Vehicle with round passenger compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053164-B2
Application number	US-201615286816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2016
Priority date	Oct 6, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle includes a wall having a cylindrical shape and surrounding a passenger compartment. The vehicle includes a table in the passenger compartment, a circular track fixed in the compartment and extending around the table, and a plurality of seats mounted to and independently slidable along the track.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a wall having a cylindrical shape and surrounding a passenger compartment;
a table in the passenger compartment;
a circular track fixed in the compartment and extending around the table;
a plurality of seats mounted to and independently slidable along the track; and
a door slidable along an exterior of the wall.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a roof having a dome shape and being supported by the wall over the table and plurality of seats.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the roof is transparent.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a base supporting the wall, wherein the wall includes a plurality of wall segments arranged circumferentially about the passenger compartment, and wherein the wall segments are rotatable radially outward relative to the base.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door has a curved shape corresponding to the cylindrical shape of the wall.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each seat has a seat bottom rotatable between a sitting position that is generally horizontal relative to the passenger compartment and an upright position that is generally vertical relative to the passenger compartment.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each seat has a seat bottom and a seatback, wherein the seat bottom is rotatable relative to the seatback between a sitting position and an upright position.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein each seat is adjacent the wall.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each seat includes a pedestal mounted to and slidable along the track.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a floor supporting the track.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein each seat is rotatable about the pedestal.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the track is supported on the wall.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the wall includes a door, the track includes a door track segment, and the door supports the door track segment.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein each seat is slidable along the track onto and off of the door track segment.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle frame, and a floor supported on the vehicle frame, wherein the floor supports the wall and is rotatable relative to the frame.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an airbag supported by the table.

17. A vehicle comprising:
a wall having a cylindrical shape and surrounding a passenger compartment;
a table in the passenger compartment;
a circular track fixed in the compartment and extending around the table;
a plurality of seats mounted to and independently slidable along the track; and
a base supporting the wall;
wherein the wall includes a plurality of wall segments arranged circumferentially about the passenger compartment; and
the wall segments are rotatable radially outward and downward relative to the base.

18. A vehicle comprising:
a wall having a cylindrical shape and surrounding a passenger compartment;
a table in the passenger compartment;
a circular track fixed in the compartment and extending around the table;
a plurality of seats mounted to and independently slidable along the track;
a vehicle frame; and
a floor supported on the vehicle frame;
wherein the floor supports the wall and is rotatable relative to the frame.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , further comprising a door slidable along an exterior of the wall.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the track is supported on the wall.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Faruque Mohammed Omar
• Farooq S M Iskander
• Jaradi Dean M

Classifications

• G05D2201/0212

  Physics · mapped topic

• B60R21/20 Primary

  Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components · CPC title

• B60N3/001

  of tables or trays · CPC title

• B60N2/14

  rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/10 {, B60N2/2869} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/06

  slidable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2209} take precedence) · CPC title