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The present invention regards an amphibious vehicle supporting the bathing of people having disability of motion and/or having problems to walk.

More exactly, the problem involved is related to people that cannot move autonomously and requires some supporting means, the access to the beaches and the bathing into the sea in a full autonomy.

As known, to date the problem has been faced by using some makeshift means. In example, sometimes a person is transported roughly to the sea, just by taking him/her on somebody’s arms and carrying him/her to destination, otherwise shopping carts and/or wheelbarrows can be used, of the type normally used in other fields or having different functions. In example, it is possible to employ some wheelbarrows commonly used for transportation of materials in construction engineering, or carts used for transportation of products in warehouses, or different types of carts and lifters commonly used in other context. More sophisticated solutions have been employed introducing some modified wheelchairs, where they are made of different materials that are compatible with seawater, and having some special wheels that are adapted to run on impervious and sandy grounds.

However, solutions from the prior art are very ineffective to reach the expected goal, and are affected by a series of related drawbacks. The main drawback is given by the hard difficulty to run on Impervious grounds where it is easy sinking, as in example on sand, pebbles, clay or seabed. Furthermore, a significant physical strength is required by third persons, in order to push, lift and support a person, all during the time of transportation and bathing into the sea. In addition, considering that said makeshift means have not been designed exactly for transportation of people, the operations of motion would be always made in a condition of precarious balance, and they would be dangerous, because there would be a risk to make the transported person to fall down, and to make the same person and other people that support the operations to fall down on people and kids staying on the same place. Furthermore, the known solutions do not take in due account the respect of impaired people that, even having difficulties to walk, needs to be transported in a respectful, proper and decent way, in order to benefit as any other person of a moment of relax and bathing in the seawater.

All the above drawbacks are overcome by the present invention, that has as a main objective to achieve an amphibious vehicle supporting the transportation and bathing of people having disability of motion and/or having problems to walk. The same vehicle permits the following operations: autonomous motion of vehicle from the beach to the sea surface, by using a direct motion control from the transported person, or by using a remote control provided from an operator; reaching a specific location in the seawater having a predefined depth of the seabed and a specific height of the sea surface level in respect to the body of the transported person; assistance to the bathing by monitoring a series of safety parameters in real time, and stopping the operations in case of anomalies; motion of the same vehicle back to its initial position on the beach; and transfer, of the same transported person, from the placement on the vehicle to his/her wheelchair.

Another objective of the invention is to comprise an automatic mechanism for lowering and lifting back the height of the platform with the transported person on it, so that to permit a partial immersion and then a resurfacing of the same person, so that he/she could stay partially immersed in the seawater and then can return back to the initial position. This operation is also allowed and controlled by using a direct motion control activated by the transported person, or by using a remote control activated by an operator. The transported person is protected by a proper safety equipment, including a life jacket, and a safety belt that could be manually fastened or unfastened at the right time.

Another further objective is that the vehicle comprises an autonomous propulsion system, able to provide a motion on ground and a navigation on the sea surface; the propulsion system can include engines of electrical type, and can include means to convert solar energy to electric energy, with a related storage of energy into batteries and a consequent increase of the vehicle range.

A further objective is that, once the specific location in the seawater has been reached, the vehicle permits that the transported person can unfasten the belt, remove himself/herself from the placement, and swim freely into the sea; a proper automatic tracking system would permit to move the vehicle following the person at a specific distance, and stay all the time in the surrounding area, in order to facilitate the return back of the person to the vehicle, when the bathing operations are done.

Therefore, it is specific subject of the present invention an amphibious vehicle supporting the bathing of people having disability of motion and/or having problems to walk, said vehicle being composed of:

- a supporting structure, made of rigid rods assembled each other, so that to define an inner volume of an open cabin; - a moving platform, connected to the lower side of said supporting structure, where a placement is installed on said platform, said placement being adapt to have a person placed on it, being submitted to a bathing process;

- some lateral hulls, floating and able to maintain the entire vehicle floating on water, with said person placed on placement, said hulls being laterally connected to said supporting structure;

- some means providing horizontal motion of vehicle, in respect to a field and/or on respect to the sea surface, said means being installed in said hulls and in turn comprising: one or more electrical motors and/or of other type, some respective wheels, and means to transmit the motion, generated by said motor, to said wheels, said vehicle characterized in that further comprising:

- some means providing vertical motion of said moving platform in respect to the other part of structure, composed of systems having a helicoidal spring, systems with coils and ropes, or systems with some hydraulic jacks; said means being able, when said vehicle is floating into sea water, to decrease on command the distance of said platform with related placement from seabed, so that the person is placed partially into the water and related bathing is allowed; said means being able to increase on command the distance of said platform with related placement from seabed, so that the person is returned to the initial position;

- some means of guidance and control of vehicle, comprising a joystick, buttons and/or other type of commands, that activate said means of horizontal motion of vehicle on command, and activate said means of vertical motion of platform.

The present invention will now be described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an amphibious vehicle supporting the bathing of people, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2(a) and 2(b) are respective front and top views of the same vehicle of Figure 1 where the lowering of the platform on terrain is shown in particular;

Figure 2(c) is a lateral view of a component belonging to the same vehicle of Figure 1 composed of a placement where the arm supports are lowered;

Figure 2(d) is a top view of the same vehicle of Figure 1, in the same position of Figure 2(b) where the wheelchair is placed at the side of said placement;

Figure 2(e) is a lateral view of a component belonging to the same vehicle of Figure 1 composed of the same placement where the feet supports are lowered; Figure 3(a) is a lateral view of the same vehicle of Figure 1 where the motion on terrain is shown in particular;

Figure 3(b) is a perspective view of a command element having buttons and joystick, for motion a vehicle like that of Figure 1;

Figure 3(c) is a front view of the same vehicle of Figure 1 where the lowering of the platform in the seawater is shown in particular;

Figure 3(d) are two perspective views of a WI-FI remote communication bracelet, in respective stand-alone and worn positions, for data transmission from/to a vehicle like that of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3(e) are two front views of a component belonging to the same vehicle of Figure 1 , represented by a cylinder having a helicoidal spring, in respective lowered and lifted positions, that is an element providing a variation of height of said platform with placement, in respect to the other part of the structure;

Figure 4 is a view of a block diagram representing the main components that permit the vehicle of Figure 1 to work properly;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an amphibious vehicle supporting the bathing of people, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 6(a) and 6(b) are respective front and top views of the same vehicle of Figure 5 where the lowering of the platform on terrain is shown in particular;

Figure 6(c) is a lateral view of a component belonging to the same vehicle of Figure 5 composed of a placement where the arm supports are lowered;

Figure 6(d) is a top view of the same vehicle of Figure S, in the same position of Figure 6(b) where the wheelchair is placed at the side of said placement;

Figure 6(e) is a lateral view of a component belonging to the same vehicle of Figure 5 composed of the same placement where the feet supports are lowered;

Figure 7(a) is a lateral view of the same vehicle of Figure 5 where the motion on terrain is shown in particular;

Figure 7(b) is a perspective view of a command element having buttons and joystick, for motion a vehicle like that of Figure 5;

Figure 7(c) is a front view of the same vehicle of Figure 5 where the lowering of the platform in the seawater is shown in particular;

Figure 7(d) are two perspective views of a WI-FI remote communication bracelet, in respective stand-alone and worn positions, for data transmission from/to a vehicle like that of Figure 5;

Figure 7(e) is a front views of a component belonging to the same vehicle of Figure 5, represented by a rotary cylinder on which a rope is rolled, that is an element providing a variation of height of said platform with placement, in respect to the other part of the structure;

Figure 8 is a view of a block diagram representing the main components that permit the vehicle of Figure 5 to work properly;

It is here underlined that only few of the many conceivable embodiments of the present invention are described, which are just some specific non-limiting examples, having the possibility to describe many other embodiments based on the disclosed technical solutions of the present invention,

Figure 1 shows an amphibious vehicle 100 supporting the bathing of people, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The amphibious vehicle 100 comprises, as main components: a supporting structure 103, made of rigid rods assembled each other, so that to define an inner volume of an open cabin; a moving platform 105, connected to the lower side of said supporting structure 103, where a placement 101 is installed on said platform 105, and a person, being submitted to a bathing process, is placed on said placement 101; some lateral hulls 106, 107, floating and able to maintain the entire vehicle 100 floating on water, with said person placed on placement 101, said hulls 106, 107 being laterally connected to said supporting structure 103; some means providing horizontal motion of vehicle 100, in respect to a field and/or on respect to the sea surface, said means being installed in said hulls 106, 107 and in turn comprising: one or more electrical motors and/or of other type, some respective wheels 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, and means to transmit the motion, generated by said motor, to said wheels 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d.

The amphibious vehicle 100 further comprises, as original and innovative components: some means providing vertical motion of said moving platform 105 in respect to the other part of structure 103, composed of systems having a helicoidal spring, systems with coils and ropes, or systems with some hydraulic jacks; said means being able, when said vehicle 100 is floating into sea water, to decrease on command the distance of said platform 105 with related placement 101 from seabed, so that the person is placed partially into the water and related bathing is allowed; said means being able to increase on command the distance of said platform 105 with related placement 101 from seabed, so that the person is returned to the initial position; some means of guidance and control 116 of vehicle 100, comprising a joystick, buttons and/or other type of commands, that activate said means of horizontal motion of vehicle 100 on command, and activate said means of vertical motion of platform 105. The placement 101 further comprises mechanisms to rotate the placement 101 around its vertical axis, to lower its arm supports 111a and to push back its feet supports 112a, so that the person could be helped in the operations of installations and removal from placement 101.

In particular, Figures 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), 2(d) and 2(e) show a sequence of operations where: platform 105 is lowered on ground (Figure 2(a)); a wheelchair 113 is moved forward to the placement 101 (Figure 2(b)), and then the same wheelchair 113 is placed at the side of placement 101 (Figure 2(d)); the arm supports 111a of placement 101 are lowered to position 111b, in order to permit access to a person (Figure 2(c)); at the same time the feet supports 112a of placement 101 are pushed backward to position 112b, to make possible an easy access of the same person (Figure 2(e)). With reference again to Figure 2(a), it is shown that said placement 101 , on which a person is placed to be submitted to a bathing, comprises a safety belt 110 in order to assure the person to be fixed to placement 101, and a life-jacket 109 to be worn by the same person.

Figure 3(a) shows laterally that said wheels 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d have a protruding radial profile shaped as a blade, so that to achieve a propulsion of vehicle 100 on difficult and rugged terrain, comprising sand, pebbles or clay, and to achieve at the same time the propulsion of vehicle 100 and navigation on the sea surface. The same wheels 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d permit a change of direction in a similar way to that of tanks, that is keeping wheels stopped on one side and moving wheels on the opposite side.

The above said guidance and control means 115 of vehicle 100 can be installed on one of said arm supports of placement 101 so that said person could have the direct control of vehicle 100 and of platform 105. In a case like that illustrated in Figure 3(b) said control means 115 are represented by joystick 116 and buttons 117, 118, 119; the joystick 116 controls the horizontal motion of vehicle 100, button 117 controls the vertical motion of platform 105, the buttons 118, 119 control the direction of motion.

The amphibious vehicle 100 can further comprise a series of tents or panels protecting from sun 102, fixed to the upper part and to the lateral parts of said structure 103, so that to decrease the exposure of the person placed in placement 101 to the sun radiation. The parts exposed to the sun, the tents or protecting panels 102 can be optionally equipped by solar panels being able to generate electric energy to be transmitted to some inner batteries, through proper instruments; the produced energy can be used to power supply partially or totally said electric engines of vehicle 100.

The amphibious vehicle 100 can further comprise a storage compartment, preferably placed at the upper part of structure 103, where the person placed on placement 101 can storage all the personal belongings, as in example mobile phone, wallet, sunglasses, solar cream, towel, etc., and these objects are safe from a possible contact and/or immersion In sea water,

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of an electronic control unit 150 belonging to the same amphibious vehicle 100.

The electronic control unit 150, comprises as main components: a series of sensors 151 able to acquire data related to physical measures and transmit that on an inner data bus 160; a control software 156 providing the embedding of data processing algorithms and generation of control actions; control means 155 that acquire direct actions from an operator; a microprocessor 154 with a local memory 152 and a display 157 able to represent the working state of the system; a series of actuators 153, able to acquire some control actions and activate the related devices, as in example electrical engines, wheels, etc.

In this way the microprocessor 154 acquires the state of sensors 151 and the state of the control means 155, processes a control software 156, and generates actions that, addressed to the series of actuators 153, activate related devices, as in example electrical engines, wheels, etc.

The above said series of sensors 151 in turn comprises: means for detection of the distance to the seabed; means for detection of the height of the person; means to define the level of the sea surface, so that, when the vehicle 100 is into the water 121, as represented in Figure 3(c), the bathing of the person can be provided in a full safe way. In case that one of the detected parameters results to be out of a predefined range, then the operations of vehicle 100 would be stopped and there would be no immersion of the platform 105 into the seawater 121.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figure 3(e), said means providing vertical motion of said moving platform 105, in respect to the other part of the structure 103, are composed of some telescopic rods activated by helicoidal spring supports. A clockwise rotation of helicoidal spring achieves the result of a lowered position 127a, and therefore the lowered position of platform 105; a counterclockwise rotation of helicoidal spring achieves the result of a lifted position 127b, and therefore the lifted position of platform 105; the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of said helicoidal spring is activated by electric or mechanic devices, under a direct control of said electronic unit 150.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, shown In Figure 7(e), said means providing vertical motion of said moving platform 105, in respect to the other part of the structure 103, are composed of some telescopic rods 230 activated by respective rotary cylinders that activate an inner system having a coil 229 and a rope 231. A clockwise rotation of the rotary cylinder achieves the rolling off of rope 231 from coil 229 and therefore the lowering of platform 105; a counterclockwise rotation of the rotary cylinder achieves the rolling up of rope 231 on coil 229 and therefore the lifting of platform 105; the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of said rotary cylinder is activated by electric or mechanic devices, under a direct control of said electronic unit 150.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the amphibious vehicle 100 can further comprise some electronic means for detection of a GPS position, contained inside a bracelet 125, as that shown in shown in Figures 3(d) and 7(e), that said person submitted to bathing could wear; and electronic means for detection of a GPS position, contained inside vehicle 100. A system of remote data transmission, going through an antenna 104 achieves the data communication from said bracelet 125 to the electronic control unit 150 and back.

The amphibious vehicle 100 can further comprise a system for tracking of GPS coordinates, so that, when the vehicle 100 has reached a position into the sea, where the seabed is at a specific distance, and having a specific distance from the beach, the person to be submitted to bathing would be free to unlock from the placement 101 and swim freely. The vehicle 100 would follow the GPS position of the person, maintaining itself at a close distance, so that a possible catch up on board would be facilitated, as soon as the person decides to do so.

Therefore, the above examples show that the present invention achieves all the proposed objectives. In particular, it permits to obtain an amphibious vehicle supporting the transportation and bathing of people having disability of motion and/or having problems to walk. The same vehicle permits the following operations: autonomous motion of vehicle from the beach to the sea surface, by using a direct motion control from the transported person, or by using a remote control provided from an operator; reaching a specific location in the seawater having a predefined depth of the seabed and a specific height of the sea surface level in respect to the body of the transported person; assistance to the bathing by monitoring a series of safety parameters in real time, and stopping the operations in case of anomalies; motion back of the same vehicle to its initial position on the beach; and transfer, of the same transported person, from the placement on the vehicle to his/her wheelchair.

Furthermore, the present invention comprises an automatic mechanism for lowering and lifting back the height of the platform with the transported person on it, so that to permit a partial immersion and then a resurfacing of the same person, so that he/she could stay partially immersed in the seawater and then can return back to the initial position. This operation is also allowed and controlled by using a direct motion control activated by the transported person, or by using a remote control activated by an operator. The transported person is protected by a proper safety equipment, including a life jacket, and a safety belt that could be manually fastened or unfastened at the right time.

Further according to the invention, the vehicle comprises an autonomous propulsion system, able to provide a motion on ground and a navigation on the sea surface; the propulsion system can include engines of electrical type, and can include means to convert solar energy to electric energy, with a related storage of energy into batteries and a consequent increase of the vehicle range.

Further according to the invention, once the specific location in the seawater has been reached, the vehicle permits that the transported person can unfasten the belt, remove himself/herself from the placement, and swim freely into the sea; a proper automatic tracking system would permit to move the vehicle following the person at a specific distance, and stay all the time in the surrounding area, in order to facilitate the return back of the person into the vehicle, when the bathing operations are done.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is clear that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope, as defined in the enclosed claims.

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