Abstract: A lift-up mechanism (50, 150) installed inside a vehicle serves to move a seat unit (10, 110) into or out of the vehicle. The seat unit (10, 110) is used as a passenger seat inside the vehicle and as a wheelchair outside the vehicle. Connecting plates (56, 156) are disposed on the lift-up mechanism (50, 150) permit the lift-up mechanism (50, 150) to be connected to the seat unit (10, 110) by inserting the connecting plates into connecting recesses (40, 140) formed in the seat unit (10, 110). Front wheels (60, 160) and rear wheels (70, 170) of the seat unit (10, 110) can be retracted and extended. A drive unit having an electric motor or similar drive may be provided to retract and extend the front wheels (60, 160) and the rear wheels (70, 170). An attitude changing arrangement may be provided to automatically change the attitude of the front wheels (60, 160) when the front wheels (60, 160) and the rear wheels (70, 170) are retracted.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 2002
Date of Patent:
June 24, 2003
Assignees:
Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Matsunaga Seisakusho
Abstract: A lift-up mechanism (50, 150) installed inside a vehicle serves to move a seat unit (10, 110) into or out of the vehicle. The seat unit (10, 110) is used as a passenger seat inside the vehicle and as a wheelchair outside the vehicle. Connecting plates (56, 156) are disposed on the lift-up mechanism (50, 150) permit the lift-up mechanism (50, 150) to be connected to the seat unit (10, 110) by inserting the connecting plates into connecting recesses (40, 140) formed in the seat unit (10, 110). Front wheels (60, 160) and rear wheels (70, 170) of the seat unit (10, 110) can be retracted and extended. A drive unit having an electric motor or similar drive may be provided to retract and extend the front wheels (60, 160) and the rear wheels (70, 170). An attitude changing arrangement may be provided to automatically change the attitude of the front wheels (60, 160) when the front wheels (60, 160) and the rear wheels (70, 170) are retracted.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 7, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 9, 2002
Assignees:
Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Matsunaga Seisakusho