Track and seat adapter for positioning and locking wheelchairs and transit seats

Abstract

A track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle, having a first rail having a frame, the frame having a top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a longitudinal axis. The track assembly further includes a plurality of apertures having a shape, the apertures evenly distributed within the top surface along the longitudinal axis of the frame, a plurality of channels connecting the first and second side surfaces proximate the top surface, the channels evenly distributed along the longitudinal axis of the frame, and a second rail identical to and arranged in parallel with the first rail to form the track assembly.

1 . A track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle, comprising:
 a first rail having a frame, said frame comprising a top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of apertures having a shape, said apertures evenly distributed within said top surface along said longitudinal axis of said frame;   a plurality of channels connecting said first and second side surfaces proximate said top surface, said channels evenly distributed along said longitudinal axis of said frame; and, a second rail identical to and arranged in parallel with said first rail to form said track assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle recited in  claim 1  wherein said first shape is an elongated quadrilateral. 
     
     
         3 . The track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle recited in  claim 1  wherein said first shape is a rectangle. 
     
     
         4 . The track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle recited in  claim 1  wherein said channels further comprise a first lip having alternating straight and arcuate portions and a second lip opposite from said first lip wherein said second lip comprises respective alternating straight and arcuate portions which are aligned with the alternating straight and arcuate portions of said first lip. 
     
     
         5 . The track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle recited in  claim 1  wherein said channels are arranged at an angle in relation to said apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle recited in  claim 5  wherein said angle is approximately 45 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle recited in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of apertures and said plurality of channels are alternately arranged. 
     
     
         8 . The track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle recited in  claim 1  wherein at least one aperture of said plurality of apertures overlaps at least one channel of said plurality of channels. 
     
     
         9 . The track assembly for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle recited in  claim 1  wherein said frame further comprises a reinforcement means. 
     
     
         10 . A rail for positioning and removably securing wheelchairs and transit seats in a vehicle, comprising:
 a frame, said frame comprising a top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of apertures having a shape, said apertures evenly distributed within said top surface along said longitudinal axis of said frame; and, a plurality of channels connecting said first and second side surfaces proximate said top surface, said channels evenly distributed along said longitudinal axis of said frame.   
     
     
         11 . A seat adapter for a floor-mounted track for a transportation vehicle for positioning and removably securing transit seats, comprising:
 a housing having a locking means pivotally secured to said housing, said locking means comprising:
 at least one cam; 
 at least one lever fixedly secured to said housing and said at least one cam 
 a rung fixedly secured to said at least one lever; 
   wherein to lockingly engage said seat adapter to said track, said at least one cam is aligned with an aperture of said track and said rung is depressed, which, in turn, depresses said at least one lever, and, said at least one cam hooks under said aperture of said track.   
     
     
         12 . The seat adapter for a floor-mounted track for a transportation vehicle for positioning and removably securing transit seats recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a first extension member opposite a second extension member secured to a first and second rear side of said housing, respectively, proximate said bottom of said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The seat adapter for a floor-mounted track for a transportation vehicle for positioning and removably securing transit seats recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a first wheel secured to said first extension member and a second wheel secured to said second extension member. 
     
     
         14 . The seat adapter for a floor-mounted track for a transportation vehicle for positioning and removably securing transit seats recited in  claim 11  further comprising a first lock and a second lock arranged to maintain said levers in a locked position. 
     
     
         15 . A track and seat adapter for positioning and locking wheelchairs and transit seats; comprising:
 a track assembly, said track assembly comprising:
 a first rail having a frame, said frame comprising a top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a longitudinal axis; 
 a plurality of apertures having a shape, said apertures evenly distributed within said top surface along said longitudinal axis of said frame; 
 a plurality of channels connecting said first and second side surfaces proximate said top surface, said channels evenly distributed along said longitudinal axis of said frame; and 
 a second rail identical to and arranged in parallel with said first rail to form said track assembly; 
   a seat adapter having a housing, said housing comprising:
 a first hook opposite a second hook protruding under a bottom of said housing, respectively; 
 a first aperture opposite a second aperture in said bottom opposite said first and second hooks, respectively; 
 a first slot opposite a second slot arranged along a rear of said housing, respectively; and, 
   a locking means pivotally secured to said housing, said locking means comprising:
 a first cam arranged within said first aperture of said bottom; 
 a second cam opposite said first cam and arranged within said second aperture of said bottom; 
 a first lever fixedly secured to said housing and said first cam wherein said first lever arranged within said first slot; 
 a second lever opposite said first lever, said second lever fixedly secured to said housing and said second cam and arranged within said second slot; and 
 a rung fixedly secured to said first and second levers; 
   wherein, to lockingly engage said seat adapter to said track, said hooks are arranged within apertures of said track, said cams are arranged in adjacent apertures of said track, and said rung is depressed, which, in turn, depresses said levers through said slots, and, simultaneously, said cams hook under the adjacent apertures of said track.