TITLE: A swivel seat mechanism for vehicles suitable for handicapped and aged passengers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

[001] The present invention relates to a swivel seat mechanism for vehicles, particularly for passenger vehicles. More particularly, the swivel seat mechanism is utilized to swivel the seat in outboard side for easy egress and ingress for the physically handicapped and old age passengers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

[002] Conventional vehicular seats in conventional passenger cars, often are not suitably equipped to accommodate ingress and egress of handicapped and elderly persons, for whom there may be considerable difficulty in doing so. Vehicular seats are known that seek to address the needs of elderly and handicapped persons. A swivel seats may consist, for example, of a simple vehicular seat that pivots about a vertical axis. Swivel seats may require a relatively large floor space within a vehicle, to allow for rotational and/or translational maneuvering of the seat as it transports a person in or out of the vehicle. Therefore, as a result, the interior of vehicles carrying swivel seats and the like may be unsightly and appear to be specially made for handicapped persons. Maneuvering of a swivel seat between a deployed position facing the outside of the vehicle and a resting position (secure and ready for motion of the vehicle), may further require rotation of a person's body, which is undesirable for some handicapped and aged passengers. Swivel seats may also face forwardly away from the vehicle in their deployed position and/or expose less than the full seat, thus potentially requiring a wheelchair-ridden person to step forward before he/she can transfer to a wheelchair. There are some existing developments in the field of swivel seats for passenger vehicles.

[003] US Patent No.: 5318339 disclose a portable apparatus for expeditiously seating a handicapped or elderly person in a vehicle. The device is mounted on a car seat and includes top and bottom members, which swivel relative to each other. The bottom member is removable fastened by a belt to the existing car seat.

[004] US Patent No.: 5390978 disclose a rotatable and displaceable seat, wherein a rotary plate is mounted on an oblong bottom plate in a manner which permits the former's longitudinal displacement. The bottom plate features a number of transverse grooves extending over its full width, between which grooves are formed articulating webs at the bottom and top face of the bottom plate around which articulating webs adjacent strips of the bottom plate can be folded relative to each another. The bottom plate forms in the area of the articulating webs a multi-member belt or band with a sprung flat-shape recovery action. The rotary plate features a central pin which can be moved from a locked position into an unlocked position and vice versa. In the locked position, the pin engages in a hole of the bottom plate to prevent the rotary plate from further displacement.

[005] US Patent No.: 6015188 disclose swivel seat for a vehicle that provides a fixed seating platform surrounding a swivel seating platform and a smooth transition from the edge of the vehicle seat to the seating platform. In one version of the invention the swivel seat includes a rotatable inner portion and a fixed outer portion surrounding the inner portion. Preferably, the inner portion is elevated above the surrounding outer portion only enough to allow the inner portion to rotate freely. That is, the inner and outer portions are nearly flush with one another. In a second version, the seat includes a rotatable seating platform and a curved lip disposed adjacent to and extending away from the seating platform. The lip is configured to conform generally to the edge of a vehicle seat to provide a smooth transition from the edge of the vehicle seat to the seating platform. These two novel features may be combined in a swivel seat that includes the two piece seating platform and the lip. In this third version of the invention, the seating platform has a rotatable, preferably round, inner portion and a fixed, preferably rectangular, outer portion surrounding the inner portion. The curved lip extends away from one side of the outer portion of the seating platform.

[006] There are severe drawbacks of the currently available swivel seat mechanism in the market. Those drawbacks are mechanisms come with factory fitted by OEM's hence expensive; mechanisms come with new customized seat, hence expensive and give a different look to vehicle; cannot be customized to all vehicles. Therefore in presence of the aforesaid back drop the present invention provides a design of a new independent swivel mechanism for vehicular seats, wherein the swivel mechanism can be customized to different vehicle types along with rotation angle.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION:

[007] The main objective of the present invention is to develop a swivel seat mechanism for a passenger car segment to swivel the seats in outboard side for easy egress and ingress for the physically handicap and old age people.

[008] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a swivel seat mechanism which can be fitted to any existing vehicle seat.

[009] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a swivel seat mechanism that can be customized to different vehicle types and rotation angle for comfort.

[010] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a swivel seat mechanism that can be customized without interfering with any surrounding vehicle parts.

[011] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a swivel seat mechanism which can be operated manually using a latch lever with two locking positions (Open and Close) for safety, wherein the swivel mechanism can be further motorized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[012] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a swivel seat mechanism for vehicles, especially for easy egress and ingress for the physically handicapped and old age passengers from the seat to outside of the vehicle, wherein the swivel seat mechanism can be customized to different vehicle types along with comfortable rotation angle operated manually using a latch lever with two locking positions (Open and Close) for safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

[013] The present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with the aid of the description which relates to preferred embodiments of the invention explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

Figure I Shows perspective views of the swivel mechanism for vehicular seat;

Figure II Shows different parts of the swivel mechanism shows in Figure I;

Figure III Shows (a) Seat Mounting holes as per seat on mechanism; (b) Floor Mounting holes as per floor;

Figure IV shows the sliding assembly incorporated in Figure I;

Figure V shows the bottom plate assembly incorporated in Figure I;

Figure VI shows the top plate assembly incorporated in Figure I;

Figure VII shows the bottom front raiser and bottom back raiser incorporated in Figure I;

Figure VIII shows link arm assembly incorporated in Figure I;

Figure IX shows the guard incorporated in Figure I;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

[014] The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

[015] Accordingly, in one embodiment with reference to Fig. I through Fig. IX, the present invention provides the overall swivel seat mechanism for vehicles.

[016] In one embodiment of the present invention the swivel seat mechanism according to Fig. II comprises of a sliding assembly 101, bottom plate assembly 102, top plate assembly 103, bottom front raiser 104, bottom back raiser 105, link arm assembly 106, guard 107.

[017] In another embodiment of the present invention the sliding assembly 101 according to Fig. IV comprises of a thrust bearing assembly 101(a) and linear bearing assembly 101 (b), wherein the linear bearing assembly 101 (b) mounting on the bottom plate assembly 102 and top plate assembly 103 mounting on the thrust bearing assembly 101 (a). Top plate assembly 103 rotates as well as sliding.

[018] In another embodiment of the present invention the bottom plate assembly 102 according to Fig. V comprises of a rear striker 115, stoppers 116, front striker 117, wherein the bottom plate assembly 102 mounting on mounting bracket and thrust bearing assembly 101 (a) mounted on it and stoppers 116 mounted at rear and front dead center of the carriage travel, whereas front striker 117 and rear striker 115 mounted at open and closed condition of the mechanism and a the link arm assembly 106 placed at defined position (rotation axis).

[019] In another embodiment of the present invention the top plate assembly 103 according to Fig. VI comprises of a latch assembly 120, lever assembly 121 and footrest 122, wherein top plate assembly 103 mounting on thrust bearing assembly 101 (a) and seat mounting on it. Top plate assembly 103 rotates as well as sliding and the total motion controlled by link arm assembly 106 attached to it. Latch assembly 120 attached to top plate assembly 103. This will give two position, design and open condition wherein a single latch with two strikers positioned in different place. Lever Assembly 121 mounting to top plate assembly 103 which actuate latch assembly 120 for engage and disengage. Footrest 122 is attached on top plate assembly 103 which is foldable in open and closed position.

[020] In another embodiment of the present invention according to Fig. VII which shows bottom front raiser 104 and bottom back raiser 105, wherein the complete mechanism mounted on raisers and connected with floor, that will also provide required height of the total swivel seat mechanism to come out from the vehicle.

[021] In another embodiment of the present invention the link assembly 106 according to Fig. VIII comprises of link arm 125 and pin 126, wherein center axis of rotation mounted on the bottom plate assembly 102. Link arm 125 rotating about Center axis of rotation which is part of bottom plate assembly 102, whereas one end connected to center of rotation and other end connected to Top plate assembly 103 and both the ends are allows for rotation, wherein link arm 125 split into two and joined with pin and it will absorb all the load of the passenger and does not transferring to the Center.

[022] In another embodiment of the present invention the guard 107 according to Fig. IX will just cover the mechanism and protecting passenger.

[023] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the design of the various elements or by substitution of equivalent methods, without thus departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

We Claim(s):

1. A swivel seat mechanism for vehicles suitable for handicapped and aged passengers, wherein the swivel seat mechanism comprises of a sliding assembly 101, bottom plate assembly 102, top plate assembly 103, bottom front raiser 104, bottom back raiser 105, link arm assembly 106, guard 107.

2. The swivel seat mechanism for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding assembly 101 comprises of a thrust bearing assembly 101(a) and a linear bearing assembly 101 (b), wherein the linear bearing assembly 101 (b) mounting on the bottom plate assembly 102 and top plate assembly 103 mounting on the thrust bearing assembly 101 (a) and subsequently top plate assembly 103 rotates as well as sliding.

3. The swivel seat mechanism for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom plate assembly 102 according comprises of a rear striker 115, stoppers 116, front striker 117, whereas the bottom plate assembly 102 mounting on mounting bracket and thrust bearing assembly 101 (a) mounted on it and stoppers 116 mounted at rear and front dead center of the carriage travel, whereas front striker 117 and rear striker 115 mounted at open and closed condition of the mechanism and a the link arm assembly 106 placed at defined position (rotation axis).

4. The swivel seat mechanism for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top plate assembly 103 comprises of a latch assembly 120, lever assembly 121 and footrest 122, wherein top plate assembly 103 mounting on thrust bearing assembly 101 (a) and seat mounting on it, top plate assembly 103 rotates as well as sliding and the total motion controlled by link arm assembly 106 attached to it, whereas latch assembly 120 attached to top plate assembly 103 and lever assembly 121 mounting to top plate assembly 103 which actuate latch assembly 120 for engage and disengage and footrest 122 is attached on top plate assembly 103 which is foldable in open and closed position.

5. The swivel seat mechanism for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the complete swivel seat mechanism mounted on bottom front raiser 104 and the bottom back raiser 105 connected with floor, which provides required height of the total swivel seat mechanism to come out from the vehicle.

6. The swivel seat mechanism for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link assembly 106 comprises of link arm 125 and pin 126, whereas center axis of rotation mounted on the bottom plate assembly 102 and link arm 125 rotating about Center axis of rotation which is part of bottom plate assembly 102, whereas one end connected to center of rotation and other end connected to top plate assembly 103 and both the ends are allows for rotation, wherein link arm 125 split into two and joined with pin and it will absorb all the load of the passenger and does not transferring to the Center.

7. The swivel seat mechanism for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guard 107 attached to the swivel seat mechanism in order to cover the mechanism and protecting passenger.