U.S. patent application number 12/983809 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-08 for vehicle seat assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to 89908 INC., DBA AMP RESEARCH. Invention is credited to Bernard Leitner, Horst Leitner.
Application Number | 20110298262 12/983809 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37496976 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110298262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leitner; Horst ; et
al. |
December 8, 2011 |
VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A vehicle seat assembly that elevates and rotates to enhance
passenger seat access is disclosed. The vehicle seat assembly
includes a seat and a plurality of links pivotally coupled to a
lower surface of the seat at one end of each of the links and
pivotally mounted with respect to a vehicle floor at the opposite
end of each of the links. A motor may be used to drive at least one
link to actuate the seat.
Inventors: |
Leitner; Horst; (Laguna
Beach, CA) ; Leitner; Bernard; (Irvine, CA) |
Assignee: |
89908 INC., DBA AMP
RESEARCH
Irvine
CA
|
Family ID: |
37496976 |
Appl. No.: |
12/983809 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12368239 |
Feb 9, 2009 |
7871116 |
|
|
12983809 |
|
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|
11498304 |
Aug 1, 2006 |
7506910 |
|
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12368239 |
|
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|
60704368 |
Aug 1, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2002/0208 20130101;
B60N 2/14 20130101; B60N 2/1839 20130101; B60N 2/181 20130101; B60N
2/0232 20130101; B60N 2/06 20130101; B60N 2/1695 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/325 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/04 20060101
B60N002/04; B60N 2/10 20060101 B60N002/10; B60N 2/14 20060101
B60N002/14 |
Claims
1. A seat assembly comprising: a seat having a seating surface; and
a plurality of links; wherein each link is configured to be
pivotally mounted with respect to a floor of a vehicle such that it
rotates about an axis parallel to the floor and pivotally connected
to the seat; and wherein said axes of adjacent links are
nonparallel relative to each other.
2. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of links
comprises four links.
3. (canceled)
4. The seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base section
configured to mount to the floor of a vehicle, wherein the
plurality of links is pivotally mounted to the base section.
5. The seat assembly of claim 4, wherein the base section is
slidably mounted to the floor of the vehicle.
6. The seat assembly of claim 4, wherein the base section is
configured to removably mount to a vehicle.
7. The seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising spherical
bearings pivotally connecting the plurality of links to the seat.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/368,239, entitled "VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY,"
filed on Feb. 9, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. application
Ser. No. 11/498,304, entitled "VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY," filed on
Aug. 1, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/704,368, entitled "VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY," filed
on Aug. 1, 2005.
[0002] Also, this application hereby incorporates by reference the
above-identified applications, in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates generally to vehicle seats,
and more specifically to vehicle seats which are movable.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0004] Seating surfaces in vehicles such as cars, boats, airplanes,
and trains are often low relative to the floor of the vehicle. This
low seat surface height requires a passenger (as used herein, a
passenger of a vehicle includes any vehicle passenger and the
driver, pilot, or captain of that vehicle) to physically strain
themselves to sit down on or stand up from the seat. The physical
demands of lowering oneself to a low seating surface can be
exacerbated in the case of a vehicle such as a car, where a low
seating surface may be combined with a low ceiling and a small or
oddly-shaped door opening to require physical maneuvering bordering
on contortion to access or exit the vehicle seat. Moreover, the
physical difficulties in accessing vehicle seats are increased in
higher performance sports cars and sports sedans as high
performance cars often have lower ride heights and lower rooflines
than more traditional sedans, trucks, and vans, allowing for a
lower center of gravity and lower drag, both beneficial to overall
vehicle performance. Moreover, performance cars often have two
doors, which can make entry to and exit from these cars difficult
in tight parking quarters as the doors can not be opened as widely
as a shorter door on a four-door car. Therefore, there is a need
for a vehicle seat that assists a passenger in entry and exit from
the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Previous vehicle seats have offered elevation adjustment to
provide passenger adjustability while in a seated position, for
example to allow a passenger to select a comfortable seating
position or obtain a desirable view. However, these vehicle seats
have generally not been configured be height-adjustable to promote
vehicle entry and egress, and have not offered rotation
capabilities. Merely elevating the passenger often will not aid
access to the seat as a car passenger would then need to squeeze
out of a shorter opening between the vehicle roofline and a
now-elevated seat. Therefore, there is a need for a vehicle seat
that rotates a passenger towards the vehicle door, while elevating
the passenger to position the passenger for easy entry to or exit
from the vehicle.
[0006] Prior vehicle seats have combined elevation and rotation
functions of a vehicle seat to aid with loading and unloading of
the seat. But, these seats have featured multiple, complex
mechanisms to accommodate both the elevation and rotation of the
seat, leading to increased costs, manufacturing complexities, and
reliability concerns. Therefore, there is a need for a seat that
elevates and rotates through the use of a simple, robust mechanism
to provide enhanced access to a passenger seat.
[0007] In light of the shortcomings of the prior art as discussed
above, there is a need for a vehicle seat assembly that elevates
and rotates a passenger to enhance access to the vehicle's door and
assist the passenger in entering or exiting the vehicle. In various
embodiments, vehicle seat assemblies of the present invention
provide a vehicle seat that rotates and elevates with respect to
the floor of the vehicle to assist passenger ingress and
egress.
[0008] In certain embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly includes a
seat having a seating surface and a plurality of links, each link
having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of
each link is configured to be pivotally mounted with respect to a
floor of a vehicle. The second portion of each link is pivotally
connected to a lower surface of the seating surface. The pivotal
mounting of the first ends of each link defines an axis of rotation
for each link. The axes of rotation of every link of the plurality
of links intersect at a central area beneath the seat when the seat
is in a relaxed position. Typically, the first portion is the first
end and the second portion being the second end, though this is not
necessary. As used herein, "end" is a broad term and is not limited
to the outer most portion of the link.
[0009] In other embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly includes a
seat having a seating surface and a plurality of links, each link
having a first portion and a second portion. The firk portion of
each link is configured to be pivotally mounted with respect to a
floor of a vehicle. The second portion of each link is pivotally
coupled to a lower surface of the seating surface. The pivotal
mounting of each link defines a pair of axes of rotation for each
link. The seat assembly is movable between a first position in
which the axes of rotation for each of the plurality of links are
substantially parallel to the floor of the vehicle and the seating
surface and a second position in which the plurality of links are
transverse to the vehicle floor and the seating surface. When the
seating assembly is moved between the first and second positions,
the links cooperate to elevate and rotate the seat with respect to
the vehicle floor.
[0010] In other embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly includes a
seat and a single rotating linkage mechanism. The single rotating
linkage mechanism provides both elevation and rotation of the seat
relative to a vehicle floor.
[0011] In still other embodiments, methods of elevating and
rotating a vehicle seat are disclosed. The methods include the
steps of providing a seat assembly having a seating surface
pivotally mounted to a floor of a vehicle with a plurality of links
and driving at least one of the plurality of links from a first
position in which the at least one driven link is substantially
parallel to the vehicle floor and the seating surface towards a
second position in which the at least one driven link is transverse
to the vehicle floor and the seating surface. Each link of the
plurality of links has a first end and a second end. The first ends
of each of the plurality of links are pivotally mounted with
respect to the floor of the vehicle and the second ends of each of
the plurality of links are pivotally coupled to a lower surface of
the seating surface.
[0012] In yet other embodiments, methods of exiting a seat assembly
are disclosed. The methods include the steps of actuating a seat
assembly comprising a seat having a seating surface and standing up
off of the seat. The seat is pivotally mounted with respect to a
floor of a vehicle with a plurality of links each having a first
end and a second end. The first ends of each of the plurality of
links are pivotally mounted with respect to the floor of the
vehicle and the second ends of each of the plurality of links are
pivotally coupled to a lower surface of the seating surface. The
actuating step includes the step of moving the plurality of links
from a first position in which the links are substantially parallel
to the vehicle floor toward a second position in which the links
are transverse to the vehicle floor and the seating surface.
[0013] For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages
achieved over the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the
invention have been described above and as further described below.
Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such
objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any
particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those
skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be
embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one
advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without
necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught
or suggested herein.
[0014] All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope
of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of
the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled
in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention
not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s)
disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a vehicle
seat assembly in a partially elevated position;
[0016] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
vehicle seat assembly having a telescoping multiaxial joint in a
partially elevated position;
[0017] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly
of FIG. 1 in an elevated and rotated position;
[0018] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly
of FIG. 1B in an elevated and rotated position;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 1
A in an elevated and rotated position;
[0020] FIG. 4A is a top view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG.
1A in a partially elevated position;
[0021] FIG. 4B is a top view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG.
1A in a partially elevated position including a schematic diagram
of an attached electric motor;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a top view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 1A
with a superimposed schematic view of axes of rotation for each of
the links;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the axes of rotation of the
links of a three-link embodiment of a vehicle seat assembly;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a
three link vehicle seat assembly;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of four link embodiment of a
vehicle seat assembly in a lowered position;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a side view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG.
8;
[0027] FIG. 10A is a front view of the vehicle seat assembly of
FIG. 8;
[0028] FIG. 10B is a front view of the vehicle seat assembly of
FIG. 8 with a schematic diagram of two attached electric
motors;
[0029] FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly
of FIG. 8 in an elevated and rotated position;
[0030] FIG. 11B is a side view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG.
8 in an elevated and rotated position;
[0031] FIG. 11C is a front view of the vehicle seat assembly of
FIG. 8 in an elevated and rotated position;
[0032] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat assembly in
a lowered position;
[0033] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly
in an elevated and rotated position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Three Link Seat Assemblies
[0034] In certain embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle
seat assembly having three pivotable links is disclosed.
Specifically, with reference to FIGS. 1-7, various aspects of a
three-link vehicle seat assembly are illustrated. FIG. 1 depicts a
perspective view of a three link vehicle seat assembly of the
present invention. The vehicle seat assembly 100 comprises a seat
102 having a seating surface 104; and a plurality of links 106,
each link having a first portion desirably defining first end 108
and a second portion desirably defining a second end 110. In the
embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, a three-link seat assembly is
illustrated, although it is recognized that seat assemblies having
four or more links are also within the scope of the present
invention.
[0035] The seat 102 may be a standard vehicle seat, such as a car
seat, a boat seat, an airplane seat, or a train seat, having a
seating surface 104. Preferably, the seat 102 is a car seat having
a seating surface 104 and a back rest surface 105. In a multiseat
vehicle such as a passenger car, a vehicle seat assembly 100 as
disclosed herein may be used for one, some, or all of the seat
locations. The seating surface 104 has a lower surface 114 that may
be configured to be directly or indirectly pivotally coupled or
connected with the second ends 110 of each link 106 as further
described below.
[0036] Each of the plurality of links 106 is desirably comprised of
a substantially rigid material and, together, the plurality of
links 106 is capable of supporting the weight of the seat 102 and a
vehicle passenger. The links may be comprised of, for example, a
metal, plastic, composite, or other material having similar
rigidity and strength properties. In the disclosed embodiment, the
links are substantially thin and planar, so as to be compact and
facilitate packaging.
[0037] The first end 108 of each link is configured to be directly
or indirectly pivotally mounted or connected with respect to a
floor of a vehicle 112. This pivotal mounting may be made through
the use of a coupling known in the art to allow pivotal movement of
the link 106 with respect to the vehicle floor 112, but preferably
a pin-based hinge 124 is used to provide pivotal mounting. The
first end 108 of each link 106 may be pivotally coupled directly to
the vehicle floor 112. Alternately, to provide additional
adjustability of the vehicle seat 102, the first end 108 of each
link 106 may be attached to a base section 126 that is configured
to mount to the floor of a vehicle. This base section 126 may be
configured to mount to the vehicle floor 112 as known in the art.
For example, the base section 126 may be slidably attached to the
vehicle floor 112 on at least one rail or seat track. Alternately,
the base section 126 may be removably attached to the vehicle floor
112 such that the entire seat assembly 100 may be removed, for
example, to allow additional room for cargo.
[0038] The pivotal mounting of the first ends 108 of each link 106
with respect to the floor of the vehicle 112 defines an axis of
rotation 116, 118, 120 (FIGS. 5 and 6) for each link. FIG. 5 is a
top view of a vehicle seat assembly 100 with a superimposed
schematic view of the axes of rotation 116, 118, 120 of the links
106. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the axes of rotation 116, 118,
120 of the links 106. The axes of rotation 116, 118, 120 of each
link 106 intersect at a central area 122 beneath the seat 102.
Desirably, the central area has an area of approximately 64 square
inches such as the area defined by a generally square shape having
a side length of 8 inches. More desirably, the central area has an
area of approximately 4 square inches, such as the area defined by
a generally square shape having a side length of 2 inches.
Preferably, the axes of rotation intersect at substantially a
single point 510 beneath the seat 102. This intersection of the
axes of rotation 116, 118, 120 facilitates smooth elevation and
rotation of the seat 102 relative to the vehicle floor 112 by
pivoting the links 106 about their respective axes 116, 118, 120.
Thus, advantageously, both elevation and rotation of the seat 102
is accomplished through the three link assembly rather than the
complex separate elevation and rotation mechanisms of the prior
art. Advantageously, this single mechanism provides coordinated
elevation, and rotation of the seat results in smooth, reliable,
easy-to-use actuation of the seat to enhance passenger access.
[0039] With reference to FIGS. 1B and 2B, in some embodiments, the
vehicle seat assembly can include a telescoping ball joint 130
positioned approximately at the central area 122 of the seat. In
FIGS. 1B and 2B, the telescoping ball joint 130 is illustrated
schematically as it is contemplated that various ball joints can be
used in the seat assembly. Advantageously, the telescoping ball
joint 130 can move with and support the vehicle seat 102 over the
range of motion of the seating surface 104 during actuation of the
mechanism. Thus, loads on the links 106 can be reduced by the ball
joint 130. Moreover, in embodiments of vehicle seat assembly
including a ball joint 130, there can be additional tolerance for
minor misalignments of the links 106.
[0040] The second end 110 of each link 106 is pivotally coupled to
a lower surface 114 of the seating surface 104. This pivotal
coupling of the second end 110 may be accomplished with a coupling
known in the art to allow relative rotation each of the links 106
and the seating surface about two transverse axes. For example, the
pivotal coupling may be provided for each link 106 by a double
hinge assembly 128. Alternately, the pivotal coupling may be
provided by a spherical bearing 728 (FIG. 7) pivotally coupling
each link 106 to the seating surface 104. FIG. 7 depicts a
perspective view of a three-link embodiment of a seat assembly 100
having spherical bearings 728 pivotally coupling the links 106 to
the lower surface 114 of the seating surface 104.
[0041] The elevation and rotation of the vehicle seat assembly is
depicted in FIGS. 1-4. The seat assembly 100 is movable between a
first position in which the links 106 are substantially parallel to
the vehicle floor 112 and the seating surface 104 and a second
position in which the links 106 are transverse to the floor of the
vehicle 112 and the seating surface 104. During typical operation
of a vehicle such as driving a car, the seat 100 will remain in the
first position. The seat may be moved part way between the first
and second position during operation of the vehicle to adjust the
elevation and rotation of the seat relative to the vehicle to
enhance the view or the comfort of the passenger. The seat 100 may
be moved to the second position to facilitate entering or exiting
the vehicle. When the seat assembly 100 is moved between the first
and second positions, the seat 102 is elevated and rotated with
respect to the vehicle floor 112 to enhance passenger access and
facilitate passenger egress.
[0042] FIGS. 1 (perspective view) and 4 (top view) depict the seat
assembly 100 in a partially elevated position, having left the
first position, and moving towards the second position. FIGS. 2
(perspective view) and 3 (top view) depict the seat assembly 100 in
an elevated and rotated position closer to the second position.
Preferably, the links 106 are arranged such that in moving from the
first position to the second position, the seat 102 elevates a
passenger and rotates the legs of the passenger towards a vehicle
door such as a car door to ease exit from the seat 102. Likewise,
the vehicle seat 102 may be used to ease sitting down on a vehicle
seat by allowing a passenger to sit down on the seat in the second
position, then moving the vehicle seat from the second position to
the first position.
[0043] To assist with passenger ingress and egress of the vehicle,
the seat assembly 100 may be driven between the first position and
the second position by a motor 140 (FIG. 4B) driving the pivotal
rotation of one of the links 106. The motor 140 may be an electric
motor or a hydraulic actuator coupled to one of the links 106 via
an output shaft 142 (FIG. 4B). FIG. 4B illustrates a schematic
representation of a motor 140 and output shaft 142 with the seat
assembly 100. The passenger may control the motor using a door or
dashboard-mounted switch, button, dial, or other suitable control.
In three link embodiments of the seat assembly 100, a single motor
140 coupled to a single link 106 can be used to move the seat
between the first position and the second position. Alternately, in
other three-link embodiments, more two or more motors coupled to
one, two, or more links can be used to move the seat between the
first position and the second position. However, in four or more
link embodiments of the seat assembly 800, discussed below and
depicted in FIGS. 8-11, two or more motors 840, 842 (FIG. 10B)
acting on two or more links 806 may be required.
Four Link Seat Assemblies
[0044] Certain embodiments of the seat assembly include a pivotal
connection between the seat 802, the vehicle floor 812, and four
links 806. FIGS. 8-11 depict illustrative four-link embodiments.
With the exception of a fourth link 806, the structure and
operation of the four-link embodiments of the seat assembly 800 are
substantially identical to those of the three-link embodiments of
the seat assembly 100 (FIGS. 1-2) as described above. FIG. 8
(perspective view), FIG. 9 (side view), and FIG. 10 (front view)
illustrate a four-link embodiment of a seat assembly 800 in a first
position in which the links 806 are substantially parallel to the
vehicle floor 812 and the seat surface 804. FIGS. 11A (perspective
view), 11B (side view), and 11C (front view) illustrate a four-link
embodiment of a seat assembly 800 that has been moved towards the
second position in which the links 806 are transverse to the
vehicle floor 812 and the seating surface 804. As with the
three-link embodiments, links 806 are pivotally mounted with
respect to the vehicle floor 812 such that they define axes of
rotation that converge at a central area, desirably a central area
having a surface area of 64 square inches, more desirably a central
area having a surface area of 4 square inches, and preferably the
central area is substantially a single point, underneath the
seating surface 804.
[0045] Four-link embodiments of the seat assembly 800 may be
actuated to move between the first position and the second position
to assist ingress and egress of the seat. At least one motor 840,
842 (FIG. 10B), such as an electric motor or a hydraulic actuator,
may drive at least one link 806 to move the seat 802 from the first
position to the second position. FIG. 10B depicts a schematic
representation of two motors 840, 842 coupled to two links 806 via
respective output shafts 844, 846. The movement of the seat 802
from the first to the second positions causes the seat surface 804
to elevate and rotate.
[0046] Although FIGS. 8-11 depict spherical bearings 828 pivotally
connecting the second ends 810 of the links 806 to the seating
surface 804, other couplings known in the art may alternately be
used. For example double hinges 128 such as are illustrated in
FIGS. 1-2 may be used in the four-link embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 8-11.
[0047] With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 another embodiment of
vehicle seat assembly 100' is depicted. The vehicle seat assembly
100' is structurally and functionally similar to the embodiment
described above with respect to FIGS. 1-7. As depicted in FIGS. 12
and 13, the vehicle seat assembly 100' comprises a bucket seat 102'
as can be used in an automobile. The vehicle seat assembly 100'
comprises a seat 102' having a seating surface 104'; and a
plurality of links 106', each link having a first portion desirably
defining first end 108' and a second portion desirably defining a
second end 110'. The seat 102' can be mounted on a pair of rails
140 such that it can be slid forwards and rearwards with respect to
the floor of the vehicle such that a vehicle occupant's position
can be easily adjusted. The second ends 110' of the links 106' can
be coupled to the rails 140, coupled to frame members connected to
the rails 140, or coupled to a seat base plate joined to the rails
to allow forward and rearward adjustability of the seat 102' as
well as elevation and rotation for ease of ingress and egress.
Method of Elevating and Rotating a Vehicle Seat Assembly
[0048] Another aspect of the seat assemblies of the present
invention is a method of elevating and rotating a vehicle seat. The
method includes the steps of providing a seat assembly comprising a
seat having a seating surface wherein the seat is pivotally mounted
with respect to a floor of a vehicle with a plurality of links
having a first portion desirably defining first end and a second
portion desirably defining a second end, wherein the first ends of
each of the plurality of links are pivotally mounted with respect
to the floor of the vehicle and the second ends of each of the
plurality of links are pivotally coupled to a lower surface of the
seating surface; and driving at least one of the plurality of links
from a first position in which the at least one driven link is
substantially parallel to the floor of the vehicle and the seating
surface towards a second position in which the at least one driven
link is transverse to the floor of the vehicle and the seating
surface. The driving step may be accomplished with at least one
motor such as an electric motor or hydraulic actuator. Where the
provided seat assembly comprises three pivoting links, driving a
single link between the first and second positions will elevate and
rotate the seat with respect to the floor of the vehicle. Where the
provided seat assembly comprises four or more pivoting links, the
driving step may comprise driving more than one link to elevate and
rotate the seat with respect to the floor of the vehicle.
Method of Exiting a Vehicle Seat
[0049] Yet another aspect of the seat assemblies of the present
invention is a method of exiting a vehicle seat. The method
includes the steps of actuating a seat assembly comprising a seat
having a seating surface wherein the seat is pivotally mounted with
respect to a floor of a vehicle with a plurality of links having a
first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of each of the
plurality of links are pivotally mounted with respect to the floor
of the vehicle and the second ends of each of the plurality of
links are pivotally coupled to a lower surface of the seating
surface; and standing up off of the seat. Advantageously, this
method facilitates exit of a vehicle by a passenger as the
passenger will be elevated and rotated towards the vehicle's door.
This method particularly eases the difficulties associated with
exiting a small, low car such as a sports car.
[0050] Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of
certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends
beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative
embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications
and equivalents thereof. Further, the various features of this
invention can be used alone, or in combination with other features
of this invention other than as expressly described above. Thus, it
is intended that the scope of the present invention herein
disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed
embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a
fair reading of the claims that follow.
* * * * *