembly comprising a third gear rack, the third motor being coupled to the third gear rack so that the trolley assembly translates in relation to the carriage assembly when the third motor is activated; a seat mounted on the trolley assembly, wherein the seat translates in a first direction between a first position and a second position in response to the linear translation of the carriage assembly in relation to the frame; and
the seat translates in a second direction between the second position and a third position in response to the linear translation of the trolley assembly in relation to the base assembly; anda controller for directing the seat along a pre-programmed path between the first and third positions, the controller comprising firmware, and memory storage having information stored thereon representing waypoints defining the pre-programmed path, wherein the controller executes the firmware, and selectively causes the first, second, and/or third motors to be activated and deactivated so as to define the motion of the seat between the first and third position based on the waypoints. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A seating system, comprising:
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a frame mountable on a mounting surface within a motor vehicle and comprising a first and a second gear rack; a carriage assembly mounted on the frame and translating linearly in relation to the frame, the carriage assembly comprising a first motor coupled to the first gear rack so that the carriage assembly translates in relation to the frame when the first motor is activated; a base assembly mounted on the carriage assembly and rotating in relation the carriage assembly, the base assembly comprising a second and a third motor, the second motor being coupled the second gear rack so that the base assembly rotates in relation to the carriage assembly when the second motor is activated; a seat; and a trolley assembly having the seat mounted thereon, the trolley assembly being mounted on the base assembly and translating linearly in relation to the base assembly, the trolley assembly comprising a third and a fourth substantially L-shaped gear rack, wherein the third motor is coupled to the third gear rack so that the trolley assembly and the seat translate horizontally and vertically in relation to the base assembly due to the substantial L-shape of the third and fourth gear racks when the third motor is activated and the frame is mounted on a mounting surface having a substantially horizontal orientation.
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Specification