Vehicle Access System

Abstract

The embodiments described and claimed herein are improved vehicle access systems. In particular, one embodiment includes three compact, motorized mechanisms for pivoting a passenger seat toward a door opening, extending the passenger seat outside the door opening, lowering the passenger seat, and tilting the passenger seat to help the passenger stand. The first mechanism concurrently pivots the passenger seat and moves it sideways during the pivoting operation so that it is aligned with the door opening. The second mechanism extends the passenger seat outside the door opening. The third mechanism lowers the seat.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A vehicle access system comprising:
 a seat base for supporting a vehicle seat, the seat base including a base flange, a pivot member, and a shuttle;   the base flange being adapted for securement to a floor of a vehicle;   the pivot member being pivotally attached to the base flange, the pivot member being for pivoting the vehicle seat at least partially out of a vehicle door opening;   the shuttle being supported by the pivoting member and being movable along a length of the pivot member, the shuttle being for aligning the vehicle seat with a vehicle door opening;   the trolley base being supported by and tilting relative to the shuttle, the trolley base being for lowering the vehicle seat outside of the vehicle door opening;   the trolley being supported by the trolley base and being movable along a length of the trolley base, the trolley being for extending the vehicle seat outside of the vehicle door opening and lowering the vehicle seat; and,   the seat support assembly being pivotally attached to the trolley and being adapted to support the vehicle seat, the seat support assembly being for tilting the vehicle seat relative to the trolley.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle access system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivoting mechanism, wherein the pivoting mechanism includes a motor that powers a pivot gear and a linkage assembly, the pivot gear being for pivoting the pivot member relative to the base flange and the linkage assembly being for moving the shuttle along the length of the pivot member. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle access system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tilting mechanism, wherein the tilting mechanism includes a motor that powers a trolley base tilt linkage assembly and a seat tilt linkage assembly, the trolley tilt linkage assembly being for tilting the trolley base relative to the shuttle and the seat tilt linkage assembly being for tilting the vehicle seat relative to the trolley. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle access system of  claim 1 , further comprising an extend mechanism, wherein the extend mechanism includes a motor for moving the trolley along the length of the trolley base.