AU766829B2

AU766829B2 - Vehicle seat and stand for vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: AU766829B2
Application number: AU30174/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Frank Devries
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-28
Filing date: 2000-04-27
Publication date: 2003-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-27
Also published as: AU3017400A

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: FRANK DEVRIES FRANK DEVRIES SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 Robinson Street, DANDENONG VIC 3175 VEHICLE SEAT AND STAND FOR VEHICLE

SEAT

Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PQ0017 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 2000-04-2.A:A272devrics.fie.wpd, I la- TITLE: VEHICLE SEAT AND STAND FOR VEHICLE SEAT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to both a vehicle seat, and a vehicle seat and stand in combination, suitable for road, rail, air, water and other vehicles. It is particularly concerned with the modification of vehicles for the accommodation of persons in wheelchairs and the like.

2000-04-27.A:\204devries.prov.wpd, I -2- PRIOR ART Road vehicles are typically modified to accommodate a person in a wheelchair by removing the front passenger seat in order to provide a space in which a wheelchair can be accommodated with the incapacitated person remaining in the wheelchair in the normal front passenger space. In many cases, the vehicle is a van and the person in the wheelchair accesses the van via a ramp or lift through the rear door or the rear side door and then is wheeled forward into the front passenger space. One drawback with this type of arrangement is that removal of the front seat detracts from the usefulness of the vehicle for normal passenger transport in that the standard passenger seat has been removed. Of •course a similar situation exists ifa rear seat has been removed in order to accommodate a wheelchair rather than the front passenger seat and it will be appreciated that although the invention will be generally described with reference to the front passenger seat it is not limited to such application. It will also be appreciated that while the invention is primarily directed to a van-type vehicle, it could be used with other types of vehicles S .although perhaps with less advantage.

One object of the invention is to provide a stand for a vehicle and a vehicle seat and stand in combination which can be readily folded from an operative position in which a passenger can be seated in a fairly normal travelling position to a stowed position in which the passenger space can accommodate a person seated in a wheelchair, or other load.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a stand for a vehicle seat which can have provision for anchoring of the seat belt buckle, and which can carry the typical impact loading from a seat belt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view, the invention in one aspect resides broadly in a stand for a vehicle seat including:a first mounting base adapted to be operatively mounted to the floor of a vehicle and a 2OOO-4-27,A:UO4devrie.provwpd,2 -3second mounting base adapted to be mounted to the floor of the vehicle rearwardly of said first mounting base; a mounting frame on which a vehicle seat may be mounted, said mounting frame having a first end and a second end and being movable from an operative position in which the vehicle seat is in a normal seating location and a stowed position in which the vehicle seat is remote from the normal seating location and allows access for a wheel chair in the normal seating location; forward support means for supporting the first end of said mounting frame in said operative position and said stowed position, said forward support means having an upper •""end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said mounting frame for pivoting movement of said mounting frame relative to said forward support means from said operative position to said stowed position about a first horizontal axis and at its lower end to said first mounting base for pivoting movement about a second horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis; rearward support means for supporting the second end of said mounting frame above said first mounting base in said operative position, said rearward support means having an upper end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said mounting frame S-••.for pivoting movement of said mounting frame relative to said rearward support means from said operative position to said stowed position about a third horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis, said rearward support means being selectively connectable at its lower end to said second mounting base, and stabilising means connected to said frame assembly and adapted to be selectively operatively connected or attached to said first base or the vehicle for preventing movement of said frame assembly when in said operative position.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a vehicle seat and stand in combination including:a first mounting base adapted to be operatively mounted to the floor of a vehicle and a 2000-04-27,A:\24dvriesprov.wpd,3 second mounting base adapted to be mounted to the floor of the vehicle rearwardly of said first mounting base; a vehicle seat having a forward end and a rearward end and being movable from an operative position in which it is in a normal seating location and a stowed position in which it is remote from the normal seating location and allows access for a wheel chair in the normal seating location; forward support means for supporting the forward end of said seat in said operative position and said stowed position, said forward support means having an upper end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said vehicle seat for pivoting "movement of said vehicle seat relative to said forward support means from said operative position to said stowed position about a first horizontal axis and at its lower end to said first mounting base for pivoting movement about a second horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis; *o "rearward support means for supporting the rearward end of said vehicle seat above said first mounting base in said operative position, said rearward support means having an upper end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said vehicle seat for pivoting movement of said vehicle seat relative to said rearward support means from said operative position to said stowed position about a third horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis, said rearward support means being selectively connectable at its lower end to said second mounting base, and stabilising means connected to said vehicle seat and adapted to be selectively operatively connected or attached to said first base or the vehicle for preventing undesirable movement of said vehicle seat when in said operative position.

Terms such as upper, lower, forward, rearward, base, top and side are used herein for the purpose of description and illustration of the invention in the position it would normally be used in the front seat passenger position of a vehicle and are not intended to limit the invention to use in any particular orientation.

2000-04-27.A:\2O4dvries.prv.wpd,4 PREFERRED ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION Preferably, the mounting frame is movable from an operative position in a passenger space in which the vehicle seat faces the front windscreen of the vehicle to a stowed position in which it is stowed forward of the passenger space. In the case of a front passenger seat, it is preferred that the mounting frame be stowable against the dash of the vehicle. In such case it is also preferred that part of the forward support means be shaped to rest against the front passenger floor when in the stowed position thereby bearing most of the weight of the seat and the stand.

Preferably, the rearward support means is adapted to substantially cover the forward ~support means and the stabilising means when the stand is in the stowed position thereby •protecting a wheelchair passenger from injury to knees etc. It is also preferred that the rearward support means be padded on the rearward side or at least is adapted to receive padding thereon if desired to further protect wheelchair passengers.

S* Preferably, the stabilising means is an elongate member pivotally connected to the frame assembly at or near its second end or at or near the rear end of the vehicle seat and adapted to engage with the first mounting base and to bear a compressive load in the operative position. In such form of the invention it is also preferred that the stabilising omeans be adapted to hang within the bounds of the mounting frame when in the stowed "position thereby allowing increased space for a wheelchair passenger.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect; reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a pictorial representation of a stand for a vehicle seat according to the invention in an operative seating position; and Figure 2 is a pictorial representation of the stand of Figure 1 in a stowed position.

The stand 10 illustrated in the drawings is adapted to be mounted in the front passenger seat space of a passenger van type vehicle and to be moved from an operative seating 2000-04-27.A:\24devric.prv.wpd.

position shown in Figure 1 to a stowed position as shown in Figure 2. The stand includes six main components, being a forward mounting base 11 adapted to be bolted to the floor of the vehicle shown schematically as item 15 in a position immediately under the normal passenger seat, a forward support frame 12 pivotally mounted at its lower end to the mounting base, a seat mounting frame 13 pivotally mounted at its forward end to the upper end of the forward support frame, a rearward support frame 14 pivotally mounted at its upper end to the seat mounting frame near its rearward end, a rearward mounting base 16 adapted to be bolted to the floor of the vehicle in a position immediately behind the normal passenger seat and adapted to secure the rearward support frame, and a stabilising member 17 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the rearward end of the seat mounting frame and engaged at its lower end with the forward mounting base.

These components and their respective arrangement will now be described in more detail.

0 The forward support frame 12 has a U-shaped upper frame portion 18 with a base portion 18a and two leg portions 18b, and a lower floor engagement portion 19 welded at one end to the base portion 18a, and pivotally mounted at its other end to the forward mounting base by a pivot pin 20 which extends through aligned apertures in the mounting base and the floor engagement portion 19 for movement about a horizontal axis 20a. The floor engagement portion is shaped to rest on the front passenger seat floor of the vehicle when the stand is in the stowed position with the U-shaped frame portion 18 extending upwardly slightly rearward of the dash of the vehicle.

The seat mounting frame 13 is also substantially U-shaped with a base portion 13a and two leg portions 13b, and rests substantially horizontally when the stand is in the operative seating position and substantially vertically when in the stowed position, the U opening forward in the operative position with the free ends of the respective leg portions being pivotally mounted to the free ends of the leg portions 18b of upper frame portion 18 by pivot pins 21 extending through aligned apertures in the free ends of both sets of legs for movement about axis 21 a. It will be seen that the forward support frame supports the forward end of the seat mounting frame in the operative position as shown in Figure 1 and also in the stowed position shown in Figure 2.

A pair of spaced apart lugs 28 is welded to the seat mounting frame centrally of the base 2000-04-27.A:\204devries.provwpd6 -7portion 13a and the stabilising member 17 is pivotally mounted thereto by a pivot pin 29 which extends through aligned apertures provided in the lugs and the upper end of the stabilising member. The other end of the stabilising member is located in a recess 32 provided in the forward mounting base when in the operative position, the lower end of the stabilising member being adapted to abut or lock into the base wall of the recess 33 as more clearly shown in Figure 2 in order to transmit downloads and forward or upward and rearward loads thereto.

The rearward support frame is folded or pressed from sheet metal and is pivotally mounted to the seat mounting frame forward of its rear end 23 by pivot pins 24 which extend through aligned apertures in the rearward support frame and the respective legs of the seat mounting frame for movement about axis 24a, and supports the rearward end when in the operative position. Spaced apart channels 26 are provided in the rearward support frame and are adapted to receive therein the respective legs of the U-shaped seat 15 mounting frame when in the stowed position. Furthermore, a centrally located channel 27 is also provided for receiving therein the stabilising member 17 when in the stowed position.

In use for a forward facing seat in a road vehicle, a vehicle seat is bolted or otherwise secured to the upper face of the seat mounting frame 13 with the forward edge of the seat being normally forward of the free ends of the legs 13b so that a passenger on the seat S. would not normally foul their legs on the forward support frame 12. When the passenger space is required for a wheelchair passenger, the seat backrest is fully laid forward and the rearward support frame released from the rearward mounting base 16. The rearward mounting base is a simple latch which engages with a loop 30 on the rearward support frame and secures it against up and down and forward and rearward movement. Once the rearward support frame has been released, the seat mounting frame 13 and the seat attached can be raised sufficiently to release the lower end of the stabilising member from the recess 32 and then the forward support frame can be pivoted forwards and downwards whereupon the floor engaging portion 19 can rest on the front passenger floor while the seat mounting frame is moved to a generally vertical attitude adjacent the dash of the vehicle with the normal car seat backrest creating a cushion between the seat mounting frame and the dash. It will be seen that the stabilising member 17 will pivot about the 2000-04-27A:\204devrics.provwpd,7 -8pivot pin 29 to a generally vertical attitude and similarly the rearward support frame, the rearward support frame substantially covering the stabilising member and the legs 13b of the seat mounting frame. The stand can be secured in this position by opposed securing pins 36 which pass through aligned apertures 37 in the rearward support frame and the forward support frame. It will be appreciated that when the stand and attached seat is in this position, the normal passenger space is available for a wheelchair passenger. The wheelchair passenger can gain access to the van through the rear side door or the rear door in the normal manner and be wheeled forward to the front passenger position with the wheels of the wheelchair straddling the forward mounting base and possibly the floor engaging portion 19. If desired the wheelchair may be fitted with a osecuring mechanism adapted to complement the forward mounting base or the rearward ".mounting base to prevent movement and the person in the wheelchair may be restrained °by the normal vehicles seatbelt. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the normal vehicle seatbelt connection is reused or dispensed with and a seatbelt connection is provided which is attached to at least one mounting point on the seat.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing description has been give by way of illustrative example of the invention, all other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. For example, the foregoing description with reference to the drawing is of a stand, and seat and stand combination, in which the seat faces forward in a passenger vehicle. According to alternative embodiments of the invention, a rearward or side facing seat is mounted on a stand according to the present invention.

2000-04-27,A:\204dvries. prov.wpd,8

Claims

1. A stand for a vehicle seat, which stand includes:- a first mounting base adapted to be operatively mounted to the floor of a vehicle and a second mounting base adapted to be mounted to the floor of the vehicle rearwardly of said first mounting base; a mounting frame on which a vehicle seat may be mounted, said mounting frame having a first end and a second end and being movable from an operative position in which the vehicle seat is in a normal seating location and a stowed position in which the vehicle seat is remote from the normal seating location and allows access for a wheel chair in the normal seating location; ooo# forward support means for supporting the first end of said mounting frame in said operative position and said stowed position, said forward support means having an upper end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said mounting frame for pivoting movement of said mounting frame relative to said forward support means from said operative position to said stowed position about a first horizontal axis and at its lower end to said first mounting base for pivoting movement about a second horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis; rearward support means for supporting the second end of said mounting frame above said first mounting base in said operative position, said rearward support means having an upper end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said mounting frame for pivoting movement of said mounting frame relative to said rearward support means from said operative position to said stowed position about a third horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis, said rearward support means being selectively connectable at its lower end to said second mounting base, and stabilising means connected to said frame assembly and adapted to be selectively operatively connected or attached to said first base or the vehicle for preventing

2000-04.27,A:\2O4devries.provwpd9 movement of said frame assembly when in said operative position.

2. Apparatus including, in combination, a vehicle seat and stand, the combination including:- a first mounting base adapted to be operatively mounted to the floor of a vehicle and a second mounting base adapted to be mounted to the floor of the vehicle rearwardly of said first mounting base; a vehicle seat having a forward end and a rearward end and being movable from ~an operative position in which it is in a normal seating location and a stowed "-••°position in which it is remote from the normal seating location and allows access for a wheel chair in the normal seating location; 15 forward support means for Supporting the forward end of said seat in said operative position and said stowed position, said forward support means having an upper end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said vehicle seat for pivoting movement of said vehicle seat relative to said forward support means from said operative position to said stowed position about a first horizontal •o 20 axis and at its lower end to said first mounting base for pivoting movement about a second horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis; rearward support means for supporting the rearward end of said vehicle seat above said first mounting base in said operative position, said rearward support means having an upper end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said vehicle seat for pivoting movement of said vehicle seat relative to said rearward support means from said operative position to said stowed position about a third horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis, said rearward support means being selectively connectable at its lower end to said second mounting base, and stabilising means connected to said vehicle seat and adapted to be selectively operatively connected or attached to said first base or the vehicle for preventing 2000-04-27,A:\24dcvries.provmpd,10 -11- undesirable movement of said vehicle seat when in said operative position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the mounting frame is movable from an operative position in a passenger space in which the vehicle seat faces the front windscreen of the vehicle to a stowed position in which it is stowed forward of the passenger space.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting frame is stowable against the dash of the vehicle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the forward support means is shaped to rest against the front passenger floor when in the stowed position thereby bearing most of the weight of the seat and the stand. *o 0 15

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rearward support means is adapted to substantially cover the forward support means and 0 the stabilising means when the stand is in the stowed position thereby protecting a wheelchair passenger from injury.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rearward support means is padded on the rearward side.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stabilising means is an elongate member pivotally connected to the frame assembly at of near its second end or at or near the rear end of the vehicle seat and adapted to engage with the first mounting base and to bear a compressive load in the operative position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the stabilising means is adapted to hang within the bounds of the mounting frame when in the stowed position. A stand for a vehicle seat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 or Claims 3 to 9, substantially as described with reference to the drawings. 2000-04-27,A:2O4derics.prov.wpdI I -12- 11. A stand for a vehicle seat, substantially as described with reference to the drawings. 12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 9, substantially as described with reference to the drawings. 13. Apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle seat and stand, substantially as described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 27 h day of April, 2000. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR FRANK DEVRIES oe *Ooeo 2000-04-2lA:UO4devriis.prov.wpd, 12