DESCRIPTION

The present patent concerns vehicles for transporting things and passengers, and in particular it concerns a new type of specially furnished vehicle for transporting passengers.

The Rules of the road classify the various types of vehicles according, for example, to their destination of use, the maximum number of passengers that can be transported and the maximum overall weight.

Passenger vehicles are known that have a maximum of eight seats, in addition to the driver' s seat.

The Rules of the road also state what driving licenses or professional qualifications are required for each vehicle category.

For example, the most common driving license in Italy, category "B" [Italian classification], allows the holder to drive motor vehicles whose maximum allowable weight does not exceed 3500 Kg, and these vehicles are designed and built for transporting not more than eight passengers in addition to the driver.

Category "C" driving licenses [Italian classification], on the other hand, allow the holder to drive motor vehicles whose maximum allowable weight exceeds 3500 Kg, said motor vehicles being furthermore designed and built for transporting not more than eight passengers in addition to the driver. The need to provide a place where several people can meet, for example for business purposes, discussions or decision-making purposes, is known. These meetings usually take place in meeting rooms or other places specially dedicated to these purposes.

The drawback posed by this common practice derives from the fact that the people who have to attend the meeting must voluntarily reach the meeting venue, with a consequent waste of time due to the need to travel a certain distance.

Furthermore, it often happens that several people who have to take part in a meeting need to attend a pre-meeting, and therefore they need another place, preferably secluded, where said pre-meeting can be held.

This pre-meeting can take place in a motor vehicle of the known type, or another means of transport, for example a bus, a train, a plane, or another vehicle used by said people to go to the meeting.

In the case of a motor vehicle or bus, the meeting takes place in an uncomfortable manner, since usually the space available for moving or resting is not large and it is not possible for an attendee to physically face all the other attendees.

In the case of a public means of transport, on the other hand, there are the drawbacks deriving from the presence of other people, which limits the privacy conditions that may be necessary due to the matters to be dealt with during the meeting.

Furthermore, passengers often need to travel or meet in conditions of privacy, in order to ensure anonymity.

The subject of the present invention is a new type of motor vehicle, particularly suited to transport passengers and also to host meetings in general between two or more participants.

According to the invention, in particular, said vehicle is specifically intended to transport a maximum of eight passengers, in addition to the driver, and its maximum weight can even exceed 3500 Kg. In order to be allowed to drive this type of vehicle, therefore, it is sufficient to be the holder of a valid driving license of category "C" [Italian classification] . It is the main object of the present invention to provide a vehicle that makes it possible to transport one or more passengers to one or more places, and furthermore that can be a suitable and comfortable place for holding meetings in general.

The new vehicle, in fact, allows its interior furnishing to be modified from a configuration suitable for the movements of the vehicle itself, in which the passengers transported can travel safely, to a configuration suitable for parking the vehicle, in which the passengers transported can physically face one another, in such a way that a meeting can take place in comfortable conditions.

It is another object of the present invention to optimize the space available in the vehicle, in order to provide one or more large supporting surfaces and allow the passengers to be seated as is most suitable for the purposes of the meeting.

An advantage offered by the present invention is represented by the fact that it ensures the availability of other accessories, equipment and services that make it possible to reduce the need to interrupt the meeting to a minimum. It is another object of the present invention to guarantee the privacy and anonymity of the passengers that are being transported, both during the transport and during the parking period and the meetings.

It is a further object of the present invention to guarantee the best possible comfort for the passengers being transported.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle that can be driven by any driver holding a valid driving license of category "C", that is, with no need for specific professional qualifications.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle that is not subject to any circulation restrictions, as it is a vehicle that can be classified in class Ml, for which no special checks or restrictions are required, for example in relation to the driving times, which instead are required for other types of vehicle.

These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new type of motor vehicle, specially furnished for transporting passengers and also for holding meetings in general between two or more attendees, comprising among its main parts:

• a vehicle intended for the transport of passengers,

• two or more seats, each suited to accommodate one or more passengers;

• means for moving one or more of said seats from at least one position, suitable for accommodating the passenger while the vehicle is driving, to at least one position in which they are substantially directed towards the longitudinal center line of the vehicle itself;

• means for locking said one or more seats in said positions;

• at least one table or supporting surface in general;

• means for selectively positioning said at least one table or supporting surface in general at the level of or in proximity to the center line of the vehicle.

Said passenger seats, except for the driver's seat, are preferably single seats and are arranged in rows that are parallel to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle.

Said seats are preferably arranged in two longitudinal rows, near the side walls of the vehicle and in symmetrical positions with respect to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle.

Preferably, all of said passenger seats can be rotated from said at least one position suitable for the circulation of the vehicle, in which they are substantially arranged so that they are parallel to the longitudinal center line and facing the front part of the vehicle, to said at least one position rotated by 90° towards the longitudinal center line.

Said seats can preferably be rotated independently of one another, wherein for each one of them there is a manouevring space that allows the seat to be rotated indepedently of the position of the adjacent seats.

It is understood that said passenger seats are directed towards the front part of the vehicle when they are positioned in such a way that a passenger normally seated on the seat with his/her back resting on the backrest is directed towards the front part of the vehicle with the front part of his/her body.

It is understood that said passenger seats are directed towards the longitudinal center line or towards any point of the vehicle when they are positioned in such a way that a passenger normally seated on the seat with his/her back resting on the backrest is directed towards the longitudinal center line or towards said point of the vehicle with the front part of his/her body.

When all of the passenger seats are directed towards the longitudinal center line of the vehicle, so that the backrest of each seat is substantially parallel and close to the side walls of the vehicle, inside the passenger compartment a room is substantially created, in which all of the seats are substantially positioned near the side walls of the vehicle and mutually facing each other in pairs, symmetrically with respect to the vehicle's center line.

According to the invention, all or part of said seats can also be rotated or in any case located in such a way as to be directed towards the same point, for example the centre of said center line, or towards a point on a wall, for example the front or rear wall, for example towards a display monitor.

According to the invention, furthermore, all or part of said passenger seats can be designed so that they can be rotated by 180°, in such a way as to be substantially aligned with the longitudinal center line, but face towards the rear part of the vehicle.

According to the invention, only some of the seats can be designed so that they can be rotated towards the back and thus face those seats that remain directed towards the front.

In the preferred solution, said vehicle is of the type defined as "motor vehicle" intended for transporting passengers, having a maximum of eight seats in addition to the driver's seat and whose maximum weight can exceed 3500 Kg.

For example and preferably, said vehicle can be classified as "Ml " according to the [Italian] Rules of the road, It. Legislative Decree no. 285 of April 30, 1992 and successive amendments.

In said solution, said vehicle comprises two rows made up of four of said seats, wherein all of said seats face towards the front part of the vehicle in the position suitable for circulation and towards the adjacent seat, meaning towards the center line of the vehicle, in the position suitable for holding a meeting, in such a way that the participants, that is, the passengers seated on said seats, physically face each other.

Said means for selectively positioning said at least one table or supporting surface preferably comprise at least one ground guide, installed on the floor of the vehicle, and for example coinciding with or near and parallel to said longitudinal center line, wherein said table or supporting surface in general comprises corresponding means suited to slide on said at least one guide and means suited to lock said table in the desired position.

In this way, when said seats are in said position suitable for circulation or in another position, for example directed towards the vehicle's center line, it is possible to make said at least one table slide among the seats, positioning it as desired, according to the needs.

According to the invention, furthermore, one or more of said seats, preferably each one of them, comprises a tilting or generally hide-away supporting surface constrained to the seat itself, so that it can serve as an individual supporting surface for the passenger seated on that seat.

As an alternative, said hide-away supporting surface is constrained to the vehicle, for example to its side walls, in proximity to the corresponding seat. In order to ensure the maximum comfort and minimise the possible stops or interruptions of any meeting taking place inside the new vehicle, said new vehicle may comprise also at least one room, separated from the remaining space by means of one or more walls or partitions and of at least one access door, and one or more sanitary fittings contained in said room and provided with a suitable hydraulic and electric system.

For example, the new vehicle comprises at least one WC, at least one basin, any further sanitary equipment, like for example a shower.

According to the invention, the new vehicle may be furnished so that it comprises accessories in general, suited to allow working or recreational activities to be carried out therein, like for example one or more displays, one or more terminals or interfaces for connecting terminals in general. According to the invention, furthermore, at least the side windows and preferably also the rear window can be of the selective darkening type, for example of the type with darkening film and LCD film with additional electric darkening functions.

The new vehicle can be preferably and properly obtained from a normal motor vehicle for the transport of passengers, and in particular for the transport of no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver. In order to increase the inner space, said vehicle is obtained, for example, by extending the wheel base, possibly and preferably also extending the rear overhang, and/or by widening the body and the related mechanical means, for example with suitable spacers for the axle shafts.

The new vehicle is also preferably provided with full air spring suspensions.

The preferable dimensions of the new vehicle are thus 9000-9400 mm in length, 2400 - 2500 mm in width, for example with an inner available space of 2100-2250 mm.

The vehicle is furthermore provided with four side doors in total, of which one is the driver's door and the others are side doors, preferably sliding and automatic, and in particular one front right door and to rear doors, right and left.

The new vehicle is properly equipped with rear air conditioning with canalization systems, and/or even with roof condenser.

To further guarantee privacy and limit any external disturbing factors, according to the invention the new vehicle can preferably be provided with appropriate and suitable sound-proofing systems.

The vehicle is furthermore provided with all the accessories with which motor vehicles of any type can normally be provided.

The characteristics of the new vehicle are highlighted in greater detail in the following description that is provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of the interior of the new motor vehicle (1), with seats (2) all directed towards the front part (11) of the vehicle itself and substantially aligned in two rows (XI, X2) parallel to the longitudinal center line (X) of the vehicle (1).

Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the interior of the new motor vehicle (1), with seats (2) all directed towards said longitudinal center line (X) of the vehicle (1).

The invention is a motor vehicle (1) of the type with eight passenger seats (2) in addition to the driver's seat (3).

The new motor vehicle (1) thus comprises, in its preferred embodiment, said eight passenger seats (2) and means for moving one or more of said seats (2), preferably all of said seats, from at least one position (A), suitable for accommodating the passenger during the circulation of the vehicle, to at least one position (B) substantially facing towards the longitudinal center line of the vehicle.

In said position (A) suitable for circulation, said seats (2) are substantially aligned with said longitudinal line (X) and preferably face the front part (11) of the vehicle or the rear part (12) of the vehicle (1).

Said seats (2) can be locked in one of said at least two positions (A, B) through suitable locking means.

The new motor vehicle (1) comprises also at least one table or supporting surface (4) in general that slides on guides (41) parallel to said longitudinal center line (X), and is preferably suited to be arranged in any position between said two rows (XI, X2) of said seats (2).

Said table or supporting surface (4) in turn comprises also means suited to slide on said guides (41) and means suited to lock said table (4) in the desired position.

When all of said passenger seats (2) are directed towards said longitudinal center line (XI) of the vehicle, in the passenger compartment (13) a room is created in which all the passenger seats (2) are substantially positioned laterally, near the side walls (14) of the vehicle, and mutually facing each other in pairs, symmetrically with respect to the center line. The new motor vehicle furthermore comprises, for one or more of said passenger seats (2), preferably for each one of them, a tilting supporting surface (21) constrained to the seat (2) itself or to another part of the vehicle, for example to the side wall (14) in a position corresponding to that of the seat (2), so that it serves as an individual supporting surface for the passenger seated on the seat.

Said new motor vehicle (1) also comprises at least one room (5), separated from the remaining space by means of one or more walls or partitions (51) and of at least one access door (52), and one or more sanitary fittings (53, 54, 55) housed in said room (5), like for example a basin (53), a WC (54) and a shower (55).

The vehicle is also provided with four side doors (61, 62, 63, 64) in total, including the driver's door (61), a preferably sliding and automatic front right door (62), two rear doors, right (63) and left (64), which are preferably sliding and automatic, too.

These are the schematic outlines that are suffient to carry out the invention for the expert in the art, consequently in practical application variants may be developed with no prejudice to the substance of the innovative concept disclosed herein.

Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.