Vehicle modification equipment

Abstract

To modify a vehicle having a predetermined floor structure so as to have a desired welfare structure while easily ensuring usability similar to that of a general vehicle. [Solution] Vehicle modification equipment 20 for modifying a vehicle 2 that has a passenger compartment floor (rear floor 5) exposed to the outside of the vehicle through an open door opening 4 and a concave parts storage recess 10 provided in the floor to provide an welfare structure comprises a floor panel portion 30 that covers the upper opening of the parts storage recess 10, a support member 40 fixed within the parts storage recess 10, a ramp 70 that is wheelchair accessible, and a detachable attachment mechanism 80 that detachably attaches the ramp 70 to the support member 40, with the ramp 70 attached to the support member 40 positioned so as to span between the floor panel portion 30 and the road surface.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle modification device that can modify a vehicle having a predetermined floor structure to have an assistive structure including a ramp or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes technology related to this type of welfare vehicle. The vehicle in Patent Document 1 has a rear floor capable of accommodating a wheelchair, a door opening at the rear end of the rear floor, and a ramp that allows wheelchair access. The rear floor has a recessed portion that is recessed toward the underside of the vehicle, and a ramp is attached to the peripheral wall of the recessed portion on the rear side of the vehicle so that it can rotate up and down. In the above-described configuration, the rear floor is exposed to the outside of the vehicle through the open rear door opening. In this state, by rotating the ramp downward, the ramp is placed between the rear floor and the road surface. Furthermore, by rotating the ramp upward and tilting it toward the front of the vehicle, the forward-tilted ramp covers the upper opening of the recessed portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-183153 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The welfare vehicle described in Patent Document 1 is permanently equipped with welfare features such as ramps. Therefore, the welfare vehicle does not have the same usability as a general vehicle without ramps, and may be unsuitable for everyday use. For this reason, there has been a demand in the vehicle field for a device that can modify a vehicle to have the desired welfare features during periods when care is required, particularly when a wheelchair is needed (e.g., when a wheelchair is needed to be transported). By using such a device, there is no need to replace a general vehicle with a welfare vehicle, and the vehicle can be easily used for everyday use except when transporting a wheelchair. The present invention was conceived in light of the above points, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to modify a vehicle with a specified floor structure to have the desired welfare features while easily ensuring the same usability as a general vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] As a means for solving the above problem, a vehicle modification device of the first invention is a device for modifying a vehicle having a cabin floor exposed to the outside of the vehicle through an open door opening and a recessed parts storage recess formed in the floor to include an welfare structure. For vehicles with a predetermined floor structure of this type, it is desirable to be able to modify the vehicle to include a desired welfare structure while easily ensuring usability similar to that of a general vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle modification device of the present invention includes a floor panel that closes the upper opening of the parts storage recess, a support member fixed within the parts storage recess, a wheelchair-accessible ramp, and a detachable mounting mechanism for detachably mounting the ramp to the support member. The ramp attached to the support member is positioned so as to span between the floor panel and the road surface. In this invention, a vehicle with a predetermined floor structure is modified to include an welfare structure by attaching the ramp to the support member fixed within the parts storage recess. In the above configuration, because the parts storage recess is closed by the floor panel, removing the ramp from the support member makes it easy to ensure usability similar to that of a general vehicle. Furthermore, with the above configuration, the vehicle can be returned to its original state by removing the vehicle modification equipment, and since the floor panel portion can be used for both the pre- and post-modification vehicles, it is possible to essentially return the vehicle to its original state by removing at least the support member and the slope.

[0006] The vehicle modification device of the second invention is the vehicle modification device of the first invention, wherein the detachable attachment mechanism has a mounting fixture that detachably screws the ramp and support member on the floor board. The mounting fixture is provided with an operating unit that can rotate together with the mounting fixture in both the screw-fastening direction and the reverse direction when the ramp is attached to the support member, and the operating unit is located on the vehicle's upper side of the floor board. In this invention, the support member and the ramp are detachably attached by screwing the mounting fixture. In this configuration, by locating the operating unit on the vehicle's upper side of the floor board, rotating the mounting fixture, i.e., attaching and detaching the ramp, can be performed relatively easily.

[0007] The vehicle conversion device of the third invention is the vehicle conversion device of the second invention, in which a parts storage recess is provided in the floor of the rear of the passenger compartment, and the support member has mounting parts to which mounting fixtures can be screwed, which are provided on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the installed ramp. In this invention, the mounting fixtures attached to the mounting parts are less likely to interfere with the ramp or wheelchair.

[0008] The vehicle conversion device of the fourth invention is the vehicle conversion device of any of the first to third inventions, in which the ramp is attached to the support member via a hinge so as to be able to rotate up and down. In this invention, taking into consideration the ease of use of the vehicle when a person requiring care is in need, the ramp can be rotated downward relative to the hinge to be tilted down toward the bottom of the vehicle, or rotated upward relative to the hinge to be positioned inside the vehicle compartment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the first aspect of the present invention, a vehicle with a predetermined floor structure can be modified to have a desired welfare structure while easily ensuring the same usability as a general vehicle. According to the second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle with a predetermined floor structure can be easily modified for welfare use. According to the third aspect of the present invention, usability as a welfare vehicle after modification can be more reliably ensured. And according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, usability as a welfare vehicle after modification can be even more reliably ensured. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of the rear of a vehicle showing an open door opening. [Figure 2] This is a schematic perspective view of the modified vehicle, showing the rear floor from above the vehicle. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the modified vehicle, showing the vehicle modification equipment exploded; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a partially exploded view of a support member. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a ramp. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the vehicle when standing on a slope. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the vehicle during the ramp installation / removal work. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a mounting fixture attached to a slope. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle accommodating a wheelchair. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12. In each figure, arrows indicating the front-rear direction, up-down direction (vehicle height direction), and left-right direction (vehicle width direction) of the vehicle are appropriately illustrated. In each figure, vehicle modification equipment and related vehicle configurations are illustrated with solid lines, and other vehicle configurations may be simplified or omitted. In each figure, symbols corresponding to each component on the left side of the vehicle may be assigned, and symbols corresponding to each component on the right side of the vehicle may be assigned in parentheses.

[0012] [Vehicle Overview] Before describing the vehicle modification device 20, an overview of a vehicle 2 shown in FIG. 1 will be first described. A door opening 4 configured to be opened and closed by a back door 3 is formed on the rear surface of the vehicle 2. A rear floor 5, which forms the floor of the passenger compartment R, is also provided at the rear of the vehicle 2. The upper surface of the rear floor 5 is formed by a floor panel 6, and is exposed to the outside of the vehicle when the door opening 4 is opened. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of rear row seats 7 (left and right) are installed on the front side of the rear floor 5. Curved portions 8 recessed inward in the vehicle width direction are formed on both sides (left and right) of the rear floor 5 in the vehicle width direction at positions corresponding to the wheel houses. A part storage recess 10 is formed between the left and right curved portions 8 and the door opening 4 so as to extend in the vehicle width direction. The part storage recess 10 is a portion recessed downward in the floor panel 6 and can store vehicle parts such as a spare tire (not shown).

[0013] 1 to 3 described above, it is desirable to modify the vehicle 2 shown in Figures 1 to 3 to have a desired welfare structure only during the period when care is required, particularly when transporting the wheelchair K shown in Figure 1, while easily ensuring usability similar to that of a general vehicle. Therefore, in this embodiment, the vehicle 2 having the predetermined floor structure described above is modified to have a welfare structure while ensuring usability similar to that of a general vehicle, using a vehicle modification device 20 described below and shown in Figure 3. The configuration of the vehicle modification device 20 will be described in detail below, in the order of floor panel 30, support member 40, slope 70, and detachable mounting mechanism 80.

[0014] [Floorboard section] First, the floor panel 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a plate-like member that closes the upper opening of the component-accommodating recess 10 and is formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the vehicle width direction. The floor panel 30 has notches 31 formed on the left and right sides of its front edge, through which a belt 61 of a winch 60 (described later) is passed. Referring to FIG. 4, the floor panel 30 is formed as a hollow plate by joining an upper panel 32 and a lower panel 33, which are substantially identical in plan view, at their peripheries. The lower panel 33 is formed with multiple ribs (not shown) that support the upper panel 32, ensuring the floor panel 30 is strong enough to support a wheelchair (and a person requiring care). Furthermore, the lower panel 33 of the floor panel 30 has an insertion window 34 through which a mounting panel 50 of a support member 40 (described later) can be inserted vertically. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper panel 32 has an exposure portion 35 that partially exposes the mounting panel 50 (described later) to the outside.

[0015] [Supporting member] Next, the support member 40 shown in FIG. 3 is a member fixed within the component-housing recess 10 of the rear floor 5, and is configured to allow a slope 70, described later, to be detachably attached thereto. The outer frame portion of the support member 40 is formed of a beam-like member that is substantially L-shaped in a plan view from above. The lower end of the support member 40 can be detachably fixed to the bottom surface of the component-housing recess 10 by fastening or other methods (see FIG. 4). The support member 40 can be configured from a rear cross beam portion 41 that extends in the vehicle width direction along the door opening 4 of the vehicle 2, and a left vertical beam portion 42 that is connected to the left end of the rear cross beam portion 41 and extends toward the front of the vehicle. The rear cross beam portion 41 and the left vertical beam portion 42 are formed in the shape of a vertical wall rising from the bottom surface of the component-housing recess 10. Referring to FIG. 4, the height dimension H of the rear cross beam portion 41 and the left vertical beam portion 42 is set to be approximately equal to the depth dimension of the component-housing recess 10 when fixed. As a result, the outer frame portion of the support member 40 (excluding the mounting plate portion 50 and brackets described below) is housed within the component-housing recess 10. Furthermore, the floor panel portion 30 is supported from below by the rear cross beam portion 41 and the left vertical beam portion 42 of the support member 40. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the supported floor panel portion 30 becomes generally continuous with the floor panel 6 of the rear floor 5.

[0016] [Mounting plate] 4 and 5, a mounting plate 50 (described in detail below) for mounting a slope 70 (described later) is fixed to the support member 40 via a plurality of brackets to form an integral part. The support member 40 includes a rear flange 410 formed by bending the upper end of the rear cross beam 41 toward the front of the vehicle, and a first bracket 51 and a second bracket 52 are fixed to the rear flange 410. The first bracket 51 shown in FIG. 5 has a hat-shaped cross section with an open bottom, and its flange-like protruding lower end is fixed to the rear flange 410. The first bracket 51 is fixed to the left end of the rear flange 410, and an insertion hole 511 is formed in a first upper surface 510 of the first bracket 51, into which a mounting fixture 81 (described later) can be inserted.

[0017] 5 is fixed to the rear flange portion 410 at a position further to the right than the first bracket portion 51. The second bracket portion 52 has a hat-shaped cross section formed in the vehicle width direction, and its left and right side ends (e.g., left end 521) are fixed on the rear flange portion 410. The left and right side ends (e.g., left end 521) of the second bracket portion 52 are elongated vertically so that the height dimension of the second bracket portion 52 is equal to that of the first bracket portion 51. The second bracket portion 52 has a fitting portion 53 formed on a second upper surface portion 520 at its left end, into which the right front corner of the mounting plate portion 50 is fitted. The fitting portion 53 has a ceiling plate portion 530 that is triangular in plan view and is located above the second upper surface portion 520 of the vehicle, and the front and right edges of the ceiling plate portion 530 are bent downward and fixed on the second upper surface portion 520.

[0018] The mounting plate 50 shown in FIG. 5 is formed in a plate shape that is elongated in the vehicle width direction and is disposed between the left ends of the first bracket 51 and the second bracket 52. A screw-hole-shaped mounting portion 54, into which a mounting fixture 81 (described later) can be screwed, is provided at the left end of the mounting plate 50, penetrating vertically. A leg 55 that protrudes downward is fixed to the underside of the second bracket 52 at approximately the center in the vehicle width direction. The leg 55 has a hat-shaped cross section that is open at the upper side of the vehicle, and its flange-shaped upper end that protrudes in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the mounting plate 50. The mounting plate 50 is fixed to the support member 40 while being disposed on the first bracket 51 and the second bracket 52. At this time, the screw-hole-shaped mounting portion 54 of the mounting plate 50 is aligned with the through-hole of the first bracket 51, and the front right corner of the mounting plate 50 is fitted into the fitting portion 53 of the second bracket 52. Then, by fixing the undersides of the legs 55 of the mounting plate 50 onto the rear flange 410, the mounting plate 50 provided with the legs 55 is fixed to the rear flange 410 in an appropriately positioned state. Furthermore, by fitting the corners of the mounting plate 50 between the ceiling plate 530 and the second upper surface 520 of the fitting portion 53, rotation of the mounting plate 50 toward the front of the vehicle is restricted.

[0019] 4 and 5, the mounting plate 50 is raised by the first bracket 51 and the second bracket 52, and is therefore positioned higher than the rear flange 410 of the support member 40. Therefore, when the support member 40 is fixed to the component housing recess 10 that is closed by the floor plate 30, the mounting plate 50 is positioned in the hollow portion through the insertion window 34 of the floor plate 30. By positioning the mounting plate 50 directly below the upper plate 32 of the floor plate 30, the upper plate 32 is supported from below by the mounting plate 50.

[0020] [Support member as a stand for a winch] The support member 40 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a pair of front and rear winch support beams 43, and thus also functions as a mount for a winch, which will be described later (for convenience, the front and rear winch support beams are given the same reference numerals in FIG. 4). The pair of winch support beams 43 are members that horizontally support a pair of left and right winches 60, respectively, and are arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction while being held at the same height by the support member 40. Referring to FIG. 3, the left ends of the pair of winch support beams 43 are fixed to the left vertical beam 42 of the support member 40 at the center in the height direction. A central connecting beam 44 extending in the vehicle front direction is fixed to the rear cross beam 41 of the support member 40 at the center in the vehicle width direction, and a right connecting beam 45 extending in the vehicle front direction is also fixed to the right portion. The winch support beam 43 and the rear cross beam 41 of the support member 40 are connected by the central connecting beam 44 and the right connecting beam 45. Furthermore, the central connecting beam portion 44 and the right connecting beam portion 45 are positioned at approximately the same height as the rear flange portion 410 of the rear cross beam portion 41, so that they are configured to support the underside of the floor board portion 30 from below.

[0021] 3, a pair of winches 60 are attached to the right and left sides of the pair of front and rear winch support beams 43. The pair of left and right winches 60 are configured to be able to retract and pull out a belt 61 for pulling up the wheelchair K, and a hook 62 that can be hung on the frame of the wheelchair is attached to the end of the belt 61. The pair of winches 60 mainly comprises (figure numbers omitted) a drum that retracts the belt 61, a motor that rotates the drum, a gear box, etc., and the operation of the motor is controlled by a control unit 64 (e.g., an ECU). The pair of winches 60, together with the support member 40 that serves as their base, are stored in the component storage recess 10 that is closed by the floor plate 30.

[0022] 2 and 3, the belts 61 of the pair of winches 60 are pulled out from the notches 31 in the floor panel 30, and then redirected so as to be pulled rearward via a belt support 63 provided on the rear seat 7. As shown in FIG. 11, this belt support 63 is composed of a hook portion 630 that is hooked onto the back frame 7F of the rear seat 7, and a main body 631 through which the belt 61 is freely passed while connected to the hook portion 630. With the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 12, the hook 62 at the end of the belt 61 is hooked onto the wheelchair K, and the winch 60 is driven to reel in the belt 61, thereby allowing the wheelchair K to be pulled up to the rear of the rear seat 7.

[0023] [slope] Next, the ramp 70 shown in Figure 3 is a plate-like member on which a wheelchair K can pass, and includes a plate-like ramp main body 71, a base 72 placed on the floor panel 30, and a pair of left and right hinges 73 that connect the ramp main body 71 and the base 72 so that the ramp can rotate up and down. Referring to Figure 6, the base 72 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the vehicle width direction, so that its right and left ends protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from the ramp main body 71 in the attached state. The base 72 is a flat plate-like member placed on the floor panel 30, and is connected to the ramp main body 71 via a pair of left and right hinges 73 that are hinged.

[0024] The slope main body 71 shown in FIG. 3 is a plate-like member with an appropriate width and a length sufficient to span between the base 72 on the floorboard 30 and the road surface. The lower end of the slope main body 71 is provided with a road surface installation portion 74 that can be installed on the road surface. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the upper end of the slope main body 71 is bent into a gentle inverted V shape in side view, and has an uppermost apex 710 and a connecting surface 711 that extends obliquely forward and downward from the apex 710. The connecting surface 711 is connected to the base 72 via a hinge 73 so as to be vertically rotatable. In the above-described configuration, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the slope main body 71 rotates upward about the hinge 73, causing the slope main body 71 to stand upright relative to the floorboard 30. By fixing the upright slope main body 71 to the vehicle body with a string-like member or the like (not shown), the upright state of the slope 70 can be more reliably maintained. In addition, by rotating the slope main body 71 downward around the hinge portion 73, the slope main body 71 is placed between the floor board portion 30 and the road surface.

[0025] [Detachable mounting mechanism] 4 and 5, the detachable mounting mechanism 80 is a mechanism for detachably mounting the slope 70 to the support member 40. The detachable mounting mechanism 80 has a mounting portion 54 provided on the support member 40 side and a mounting fixture 81 that can be screwed to the mounting portion 54. Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 8, the mounting portion 54 is a screw-hole-shaped portion provided in the mounting plate portion 50 as described above, and is configured to be exposed to the outside from the exposed portion 35 provided in the floor plate portion 30. The mounting portion 54 is formed on the left end portion of the mounting plate portion 50, and is therefore positioned outward in the vehicle width direction (on the left side in each figure) from the slope 70, as will be described later.

[0026] The mounting fixture 81 shown in FIG. 8 includes a mounting fixture main body 82 that is detachably screwed to the mounting plate 50 (mounting portion 54), an operating portion 83 that can rotate together with the mounting fixture main body 82 in both the screw-fastening direction and the reverse direction, and a fixing portion 84 that is fixed to the slope 70. The mounting fixture main body 82 is a threaded shaft-like portion having a predetermined length and can be screwed into the mounting portion 54 of the mounting plate 50 from above and below (see FIG. 4). The operating portion 83 is integrated with the upper end of the mounting fixture main body 82 so as to protrude radially outward from the mounting fixture main body 82. A stepped nut-shaped fixing portion 84 is inserted midway in the axial direction of the mounting fixture main body 82. A spring-shaped biasing portion 85 (not shown) is interposed between the fixing portion 84 and the operating portion 83 and is wound around the mounting fixture main body 82 and extends in the axial direction. With reference to FIG. 9, the biasing portion 85 acts to bias the fixed portion 84 and the operating portion 83 in directions away from each other (see the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 9).

[0027] 8, the mounting tool 81 is fixed to the left end of the base portion 72, that is, at a position further outward in the vehicle width direction than the slope 70. The mounting tool 81 is fixed with its fixing portion 84 penetrating the base portion 72, thereby being integrated with the slope 70 on which the base portion 72 is provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the base portion 72 is provided with a plurality of mounting through holes 722 extending from its underside to the fixing portion 84. The fixing portion 84 is fastened and fixed to the base portion 72 by fasteners 723 inserted through each of the plurality of mounting through holes 722. In the above-described configuration, by pushing the operating portion 83 toward the underside of the vehicle against the biasing force of the biasing portion 85 and moving it closer to the fixing portion 84, the tip of the mounting tool main body 82 protrudes from the underside of the base portion 72 (see the state indicated by the two-dot dashed line in FIG. 9).

[0028] [Vehicle usage] 1 to 3, it is desirable that the vehicle 2 described above be modified to have a desired welfare structure only during the period when the vehicle requires nursing care, particularly when transporting a wheelchair K, while still ensuring the same usability as a general vehicle. Therefore, in this embodiment, the vehicle 2 is modified to a welfare structure using a vehicle modification device 20 shown in FIG. 3. The vehicle modification device 20 includes a floor panel 30 that closes the upper opening of the component storage recess 10, a support member 40 fixed within the component storage recess 10, a ramp 70 along which the wheelchair K can pass, and a detachable mounting mechanism 80 that detachably mounts the ramp 70 to the support member 40. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in the modified vehicle 2, the ramp 70 attached to the support member 40 is positioned between the floor panel 30 and the road surface E. According to the above-described configuration, the ramp 70 can be attached to the support member 40 fixed within the component storage recess 10 of the rear floor 5, thereby modifying the vehicle 2 having a predetermined floor structure to have a welfare structure. Therefore, the procedure for modifying the vehicle 2 and the function of the vehicle modification device 20 will be specifically described below.

[0029] [Vehicle modification procedure] First, a space large enough to accommodate the support member 40 is secured in the component-accommodating recess 10 of the rear floor 5 shown in FIG. 3 . At this time, a spare tire or other component may be removed from the component-accommodating recess 10 to empty the component-accommodating recess 10, or some component may remain in the component-accommodating recess 10 if the component-accommodating recess 10 can accommodate the support member 40. Then, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the support member 40 is accommodated in the component-accommodating recess 10, and the lower end of the support member 40 is detachably fixed to the bottom surface of the component-accommodating recess 10. The method for fastening the support member 40 to the bottom surface is not particularly limited, but examples include fastening using bolts or the like. The upper opening of the component-accommodating recess 10 of the rear floor 5 is then closed by the floor panel 30. In this state, the floor panel 30 is supported from below by the support member 40, providing sufficient strength to support the gravity of the wheelchair (person requiring care) and the occupant. Before or after the above-described procedure, a pair of winches 60 (left and right) can be set on the support member 40. Then, with the belts 61 being pulled out from each of the pair of winches 60, the belt support 63 with the belts 61 threaded therethrough is hung on the rear seat 7 (see FIG. 11).

[0030] 8, when the component housing recess 10 is closed by the floor plate 30, the mounting portion 54 provided on the support member 40 (mounting plate 50) is exposed to the outside through the exposed portion 35 of the floor plate 30. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the base portion 72 of the ramp 70 is placed on the floor plate 30, and the mounting fixture 81 fixed to the base portion 72 is screwed to the mounting portion 54 exposed from the floor plate 30. At this time, the mounting fixture body 82 of the mounting fixture 81 can be screwed to the mounting portion 54 by rotating the operating portion 83 of the mounting fixture 81 while pushing it toward the underside of the vehicle. In the above-described configuration, the operating portion 83 is located above the floor plate 30, making it relatively easy to rotate the mounting fixture body 82, i.e., to install the ramp 70. Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the ramp 70 is attached relatively firmly to the support member 40, allowing the ramp 70 to stably rotate up and down, as described below. The mounting fixture 81 is attached to the mounting portion 54 while being provided at the left end of the base portion 72, and is therefore positioned outward in the vehicle width direction of the ramp main body 71 attached to the base portion 72. This makes it less likely that a wheelchair on the ramp main body 71 or the ramp main body 71 itself will interfere with the mounting fixture 81 when rotating. The right end of the base portion 72 can be attached to the support member side through the floor panel 30 using a pin or other material (not shown). The above-described procedure allows the vehicle modification device 20 to be set on the vehicle 2, completing the process of modifying the vehicle 2 for welfare use. The above-described configuration facilitates installation of the vehicle modification device 20 and does not require large-scale or dedicated facilities for installation, thereby facilitating entry into international markets and contributing to global expansion.

[0031] [Vehicle functions when nursing care is required] 1 and 6, by rotating the ramp 70 downward about the hinge portion 73, the ramp main body 71 can be placed between the floor board portion 30 and the road surface E. This allows the wheelchair K to be guided from the road surface E to the rear floor 5 via the ramp 70. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 12, the belt 61 of the winch 60 is pulled rearward from the position of the belt support 63 and is thereby withdrawn from the winch 60. The hook 62 of the belt 61 is then hooked onto the wheelchair K on the ramp 70. In this state, the belt 61 can be wound onto the winch 60 by operating the remote control or the like, thereby pulling the wheelchair K on the ramp 70 up to a position behind the rear row of seats 7. After the wheelchair K has boarded, the ramp 70 can be rotated upward about the hinge portion 73 and erected, allowing the compact, erected ramp 70 to be stored within the vehicle interior R (see FIG. 7). In this way, in the vehicle 2 shown in Figure 12, the wheelchair K can be transported on the rear floor 5. When the wheelchair K dismounts, the ramp 70 rotates downward about the hinge portion 73, thereby again connecting the floorboard portion 30 and the road surface E (see Figure 1). Therefore, with the above-described configuration, the wheelchair K can be loaded and unloaded in a shorter time than when the ramp 70 is attached and detached, thereby reducing the burden on the person requiring care and the caregiver.

[0032] [Use of vehicles when wheelchair transport is not required] 2 and 3, we will now describe the case where the modified vehicle 2 is used for everyday use. In this modified vehicle 2, by removing only the ramp 70 from the support member 40 and using the floor panel 30 that covers the component storage recess 10 as part of the rear floor 5, usability similar to that of a regular vehicle can be ensured. In the above-described configuration, the operating unit 83 is located on the upper side of the vehicle on the floor panel 30, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, making it relatively easy to remove the ramp 70. During everyday use, winding the belt 61 shown in FIG. 3 onto the winch 60 further improves the usability of the rear floor 5. Thus, when there is no need to transport a wheelchair, the vehicle 2 can be used for everyday use similar to that of a regular vehicle by simply removing only the ramp 70. For example, luggage can be smoothly loaded and unloaded onto the rear floor. After the period of needing care has passed, the modified vehicle 2 can be restored to its original state by removing the vehicle modification device 20. In this case, since the floor panel portion 30 can be used for both the pre- and post-modification vehicle 2, the modified vehicle 2 can be essentially returned to its original state by removing at least the slope 70 and the support member 40. In this way, the above-described vehicle 2 can be used as either a general vehicle or a welfare vehicle by partially attaching or detaching the vehicle modification device 20, making it possible to more easily accommodate the level of care required by the person in need of care and the lifestyle of the caregiver.

[0033] As described above, in this embodiment, a vehicle 2 with a predetermined floor structure is modified to have an welfare structure by attaching the ramp 70 to the support member 40 fixed within the component housing recess 10. In the above configuration, the component housing recess 10 is blocked by the floor panel 30, so removing the ramp 70 from the support member 40 makes it easy to ensure usability similar to that of a general vehicle. Furthermore, in the above configuration, the vehicle 2 can be restored to its original state by removing the vehicle modification device 20. Furthermore, because the floor panel 30 can be used for both the pre-modification and post-modification vehicle 2, removing at least the support member 40 and the ramp 70 allows the vehicle 2 to be essentially restored to its original state. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a vehicle 2 with a predetermined floor structure can be modified to have a desired welfare structure while easily ensuring usability similar to that of a general vehicle.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the support member 40 and the slope 70 are detachably attached by screwing the mounting fixture 81. In the above configuration, the operating unit 83 is disposed on the upper side of the floorboard 30 of the vehicle, which makes it relatively easy to rotate the mounting fixture 81 (mounting fixture main body 82), i.e., to attach and detach the slope 70. In addition, in this embodiment, the mounting fixture 81 attached to the mounting unit 54 is less likely to interfere with the slope 70 or wheelchair K. In this embodiment, taking into consideration the usability of the vehicle 2 when a person requires care, the slope 70 can be tilted downwards on the vehicle by rotating downwards on the hinge 73, or positioned within the vehicle compartment R by rotating upwards on the hinge 73.

[0035] The vehicle modification device of this embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may take various other forms. While the present embodiment illustrates the configuration of the detachable attachment mechanism, the configuration of the mechanism is not intended to be limited. For example, the attachment tool may be formed separately from the ramp. In this case, the attachment tool can be screwed to the attachment part through an insertion hole provided in the base of the ramp. The attachment part can be provided at an appropriate position on the support member, for example, on at least one of the right and left ends of the rear flange shown in FIG. 3. In addition to the attachment tool, various other attachment methods can be used to attach the ramp to the support member. For example, a stud bolt protruding from the attachment part can be passed through an insertion hole provided in the ramp and attached via a nut. The detachable attachment mechanism can also be configured to detachably engage or lock the support member and ramp, or a pin provided in the ramp can be detachably inserted into a hole-shaped attachment part.

[0036] Although the present embodiment illustrates the configuration of the support member, floor panel, and ramp, the configuration of each of these components is not intended to be limiting. For example, the support member may be removably attached to the component storage recess and capable of supporting the ramp. That is, the support member does not necessarily need to support the floor panel from below, nor does it necessarily function as a winch stand. It is desirable for the floor panel to be able to support a wheelchair and carry luggage, but it is not essential that it be configured for a winch. When returning the vehicle to its original location, the component storage recess may be covered with a cover separate from the floor panel. The ramp may be removably attached to the support member and may be connected to the base so as to be vertically rotatable or non-vertically rotatable. When the ramp is rotatable, a holding mechanism may be provided to hold the ramp in an upright position, or the ramp may be tilted forward and placed inside the vehicle cabin.

[0037] The winch configuration can also be modified as needed. For example, the winch belt support member can be attached to the rear seat or any other suitable location within the vehicle cabin. For example, it can be attached using a protrusion or the like on the rear floor. A wheelchair securing belt (not shown) can also be separately attached to the rear cross beam of the support member. The wheelchair can be secured from both the front and rear of the vehicle by hooking the wheelchair securing belt hook onto the wheelchair on the rear floor from the rear and then winding up the winch belt. Various floors other than the rear floor can also be used as the floor. For example, the floor can be exposed by opening the side door, and a ramp can be extended from the floorboard of this floor in the vehicle width direction to span the road surface. In this case, the ramp can have a ramp main body and a base, and the mounting fixture on the base is preferably located at least one side of the vehicle, either forward or backward, of the ramp main body. The road surface includes both paved and unpaved roads. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 2 vehicles 3. Backdoor 4 Door opening 5 Rear floor 6 Floor Panel 7 Rear row seats 7F rear frame 8 Curved section 10. Parts-receiving recess 20 Vehicle modification equipment 30 Floorboard 31 Notch 32 Upper plate 33 Lower plate part 34 Insertion window 35 Exposed part 40 Support member 41 Rear crossbeam 42 Left longitudinal beam 43 Winch support beam 44 Central connecting beam 45 Right connecting beam 50 Mounting plate 51 First bracket part 52 Second bracket part 53 Fitting 54 Mounting part 55 Legs 60 winch 61 Belt 62 Hook 63 Belt support 64 Control Unit 70 Slope 71 Slope main body 72 Base 73 Hinge part 74 Road surface installation part 80 Detachable mounting mechanism 81 Mounting fixture 82 Mounting fixture body 83 Operation section 84 Fixed part 85 energizing section 410 Rear flange 510 First top section 511 Insertion hole 520 Second top section 521 Left side 530 Ceiling panel 630 Hook part 631 Main body 710 Top 711 Connect Face 722 Through-hole for attachment 723 Knotting Instrument R carriage E Road surface K car chair

Claims

1. A vehicle modification device for modifying a vehicle having a compartment floor exposed to the outside of the vehicle through an open door opening and a recessed parts storage recess provided in the floor to provide an assistive device, a floor plate portion that closes an upper opening of the component-housing recess; a support member that is fixed in the component-housing recess; a ramp that allows wheelchairs to pass through; and a detachable attachment mechanism that detachably attaches the ramp to the support member, The vehicle modification equipment is arranged so that the ramp attached to the support member spans between the floor panel portion and the road surface.

2. The detachable mounting mechanism has a mounting fixture that detachably fastens the slope on the floor board portion to the support member by screws, 2. The vehicle modification device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting fixture has an operating unit that can rotate together with the mounting fixture in the screw-fastening direction and in the reverse direction when the slope is attached to the support member, and the operating unit is positioned above the vehicle on the floor panel portion.

3. The component storage recess is provided on the floor at the rear of the vehicle compartment, 3. The vehicle modification device according to claim 2, wherein the support member has a mounting portion to which the mounting fixture can be fastened with a screw, the mounting portion being provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the slope in the mounted state.

4. 4. The vehicle modification device according to claim 1, wherein the ramp is attached to the support member via a hinge portion so as to be vertically rotatable.

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