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Articulated seating system

  • US 8,936,295 B2
  • Filed: 11/01/2012
  • Issued: 01/20/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An articulated seating system comprising a user seat, the articulated seating system further comprising:

  • an adapter plate configured to be affixed to a motor vehicle at a driver'"'"'s seat position inside the motor vehicle;

    a user seat fore-aft slide assembly slidably coupled to the adapter plate and configured to move the user seat linearly fore and aft in a motor vehicle relative to the adapter plate;

    a user seat swivel assembly mounted to the fore-aft slide assembly using an off-center swivel post and configured to swivel the user seat to an extension position at least 90°

    relative to the direction of linear fore and aft movement; and

    a user seat extension assembly mounted to the swivel assembly and configured to move the user seat between an extension position in which the user seat has linearly moved forward and has rotated at least 90°

    relative to the direction of fore and aft movement and an access position that is lateral to and lower than the extension position;

    wherein the user seat is movable between the extension position and a drive position in which the fore-aft slide assembly, the swivel assembly and the extension assembly are substantially above the adapter plate and below the user seat and in which the user seat is facing in a forward orientation;

    further wherein the extension assembly comprises;

    a first carriage comprising a drive tab engaging a lift screw driven by an extension motor mounted to a weldment secured to the swivel assembly;

    a second carriage comprising the user seat;

    a drive shaft having a first end pivotably coupled to a linear rack mounted to the swivel assembly and having a second end pivotably coupled to the second carriage, the drive shaft controlling extension and retraction of the extension assembly by operation of the extension motor;

    a first push-rod having a first end pivotably coupled to the first carriage and having a second end pivotably coupled to the second carriage;

    a second push-rod having a first end pivotably coupled to the first carriage and having a second end pivotably coupled to the second carriage;

    a first support arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the first carriage and having a second end pivotably coupled to the second carriage, the first support arm having an underside channel engaging and at least partially enclosing a first extension guide roller rotatably mounted to the swivel assembly;

    a second support arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the first carriage and having a second end pivotably coupled to the second carriage, the second support arm having an underside channel engaging and at least partially enclosing a second extension guide roller rotatably mounted to the swivel assembly;

    wherein each support arm underside channel is shaped to control the vertical position of the user seat as the first and second support arms are extended and retracted relative to the first and second extension guide rollers; and

    further wherein the swivel assembly comprises;

    an over-plate;

    a swivel motor mounted to the weldment;

    a pinion coupled to the swivel motor, wherein the pinion engages an arcuate rack mounted to the under-plate;

    the off-center swivel post mounted to the over-plate; and

    the first and second guide rollers rotatably mounted to the over-plate.

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