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Title:
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING A DRIVING POSITION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE BY A PERSON HAVING LOWER LIMB LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/016776
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Access system to a driving position of a motor vehicle (2) for a person having lower limb limited functionality comprising a wheelchair (4) and a loading unit (5) including a support structure (37) securable inside the motor vehicle (2) and a handling device (38) carried by the support structure (37) and provided with an interface member (45) configured to cooperate with a corresponding coupling member (36) of the wheelchair (4), wherein the handling device (38) is movable between an extended position, in which the interface member (45) protrudes from a door opening (90) of the motor vehicle (2), and a retracted position inside the motor vehicle, in which the seat (9) of the wheelchair (4) is arranged in the driving position, and the support structure (37) comprises an anchoring plate (46) provided with anchoring means (47) securable to the attachment fittings of a driving seat and of a safety belt of the motor vehicle (2).

Inventors:
PALETTO CARLO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2018/055431
Publication Date:
January 24, 2019
Filing Date:
July 20, 2018
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
MEMS S R L (IT)
International Classes:
A61G3/06; A61G5/10; B60N2/24; A61G5/04; A61G7/10
Foreign References:
US4483653A1984-11-20
EP0992392A22000-04-12
FR2483222A11981-12-04
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
FRANZOLIN, Luigi et al. (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. Access system to a driving position of a motor vehicle for a person having a lower limb limited functionality, including:

- a wheelchair (4) including a base (6) provided with motorized wheels (10), an intermediate structure (7) vertically movable with respect to the base (6) and a seat (9) secured to the intermediate structure (7); and

- a loading unit (5) including a support structure (37) securable inside the motor vehicle (2) and a handling device (38) carried by the support structure (37) and provided with an interface member (45) configured to cooperate with a corresponding coupling member (36) of the wheelchair (4);

the handling device (38) being movable between an extended position, in which the interface member (45) protrudes out of a door opening (90) of the motor vehicle (2), and a retracted position within the motor vehicle (2), in which the seat (9) of the wheelchair (4) is arranged in the driving position,

wherein the support structure (37) includes an anchoring member (46) provided with first anchoring means (47) securable to attachment fittings of a driving seat of the motor vehicle (2) .

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring member (46) includes second anchoring means (48) securable to attachment fittings of a safety belt of the driving seat of the motor vehicle (2) .

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said anchoring member is a plate (46) and said anchoring means (47, 48) are holes.

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said handling device (38) is a three-axis articulated-arm device.

5. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the three axes are vertical.

6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said handling device (38) includes:

a first arm (39) having a first end (40) hinged to the support structure (37) about a first axis (C) and a second end (41) ; and

a second arm (42) having a first end (43) hinged to the second end (41) of the first arm (39) about a second axis (D) and a second end (44) hinged to the interface member (45) about a third axis (E) .

7. A system according to claim 6, characterized in that the support structure (37) includes a bracket (50) located in use near a side of the motor vehicle (2) on the driving side, the first arm (39) being hinged to said bracket (50) and rotatable thereabout by an angle of substantially 180° passing from the retracted position to the extended position of said handling device (38) .

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheelchair (4) includes a pantograph mechanism (8) interposed between the base (6) and the intermediate structure (7) .

9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat (9) is hinged to the intermediate structure (7) about a horizontal axis (A) .

10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheelchair (4) is provided with batteries (31) secured behind a backrest (33) of the seat ( 9) .

11. Method of loading a wheelchair to a driving position in a motor vehicle by means of a loading unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following steps :

arranging the handling device (38) in the extended position;

retracting the wheelchair (4) until the coupling member (36) of the wheelchair (4) is arranged above the interface member (45) of the handling device (38);

lowering the intermediate structure (7) of the wheelchair (4) so as to engage the coupling member (36) of the wheelchair (4) with the interface member (45) of the handling device (38);

rotating the seat (9) of the wheelchair (4) with respect to the intermediate structure (7) about a horizontal axis (A) from an upright position to a backward tilted position;

moving the handling device (38) from the extended position to the retracted position, thus bringing the wheelchair (4) to the driving position through a door opening (90) of the motor vehicle (2); and

forward rotating the seat (9) of the wheelchair (4) with respect to the intermediate structure (7) from the tilted position to the upright position.

Description:
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING A DRIVING POSITION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE BY A PERSON HAVING LOWER LIMB LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY"

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102017000083606 filed on 21/07/2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an access system to a driving position of a motor vehicle for a person having lower limb limited functionality. The present invention also relates to a method for loading a wheelchair to a driving position in a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

A problem very much felt by people having lower limb limited functionality that need a wheelchair for travelling is having an autonomous access to a driving position of a motor vehicle.

The transfer from a wheelchair to a driving seat of a motor vehicle almost always requires the presence and help of another person. Even in cases where the disabled user has full functionality and strength in the upper limbs, the autonomous transfer from a wheelchair to a seat of a motor vehicle is extremely tiring and exposes the person to considerable injury risks. Therefore, systems have been proposed for the automatic loading of a wheelchair to the driving position in a motor vehicle, which essentially comprise a handling device carried by the motor vehicle and capable of seizing the wheelchair, typically as a result of the rearward approach of the chair to the door opening of the motor vehicle, and of transporting it through the door opening inside the motor vehicle.

The known systems of the aforesaid type have never found an effective widespread application for several reasons.

First, they involve substantial modifications to the vehicle, with considerable costs.

Moreover, the size of a wheelchair and of the handling mechanism are such to require the use of large, and therefore expensive, motor vehicles.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an access system to a driving position of a motor vehicle for a person having a lower limb limited functionality, which solves the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the known systems .

The aforesaid object is achieved by a system according to claim 1.

The present invention also relates to a method for loading a wheelchair to the driving position in a motor vehicle according to claim 11.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described hereinafter, by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair being part of the system of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the wheelchair of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are side views of the wheelchair of Figure 1, in two different operating positions;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a loading unit being part of the system of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the unit of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a handling device being part of the loading unit of Figure 5, in a folded position; Figure 8 is a view similar to the one of Figure 7, with parts removed for clarity's sake;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a first arm of the device of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a second arm of the device of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 7, in a folded position;

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 7, in a position of maximum extension;

Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are perspective views showing successive steps of the method for loading the wheelchair in the motor vehicle operated by the system of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figure 13, the reference number 1 generally designates an access system to the driving position of a motor vehicle 2 for a user 3 having a lower limb limited functionality.

The system 1 essentially comprises a wheelchair 4 and a loading unit 5, respectively shown in Figures 1 to 4 and in Figures 5 to 12.

The wheelchair 4 (hereinafter referred to as "chair 4" for brevity's sake) comprises a base 6, an intermediate structure 7 carried by the base 6 and vertically movable relative thereto by means of a pantograph mechanism 8, and a seat 9 carried by the intermediate structure 7 and tiltable with respect thereto about a horizontal transverse axis A (Figures 3 and 4), as described below.

The base 6 is provided with a pair of motorized front wheels 10 and with a pair of rear pivoting wheels 11.

The mechanism 8 (Figure 2) comprises, for each side of the chair, a pair of rods 12, 13 arranged in X orientation and hinged to each other at a midpoint about a transverse horizontal axis B. One of the two rods (12) has an upper end 15 hinged to the intermediate structure 7, near a front end of this latter, and a lower end 16 slidably connected to a longitudinal guide 17 of the base 6.

The other rod 13 has an upper end 18, slidably connected to a longitudinal guide 19 of the intermediate structure 7, and a lower end 20 hinged to the base 6 near a front end thereof.

The kinematic mechanism 8 is controlled by an electric worm screw actuator 23, carried by the base 6, one of whose outputs 24 is connected to the rods 13 near their lower ends 20 by means of a transmission linkage 25.

The tilting of the seat 9 with respect to the intermediate structure 7 is controlled by an electric actuator (not shown) hinged to a rear end by the intermediate structure 7 and having an output hinged to a plate 26 secured below the seat .

The seat 9 is conveniently provided with its own safety belts (not shown) .

The chair 4 comprises, in a known manner, supports 27 for the legs of the passenger, which are carried by a bracket 28 hinged to the plate 26, and whose inclination can be adjusted by an electric actuator 29 (Figure 4) . The chair 4 comprises footrests 30, which are slidingly mounted on the supports 27 and are adjustable by means of a further electric actuator 31.

The chair 4 is provided with rechargeable electric batteries 32, which are suitably arranged on the back of the backrest 33 of the seat 9, for the electric power supply of the actuators and of the motorized wheels .

A control unit (not shown) controllable by the user by means of a joystick 34 and of a push-button panel 35, is in charge of controlling the driving functions and adjusting the moving parts of the chair 4.

Finally, the chair 4 is provided with a coupling member 36 (Figure 2) interacting with the loading unit 5 and described hereinafter together with its complementary member belonging to said unit.

With reference to Figures 5 to 11, the loading unit 5 comprises a support structure 37 suitable to be secured in the motor vehicle 2, and a handling device 38 with articulated arms.

The support structure 37 comprises an anchoring plate 46, provided with a plurality of holes 47, 48 for securing it to the motor vehicle 2. The holes 47 are arranged so as to correspond to the standard attachment fittings of the front seat of the motor vehicle 2 (typically, these are four holes arranged at the vertices of a rectangle) . The holes 48 are arranged so as to correspond to the standard anchoring holes of the front seat safety belt. This requires no modification of the vehicle 2, since existing attachment fittings are used. The base plate 46 is the only element of the system 1 that must be "tailored" based on the motor vehicle 2 on which the system is to be installed. The support structure 37 further comprises a box-like structure 49 welded to the anchoring plate 46, housed in use in a position adjacent to the rear door opening of the motor vehicle 2 on the driving side, which houses the handling device 38 when folded (Figure 5) .

The box-shaped structure houses a C-shaped bracket 50 (Figures 6-9), rigidly secured to the anchoring plate 46 and to the box-like structure 49. The bracket 50 is arranged on one side of the support structure 37, in a position that in use is suitably adjacent to a side of the motor vehicle 2.

The handling device 38 (Figure 8) comprises a first arm 39 having a first end 40 hinged to the bracket 50 about a first vertical axis C and a second end 41, a second arm 42 having a first end 43 hinged to the second end 41 of the first arm about a second vertical axis D and a second end 44, and an interface member 45 hinged to the second end 44 of the second arm 42 about a third vertical axis E.

Since the three axes A, B, C are vertical, the handling device 38 moves along a horizontal plane from a folded position shown in Figures 5-8 and 11 to an extended position shown in Figures 12 and 13, wherein the interface member 45 extends out of the door opening of the motor vehicle.

As clearly shown in Figure 9, the first arm comprises a pair of elongated plates 51, parallel to each other and coupled by a plurality of intermediate plates 53 and by a tubular sleeve, which constitutes the end 40 and is rotatably mounted by means of bearings 54 about a pin 55 having an axis C secured to the bracket 50.

The rotation of the first arm 39 about the axis C is controlled by an electric motor 56 housed in the arm, on whose output shaft 57 an annular pinion 58 is rigidly coupled.

The pinion 58 is rotatably coupled by a toothed belt 59 (schematically shown in Figure 9) to a toothed pulley 60 secured to the pin 55.

The end 41 of the first arm 39 comprises a pair of facing and coaxial annular portions 52 of the respective plates 51, between which a pin 64 having an axis D is fixedly mounted .

With reference to Figure 10, the second arm 42 is formed by two elongated parallel plates 65, connected to each other between transverse plates 66 in a central zone, thus defining a box-like structure. The ends 43, 44 of the second arm 42 are defined by respective annular end portions 67 of the plates 54, housing the pin 64 in an angularly free manner.

The rotation of the second arm 42 with respect to the first arm 39 about the axis D is controlled by an electric motor 68 carried by the second arm 42 (Figures 7, 8 10) . A toothed pinion 69 is rigidly coupled on an output shaft 74 of the motor 68, said pinion being rotated by means of a toothed belt 70 (schematically shown in Figure 10) to a toothed pulley 71 keyed on the pin 64.

The pulley 71 is axially arranged between the annular portions 67 of the first end 43 of the second arm 42, which are in turn arranged between the annular portions 52 of the first arm 39.

The arms 39, 42 are respectively provided with a pair of covering elements 72, 73, which enclose and protect the mechanical parts described above.

The interface member 45 (Figure 10) comprises a fork portion 75 comprising a pair of superimposed and spaced annular portions 76, a pair of sides 77 integrally connected to the fork portion 75 and a pair of parallel horizontal bars 78, 79, secured between the two sides 77. The two bars 78, 79 are arranged respectively near an upper end and a lower end of the sides 77, and the bar 79 is arranged on the opposite side of the bar 78 with respect to the fork portion 75.

The annular portions 76 of the fork portion 75 are arranged on axially opposite portions of the annular end portions 67 of the second arm 42. A pin 80 engages in a rotationally fixed manner the annular portions 76 and passes in a freely angular manner inside the annular portions 67 of the second end 44 of the second arm 42.

The rotation of the interface member 45 with respect to the second arm 42 about the axis E is controlled by an electric motor 85 carried by the second arm 42. A toothed pinion 87 is rigidly coupled on an output shaft 86 of the engine 85, said pinion being rotatably coupled by means of a toothed belt 88 (schematically shown in Figure 10) to a toothed pulley 89 keyed on the pin 80.

The coupling member 36 of the chair 4 (Figure 2) essentially comprises two vertical coupling plates 94, parallel and spaced from each other, rigidly secured to a rear area of the intermediate structure 7 of the chair 4. Each of the coupling plates 94 comprises a first upper seat 95 and a second lower seat 96, which are substantially U- shaped, open downwards and configured to engage respectively on the bar 78 and on the bar 79 of the interface member 45.

The operation of the system 1 is described with reference to Figures 13-18 showing various steps of the method of the invention .

In a first step (Figure 13), the loading unit 5 is arranged with the handling device 38 in the extended position, in which the interface member 45 protrudes from a front door opening 90 of the vehicle 2 on the driving side and is tiltingly oriented backwards to facilitate the approach of the chair 4 without interfering with the vehicle door 2 (not shown) .

The user 3, on board of the chair 4, whose pantograph mechanism 8 is at a maximum height, retracts backwards towards the interface member 45 until the coupling member 36 is brought above the interface member 45.

At this point, the user 3 can start a conveniently automatic loading sequence, which comprises the following steps :

- folding of the pantograph mechanism 8 : in a first step, the intermediate structure 7 of the seat 9 of the chair 4 goes down until the coupling member 36 engages on the interface member 45; by means of a further folding of the pantograph mechanism 8, the base 6 of the chair rises from the ground and brings the chair 4 into its configuration at a minimum height (Figure 14);

- backward rotation of the seat 9 about the axis A with respect to the intermediate structure 7 (Figure 15); this allows a further reduction of the vertical size of the chair 4 to facilitate the passage through the door opening 90;

- progressive rotation (Figures 15-17) of the handling device 38 from the extended position to the folded position, in which the arms 39, 42 are arranged in the box- shaped structure 49 and the seat 9 is in a position aligned with the direction of travel but still tilted backwards (Figure 17); in this step, although the major contribution to the displacement of the chair 4 is due to the rotation of the arm 39 about the axis C by about 180° (see Figures 11 and 12 for comparison) , the presence of the further rotation axes D and E allows optimizing the path of the chair 4, thus allowing the passage through the door opening 90.

- rotation of the seat 9 from the backward tilted position to the upright driving position (Figure 18) .

The unloading of the chair 4 from the motor vehicle occurs by reversing the order of the steps described above, thus having in particular the following steps, starting from the driving position:

- rotation of the seat 9 from the upright driving position (Figure 18) to the tilted position of Figure 17;

- progressive rotation (Figures 15-17) of the handling device 38 from the folded position to the extended position;

- forward rotation of the seat 9 about the axis A (Figure 15) ;

- extension of the pantograph mechanism to bring the wheels 10, 11 in contact with the ground and free the engagement member 36 of the chair from the interface member 45 of the handling device 38.

An examination of the characteristics of the described system 1 and of the relative operating method clearly shows the advantages obtained thanks to the present invention.

First, the system 1 does not involve substantial modifications to the motor vehicle, since it is sufficient to remove the standard front seat and the corresponding rear seat, and secure the support unit of the loading unit 5 to the standard attachment fittings of the front seat and of the relative safety belts.

Since only one component of the system is different for each vehicle (in particular, the anchoring plate) , while the rest of the system remains unchanged, costs can be reduced thanks to an economy of scale.

The use of a three-axis handling device 38 allows reducing the size of the loading unit 5 and optimizing the loading/unloading path of the chair from the motor vehicle. It is therefore possible to use the system in relatively small cars .