Wheelchair-accessible vehicles

Abstract

The wheelchair is securely fastened to the vehicle body without hindering the wheelchair's ability to board or alight from the vehicle. [Solution] Between the parts of the floor panel 8 where the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll, a hook 61 is provided which has an engaging recess that engages with an anchor bar 53 that protrudes downward from the middle of the wheelchair 50 in the front-rear direction. A flexible elongated member 71 is hung on the part of the wheelchair 50 in front of the anchor bar 53. The winch mechanism 70 is configured to be able to wind up the elongated member 71. The engaging recess of the hook 61 has a vertical surface portion that extends in the vertical direction and an upper surface portion that extends from the upper edge of the vertical surface portion toward the rear of the vehicle, and is open toward the rear of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle capable of mounting a wheelchair.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle for mounting a wheelchair, in which a back door and a slope are provided at the rear of the vehicle. At the rear of this vehicle, a tailgate is provided below the back door so as to be openable and closable. The slope is attached to the surface on the vehicle interior side of the tailgate via a rotation axis extending in the left - right direction, and in a state where the back door is open, it is deployed outside the vehicle from an opening provided at the rear of the vehicle and is configured to be bridged between the opening and the ground. The slope is used when a passenger sitting in a wheelchair gets on and off in a seated state.

[0003] Also, when a wheelchair is mounted on the vehicle, the slope is set to a standing posture, while when no wheelchair is mounted on the vehicle, the slope is folded forward and can be used as the floor surface of the cargo compartment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Incidentally, in automobiles equipped with wheelchairs, as described in Patent Document 1, the problem arises of how to secure the wheelchair inside the vehicle. That is, if the goal is simply to secure the wheelchair, one could consider attaching ropes or wires to the wheelchair and pulling it, but it is desirable to firmly fix the wheelchair to the body of the automobile so that it does not move even when a large force acts on the front of the vehicle, such as during sudden braking. On the other hand, there is also a requirement that the structure used to secure the wheelchair should not hinder the movement of the wheelchair when getting in or out of the vehicle.

[0006] This disclosure is made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to securely fasten a wheelchair to the vehicle body without hindering the wheelchair's ability to get on and off the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of this disclosure may be based on a wheelchair-carrying vehicle in which an opening for loading and unloading a wheelchair is formed at the rear of the vehicle body, and the wheelchair loaded through the opening is configured to be loaded in the passenger compartment behind the driver's seat. The wheelchair-carrying vehicle includes a floor panel on which the wheelchair, mounted in a predetermined mounting position, is placed; a hook attached to the floor panel between the portions on which the left and right front wheels of the wheelchair roll, and having an engaging recess that engages with an anchor bar protruding downward from the middle portion of the wheelchair in the longitudinal direction; and a winch mechanism that pulls the portion of the wheelchair in front of the anchor bar forward by winding up a flexible elongated member that is hung on the portion of the wheelchair body in front of the anchor bar. The engaging recess has a vertical surface portion extending in the vertical direction and an upper surface portion extending from the upper edge of the vertical surface portion toward the rear of the vehicle, and is open toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0008] With this configuration, when loading a wheelchair into a wheelchair-carrying vehicle, it is driven onto the floor panel through an opening formed at the rear of the vehicle body and moved forward. At this time, the hook is installed between the parts of the floor panel where the left and right front wheels of the wheelchair roll, so it does not obstruct the movement of the wheelchair. When the wheelchair is loaded in the predetermined position, the anchor bar engages with the engagement recess of the hook. Then, a long member such as a rope or wire is placed on the part of the wheelchair in front of the anchor bar and wound up by the winch mechanism, pulling the wheelchair forward and causing the anchor bar to come into contact with the vertical surface of the engagement recess. Furthermore, although the wheelchair body, subjected to the pulling force from the winch mechanism, may attempt to rotate around the axle of the front wheels, the engagement recess formed in the hook has an upper surface, so the anchor bar is held in contact with the upper surface, and as a result the wheelchair is stably and securely fixed.

[0009] Furthermore, the engagement recess may include a first engagement recess and a second engagement recess formed above the first engagement recess. That is, for example, when the air pressure in the rear wheels of the wheelchair is low, the height of the wheelchair decreases, and when the air pressure is higher than when it is low, the height of the wheelchair increases. For example, when the air pressure in the rear wheels of the wheelchair is low and the height of the wheelchair is low, the anchor bar can be engaged with the first engagement recess, while when the air pressure in the rear wheels of the wheelchair is high and the height of the wheelchair is high, the anchor bar can be engaged with the second engagement recess. The height of the wheelchair may also change depending on the weight of the wheelchair occupant, etc., but in this embodiment, since the first engagement recess and the second engagement recess are formed vertically, it is possible to accommodate changes in the height of the wheelchair without changing the hook.

[0010] The first engagement recess may have a first vertical surface portion extending in the vertical direction and a first upper surface portion extending toward the rear of the vehicle from the upper edge of the first vertical surface portion, and the second engagement recess may have a second vertical surface portion extending upward from the rear edge of the first upper surface portion and a second upper surface portion extending toward the rear of the vehicle from the upper edge of the second vertical surface portion.

[0011] A wheelchair-carrying vehicle may include a support shaft extending in the vehicle width direction and rotatably supporting the portion of the hook in front of the engagement recess, and an elastic material that contacts the portion of the hook in front of the support shaft. That is, when the wheelchair is pulled forward by the winch mechanism, the anchor bar engaged in the engagement recess attempts to rotate the hook forward around the support shaft, causing the elastic material to contact the front portion of the hook. The wheelchair is secured by locking the winch mechanism while the elastic material is in contact with the front portion of the hook. When unlocking the winch mechanism, it is necessary to wind the long member in the pulling direction, but at this time the elastic material in contact with the hook deforms, making it possible to wind it in the pulling direction and easily release the lock.

[0012] A wheelchair-accessible vehicle may be equipped with a bracket fixed to the floor panel. In this case, the support shaft and the elastic material can be attached to the bracket, thereby integrating the hook, support shaft, and elastic material and improving ease of assembly to the floor panel.

[0013] The hook may be configured to be switchable between a usable position, where it is rotated upward until the engaging recess is at a height corresponding to the anchor bar, and a retracted position, where it is rotated downward from the usable position. With this configuration, the hook can be switched to the retracted position when not in use, so that it does not get in the way.

[0014] The winch mechanism may be located in front of the wheelchair, which is mounted in a predetermined position, and below the floor panel. This ensures that the winch mechanism is not exposed inside the vehicle, resulting in a better appearance and allowing for more interior space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] As described above, since the hook that engages with the anchor bar of the wheelchair is attached between the portions where the left and right front wheels of the wheelchair roll, it does not impede the boarding and alighting of the wheelchair onto the vehicle. And since the engaging recess of the hook has a vertical surface portion that extends in the vertical direction and an upper surface portion that extends from the upper edge portion of the vertical surface portion to the rear side of the vehicle, it is possible to stabilize the wheelchair in a state of being pulled forward by the winch mechanism, and the wheelchair can be firmly fixed to the vehicle body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the rear side portion of a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the case where the slope is in the deployed state. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing the state in which the wheelchair is mounted. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view seen in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the bulging portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the state in which the wheelchair is mounted. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the state in the middle of mounting the wheelchair. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the state in which the front wheel of the wheelchair is rolling on the first inclined surface. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hook mechanism seen from above. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view of the hook mechanism. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the hook mechanism. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the internal structure of the winch mechanism.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that the following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In each figure, the front side of the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 is indicated as "front", the rear side as "rear", the right side as "right", and the left side as "left". The vehicle width direction of the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 is the left-right direction.

[0019] FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 show the case where the wheelchair 50 is not mounted, and FIGS. 3 and 6 show the case where the wheelchair 50 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the state during the movement of the wheelchair 50 to the predetermined mounting position.

[0020] In FIG. 1, a state where the foldable slope device 20 is stored is shown. Although not shown, the slope device 20 can also be stored in a standing state. FIGS. 2 to 7 show a state where the foldable slope device 20 is deployed outside the vehicle and bridged between the vehicle body 2 and the ground. A foldable slope device 20 having a conventionally well-known structure can be used. Further, the slope device 20 may be a slide type that is deployed and stored by sliding. [[ID= / / 13]]

[0021] The wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 has a vehicle body 2 to which a front door (not shown) or the like is attached so as to be openable and closable. In a passenger compartment R formed inside the vehicle body 2, a front seat 3 and a rear seat 6 are arranged. The front seat 3 is arranged in a front portion of the passenger compartment R more forward than the center in the front-rear direction, and includes, for example, a driver's seat located on the right side and a passenger seat located on the left side. The rear seat 6 is positioned behind the front seat 3 and is composed of, for example, a so-called bench seat continuous in the left-right direction, or seats independent on the right side and the left side. A space behind the rear seat 6 in the passenger compartment R is a luggage compartment R2. Note that the rear seat 6 may be omitted.

[0022] The floor panel 8, which constitutes the floor surface of the vehicle body 2, has a front panel section 8a, an intermediate panel section 8b, and a rear panel section 8c. The front panel section 8a constitutes the front part of the floor panel 8 and is the part to which the front seats 3 are attached. The intermediate panel section 8b extends rearward from the rear end of the front panel section 8a and is the part to which the rear seats 6 are attached. The intermediate panel section 8b extends substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction. The rear panel section 8c extends rearward from the rear end of the intermediate panel section 8b and is the part that forms the floor surface of the cargo area R2 behind the rear seats 6, for example. The floor panel 8 may be made of a single sheet of material or may be made by combining multiple sheets of material.

[0023] The rear seat 6 is equipped with a conventional sliding mechanism, which allows its position to be adjusted in the front-to-back direction. The rear seat 6 is also equipped with a conventional folding mechanism and a flip-up mechanism. Figures 2 and 3 show the rear seat 6 folded by the folding mechanism and flipped up by the flip-up mechanism (storage state). By flipping up the rear seat 6 to the storage state, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, it becomes possible to load a wheelchair 50 from the intermediate panel section 8b to the rear panel section 8c, and the wheelchair 50 loaded in the predetermined loading position is placed on the intermediate panel section 8b and the rear panel section 8c. The space in the vehicle compartment R in which the wheelchair 50 can be loaded is called the wheelchair loading space R1. When the rear seat 6 is unfolded, the unfolded rear seat 6 is positioned in the front part of the wheelchair loading space R1, and in this state, the wheelchair 50 cannot be loaded. The wheelchair space R1 may also accommodate luggage and other items in addition to the wheelchair 50, or it may accommodate both the wheelchair 50 and luggage. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the area behind the unfolded rear seat 6 is designated as the luggage compartment R2, but the area behind the unfolded rear seat 6 may be designated as the wheelchair space R1 without providing a luggage compartment R2.

[0024] The roof portion 2a of the vehicle body 2 extends continuously at approximately the same height from above the front seats 3 to behind the rear seats 6, that is, to the rear of the vehicle body 2. This makes it possible to accommodate an occupant 51 seated in a wheelchair 50 in the wheelchair space R1. An example of a vehicle having such a vehicle body 2 is a minivan-type vehicle, which may be a light vehicle or a regular car.

[0025] An opening 2b is formed at the rear of the vehicle body 2. The opening 2b is an entrance for the occupant 51 to get in and out of the wheelchair 50 while seated. Therefore, it is a large opening 2b, and the lower edge of the opening 2b is formed by the rear edge of the rear panel 8c. In other words, the rear panel 8c extends forward from the lower edge of the opening 2b.

[0026] Furthermore, the upper edge of the opening 2b is formed by the rear edge of the roof portion 2a. This increases the vertical dimension of the opening 2b, allowing the occupant 51 to board and alight the wheelchair 50 while remaining seated. In addition, in this embodiment, the rear panel portion 8c slopes downward towards the rear, which further increases the vertical dimension of the opening 2b. Although not shown, the left edge of the opening 2b is formed by the rear edge of the left side wall of the vehicle body 2, and the right edge of the opening 2b is formed by the rear edge of the right side wall of the vehicle body 2. The opening 2b can be used not only for boarding and alighting the wheelchair 50, but also for storing luggage in the passenger compartment R or for unloading luggage from the passenger compartment R.

[0027] As described above, the vertical dimension of the opening 2b is long, so the rear of the vehicle body 2 is provided not only with a back door 7 for opening and closing the opening 2b, but also with a tailgate 15. The upper edge of the back door 7 is supported so as to be rotatable around an upper shaft 7a that extends in the vehicle width direction relative to the upper edge of the opening 2b, i.e., the rear edge of the roof portion 2a. Examples of members having the upper shaft 7a include hinges, and the upper edge of the back door 7 is attached to the rear edge of the roof portion 2a via the hinges.

[0028] A window glass 7b is provided in the upper part of the back door 7. The rearward view of the vehicle is ensured through the window glass 7b. The lower edge of the back door 7 when closed is separated upward from the lower edge of the opening 2b, and the part of the opening 2b below the lower edge of the back door 7 is closed by the tailgate 15.

[0029] The tailgate 15 is composed of a member that is elongated in the left-right direction. The lower edge of the tailgate 15 is supported so as to be rotatable around a lower shaft 15a that extends in the vehicle width direction relative to the lower edge of the opening 2b, i.e., the rear edge of the rear panel portion 8c. An example of a member having a lower shaft 15a is a hinge, and the lower edge of the tailgate 15 is attached to the rear edge of the rear panel portion 8c via the hinge.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the tailgate 15 in the open position is positioned to protrude rearward from near the lower edge of the opening 2b and to tilt downward toward the rear. Although not shown, latch mechanisms are provided on both the left and right sides of the tailgate 15 in the closed position. When the tailgate 15 is closed, the latch mechanisms engage with strikers fixed to the vehicle body 2, holding the tailgate 15 closed. The latch mechanisms can be operated from the outside by an operating handle (not shown), and the tailgate 15 can be opened by operating the operating handle. The back door 7 is configured to be able to engage with and disengage from the upper part of the closed tailgate 15 by the latch mechanism and striker. The back door 7 can also be opened from the outside by operating an operating handle (not shown). Such configurations of the back door 7 and tailgate 15 are conventionally known.

[0031] At the rear of the vehicle body 2, a ramp device 20 is provided, which is attached to the interior surface of the tailgate 15 and forms a wheelchair access passage S (shown in Figure 2) for boarding and alighting. Figures 2 and 3 show the ramp device 20 deployed outside the vehicle to form the access passage S, creating an inclined access passage S. In this state, the wheelchair 50 can be boarded and alighted using the ramp device 20. The wheelchair 50 can be boarded by moving forward and alighted by moving backward.

[0032] The wheelchair-accessible vehicle 1 is either a rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle. Therefore, the wheelchair-accessible vehicle 1 is equipped with a rear axle 41 for transmitting driving force to the left and right rear wheels 40 (only the right rear wheel is shown in each figure). The rear axle 41, although not shown, includes a left drive shaft connected to the left rear wheel 40, a right drive shaft connected to the right rear wheel 40, a differential gear 41a disposed between the left and right drive shafts, and a casing 41b that houses the left and right drive shafts and the differential gear 41a. Since the outer diameter of the differential gear 41a is larger than the outer diameter of the left and right drive shafts, the vertical dimension of the left-right intermediate portion (the portion housing the differential gear 41a) of the casing 41b of the rear axle 41 is set to be longer than the vertical dimensions of the left and right portions of the casing 41b. Therefore, the middle section of the casing 41b of the rear axle 41 is raised upward compared to the left and right sections.

[0033] On the other hand, the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 is designed to be as low as possible to accommodate a wheelchair 50, and therefore slopes downwards towards the rear. Lowering the rear panel portion 8c in this way may cause it to come into contact with, or interfere with, the portion of the rear axle 41 casing 41b that houses the differential gear 41a. A fuel tank (not shown) is located in front of the rear axle 41 below the rear panel portion 8c.

[0034] In this embodiment, a bulge 8d is formed in the middle of the rear panel 8c in the vehicle width direction, and below the bulge 8d on the floor panel 8 is the portion of the rear axle 41 that houses the differential gear 41a. The formation of the bulge 8d prevents the middle portion of the casing 41b of the rear axle 41 from interfering with the rear panel 8c, even when the suspension is in full stroke. In other words, the size of the bulge 8d and the height of the bulge 8d from the reference plane are set so that even if the casing 41b of the rear axle 41 moves to the upper limit of its range of motion, the middle portion of the casing 41b in the left-right direction does not come into contact with the rear panel 8c. The bulge 8d can also be called a bulge-shaped portion.

[0035] The portion of the rear panel section 8c of the floor panel 8 that is further rear than the bulge 8d is inclined so that it is positioned lower towards the rear. The front end of the deployed ramp device 20 is continuous with the portion of the rear panel section 8c that is further rear of the vehicle than the bulge 8d.

[0036] The bulge 8d is positioned between the front wheel 52 on the right side of the wheelchair 50 and the front wheel 52 on the left side of the wheelchair 50, and is located in an area where the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 do not roll when getting on or off the wheelchair 50. Furthermore, the rear of the wheelchair 50 is provided with rear wheels 54 on both the left and right sides. The bulge 8d is positioned between the right rear wheel 54 and the left rear wheel 54 of the wheelchair 50, and is located in an area where the left and right rear wheels 54 of the wheelchair 50 do not roll when getting on or off the wheelchair 50. Therefore, the bulge 8d does not come into contact with the left and right front wheels 52 or the left and right rear wheels 54 when getting on or off the wheelchair 50.

[0037] An anchor bar 53 is provided in the middle of the wheelchair 50 in the front-to-rear direction. The anchor bar 53 is a component that prevents the wheelchair 50, when mounted on the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1, from moving forward from its predetermined mounting position. Specifically, a hook mechanism 60 that engages with the anchor bar 53 is provided in the middle of the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 in the left-to-right direction.

[0038] Since the anchor bar 53 protrudes downward from the middle of the wheelchair 50 in the left-right direction, there is a risk that it may interfere with the bulge 8d of the rear panel 8c when getting on or off the wheelchair 50. In this embodiment, a first inclined surface 8e is formed in front of the bulge 8d of the rear panel 8c of the floor panel 8, and in the area where the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll, to suppress interference between the anchor bar 53 and the bulge 8d. Since the front of the wheelchair 50 is provided with front wheels 52 on both the left and right sides, the area of ​​the rear panel 8c where the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll is the right side and left side of the bulge 8d of the rear panel 8c, and is the outer part in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel 8 compared to the bulge 8d. This outer part in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel 8 compared to the bulge 8d is formed lower than the bulge 8d. The areas on which the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll are the right side of the bulging portion 8d and the left side of the bulging portion 8d of the rear panel portion 8c, and a first inclined surface 8e is formed on both of these areas.

[0039] The first inclined surface 8e is a surface for raising the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 until the anchor bar 53, which is located in the middle of the wheelchair 50 in the front-rear direction, is not in contact with the bulge 8d. The first inclined surface 8e is formed such that the position of the front end of the first inclined surface 8e is higher than the upper end of the bulge 8d. That is, Figure 7 shows the state in the process of placing the wheelchair 50, with the anchor bar 53 positioned behind the bulge 8d. If the wheelchair 50 is moved further forward from the state shown in Figure 7, it will reach the state shown in Figure 8. In Figure 8, the wheelchair 50 has moved forward until the anchor bar 53 is directly above the bulge 8d. At this time, the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 are rolling on the first inclined surface 8e, so the front of the wheelchair 50 rises, and the anchor bar 53 rises accordingly, so the anchor bar 53 passes a predetermined distance above the upper surface of the bulge 8d. Thus, the inclination angle and height position of the first inclined surface 8e are determined so that the anchor bar 53 passes a predetermined distance above the upper surface of the bulge 8d. The front end of the first inclined surface 8e is positioned in the front-rear direction so that the front of the wheelchair 50 does not drop until the anchor bar 53 has passed over the bulge 8d. In other words, the first inclined surface 8e is a guide surface that guides the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 so that the anchor bar 53 does not come into contact with the bulge 8d.

[0040] As shown in Figure 4, the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 has a second inclined surface 8f that extends forward from the front end of the first inclined surface 8e while sloping downward. The position of the second inclined surface 8f in the front-rear direction is determined so that when a wheelchair 50 is placed on it, the front wheels 52 roll on the second inclined surface 8f when the anchor bar 53 has passed the bulge portion 8d. This allows the front of the wheelchair 50 to be lowered without the anchor bar 53 coming into contact with the bulge portion 8d, bringing the riding posture of the wheelchair 50 closer to a natural posture. Also, because the second inclined surface 8f extends forward while sloping downward, the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll forward as they move downward. As a result, the posture of the wheelchair 50 approaches horizontal, allowing the wheelchair 50 to be in a more comfortable position.

[0041] The rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 has a third inclined surface 8g formed thereon, which is inclined so that it is positioned higher towards the front from the front end of the second inclined surface 8f. By forming the third inclined surface 8g so that the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 reach the third inclined surface 8g when the wheelchair 50 has moved forward to a predetermined mounting position, it is possible to prevent the wheelchair 50 from moving too far forward.

[0042] The first inclined surface 8e, the second inclined surface 8f, and the third inclined surface 8g are formed continuously in the front-rear direction, and when the wheelchair 50 is placed on it, the front wheels 52 roll over each surface in the order of the first inclined surface 8e, the second inclined surface 8f, and the third inclined surface 8g. Therefore, the wheelchair 50 can be smoothly moved to the predetermined loading position. The second inclined surface 8f and the third inclined surface 8g may be provided as needed, and the second inclined surface 8f and the third inclined surface 8g may be omitted, or only the third inclined surface 8g may be omitted.

[0043] The first inclined surface 8e, the second inclined surface 8f, and the third inclined surface 8g are each composed of flat surfaces. The inclination angles of the first inclined surface 8e, the second inclined surface 8f, and the third inclined surface 8g are not particularly limited, but for example, the inclination angle of the first inclined surface 8e can be set to 10° or more and 15° or less, the inclination angle of the second inclined surface 8f can be set to 2° or more and 5° or less, and the inclination angle of the third inclined surface 8g can be set to 5° or more and 15° or less.

[0044] When lowering the wheelchair 50, the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll on the first inclined surface 8e, causing the front of the wheelchair 50 to rise, and consequently the anchor bar 53 also rises, so the anchor bar 53 does not come into contact with the bulging portion 8d. When lowering the wheelchair 50, its own weight can be used to smoothly move it to the inclined surface of the ramp device 20.

[0045] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the hook mechanism 60 comprises a hook 61, a pair of left and right brackets 62A and 62B, a support shaft 63, and an elastic material 64, and is installed between the parts of the intermediate panel 8b of the floor panel 8 where the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll. The left bracket 62A and the right bracket 62B are fixed to the intermediate panel 8b of the floor panel 8 with a gap between them in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 2, two hook mechanisms 60 are provided with a gap between them in the width direction of the vehicle, but the number of hook mechanisms 60 is not limited to two.

[0046] As shown in Figure 9, the left bracket 62A has a left fixing plate portion 62a that is fastened and fixed to the intermediate panel portion 8b of the floor panel 8, and a left support plate portion 62b that extends upward and in the front-rear direction from the right edge of the left fixing plate portion 62a, and the left fixing plate portion 62a and the left support plate portion 62b are made of a single plate material. The right bracket 62B has a right fixing plate portion 62c that is fastened and fixed to the intermediate panel portion 8b of the floor panel 8, and a right support plate portion 62d that extends upward and in the front-rear direction from the left edge of the right fixing plate portion 62c, and the right fixing plate portion 62c and the right support plate portion 62d are made of a single plate material.

[0047] The left support plate portion 62b and the right support plate portion 62d are separated from each other in the left-right direction. The lower portion (front portion) of a hook 61, which engages with the anchor bar 53 of the wheelchair 50 in a predetermined mounting position from the front and above, is inserted between the left support plate portion 62b and the right support plate portion 62d. The upper portion of the hook 61 has an intermediate engaging recess (first engaging recess) 61A, an upper engaging recess (second engaging recess) 61B, and a lower engaging recess (third engaging recess) 61C. The intermediate engaging recess 61A, the upper engaging recess 61B, and the lower engaging recess 61C are portions that engage with the anchor bar 53 which protrudes downward from the middle portion of the wheelchair 50 in the front-rear direction. Since there is only one anchor bar 53, it engages with one of the intermediate engaging recess 61A, the upper engaging recess 61B, and the lower engaging recess 61C.

[0048] An upper engaging recess 61B is formed above the intermediate engaging recess 61A, and a lower engaging recess 61C is formed below the intermediate engaging recess 61A. Multiple engaging recesses 61A, 61B, and 61C are formed at different heights because the height of the wheelchair 50 can change even with the same wheelchair 50. For example, the lower the air pressure of the rear wheels 54, the lower the height of the wheelchair 50, and conversely, if the air pressure of the rear wheels 54 is high, the height of the wheelchair 50 will be higher compared to when the air pressure is low. The height of the wheelchair 50 also changes depending on the weight of the occupant, and the heavier the occupant, the lower the height of the wheelchair 50.

[0049] If the wheelchair 50 is at an intermediate height, the anchor bar 53 will also be at an intermediate position, and the anchor bar 53 will engage with the intermediate engagement recess 61A (shown by a solid line in Figure 10). If the wheelchair 50 is at an intermediate height, the anchor bar 53 will also be at an intermediate height, and the anchor bar 53 will engage with the upper engagement recess 61B (shown by a dashed line in Figure 10). Furthermore, if the wheelchair 50 is at a lower height, the anchor bar 53 will also be at a lower height, and the anchor bar 53 will engage with the lower engagement recess 61C. In this embodiment, the three engagement recesses, the intermediate engagement recess 61A, the upper engagement recess 61B, and the lower engagement recess 61C, are formed at different heights, but the embodiment is not limited to this, and one, two, or four or more engagement recesses may be formed.

[0050] The intermediate engagement recess 61A has a first vertical surface portion 61a extending in the vertical direction and a first upper surface portion 61b extending rearward from the upper edge of the first vertical surface portion 61a. As a result, when the anchor bar 53 engages with the intermediate engagement recess 61A, its forward movement is restricted by contact with the first vertical surface portion 61a, and its upward movement is restricted by contact with the first upper surface portion 61b.

[0051] The upper engaging recess 61B has a second vertical surface portion 61c extending upward from the rear edge of the first upper surface portion 61b, and a second upper surface portion 61d extending rearward from the upper edge of the second vertical surface portion 61c. As a result, when the anchor bar 53 engages with the upper engaging recess 61B, its forward movement is restricted by contact with the second vertical surface portion 61c, and its upward movement is restricted by contact with the second upper surface portion 61d.

[0052] The lower engaging recess 61C has a third upper surface portion 61f extending forward from the lower edge of the first vertical surface portion 61a, and a third vertical surface portion 61e extending downward from the lower edge of the third upper surface portion 61f. As a result, when the anchor bar 53 engages with the lower engaging recess 61C, its forward movement is restricted by contact with the third vertical surface portion 61e, and its upward movement is restricted by contact with the third upper surface portion 61f.

[0053] The support shaft 63 extends in the vehicle width direction and is a member for rotatably supporting the portion of the hook 61 in front of the lower engaging recess 61C (lower portion), and is attached to the left and right brackets 62A and 62B. The left side of the support shaft 63 is supported by the left support plate portion 62b of the left bracket 62A. The right side of the support shaft 63 is supported by the right support plate portion 62d of the right bracket 62B. The hook 61 is rotatable or swingable in the vertical direction relative to the support shaft 63.

[0054] The elastic material 64 is made of, for example, rubber, and is positioned to contact the portion of the hook 61 in front of the support shaft 63 from below. This elastic material 64 is also attached to the left and right brackets 62A and 62B. The elastic material 64 may be a spring instead of rubber.

[0055] As shown in Figure 11, a torsion spring 66 is positioned between the left support plate portion 62b of the left bracket 62A and the right support plate portion 62d of the right bracket 62B. This torsion spring 66 is a biasing member for biasing the hook 61 upward, and the biasing force of the torsion spring 66 holds the hook 61 in a position where it has rotated upward until its front portion contacts the elastic material 64.

[0056] With the front portion of the hook 61 in contact with the elastic material 64, the engaging recesses 61A, 61B, and 61C are positioned at a height that allows them to engage with the anchor bar 53. On the other hand, the hook 61 can be rotated downward around the pivot shaft 63 against the biasing force of the torsion spring 66, and by rotating the hook 61 downward, the engaging recesses 61A, 61B, and 61C can be positioned at a lower distance from the anchor bar 53. In other words, the hook 61 can be switched between a usable position, where it is rotated upward until the engaging recesses 61A, 61B, and 61C are at a height corresponding to the anchor bar 53, and a retracted position, where it is rotated downward from the usable position. The hook 61 in the retracted position may be locked by a locking mechanism.

[0057] The wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1 is equipped with a winch mechanism 70 for pulling the wheelchair 50 forward. The winch mechanism 70 is located in front of the wheelchair 50, which is mounted in a predetermined position, and below the intermediate panel portion 8b of the floor panel 8. The winch mechanism 70 is for winding up a flexible, elongated member 71, such as a rope or wire, and can be configured as, for example, an electric winch mechanism. As schematically shown in Figure 12, the internal structure of the winch mechanism 70 includes a cylindrical member 72 for winding the elongated member 71, a motor 73 for rotating the cylindrical member 72 in forward and reverse directions, a gear 74 that rotates integrally with the cylindrical member 72, a locking member 75 that engages with the teeth of the gear 74, and an actuator 76 that operates the locking member 75. The motor 73 and actuator 76 are connected to a control device (not shown). The motor 73 and actuator 76 are controlled by the control device in response to the operation of an operation button (not shown) by the operator.

[0058] By rotating the cylindrical member 72 in the winding direction using the motor 73, the long member 71 can be wound up by the cylindrical member 72. By rotating the cylindrical member 72 in the opposite direction to the winding direction (anti-winding direction) using the motor 73, the long member 71 wound up on the cylindrical member 72 can be pulled out.

[0059] As shown by the solid line in Figure 12, when the locking member 75 is set to the locked position by the actuator 76, the locking member 75 engages with the teeth of the gear 74, preventing the cylindrical member 72 from rotating in the opposite direction of winding. On the other hand, when the locking member 75 is moved by the actuator 76 to the position shown by the dashed line (unlocked position), the locking member 75 disengages from the teeth of the gear 74, allowing the cylindrical member 72 to rotate in the opposite direction of winding.

[0060] As shown in Figure 6, when the wheelchair 50 is mounted in a predetermined position, the tip or middle portion of the long member 71 is hooked onto the portion of the wheelchair 50's body that is in front of the anchor bar 53, and the long member 71 is held in place. The long member 71 may be hooked onto the wheelchair 50's body before it is moved forward to the predetermined mounting position, or it may be hooked onto the wheelchair 50's body after it has been moved forward to the predetermined mounting position. When the wheelchair 50 is moved forward to the predetermined mounting position, the anchor bar 53 engages with the engagement recesses 61A, 61B, and 61C of the hook 61, so that the forward movement of the wheelchair 50 is restricted by the hook 61. In this state, when the winch mechanism 70 is operated in the winding direction to wind up the long member 71, the portion of the wheelchair 50 in front of the anchor bar 53 is pulled forward, and the anchor bar 53 does not disengage from the engagement recesses 61A, 61B, and 61C of the hook 61.

[0061] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, when loading the wheelchair 50 onto the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1, the wheelchair is driven onto the floor panel 8 through the opening 2b formed at the rear of the vehicle body and moved forward. At this time, since the hook mechanism 60 is installed between the parts of the floor panel 8 where the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll, it does not interfere with the movement of the wheelchair 50, and the wheelchair 50 can be easily loaded onto and off the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1.

[0062] When the wheelchair 50 is mounted in the predetermined position, the anchor bar 53 provided on the wheelchair 50 engages with the engaging recesses 61A, 61B, and 61C of the hook 61. Since the winch mechanism 70 is positioned diagonally downward with respect to the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50, the body of the wheelchair 50, subjected to the pulling force from the winch mechanism 70, attempts to rotate forward around the axis of the front wheels 52. At this time, since the engaging recesses 61A, 61B, and 61C have upper surfaces 61b, 61d, and 61f, the anchor bar 53 is held in contact with the upper surfaces 61b, 61d, and 61f. As a result, the wheelchair 50 can be stabilized while being pulled forward by the winch mechanism 70, and the wheelchair 50 can be securely fixed to the body of the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1.

[0063] When lowering the wheelchair 50, it is necessary to release the lock on the locking member 75 of the winch mechanism 70. However, since the locking member 75 is locked to the teeth of the gear 74, it is assumed that the actuator 76 will not have enough force to switch the locking member 75 to the unlocked position if it is to be switched in that state. Therefore, in this embodiment, before rotating the winch mechanism 70 in the opposite direction of winding, the cylindrical member 72 is driven by one tooth in the winding direction with a torque higher than the torque during winding. As a result, the locking member 75 disengages from the teeth of the gear 74, making it possible to easily switch the locking member 75 to the unlocked position using the actuator 76.

[0064] However, if the cylindrical member 72 is driven by one tooth in the winding direction, the long member 71 will be wound up slightly. At this time, if the wheelchair 50 cannot be moved forward even slightly, the long member 71 cannot be wound up, and therefore the cylindrical member 72 cannot be driven by one tooth in the winding direction. In this embodiment, since the elastic material 64 is in contact with the front part of the hook 61 from below, when the cylindrical member 72 is driven by one tooth in the winding direction, the elastic material 64 deforms, causing the hook 61 to rotate slightly forward, and as a result the wheelchair 50 can be moved forward slightly. This allows the cylindrical member 72 to be driven by one tooth in the winding direction, and the locking member 75, which is in the locked position, can be easily switched to the unlocked position. After switching the locking member 75 to the unlocked position in this way, the long member 71 can be pulled out and removed from the wheelchair 50 by rotating the cylindrical member 72 in the opposite winding direction. Then, by moving the wheelchair 50 backward, the anchor bar 53 can be detached from the hook mechanism 60.

[0065] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted restrictively. Furthermore, any modifications or changes that fall within the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0066] As described above, the present invention can be used in wheelchair-accessible vehicles that have a space for carrying wheelchairs at the rear of the vehicle. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0067] 1. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles 2b opening 8 Floor Panels 61 Hooks 61A Intermediate engagement recess (first engagement recess) 61B Upper engagement recess (second engagement recess) 61a 1st vertical section 61b 1st top section 61c Second vertical section 61d 2nd top section 62A, 62B brackets 63 Spindle 64 Elastic material 70 Winch mechanism 71 Long member

Claims

1. A wheelchair-accessible vehicle having an opening formed at the rear of the vehicle body for loading and unloading a wheelchair, and configured to allow the wheelchair loaded through the opening to be positioned behind the driver's seat in the passenger compartment, A floor panel on which the wheelchair, mounted in a predetermined position, is placed, A hook having an engaging recess that is attached to the floor panel between the parts on which the left and right front wheels of the wheelchair roll, and that engages with an anchor bar that protrudes downward from the middle part of the wheelchair in the front-rear direction, The wheelchair comprises a winch mechanism that pulls the portion of the wheelchair in front of the anchor bar forward by winding up a flexible, elongated member that is attached to the portion of the wheelchair in front of the anchor bar. The aforementioned engaging recess has a vertical surface portion extending in the vertical direction and an upper surface portion extending from the upper edge of the vertical surface portion toward the rear of the vehicle, and is open toward the rear of the vehicle, in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

2. In the wheelchair-equipped vehicle according to claim 1, A wheelchair-accessible vehicle, wherein the engagement recess includes a first engagement recess and a second engagement recess formed above the first engagement recess.

3. In the wheelchair-equipped vehicle according to claim 2, The first engagement recess has a first vertical surface portion extending in the vertical direction and a first upper surface portion extending from the upper edge of the first vertical surface portion toward the rear of the vehicle. A wheelchair-accessible vehicle, wherein the second engaging recess has a second vertical surface portion extending upward from the rear edge of the first upper surface portion and a second upper surface portion extending toward the rear of the vehicle from the upper edge of the second vertical surface portion.

4. In the wheelchair-equipped vehicle according to claim 1, A support shaft extending in the vehicle width direction and rotatably supporting the portion of the hook in front of the engagement recess, A wheelchair-carrying vehicle, comprising an elastic material that contacts the portion of the hook in front of the pivot shaft.

5. In the wheelchair-equipped vehicle according to claim 4, The floor panel is equipped with a bracket that is fixed to it, A wheelchair-carrying vehicle, to which the support shaft and the elastic material are attached to the bracket.

6. In the wheelchair-equipped vehicle according to claim 5, A wheelchair-carrying vehicle, wherein the hook can be switched between a usable position, where it is rotated upward until the engaging recess is at a height corresponding to the anchor bar, and a retracted position, where it is rotated downward from the usable position.

7. In the wheelchair-equipped vehicle according to claim 1, A wheelchair-carrying vehicle, wherein the winch mechanism is located in front of the wheelchair, which is mounted in a predetermined position, and below the floor panel.

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