Technical Field The present invention relates to assemblies to movably support a seat in a vehicle anϋ more particularly but not exclusively to movably support the seat to aid a disabled person to use the seat.

Background of the Invention Considerable difficulty is encountered by disabled passengers being seated in vehicles. In some instances this problem is addressed by having the wheelchair supporting the passenger secured within the vehicle. This has a number of disadvantages including the passenger not being securely fastened in the vehicle. A further disadvantage is the passenger feeling conspicuous by not being seated in a more standard seat arrangement. Further to the above known assemblies that provide for disabled passengers are frequently difficult to install and require special modification of the vehicle, such as the vehicle roof. This adds considerably to the cost of the seat installation.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein an assembly to movably support a seat in a vehicle having a floor, roof and wall with a door opening, said assembly including: a carriage upon which the seat is to be mounted; and a base to be fixed to the floor adjacent said opening, said base having a guide engaging the carriage to provide for movement of the carriage through the door opening between an internal position at which the seat would be located internally of the vehicle and an external position locating the seat externally of the vehicle to aid a passenger to use the seat. Preferably, said assembly includes a first motor, the motor being operable to move the carriage between the positions thereof. Preferably, said carriage includes a first sub-carriage, said first sub-carriage being engaged by said guide to provide for movement of the carriage between the extended and retracted positions thereof, and a second sub-carriage, said second sub- carriage being movably attached to said first sub-carriage for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, with said second sub-carriage being adapted to receive said seat. Preferably, said assembly includes a second motor, the second motor being operable to move the second sub-carriage between the raised and lowered positions thereof. Preferably, said assembly includes a seat mounting, said seat mounting providing for angular movement of said seat about a generally upright axis between a vehicle longitudinally facing position and a laterally facing position. Preferably, said guide includes a pair of parallel generally co-extensive and transversely spaced rails, which rails are engaged by said first sub-carriage to provide for guided movement of said first sub-carriage. Preferably, said second sub-carriage is also guidably engaged by said rails. Preferably, said first sub-carriage includes a generally upwardly extending support, and said second sub-carriage includes a post guidably received by said upright support so as to be guided thereby to provide for movement of the second sub-carriage between the raised and lowered positions thereof. Preferably, said second motor is hydraulic cylinder having a longitudinal axis and to be activated by a fluid under pressure, the cylinder including: a barrel attached to the first sub-carriage and having a bore; a piston rod attached to the second sub-carriage and slidably and sealingly located in the bore and co-operating therewith to provide a variable volume chamber into which the fluid under pressure is delivered to move the piston rod to change said volume; a port in communication with said chamber and via which the fluid is allowed to pass; a lock assembly mounted on the piston rod, the assembly including: a plurality spherical lock members movable relative to said axis between a radially inner position permitting movement of the piston rod, and a radially outer position engaging the barrel to prevent movement of the piston rod in a predetermined direction beyond a predetermined longitudinal position; a retaining member mounted on the piston rod and movable longitudinally relative thereto between a first position retaining the lock members in the radially outer position, and a second position providing for movement of the lock members to the radially inner position; means to urge the retaining member to the first position thereof to thereby urge said locking members to the radially outer position; and wherein said retaining member when in said first position and exposed to the fluid under pressure is moved to the second position thereof to allow movement of the lock members to the radially inner position to free said piston rod for movement in said direction, with said lock members when in said outer position supporting said rod on said barrel for angular movement about said axis. Preferably, the retaining member is moved to the second position by fluid under pressure in said chamber. Preferably, said retaining member is a sleeve surrounding the piston rod, said sleeve having a longitudinally extending portion which, when said retaining member is in the first position, is radially aligned with said lock member, thus retaining the lock member in the radially outer position. Preferably, all the lock members have the same diameter and angularly displaced about said axis. Preferably, said bore includes an annular ramp surface joining a first bore length to a second bore length, the first bore length having a greater radius than the second bore length, with said lock members engaging the first bore length to be located in the radially outer position, and engaging the second bore length to be located in the radially inner position. Preferably, the means to urge is a spring extending between said retaining member and piston rod. Preferably, the surface of the means to urge is a surface of the retaining member. Preferably, said cylinder includes a cage member providing a plurality of apertures extending radially with respect to said axis, each aperture receiving a respective one of the lock members. Preferably, said cage member is provided with a cage portion and said retaining member is slidably mounted in said cage member. Preferably, said cage member includes a chamber within which said retaining member is slidably mounted, with the cage member chamber receiving the fluid under pressure to cause longitudinal movement of the retaining member to the first position thereof. Preferably, said retaining member has a ramp surface to engage the lock members to cause radial movement thereof to the radially outer portion. Preferably, said chamber is a first chamber, and said cylinder includes a second chamber which is sealing separated from the first chamber. Preferably, fluid under pressure delivering to said first chamber causes movement of the piston rod in said predetermined direction while if delivered to said second chamber causes the piston rod to move in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction. Preferably, said retaining member moves in said predetermined direction relative to said piston rod when moving from the first position to the second position. Preferably, the cylinder includes a rod chamber that moves with the piston rod and wherein said retaining member is slidably received said rod chamber and receives the fluid under pressure to move said retaining member to the first position thereof. An assembly to movably support a seat in a vehicle having a floor, roof and wall with a door opening, said seat having a seat portion upon which an occupant is to be seated, the seat portion having a generally central axis, said assembly including: a carriage to which the seat is attached so that the seat axis is generally upright; a base to be fixed to the floor adjacent said opening; a pivot device attached in the carriage to the base, said device providing a generally upright pivot axis about which the carriage can pivot relative to the base to move the seat from a position facing longitudinally of the vehicle to a position .facing laterally of the vehicle and outwardly with respect to said opening; and wherein said pivot axis is displaced from said seat axis so that the seat when moving from the longitudinally facing position the laterally facing position moves laterally of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of a motor vehicle sectioned to show two passenger seats; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the portion of the motor vehicle of Figure 1 again showing the passenger seats; Figure 3 is a schematic sectioned front elevation again showing the passenger seats, with one of the passenger seats in an altered position; Figure 4 is a further sectioned front elevation showing the passenger seats, again with one of the passenger seats in a still further location; Figure 5 is a still further sectioned front elevation again with one of the passenger seats in a still further location; Figure 6 is a schematic elevation showing a support for the passenger seats of Figures 1 to 5; Figure 7 is a schematic hydraulic circuit used with the passenger seat that is moved to various locations as shown in Figures 1 to 5; Figure 8 is a schematic front elevation of the motor vehicle of Figure 1 and a modification of the passenger seats thereof; Figure 9 is a schematic side elevation of portion of the motor vehicle of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a schematic front elevation of the motor vehicle and seats of Figure 8, with one of the seats in an alternative position; Figure 11 is a schematic side elevation of the motor vehicle and seat of Figure 10 with the seat in a further extended position; Figure 12 is a schematic front elevation of the vehicle and seat of Figure 11 with the seat in a lowered position; Figure 13 is a schematic hydraulic circuit used with the passenger seat that is moved to the various locations as shown in Figures 8 to 12; Figure 14 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a hydraulic cylinder employed in the circuit of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a further schematic sectioned side elevation of the cylinder of Figure 14; and Figure 16 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a modification of the cylinder of Figures 14 and 15.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment hi Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a motor vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 has a plurality of passenger seats and a driver seat, hi Figure 1 two passenger seats 11 and 12 are illustrated. The vehicle 10 includes a floor 13, a roof 14 and side walls 15 enclosing a cabin interior 16 within which the seats 11 and 12 are mounted for general use of the vehicle 10. At least one of the side walls 15 is provided with a door opening 17 that enables passengers to enter and leave the cabin interior 16. The seats 11 and 12 are mounted on a base 18 so as to be supported thereby. The base 18 includes a guide 51 that is fixed to the floor 13, which guide 51 includes a pair of generally parallel co-extensive and transversely spaced rails 20. Each rail 20 provides a longitudinally extending channel portion 19. In the present embodiment, the rails 20 extend below both seats 11 and 12 however only the seat 12 is operatively associated with the rails 20 for movement relative thereto. Typically, the seat 11 would be fixed to the rails 20 so as to immovable relative to the floor 13. The rails 20 provide a guide for a seat carriage 21 that supports the seat 12 for linear movement between the positions shown in Figures 3 and 4. The carriage 21 includes a first sub-carriage 22 having rollers 23 that are supported in the channel portions 19 so as to be supported but guided thereby. More particularly, it should be appreciated that there are rollers 23 along the length of the sub-carriage 22 so that the seat 12 can be supported in a canter-lever manner as shown in Figure 4. The carriage 21 includes a second sub-carriage 52 having a generally upright post 24 that is guidably received within a generally upright support 25 to provide for movement of the sub-carriage 52 between a raised position (as shown in Figure 4) and a lowered position (as shown in Figure 5). The support 25 is part of the first sub-carriage 22 and includes two rails 26 each with a channel portion 27 that receive rollers 28 attached to the post 24 to provide for linear guided movement of the sub-carriage 52. The seat 12 is directly mounted on an assembly 29 that provides for angular movement of the seat 12 about a generally upright axis 30. The assembly 29 includes a first flange 31 that is supported on a second flange 32 by means of bearings 33. A central axel 34 couples the flanges 31 and 32 while provides for angular movement about the axis 30 with the flange 31 and seat 12 supported on the flange 32. A catch 35 would lock the flanges 31 and 32 together when the seat 12 is shown in the positions of Figures 1 and 5. The catch 35 would be operable by a user to release the seat 12 for angular movement about the axis 30. When the carriage 21 is moving along the rails 20 the sub-carriages 22 and 52 are aligned so that both sub-carriages 22 and 52 are received by the rails 20. The sub-carriage 52 has further rollers 36 that engage in the channel portions 19 to again to aid in guiding movement of the carriage 21 along the rails 20. In Figure 7 there is schematically depicted a hydraulic circuit 37 that moves the seat to the various position shown in Figures 1 to 6. The circuit 37 includes a pump 38 that draws hydraulic fluid from a reservoir 34 and delivers hydraulic fluid under pressure to a valve 35. The valve 35 has two operative configurations, "A" and "B". In the configuration "A" hydraulic fluid under pressure is delivered to the line 41 from where it is delivered to the cylinder 45. The cylinder 45 is located in the support 25 and raises and lowers the sub-carriage 52. When hydraulic fluid under pressure is delivered to the line 41 and the valve 43 activated, the cylinder 45 extends to lower the sub-carriage 52. Operation of the valve 43 enables hydraulic fluid from the cylinder 45 to be delivered to the reservoir 39 again via the "A" configuration of the valve 35. This hydraulic fluid under pressure delivered to line 41 is also delivered to hydraulic cylinder 44. Hydraulic cylinder 44 is located below the seat 11 and is attached to the sub-carriage 22 to cause movement thereof laterally of the vehicle so as to move the seat 12 between a position located within the cabin interior 16 and a position spaced outwardly of the opening 17 so that the seat 12 is located externally of the vehicle. Hydraulic fluid leaving the cylinder 44 is delivered to hydraulic line 48 wherefrom it flows through one way valve 49 to be returned to the reservoir 39 again via the "A" configuration of the valve 35. Accordingly, when the valve 35 is operated to deliver the hydraulic fluid under pressure to the line 41, the seat 12 is moved laterally and then the valve 43 operated to lower the seat 12. When the valve 35 is in the operative configuration "B", hydraulic fluid under pressure is delivered to the line 40. This hydraulic fluid under pressure passes through the valve 50 and operates the hydraulic cylinder 45 to raise the sub-carriage 52 (seat 12). Once the seat 12 is raised the valve 42 is operated so that hydraulic fluid under pressure is delivered to the hydraulic cylinder 44 to move the sub-carriage 22 to laterally move the seat 12 from the exterior to the interior with respect to the cabin interior 16. The circuit 37 would be configured and controlled so that the cylinder 44 could not be operated to move the sub-carriage 52 until the sub-carriage 52 is in the raised position. Preferably, the hydraulic cylinder 44 is a cylinder that locks in the retracted configuration, such as that described in USA Patent No. 6615703 and Australian Patent Application No. 2003906725. Described in the USA patent specification is a hydraulic cylinder that locks the piston thereof in a predetermined position. In a present instance the hydraulic cylinder 44 would lock so as to retain the carriage 21 so that the seat 12 is maintained in the cabin interior 16. In the embodiment of Figures 8 to 13, the seat 12 is attached to the floor 13 via the base 60. The base 60 includes a plate 69 to which there is attached a pair of transverse guides 70. The guides 70 provide a guide for movement of a seat carriage 62 that includes a pair of transversely spaced channel members 64, the channel members 64 slidably engaging the guides 70. The members 64 are linked by transverse bracing so that they move together. A hydraulic cylinder 71 extends between the base 60 and carriage 62 to cause transverse movement of the carriage 62 between the positions shown in Figures 10 and 11. The members 64 provide a first sub-carriage 65 of the carriage 62. ■ The carriage 62 includes a second sub-carriage 63 upon which the seat 12 is mounted. The sub-carriage 63 is supported on the rear of the two members 64, more particularly on the extremity thereof. The sub-carriage 63 includes a seat mounting 67 upon which the seat 12 is directly mounted. The seat mounting 67 is attached to a hydraulic cylinder 66 having a generally upright axis 117. More particularly the cylinder 66 has a barrel 111 attached to the member 64, and a piston rod 113 attached to the seat mounting 67. The cylinder 66 provides for angular movement of the seat 12 about the generally upright axis 117, when the seat 12 is in the raised position. Extending between the base 60 and the forward of the two members 64 is a hydraulic cylinder 71 that moves the seat 12 transversely of the vehicle 10 between the position shown in Figures 10 and 11. The cylinder 71 would preferably lock so as to retain the seat 12 within the interior 16. In operation of the above described assembly, the seat 12 is manually rotated from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 10 by angular movement of the piston rod 113 about the axis 117. Thereafter the hydraulic cylinder 71 is activated to move the seat 12 transversely to the position shown in Figure 10. Thereafter the hydraulic cylinder 66 is activated to lower the seat 12. The seat 12 is returned to the normal transport position by the reverse sequence. Typically a catch would be provided to releasably retain the seat 12 in the forward facing transport position as shown in Figure 8. In Figure 13 there is schematically depicted the hydraulic circuit 37 of Figure 7, with the cylinders 71 and 66 included. IQ Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted the hydraulic cylinder 66. The cylinder 66 includes a barrel 111 providing a generally cylindrical bore 112. The bore 12 slidably receives a piston rod 113 and sealingly engages the piston rod 113 to provide a variable volume chamber 114 which receives a fluid under pressure. The fluid under pressure enters and leaves the chamber 114 via the port 115. The port 115 is formed in an end cap 116 of the barrel 111, which cap 116 sealingly closes the chamber 114. The cylinder 66 has a longitudinal axis 117, with piston rod 113 moving longitudinally of the barrel 111 to change the volume of the chamber 114. The barrel 111 may have at its other end a further end cap so that a second variable volume chamber 118 is provided, the chamber 18 having associated with it a port 119. Again the chamber 118 would receive a fluid under pressure if so required. Attached to the piston rod 113 is a wear band 119 and seal 120 that sealingly connects the piston rod 113 with the bore 112. The wear band 119 by having apertures also allows fluid to pass between the chambers 118 and 134. The end cap 116 is provided with an annular skirt 121 that provides a first bore length 122 joined to a second bore length 123 by a ramp surface 124. The ramp surface 124 diminishes in radius from the length 122 to the length 123, as the length 122 has a greater radius than the length 123. Mounted on the piston rod 113 is a lock assembly 125 that is operable to retain the piston rod 113 in the retracted (seat 12 raised position), that is in the position shown in Figure 15. When operated the lock assembly 125 prevents movement of the piston rod 113, to increase the volume of the chamber 114, beyond a predetermined position, the position being defined by the ramp surface 124. The lock assembly 125 includes a plurality of spherical lock members 126 that are equal in diameter and located at angularly spaced locations about the axis 117. The members 126 are movable radially between an inner radial position (as shown in Figure 14) and an outer radial position (as shown in Figure 15). When in the inner position the members 126 permit movement of the piston rod 113 to raise and lower the seat 12, while in the radially outer position the members 126 prevent movement of the piston rod 113 beyond the position shown in Figure 15, thereby retaining the seat 12 in the raised position. Slidably mounted on the piston rod 113 is a retainer member 127 in the form of a sleeve. The member 127 has an annular portion 128 of predetermined longitudinal length that when radially aligned with the members 126 maintains the members 126 in the radially outer position. When the portion 128 is displaced from the members 126 (as shown in Figure 14) the members 126 are permitted to move radially inward. The members 126 are captively located with respect to the rod 113 by means of an end flange 129. A spring 130 is located in the chamber 134 and extends between the member 127 and a further end flange 131 of the rod 113, to urge the member 127 to the position as shown in Figure 14, that is the position at which the member 127 is retaining the members 126 in the radially outer position. Accordingly the spring 130, via the members 127 also urges the members 126 to the radially outer position. In operation of the above described cylinder 66 the piston rod 113 when moved in the direction of the arrow 132, to raise the seat 12, by a force applied thereto, such as a fluid under pressure being delivered to the chamber 118, progresses towards the end cap 116 with the members 126 in the radially inner position. Ultimately, the members 126 engage the ramp surface 124 and move radially outward. Thereafter the retaining member 127 is moved in the direction of the arrow 132 relative to the piston rod 113 under the action of the spring 130. Fluid under pressure passing the wear band 119 and entering the chamber 134 aids in moving the retaining member 127 relative to the rod 113 in the direction of the arrow 132. This movement of the member 127 moves the members 126 radially outward once they pass the ramp surface 124. The piston rod 113 is therefore locked in a position of Figure 15 as movement of the piston rod 113 in the direction of the arrow 133 is prevented by engagement of the members 126 with the ramp surface 124 and engagement of the flange 129 with the members 126. However, upon fluid under pressure being delivered to the chamber 114 (with the piston rod 113 in the position shown in Figure 15), the fluid under pressure moves the member 127 in the direction of the arrow 133 relative to the piston rod 113. This results in the portion 128 moving from a position between the members 126 and the piston rod 113 so that the members 126 can move radially inward, thereby permitting downward movement of the piston rod 113, and thus lower the seat 12. In Figure 16 there is schematically depicted a modification of the hydraulic cylinder 66 of Figures 14 and 15. In this embodiment there is attached to the rod 113 a cage member 136 providing a passage 135 for the flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure to a rod chamber 137 that moves with the rod 113. In this embodiment the chamber 137 is provided by the cage member 136. Slidably received in the chamber 137 is a retaining member 138 having a conical ramp surface 139 engaged with the spherical lock members 126. The cage member 136 has an annular cage portion 140 with angularly spaced generally circular apertures 141. The apertures 141 are spaced angularly about the longitudinal axis 117 and receive the members 126 to provide for radial movement of the members 126 relative to the axis 117. Connecting the retaining member 138 with an internal bore 142 of the cage member 136 is a seal 143 while connecting the cage member 136 with the second bore length 123 is a seal 144. In operation of the hydraulic cylinder 66 of Figure 15, when hydraulic fluid under pressure is delivered to the chamber 118 the piston rod 113 is driven upwardly in the direction of the arrow 132 to raise the seat 12. When the members 126 move past the ramp surface 124 they move radially outward under the influence of the ramp surface 139. In particular, hydraulic fluid under pressure is delivered to the chamber 137 through the passage 135 to cause the retaining member 138 to move in the direction of the arrow 132 relative to the cage member 136. The fluid under pressure bears against surface 145 of the retaining member 138 to urge the retaining member 138 to move relative to the cage member 136. This relative movement causes the conical ramp surface 138 to move the members 126 radially outward past the ramp surface 124 to engage the first bore length 122. Once in this configuration, movement of the piston rod 113 in a direction opposite the arrow 132 is prevented by engagement of the members 126 with the surface 124. The seat 12 is locked in the raised position. However upon hydraulic fluid under pressure being delivered to the chamber 114 through the port 115, the hydraulic fluid under pressure bears against the retaining member 138 and causes it to move in a direction opposite the arrow 132 relative to the cage member 136 to thereby permit radially inward movement of a members 126. Once the members 126 clear the ramp surface 134, pressure on the cage member 136 and retaining member 138 causes the piston rod 113 to move in a direction opposite the direction of the arrow 132, thus lowering the seat 12. hi respect of the above hydraulic cylinder 66, when, the seat 12 is in the raised position, that is with the rod 113 retracted and locked in the retracted position, the members 126 support the rod 113 for angular movement about the axis 117 and therefore angular movement of the seat 123 about the axis 117. The members 126 are in rolling contact with the surface 124 and flange 129. hi the case of Figures 14 and 15, the surface 124 and the cage portion 140, to thereby provide for angular movement of the rod 113 about the axis 117, and therefore angular movement of the seat 127. In a further modification the cylinder 71 may be constructed to be similar to the cylinder 66 so that the seat 12 is locked in position when located within the interior 16. As can be seen in Figures 8 and 9 the cylinder 66 is located adjacent the rear comer of the seat 12 adjacent the door opening 17. The cylinder 66 is also attached to the extremity of the rear member 66 again adjacent the opening 17. Accordingly, pivoting of the seat 12 from the forward facing position (Figure 18) to the outward facing position (Figures 10, 11 and 12) also moves the seat 12 to the exterior. Operation of the cylinder 71 then moves the seat 12 further laterally outward. Accordingly the cylinder 66 acts as a pivot assembly providing a generally upright pivot axis 117 that is spaced from the generally central upright axis of the seat 12, that is the axis 151 passing generally centrally through the seat portion 150 of the seat 12. Extending upwardly from the seat portion 150 is a back rest 152 having edge portions 153 and 154. The axis 117 is adjacent the edge portions 154. In the above described preferred embodiments the seat 12 is moved laterally, that y relative to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle 10.