ADJUSTABLE COMMAND PANEL FOR COLLECTIVE TRANSPORT VEHICLE

Field of the Invention

The present invention refers to a command panel for a collective transport vehicle. More specifically, the panel of the invention wall is mobile/adjustable, providing greater comfort, practicality and safety for the driver and passengers. Background of the Invention

Panels for collective transport vehicles are known in the art. Patent literature bears examples of works developed in this field, and some of the closest are cited herein. However, none of the following documents predates the object of the present invention in full, nor does any combination thereof suggest or obviously lead to the present invention.

Document WO 07/048003 entitled "VERSATILE ROBOTIC CONTROL MODULE" reveals a robotic control module for use in vehicles, including structures, systems and methods that provide robotic control.

Document WO 07/026923, entitled "VEHICULAR INSTRUMENT

DEVICE, VEHICLE WITH VEHICULAR DEVICE, VEHICULAR DISPLAY

DEVICE AND VEHICLE WITH VEHICULAR DISPLAY DEVICE" reveals a vehicle command panel in two combinations (Honda New Civil panel), one being in a deeper position than the other.

Document WO 06/133260 entitled "VEHICLE INFORMATION/CONTROL SYSTEM" reveals an instruments panel for use in vehicles, said panel having a variety of commands. None of the documents researched reveals any mobile element designed ergonomically and for economy of space, as is the case of the present invention.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved commands panel for a collective transport vehicle. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a command panel for a collective transport vehicle in which at least part thereof comprises a mobile/driver adjustable element.

These and other objectives will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, and will be better understood from the detailed description that follows. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which at least a command panel region of the vehicle is mobile/driver adjustable (in this case the right hand side of the driver), Figure 2 depicts another perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the region of the mobile/driver adjustable panel indicated in figure 1 appears in various possible positions.

Figure 3 depicts a top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which at least a region of the vehicle's command panel is mobile/driver adjustable (in this case, on the right hand side of the driver). This view provides a clearer idea of the savings of space resulting from the use of the invention in the commands panel, since at the same time security is obtained for the driver and passengers without invading the through corridor or hampering passenger access upon entering the vehicle, as would occur if the entire combination were fixed and facing forwards.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention provides a new and improved commands panel for the collective transport vehicle. The commands panel of the present invention comprises at least a means of regulating the array of commands which are ergonomically positioned for driver reachability, as well as the inclusion of command information contained in the array inside the field of sight adjacent to the steering wheel. In contrast to the frustrated attempts of prior arts, which sought to change the entire panel base, the panel of the present invention provides an adjustable change of just certain functional parts thereof. In the present invention, the adaptation of the mobile section of the panel/array of commands is preferably driven after the passengers have boarded, without risk or decrease of passenger or even driver access space. The present invention provides improvements both for the driver - notably ergonomics - and for the maintenance, since the access to buttons and command devices fixed to the mobile part is made easier compared with the similar fixed position panels. Additionally, the present invention provides a change of vehicle assembly logics, with the use of pre-assembled satellite in the production line, which decreases the assembly time. The present invention also provides other advantages in the manufacturing process. The modularization of the panel components provides the adaptation of the entire section corresponding to the chassis, allowing adaptation/modularization of the panel systems for varied types of chassis. When a region or array of commands of the panel is in a totally open position, as illustrated in figures 1 and 3, the access to the connections and other subsections normally hidden and inaccessible is made easier. In this case, the vehicle's electric mains itself, which can be modular, can be fitted into said position. The device called multiplex, which includes various electric/electronic commands drivable by the driver, is preferably placed in the area of the array capable of changing position, its assembly/maintenance also being made easier.

Although in the preferred embodiment cited here a specific panel with a mobile element to the right of the driver was demonstrated, other arrangements are possible within the ambit of the present invention provided that they comply with the spirit of the invention to provide means of adjusting the sub-sections of the panel to the driver's ergonomic requirements, at the same time providing a larger access area for passengers and the driver himself.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is an excellent alternative to existing similar models. The examples described in the present invention should not be interpreted as limiting the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is defined in the claims appended hereto.