MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A DRIVING POSITION ADAPTED FOR DRIVERS WITH DISABILITIES

Description

DESCRIPTION 5 Technical field The present invention relates to a motor vehicle with driving position adapted for drivers with disabilities; In particular, the present invention relates to adaptations on an armrest, or armrest, placed next to the 10 driving position, centrally located between two seats front in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Context As is known, to allow driving also to people with disabilities disabilities, the controls of motor vehicles are 15 customized, i.e. appropriately modified and / or moved compared to their standard installation condition, in so as to adapt the driving position to the actual physical capabilities of the driver. For some types of disabilities, however, the known solutions 20 are poorly satisfactory. In particular, some drivers have a limited range of action with their arms and, therefore, are unable to reach easily the usual manual controls provided in correspondence of the dashboard, in front of the control station 25 guide, and / or in correspondence with the side tunnel cabinet at the same driving position (for example the lever for the gear changes): in these cases, generally, the manual controls are replaced by foot controls or by controls on the steering wheel, but the interventions to be carried out to customize the 5 driving positions compared to the standard set-up have a significant impact, both from a technical point of view structural, than from an economic point of view. Therefore, there is a need to improve the known solutions with precautions that are relatively 10 simple to adopt, and which allow drivers with disabilities, particularly with arms having a radius of limited action, to drive relatively easily. The aim of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a motor vehicle with a driving position adapted for 15 drivers with disabilities, which allows them to carry out their duties in a safe manner simple and effective for the above mentioned need. Summary of the invention According to the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle according to claim 1. 20 Preferred embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims. Brief description of the drawings For a better understanding of this invention Some embodiments are now described, 25 purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows, in top perspective, the passenger compartment of a preferred form of motor vehicle with driving position adapted for drivers with 5 disabilities, according to the present invention; - figure 2 shows, in perspective and to scale enlarged, an armrest that is part of the station of figure 1 guide; and - figures 3 to 5 refer to possible variants 10 of the armrest in figure 2. Description of preferred embodiments of the invention In figure 1, the reference number 1 indicates, in its complex, a motor vehicle, partially illustrated and 15 simplified. The motor vehicle 1 has a passenger compartment 2 comprising two 3 front seats, one defining a 3rd driving position for one driver, and the other defining a 3b position for a passenger. The 3 seats are placed side by side along a 20 transverse axis 4, which is horizontal and is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis 5 coinciding with the direction of travel of the motor vehicle 1. The front seats 3 are spaced from each other along the transverse axis 4 so as to place an armrest, or armrest, in position 25 central between them: this armrest is indicated by the reference 10 and, in particular, is fixed in passenger compartment 2, that is, it is not equipped with any regulation system. According to variants not illustrated, the armrest 10 It could be equipped with a long adjustment movement 5 the longitudinal axis 5 and / or an adjustment movement in height, for example around an axis of oscillation parallel to the transverse axis 4, and / or a movement of opening around a hinge axis to open a storage compartment located underneath the 10 same armrest 10. In the specific solution illustrated, the armrest 10 it is carried by a mobile tunnel, also called central console, indicated by reference 12 and defined by a structure that extends longitudinally in a central position between the 15 positions 3a and 3b starting from a board 13, which is arranged in front of the front seats 3. According to an alternative not illustrated, the armrest 10 can be supported by the backrest of one of the seats front 3 and, therefore, be mobile together with such 20 backrest. The armrest 10 has a defining upper surface a support surface 15 for a user's forearm occupying the front seats 3. In the specific example illustrated, the bearing surface 15 is arranged in a 25 to be used by the passenger's forearm; in practice, the support surface 15 is arranged exclusively along one side edge of the armrest 10, towards passenger position 3b. In particular, the support surface 15 delimits a projection 16, which protrudes 5 upwards from a base portion 18 of the armrest 10 and, preferably, is made with a relatively soft material, to ensure sufficient comfort for forearm support. In more detail, as shown in figure 2, the 10 protrusion 16 protrudes upwards from an upper face 20 of the base portion 18 and extends longitudinally for the entire length of the same upper face 20. The latter, preferably, occupies a central area of ​​the armrest 10 and, also, the side edge opposite to the 15 relief 16, facing the driving position 3a. Towards the 3rd driving position, in the particular illustrated solution, the base portion 18 is delimited by a lateral surface 21 which is connected to the face top 20 and is essentially vertical. 20 According to one aspect of the present invention, the base portion 18 supports at least one drive control manual 23 (i.e. a moving organ defined, for example, by a button, a knob, a key, a switch, a lever, etc…) to activate / deactivate / adjust a 25 corresponding device installed on motor vehicle 1 and / or a corresponding function implemented on motor vehicle 1. In particular, the base portion 18 supports a plurality of manually operated controls 23 which, advantageously, they are arranged in spaced positions between 5 of them on the top face 20. More specifically, thanks to the prominence 16. the surface of support 15 is higher than the controls to be operated manual 23, which prevents the passenger in the seat 3b of accidentally touching the operating controls 10 manual 23. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, at least one of the manually operated controls 23 is defined from a moving body to control a device and / or function associated with driving motor vehicle 1, i.e. a 15 moving organ that is operated manually during the normal driving operations performed by the driver, in particularly in emergency conditions and / or to ensure the safety while driving. This favorite aspect of the invention, however, does not 20 excludes that manually operated controls 23 can be defined by moving organs to control devices and / or functions that are not directly associated with the driving operations. In the preferred embodiment of Figure 2, the 25 manually operated controls 23 include the following movable organs: - a selector organ 23a which is associated with a automatic transmission of the motor vehicle 1, it can be operated manually to set the gears 5 of this automatic transmission and, in particular, is defined by a knob rotating around an axis orthogonal to the upper face 20; - a 23b switch, defined for example by a button, manually operated to operate a 10 car horns 1; - a 23c switch, defined for example by a button, manually operated to turn on and off turn off an external flashing emergency light; - a 23d switch, defined for example by a 15 button, manually operated to turn on and off turn off, and / or flash, the high beams front of the motor vehicle 1. Preferably, at least some of the commands to manual operation 23 duplicate corresponding organs of 20 standard command, generically indicated by the reference 24 in figure 1, which are installed in the usual positions in corresponding to the 3rd driving position, on the dashboard 13 and / or on the tunnel cabinet 12 and / or on a side door of next to the same 3rd driving position, and can be operated 25 manually by able-bodied drivers to control the same devices and / or functions. In other words, the fact of adapting the workstation Guide 3a for drivers with disabilities, installing controls manually operated 23 on the armrest 10, does not require 5 necessarily the elimination of the command organs standard 24. The electrical / electronic system of motor vehicle 1 must be adapted to allow the control of the various devices and functions of the vehicle 1 either through the standard control organs 24, or 10 through the manually operated controls 23 arranged on the armrest 10. In this regard, it might be appropriate add an inhibition system configured to exclude, possibly automatically, the drive accidental operation of the standard control organs 24 when 15 manually operated controls are used 23 on the armrest 10, and vice versa. Alternatively or in addition to the examples given for Figure 2, the manually operated controls 23 can include the following moving parts: 20 - one or more commands 23e (figure 2), defined for example by buttons, which can be operated manually to lift and lower the side windows of the doors of the passenger compartment 2; - a 23f command (figure 2), defined for example by a 25 button, manually operated to lower or mute the volume of sounds emitted by speakers acoustics installed in the passenger compartment 2 - a 23g command (figure 4), defined for example by a button, manually operated to turn on a 5 motor vehicle powertrain 1; - a 23h command (figure 4), configured to insert and / or release a parking brake (the so-called "handbrake") electrically operated installed on motor vehicle 1; 10 - a set of commands 23i (figure 3), configured in how to adjust the position of rearview mirrors exterior of the motor vehicle 1, the height position of the side windows of the doors and be able to insert an opening block on the doors themselves. 15 Furthermore, the following variants are possible, in alternatively or in combination with what is described above: - the manually operated controls 23 can be arranged on the lateral surface 21 of the portion base 18 (figure 3); 20 - the manually operated controls 23 can be completely housed in recesses 25 made in the highlight 16 (figure 2); - the manually operated controls 23 can be defined by respective areas on a focusable screen 25 by touch 26, i.e. from a touchscreen (figure 5); - the manually operated controls 23 can be defined by haptic interfaces, e.g. interfaces capable of providing a vibrational feedback signal to the driver, in response to their operation 5 manual. In principle, manually operated controls 23 can control devices and / or functions other than the favorite ones, listed above, for example: - the conditioning of the air introduced into the passenger compartment 10 2, - a car radio and / or satellite navigator, - other external lights of the motor vehicle 1 (headlights position lights, fog lights, low beam lights, etc.). In conclusion, it is evident from the above that 15 the idea behind this invention is that of arrange the manually operated controls 23 on the armrest 10, preferably in a lower position than the support surface 15, so that the latter prevents the passenger at station 3b to reach out and touch 20 unintentionally the same manually operated controls 23. Furthermore, this idea applies advantageously to the control of devices necessary for driving (gearbox gears) and devices necessary for safety (horn, 25 high beam lights, emergency flashing light), which must be easily accessible. The adaptations needed to install the controls manual operation 23 on the armrest 10, and to adjust the as a consequence the installed electrical-electronic system 5 on vehicle 1, are relatively small and have a minimal impact on the structural characteristics of the 3rd driving position. At the same time, thanks to the new position of the controls manually operated 23, the latter are easily 10 accessible to drivers with disabilities, having a limited range of action of one's arms. Other advantages, even of a secondary nature, are then evident to a common technician in the sector on the basis of as described above, with reference to the figures 15 attached. Finally, it is clear that the armrest 10 described above and illustrated in the attached figures can be made changes and variants without departing from the scope protective of the present invention, as defined in the 20 claims attached. In particular, the external aesthetic appearance of the armrest 10 may differ from what is pictured in the attached figures.

Claims

MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DRIVING POSITION ADAPTED FOR DRIVERS WITH DISABILITIES CLAIMS 1. Motor vehicle (1) with driving position (3a) adapted for drivers with disabilities; the motor vehicle extending along a longitudinal axis (5) and comprising a passenger compartment (2) having: a. two front seats (3) placed side by side and spaced apart along a transverse axis (4), orthogonal to said longitudinal axis (5); b. an armrest (10) arranged between said front seats (3) and having a support surface (15) for a forearm of a user occupying, in use, one of said front seats (3); c. a plurality of movable control organs (24,23) for controlling respective devices and / or respective functions on the motor vehicle (1); characterised in that said movable control organs comprise at least one manually operable control (23) arranged on said armrest (10).

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said manually operated control (23) is arranged lower than said support surface (15).

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said support surface (15) delimits a projection (16) which protrudes upwards with respect to a base portion (18) of the armrest (10).

4. Motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said manually operable control (23) is arranged on said base portion (18).

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said manually operable control (23) is arranged in a recess (25) made in said projection (16).

6. Motor vehicle according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein said projection (16) extends longitudinally along a lateral edge of said armrest (10).

7. A motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said manually operable control (23) is a selector member (23a) which is associated with an automatic transmission of the motor vehicle (1) and is manually operable to set the gears of such automatic transmission.

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said selector organ (23a) is defined by a rotating knob.

9. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said manually operable control (23) is configured to operate a horn of the motor vehicle (1).

10. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said manually operable control (23) is configured to turn on and off an external flashing emergency light.

11. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said manually operable control 5 (23) is configured to switch on and off, and / or flash, the front high beam headlights of the motor vehicle (1).

12. A motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said movable control members 10 comprise standard control members (24), and wherein said manually operable control (23) is a duplicate that controls the same device and / or function as one of said standard control members (24).