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Motor vehicle chair system for physically disabled personsMotor vehicle chair system for physically disabled persons description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070194607, Motor vehicle chair system for physically disabled persons. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION [0001]This application claims the benefit, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e), of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/765,233 filed Feb. 3, 2006, entitled "MOTOR VEHICLE CHAIR SYSTEM FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS" by Simon Dudai, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [0002]Some references, which may include patents, patent applications and various publications, are cited and discussed in the description of this invention. The citation and/or discussion of such references is provided merely to clarify the description of the present invention and is not an admission that any such reference is "prior art" to the invention described herein. All references cited and discussed in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and to the same extent as if each reference was individually incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003]The present invention generally relates to a motor vehicle chair system, and in particular relates to a mobile seat system for a wheelchair user driver and/or passenger. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004]Those people who have lost the ability to stand and walk, either temporarily or permanently, usually wish to remain a part of active society and move about on their own terms. Conventional wheelchairs present certain obstacles to freedom of movement, especially in situations where a wheelchair must interact with other forms of transportation. This is particularly true in relation to private vehicle transportation. [0005]Currently available wheelchairs are not suited for seating in the driver position of a motor vehicle due to the steering wheel and the driver's door column, called the "B" column. These two interfering items prevent a wheelchair user driver from exiting the vehicle while still seated in his or her driver seat. [0006]Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies, especially in connection with the making of a driver seat for a wheelchair user driver that can allow the driver to exit a motor vehicle while seated in his driver seat and transfer to his power chair or manual wheelchair outside the vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a motor vehicle chair system for a wheelchair user driver. The motor vehicle chair system includes a driver seat system that has a fixed portion, a mobile seat portion and a lifting mechanism. [0008]The fixed portion has an upper seatback member and a supporting member operatively coupled to the upper seatback member. The supporting member includes a mounting plate that is adapted to be mounted onto floor of a motor vehicle. [0009]The mobile seat portion is moveably coupled to the fixed portion and includes a seat member and a lower seatback member that is operatively coupled to and located between the seat member and the upper seat back member of the fixed portion. [0010]The lifting mechanism, which is operatively coupled to the mobile seat portion, includes a lifting portion, a horizontal arm and a drive mechanism. The lifting portion is located beneath the mobile seat portion and has a first member and a second member that extends approximately slant to first member. In addition, the lifting portion has a front end and a rear end that includes a sliding mechanism. The horizontal arm is pivotably and slidably mounted on the mounting plate of the fixed portion in such that the horizontal arm is capable of pivoting and sliding in a generally horizontal plane. The drive mechanism is connected to the horizontal arm and operatively coupled to the lifting portion for horizontal and vertical movement. Moreover, the lifting portion is operatively coupled to the horizontal arm whereby the drive mechanism moves the mobile seat portion relative to the horizontal arm in such that the mobile seat portion is capable of swiveling around within a space between a steering wheel and B column, moving horizontally and vertically and exiting and re-entering a motor vehicle. [0011]Additionally, the driver seat system comprises a motor that is connected to the lifting mechanism. Furthermore, a set of controls is mounted onto the lifting mechanism and operatively connected to the motor, whereby an occupant of the driver seat system can operate the lifting mechanism to position the mobile seat portion of the driver seat system. [0012]Optionally, the lower seatback member and the seat of the driver seat system are relatively moveable to a degree so as to change an angle formed between the seat member and the lower seatback member. [0013]In one embodiment, the motor vehicle chair system of the present invention further comprises a wheelchair system that includes a wheelchair and a docking mechanism. The docking mechanism comprises a lifting portion, a horizontal arm and a drive mechanism. The lifting portion has a horizontal member and a vertical member extending approximately normal to the horizontal member, and a front end and a rear end with a sliding mechanism. The horizontal arm is slidably mounted on a mounting plate that is secured onto floor behind the driver seat of the motor vehicle in such that the horizontal arm is capable of sliding in a generally horizontal plane. The drive mechanism is connected to the horizontal arm and operatively coupled to the lifting portion for horizontal and vertical movement. Moreover, the wheelchair is detachably docked with the docking mechanism, and the lifting portion is operatively coupled to the horizontal arm, whereby the drive mechanism moves the wheelchair relative to the horizontal arm in such that the wheelchair is capable of exiting and/or entering the motor vehicle from behind a driver seat thereof. [0014]Additionally, the wheelchair system further includes a motor that is connected to the docking mechanism thereof. Furthermore, a set of controls is mounted onto the wheelchair and operatively coupled to the motor of the wheelchair system, whereby an occupant of the wheelchair can operate the docking mechanism of the wheelchair system when the wheelchair is docked with the docking mechanism. [0015]Another embodiment of the present invention is a motor vehicle chair system that comprises a driver seat system and a wheelchair system, each having respective features as identified above. [0016]Yet another embodiment of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle chair system having a driver seat system that includes components as follows. The driver seat system includes a fixed portion, a mobile seat portion and a lifting mechanism. The fixed portion includes a mounting plate that is adapted to be mounted onto floor of a motor vehicle. The mobile seat portion is moveably coupled to the fixed portion, and the lifting mechanism is operatively coupled to the mobile seat portion. Moreover, the lifting mechanism includes a lifting portion, a horizontal arm and a drive mechanism. The lifting portion is operatively connected to the mobile seat portion. The horizontal arm is pivotably and slidably mounted on the mounting plate of the fixed portion in such that the horizontal arm is capable of pivoting and sliding in a generally horizontal plane. The drive mechanism is connected to the horizontal arm and operatively coupled to the lifting portion for horizontal and vertical movement. Furthermore, the lifting portion is operatively coupled to the horizontal arm whereby the drive mechanism moves the mobile seat portion relative to the horizontal arm in such that the mobile seat portion is capable of swiveling around within a space between a steering wheel and B column, moving horizontally and vertically and exiting and re-entering a motor vehicle. [0017]Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle chair system comprising a wheelchair system that includes a wheelchair and a docking mechanism. The docking mechanism comprises a lifting portion, a horizontal arm and a drive mechanism. The lifting portion is operatively coupled to the wheelchair. The horizontal arm is slidably mounted on a mounting plate, which is secured onto floor behind the driver seat of the motor vehicle, in such that the horizontal arm is capable of sliding in a generally horizontal plane. The drive mechanism is connected to the horizontal arm and operatively coupled to the lifting portion for horizontal and vertical movement. Moreover, the wheelchair is detachably docked with the docking mechanism, and the lifting portion is operatively coupled to the horizontal arm whereby the drive mechanism moves the wheelchair relative to the horizontal arm in such that the wheelchair is capable of exiting and/or entering the motor vehicle from behind a driver seat thereof. The wheelchair system further includes a motor that is connected to the docking mechanism of the wheelchair system. A set of controls is mounted onto the wheelchair and operatively coupled to the motor of the wheelchair system, whereby an occupant of the wheelchair can operate the docking mechanism of the wheelchair system when the wheelchair is docked with the docking mechanism. [0018]Yet in another embodiment, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle chair system comprising a driver seat system and a wheelchair system as follows: [0019]The driver seat system includes a fixed portion, a mobile seat portion and a lifting mechanism. The fixed portion includes a mounting plate that is adapted to be mounted onto floor of a motor vehicle. The mobile seat portion is moveably coupled to the fixed portion, and the lifting mechanism is operatively coupled to the mobile seat portion. Moreover, the lifting mechanism includes a lifting portion, a horizontal arm and a drive mechanism. The lifting portion is operatively connected to the mobile seat portion. The horizontal arm is pivotably and slidably mounted on the mounting plate of the fixed portion in such that the horizontal arm is capable of pivoting and sliding in a generally horizontal plane. The drive mechanism is connected to the horizontal arm and operatively coupled to the lifting portion for horizontal and vertical movement. Furthermore, the lifting portion is operatively coupled to the horizontal arm whereby the drive mechanism moves the mobile seat portion relative to the horizontal arm in such that the mobile seat portion is capable of swiveling around within a space between a steering wheel and B column, moving horizontally and vertically and exiting and re-entering a motor vehicle. Additionally, a motor is connected to the lifting mechanism of driver seat system, and a set of controls is mounted onto the lifting mechanism and operatively connected to the motor, whereby an occupant of the driver seat system can operate the lifting mechanism to position the mobile seat portion of the driver seat system. [0020]The wheelchair system includes a wheelchair and a docking mechanism. The docking mechanism comprises a lifting portion, a horizontal arm and a drive mechanism. The lifting portion is operatively coupled to the wheelchair. The horizontal arm is slidably mounted on a mounting plate secured onto floor behind the driver seat of the motor vehicle in such that the horizontal arm is capable of sliding in a generally horizontal plane. The drive mechanism is connected to the horizontal arm and operatively coupled to the lifting portion for horizontal and vertical movement. Moreover, wheelchair is detachably docked with the docking mechanism, and the lifting portion is operatively coupled to the horizontal arm whereby the drive mechanism moves the wheelchair relative to the horizontal arm in such that the wheelchair is capable of exiting and/or entering the motor vehicle from behind a driver seat thereof. The wheelchair system further includes a motor that is connected to the docking mechanism of the wheelchair system. A set of controls is mounted onto the wheelchair and operatively coupled to the motor of the wheelchair system, whereby an occupant of the wheelchair can operate the docking mechanism of the wheelchair system when the wheelchair is docked with the docking mechanism. Continue reading about Motor vehicle chair system for physically disabled persons... Full patent description for Motor vehicle chair system for physically disabled persons Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Motor vehicle chair system for physically disabled persons patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Motor vehicle chair system for physically disabled persons or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Vehicle roof panel having surface simulative of cloth Next Patent Application: Foldable chair Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Motor vehicle chair system for physically disabled persons patent info. 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