Background of the invention High floor coaches having an upper deck for transporting passengers and a lower deck for carrying luggage are known. In such coaches wheelchair-bound passengers are transported by providing a space on the upper deck in which a wheelchair may be positioned. In order to provide access to the upper deck a wheelchair lift and a special door is fitted to the coach.

Whilst this prior art arrangement provides comfortable travelling conditions for wheelchair- bound passengers it reduces the maximum seating capacity of the coach, and is difficult and time consuming to load and unload the wheelchair-bound passengers from the coach.

Furthermore, the wheelchair lift must be installed in space which could otherwise be used for carrying luggage.

Figure 1 shows an example of a coach 100 in which the prior art solution described above is implemented. In this embodiment the coach 100 carries two wheelchairs 110, 120 on its upper deck 105. In order to load the wheelchairs a wheelchair lifter 150 is used. The lifter 150 is located under the upper deck 105 between two luggage compartments 170 and 180.

When not in use the lifter 150 is concealed behind a pull down flap 160. The upper deck of the coach 100 includes a plurality of seats (not shown) arranged in rows, and a locking mechanism to secure the wheelchairs in position during travel.

Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a coach adapted to convey a plurality of passengers, said coach including an upper passenger carrying deck and a lower deck including a passenger carrying portion, a first entry way for providing passenger entry and egress to and from said coach and a second entry way for providing low floor access to said passenger carrying portion of the lower deck.

In another aspect, the present invention provides coach adapted to convey a plurality of passengers, said coach including an upper passenger carrying deck, a lower deck including a passenger carrying portion and an entry way for providing passenger entry and egress to and from said coach, said entry way and said passenger carrying portion of said lower deck being at substantially the same height, said entry way providing low-floor access to the coach, wherein said passenger carrying portion of the lower deck is positioned towards a front part of the coach and the coach further includes a luggage carrying space positioned to the rear of said passenger carrying portion of the lower deck, said luggage carrying space including a portion located forward of rear wheels of said coach and having a floor level at substantially the same height as a floor level of the passenger carrying portion of the lower deck.

Preferably, said passenger carrying portion of the lower deck is positioned towards a front part of the coach and the coach further includes a luggage carrying space positioned to the rear of said passenger carrying portion of the lower deck, said luggage carrying space including a portion located forward of rear wheels of said coach and having a floor level at substantially the same height as a floor level of the passenger carrying portion of the lower deck. More preferably, luggage carrying space forward of the rear wheels has a floor level at substantially the same height as a floor level of the passenger carrying portion of the lower deck.

Preferably, the upper deck includes a first portion positioned generally above the passenger carrying portion of the lower deck and a second portion and at least one sunken access aisle for providing access to the second portion wherein seats positioned in the first portion of the upper level are positioned on a floor that has a level that is higher than the sunken access aisle.

Preferably the passenger carrying portion of the lower deck has wheelchair securing means for transporting at least one passenger in a wheelchair.

Preferably the coach further includes at least one luggage carrying portion, Preferably the coach includes an entry-way adapted to enable wheelchair access to said passenger carrying portion of the lower deck.

In one embodiment the entry-way also provides access to stairs leading to the upper passenger carrying deck.

In another embodiment, the coach includes a first entry-way for providing access to passengers and a second entry-way for providing access to mobility impaired passengers. In this embodiment, the first entry-way provides conventional access to the coach and typically, the first entry-way will have one or more stairs leading up into the coach. The second entry-way, by contrast, provides low-floor access to the coach to thereby provide easy access for mobility impaired passengers.

The second entry-way is preferably located behind the front wheel of the coach. In this embodiment, low-floor access may be provided without requiring a special low-floor chassis to be used.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the first entry-way may provide an access point to the upper deck and the lower deck. In other words, the lower deck may be accessible from both entry ways, with the first entry way typically being used for entry by non-impaired passengers and the second entry-way being used for entry by mobility impaired passengers.

Throughout this specification, it will be understood that the respective entry-ways may be used for both entry and egress.

It is also preferable that the coach includes a retractable ramp means mounted adjacent to the entry-way, said ramp means being adapted to be movable between an extended position, in which a wheelchair can be conveyed into the coach by travelling over said ramp means, and a retracted position for storage of the ramp means.

The passenger carrying portion of the lower deck is preferably located substantially at the level of an under floor luggage compartment of a conventional high floor coach.

Brief description of the drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present . invention, the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a prior art high floor service coach ; Figure 2 shows a side view of a high floor service coach according to an embodiment of the present invention adapted to transport wheelchair-bound passengers on part of its lower deck ; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the passenger carrying portion of the lower deck of the coach of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 ; Figure 4 shows a plan view of the upper deck of the coach shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 shows another side view of the coach of the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to4 ; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the passenger carrying portion of the lower deck of a coach according to a further embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7 shows a plan view of the top deck of a coach according to a third embodiment of the present invention ; Figure 8 shows a near side view of the coach according to the embodiment of Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a plan view of the lower deck of a coach according to the embodiment of Figure 7; Figure 10 shows an off side view of the coach of this third embodiment.

Figure 11 shows a plan view of a top deck of a further embodiment of the present invention ; Figure 12 shows a near side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 11 ; Figure 13 shows an off-side embodiment of the embodiment of Figure 11 ; and Figure 14 shows a plan view of a lower deck of the embodiment of Figure 11.

Detailed description of the embodiments In broad concept the present invention provides a high floor service coach in which mobility impaired passengers, such as wheelchair-bound passengers, or frail passengers are transported on a lower passenger carrying level. Figures 2 to 4 show various views of a high floor service coach according to an embodiment of the present invention Turning firstly to Figure 2, which shows a side view of a coach according to an embodiment of the present invention, the coach 200 is generally similar to the prior art coach shown in Figure 1, having a upper deck 210 which is adapted to carry passengers in a plurality of seats e. g. 225 arranged in rows. However, the coach 200 additionally includes a lower deck designated generally as 220, which is adapted to accommodate passengers in a forward passenger carrying compartment 230. The lower deck 220 also has a plurality of luggage compartments 240 and 250. The luggage carrying compartments 240 and 250 are located behind the passenger carrying compartment 230 on the lower deck, and are divided therefrom by a wall 255. The luggage compartments 240 and 250 are accessible via standard tilt up doors 241 and 251 respectively. Alternatively, luggage compartments 240 and 250 may be accessible via one or more walk-in type doors, such as side hinged doors.

The passenger carrying compartment 230 of the lower deck 220 is adapted to transport passengers who are mobility impaired, wheelchair-bound or frail, and a number of mobile passengers. The lower deck 220 is fitted with a plurality of seats e. g. 235 for transporting a number of seated passengers in standard seating. In order to accommodate a passenger in a wheelchair a"wheelchair zone"260, comprising an area of free space in front of the row of seats 235, is provided. The floor of the lower deck 220 in the wheelchair zone 260 is fitted with a plurality of locking devices which are adapted to immobilise a wheelchair and allow the safe transport of wheelchair-bound passengers.

In order to provide sufficient head room and comfort for passengers transported in the passenger carrying compartment 230 of the lower deck 220, the floor of the upper deck 210 is stepped at position 270. Thus, the upper deck 210 comprises two floor levels 212 and 214, with the front most platform 214 being raised with respect to the rear platform 212.

Turning now to Figure 3 which shows a plan view of the lower deck 220 of the coach 200 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the passenger carrying compartment 230 includes a row of seats 235 as shown in Figure 2 and an open wheelchair zone 260 in which a number of wheelchairs e. g. 262 and 261 can be positioned during transport. Access to the lower passenger carrying deck is provided via an access-way 340. The access-way is generally flat or ramped and leads smoothly into the open floor portion 260 of the forward passenger carrying compartment 230. This arrangement enables wheelchair-bound passengers to access the .. passenger carrying compartment 230 easily without the use of a lift and without requiring them to traverse a step or steps.

The doorway to the access-way 340 is additionally provided with a retractable ramp means 390. The ramp means 390 is movable from a fully retracted position as shown in Figure 3 to an extended position 390A shown in phantom line, to provide a platform along which a wheelchair-bound passenger may manoeuvre their wheelchair into the coach without the use of a lifting device of any type. The ramp means 390 maybe hinged to the floor of the entry way 340 and can simply be"flipped"outward in order to provide access for a passenger in a wheelchair. Alternatively, the ramp means 390 can be slidably mounted under the floor of the adjacent door to the access-way 340, and can be slid out to the desired length in order to allow access to the passenger carrying compartment 230.

In order to allow passengers to board the coach 200, typically the coach will stop on a road next to a kerb or a gutter. Passengers who are able to walk can simply step onto the coach and ascend the stairs 330 to the upper deck and take their seats. In order to allow wheelchair- bound passengers to board the coach the retractable ramp means is extended such that it traverses the space between the gutter, and the doorway of the coach, thereby acting as a gangway along which the wheelchair-bound passengers may proceed onto the coach. If the coach is not stopped adjacent to a gutter or kerb, the ramp means can be extended or angled such that it meets the ground and provides a ramp up to the entry way of the coach, thereby allowing the wheelchair-bound passengers to wheel themselves or be wheeled, onto the coach.

Thus, low-floor access to the coach is provided. Once a passenger in a wheelchair is aboard the coach, he or she can position their wheelchair such that the locking devices mounted on the floor of the lower passenger carrying platform can be used to secure the passengers wheelchair within the coach. Frail passengers and passengers with limited mobility who are unable to easily climb the stairs can also be seated in the passenger carrying compartment 230 of the lower deck.

The lower passenger carrying compartment additionally includes a luggage rack 320 mounted above the front right wheel arch of the coach, thereby utilising space which may otherwise be wasted. From the plan view of Figure 3 it can be seen that both seated and wheelchair-bound passengers can be transported in the lower deck whilst still providing a large amount of room on the lower deck 220 of the coach for the necessary drive-train components of the coach, and luggage carrying compartments.

Turning now to Figure 4, which shows a plan view of the upper deck of the coach 200 shown in Figures 2 and 3, the upper deck 210 is generally similar to that of a prior art coach without disabled seating, in that it includes a plurality of seats e. g. 225 configured in rows with a central isle 410. The configuration of this embodiment however differs from a prior art coach in that the access stairway 330 is positioned to one side of the central aisle. This facilitates the provision of a wide and relatively flat access-way 340 into the lower passenger carrying compartment, which is advantageous for loading and unloading wheel chair-bound passengers.

Due to the position of the stairway 330 the front portion 214 of the upper deck 210 is narrower than the rear portion 212. For this reason, a row of single seats 420 is positioned on the forward deck 214 adjacent to the stairway, rather than rows of double seats.

Figure 5 shows a view from of the left hand side of the coach 200 of the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4, and is generally similar to the view shown in Figure 2. Again the upper and lower decks 210 and 220 can be seen, with their respective passenger carrying compartments. The luggage carrying compartments 240 and 250 are provided with additional access doors, 242 and 252, to allow access to both sides of the luggage compartments for loading and unloading of luggage. The single door 500 to the coach 200 which provides access to both mobile and wheelchair-bound passengers can also be seen.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of the lower deck of a coach according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The coach 600 is generally the same as the previous embodiment and only differs in the arrangement of seats in the passenger carrying portion 630 of the lower deck 620. In this embodiment the four seats eg. 635 are arranged in an L shaped configuration with a pair of seats 636 against the rear wall 655 of the passenger carrying portion 630, and two single seats 635, 634 positioned in front of them. This arrangement provides a wheelchair zone 660 on the left hand side of the passenger carrying portion 630 in which two wheelchairs can be transported.

This arrangement provides greater manoeuvring room for the wheelchairs on the coach, and eliminates the requirement that one of the wheelchairs (262 of figure 3) has to be manoeuvred into a position between the luggage rack 621 and the row of seats 636 in order to be secured before travel. In this embodiment the first wheelchair on board the coach can be .. secured in the rearmost position 662 and the next wheelchair secured in a forward position 661, thus further simplifying loading and unloading of passengers in wheelchairs.

Turning now to Figures 7 to 10, which show a coach according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The coach 700 of the third embodiment differs from that of the previous embodiments in that the coach is fitted with two passenger entry doors, the front-most door being adapted to provide access to the driver's seat, to the stairs to the upper deck, and to the lower deck (via aisle 735. ) The rear-most door is adapted to provide access to the passenger carrying compartment 730 of the lower deck 720. Access to compartment 730 of lower deck 720 through the rear-most door is suitably a low floor access for use by mobility impaired passengers.

In the first and second embodiments, the provision of a single entry door to the coach necessitated the use of a chassis with a low floor configuration in which the steering mechanisms and suspension for the front wheels are mounted in such a way that a smooth- floored access-way could extend from the entry-way, between the front wheel-arches of the coach, and into the passenger carrying portion of the lower deck. This requirement limits the range of chassis configurations suited to use with these embodiments. The embodiment of Figures 7 to 10 overcome the need for a low floor chassis configuration by the provision of a doorway 701 that is located behind the front wheels of the coach, and which is suitable for providing low floor access to the passenger carrying portion 730 of the lower deck 720. Thus, door 701 provides a convenient low floor access point for mobility impaired passengers without requiring use of a special low floor chassis in manufacture of the bus.

Thus the lower deck 720 of the coach 700 includes a plurality of different floor levels.

The driver's level 732 is at the front of the coach 700 is connected to the passenger carrying portion 730 of the lower deck 720 by a drop aisle 735, which extends between the wheel arches 736 of the coach 700. The drop aisle 735 is set lower than the drivers platform 732, but higher than the passenger carrying portion 730. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, by raising the height of the floor at the driver's level 732 and the drop aisle 735, when compared to the previous embodiments, sufficient space is provided under the floor to house the front suspension and steering mechanism of the coach.

Entry to the driver's seat and normal access to the stairs 770 is provided through the main door 750 of the coach 700. Passengers enter the drivers platform via a pair of stairs 755, and then may proceed to either the seats 731 in the passenger carrying portion 730, via the drop aisle 735 of the lower deck 720 or up the stairs 770 to the upper deck 800.

Mobility impaired, frail or wheelchair-bound passengers can access the passenger- carrying portion 730 of the lower deck 720 through door 701. As described in connection with the previous embodiments the entry-way to the passenger carrying portion 730 of the lower deck 720 is preferably fitted with a ramp or platform to provide easy wheelchair access to the passenger carrying portion 730. Furthermore, the coach 700 of this embodiment may be provided with a lavatory compartment 790 in the passenger compartment 730 of the lower deck 720.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the top deck 800 of the coach 700 according to this third embodiment. As will be noted by those skilled in the art the seating arrangement of the upper deck 800 differs to that described in relation to the previous embodiments. In this embodiment the stairs 770 lead to a near side aisle 810 which runs along the near side of the coach 700, a plurality of rows of three seats eg. 835 extend from the aisle 810 across the centre of the coach 700 to an off-side aisle 815 running along the right hand side of the upper deck 800. The two aisles 810, 815 meet in a short transverse aisle and continue towards the rear of the coach 700 along central aisle 820. Along each side of the central aisle 820 there are a plurality of pairs of seats eg 836. At the terminal end 821 of aisle 820 there is a back row of seats 837 extending across the width of the rear of the coach 700. The aisle 810, 815, 820 in this embodiment are also drop aisles, and thus are set at a lower level than the platforms 840,841, 842 on which the seats eg. 835,836 are mounted. The back row of seats 837 are mounted on a higher level 843 than the pairs of seats adjacent aisle 820. In this way, sufficient headroom is provided along the aisles for passengers to walk and the seats are mounted in a relatively high position to provide better visibility for passengers. Improved headroom for the seats placed on the lower deck is also provided.

Figures 11 to 14 show various views of another embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment of Figures 11 to 14 May be broadly described as a three-axle coach having a low floor chassis. A single front door having low floor access provides entry and egress to the passenger-carrying portions of the coach.

The coach 900 of Figures 11-14 includes a front axle 902 and dual rear axles 904,906.

The coach 900 includes a low floor chassis. The coach has a door 908 positioned ahead of front axle 902 (and thus forward of the front wheel). Door 908 is positioned on the near side or kerb side of the coach and provides low floor access to the passenger carrying parts of the coach.

The passenger carrying parts of the coach include a passenger carrying lower deck 910 and an upper deck or top deck 912. Passenger carrying lower deck 910 is wholly positioned in front of the rear axles 904,906 and indeed occupies from one-quarter to one-half of the length of the coach.

The lower deck of the coach 900 also includes a walk-in boot 914 and a luggage bin 916. Walk-in boot 914 has a floor that is at substantially the same height as the floor of passenger carrying lower deck 910. A wall 918 separates passenger-carrying lower deck 910 from walk-in boot 914. As best seen in Figure 14, a toilet compartment 920 is built into walk- in boot 914 with access to toilet compartment 920 from the passenger carrying lower deck 910 being provided via door 922.

Walk-in boot 914 and luggage bin 916 are accessed via respective doors, as will be known to those of skill in the art. The floor of luggage bin 916 is somewhat higher than the floor of walk-in boot 914 because luggage bin 916 extends over the rear wheels and axles.

The front door 908 also provides access to the driver's area 924.

The passenger carrying lower deck 910 in the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 14 is configured to include three rows of seats 926 and also to convey up to two wheelchairs 928.

The passenger carrying lower deck 910 may be provided with suitable clamps or locks to facilitate safe transport of wheelchairs 928.

As previously mentioned, front door 928 provides low floor access to the coach 900.

Mobility impaired passengers can make their way from front door to the seating areas of passenger carrying lower deck 910 without having to climb any stairs. Able bodied passengers can make their way up stairs 930 to the passenger carrying upper deck 912. As best seen in Figures 11 and 14, stairs 930 are positioned adjacent the near side of the bus, thus leaving the area from the inner edge of the stairs to the other side of the bus free for passengers use on the upper deck 912.

Upper deck 912 includes a forward passenger seating area 932 and a rearward seating area 934. Both seating areas 932 and 934 include a plurality of rows of seats. Both seating areas 932 have a comrnon floor height, as best shown in Figures 12 and 14. This floor height. is designed to provide a comfortable height between the passengers and the roof of the coach when the passengers are seated in the coach whilst also providing a high ceiling above lower deck 910 for the comfort of passengers moving through and travelling in lower deck 910.

In order to provide sufficient roof height for passengers walking on upper deck 912, drop aisles 936 and 938 are provided for access to respective seating areas 932 and 934.

Similarly, stairs 930 end at their upper end and at a floor level that is essentially at the same height as the floor levels of drop aisles 936 and 938.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention.