Slope fixing structure

Abstract

The ramp can be easily secured in an upright position inside the vehicle. [Solution] The ramp fixing structure A includes a guide member 22 that holds the catch pin 21 on the ramp 20 and guides it in the axial direction, a restricting member 23 that engages with the catch pin 21 and restricts the axial movement of the catch pin 21, and a locking member 24 that is fixed to the vehicle body side, positioned to correspond to the lower end of the catch pin 21 when the ramp 20 is in the retracted state, and formed in a cylindrical shape that can accommodate the lower part of the catch pin 21. The restricting member 23 is switched from a restricted state to an unrestricted state in accordance with the movement of the ramp 20 from a collapsed state to a retracted state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a slope fixing structure provided in a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle capable of mounting a wheelchair. A foldable slope for boarding and alighting a wheelchair is provided at the rear of the wheelchair-mounted vehicle of Patent Document 1. When boarding and alighting the wheelchair, the slope is deployed outside the vehicle to bridge between the ground and the floor, while the slope is stored inside the vehicle when the vehicle is running. The slope can be switched between a state of being held upright in front of the back door and a state of falling forward to integrate with the floor surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when the slope is in the fallen state and integrated with the floor surface, the fallen state is maintained by the weight of the slope itself, so it is considered that no special locking mechanism is required. On the other hand, when switching the slope from the fallen state to the upright state, for example, it is necessary to lock the slope so that it does not accidentally fall during running. However, if an attempt is made to securely lock the slope, there is a risk that the user's operation will become complicated, and it is difficult to achieve both reliable locking of the slope and ease of operation.

[0005] The present disclosure is made in view of such a point, and the object thereof is to enable the slope to be easily fixed in the upright state inside the vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of this disclosure may be based on a ramp fixing structure that fixes a ramp to the vehicle body, which can be switched between a reclined state in which it is folded down toward the floor panel and a retracted state in which it is stored in the vehicle in an upright position. The ramp fixing structure includes a catch pin, a guide member that holds the catch pin on the ramp so that the axial direction of the catch pin is vertical when the ramp is in the retracted state and also guides the catch pin in the axial direction, a restricting member that can be switched between a restricting state in which it engages with the catch pin and restricts the axial movement of the catch pin and an unrestricted state in which it is not engaged with the catch pin and allows the axial movement of the catch pin, and a locking member fixed to the vehicle body, positioned to correspond to the lower end of the catch pin when the ramp is in the retracted state, and formed in a cylindrical shape capable of accommodating the lower portion of the catch pin. The restricting member is switched from the restricting state to the unrestricted state in accordance with the movement of the ramp from the reclined state to the retracted state.

[0007] With this configuration, for example, when a user switches the ramp from the reclined state to the stored state, the restricting member is in a restricting state during the intermediate stages of the operation, so the axial movement of the catch pin is restricted by the restricting member. Then, when the ramp is stored by the user's operation, the restricting member switches from the restricted state to the unrestricted state, so the axial movement of the catch pin is permitted. At this time, since the locking member is positioned to correspond to the lower end of the catch pin, the catch pin moves downward guided by the guide member due to its own weight, and the lower part of the catch pin is housed in the locking member. With the lower part of the catch pin held by the guide member housed in the locking member, the ramp becomes fixed to the vehicle body, and the ramp is prevented from falling over. In other words, simply by the user switching the ramp from the reclined state to the stored state, the catch pin is automatically housed in the locking member, making it easy to lock the ramp in the upright position.

[0008] The restricting member may have a fixed portion that is fixed to the slope, and an engaging portion that extends from the fixed portion to the lower end of the catch pin and engages with the lower end of the catch pin by abutting it from below. In this case, the engaging portion is configured to be displaceable in the radial direction of the catch pin and can be positioned to abut the lower end of the catch pin from below when in the restricting state. This makes it possible to suppress the movement of the catch pin when it is not needed.

[0009] The engaging portion may be configured to be pressed and displaced until it is in the unrestricted state as the slope moves from the collapsed state to the stored state. In this case, the locking member can press and displace the engaging portion until it is in the unrestricted state as the slope moves from the collapsed state to the stored state. The engaging portion may also be made of an elastic material. In this case, the engaging portion is positioned to contact the lower end of the catch pin from below when it is not pressed, so that the movement of the catch pin when not needed can be suppressed.

[0010] The guide member can also restrict the amount of movement of the catch pin so that only the lower portion of the catch pin is accommodated in the locking member. This allows the upper portion of the catch pin to be held by the guide member while only the lower portion of the catch pin is accommodated in the locking member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] As explained above, simply by moving the ramp from the reclined position to the stored position, the catch pins held in the ramp are automatically retracted into the locking member, allowing the ramp to be easily fixed in an upright position inside the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wheelchair-mounted vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the rear portion of a wheelchair-mounted vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the case where the ramp is extended. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram equivalent to Figure 2, showing the wheelchair loaded into the vehicle. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a view from the Y arrow in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a rearward perspective view of the ramp fixing structure that secures the ramp in its retracted position. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram equivalent to Figure 5, showing the state immediately before the ramp is fixed in place. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line VII-VII in Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a diagram equivalent to Figure 7, showing a state in which axial movement of the catch pin is permitted. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a diagram equivalent to Figure 7, showing the catch pin housed in the locking member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following description of preferred embodiments is essentially illustrative and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0014] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In each figure, the front of the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1 is indicated as "front," the rear of the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1 as "rear," the right side of the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1 as "right," and the left side of the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1 as "left." The width direction of the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1 is the left-right direction.

[0015] Figures 1, 2, and 4 show the case where the wheelchair 50 is not mounted, and Figure 3 shows the case where the wheelchair 50 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position. In Figure 1, the folding slope 20 is shown in a state of being laid down toward the inside of the vehicle. As shown by the phantom line in Figure 1, the slope 20 can also be in a stored state where it is stored in the vehicle in a standing posture. In Figures 2 to 4, the folding slope 20 is shown in a deployed state where it is deployed outside the vehicle and bridged between the ground and the floor panel 8 of the vehicle body 2.

[0016] 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 the 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 the front part of the passenger compartment R more than the central part 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 that is continuous in the left-right direction, or seats that are independent on the right side and the left side. The 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.

[0017] The floor panel 8 that constitutes the floor surface of the vehicle body 2 has a front panel portion 8a, an intermediate panel portion 8b, and a rear panel portion 8c. The front panel portion 8a constitutes the front part of the floor panel 8 and is the part where the front seat 3 is attached. The intermediate panel portion 8b extends rearward from the rear end of the front panel portion 8a and is the part where the rear seat 6 is attached. The intermediate panel portion 8b extends substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction. The rear panel portion 8c extends rearward from the rear end of the intermediate panel portion 8b and is, for example, the part that forms the floor surface of the luggage compartment R2 behind the rear seat 6. The floor panel 8 may be composed of a single plate material or may be composed of a combination of a plurality of plate materials.

[0018] The rear seat 6 is provided with a slide mechanism well-known in the art, and can be adjusted in position in the front-rear direction by this slide mechanism. Further, the rear seat 6 is also provided with a folding mechanism and a flipping-up mechanism well-known in the art. In FIGS. 2 and 3, a state (storage state) in which the rear seat 6 is folded by the folding mechanism and flipped up by the flipping-up mechanism is shown. By flipping up the rear seat 6 to the storage state, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the wheelchair 50 can be mounted across the intermediate panel portion 8b to the rear panel portion 8c, and the wheelchair 50 mounted at a predetermined mounting position is placed on the intermediate panel portion 8b and the rear panel portion 8c. The space in the passenger compartment R where the wheelchair 50 can be mounted is referred to as a wheelchair mounting space R1. When the rear seat 6 is deployed, the deployed rear seat 6 is arranged in the front part of the wheelchair mounting space R1, and in this state, the wheelchair 50 cannot be mounted. In the wheelchair mounting space R1, in addition to the wheelchair 50, luggage or the like may be accommodated, or both the wheelchair 50 and luggage may be accommodated. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear part of the rear seat 6 in the deployed state is the luggage compartment R2, but the rear part of the rear seat 6 in the deployed state may be used as the wheelchair mounting space R1 without providing the luggage compartment R2.

[0019] The roof portion 2a of the vehicle body 2 extends continuously at substantially the same height from above the front seat 3 to the rear of the rear seat 6, that is, to the rear of the vehicle body 2. Thereby, it is possible to allow the passenger 51 sitting on the wheelchair 50 to board the wheelchair mounting space R1. Examples of such a motor vehicle having the vehicle body 2 include, for example, a one-box type motor vehicle, etc., and it may be a light motor vehicle or a regular vehicle.

[0020] An opening 2b is formed in the rear part of the vehicle body 2. The opening 2b is an entrance / exit for the passenger 51 to get on and off the wheelchair 50 while sitting. 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 portion 8c. That is, the rear panel portion 8c extends forward from the lower edge portion of the opening 2b.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] At the rear of the vehicle body 2, a ramp 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 20 extended 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 20. The wheelchair 50 can be boarded by moving forward and alighted by moving backward.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] The portion of the rear panel section 8c of the floor panel 8 that is rearward from the bulge 8d is sloped downwards as it approaches the rear. The front end of the deployed ramp 20 is continuous with the portion of the rear panel section 8c that is rearward from the bulge 8d.

[0031] 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 a region 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 a region 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.

[0032] 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 having a shape that opens to the rear is provided in the middle of the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 in the left-to-right direction. When the wheelchair 50 is mounted in the predetermined mounting position, the hook mechanism 60 engages with the anchor bar 53 from the front to hold the wheelchair 50. When lowering the wheelchair 50, the anchor bar 53 is disengaged from the hook mechanism 60 by moving the wheelchair 50 backward.

[0033] The areas on which the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll are the right and left portions of the rear panel portion 8c relative to the bulge portion 8d, and a first inclined surface 8e is formed on both of these portions. 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 provided in the middle of the wheelchair 50 in the front-rear direction, is not in contact with the bulge portion 8d. In addition, a second inclined surface 8f is formed on the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8, extending forward from the front end of the first inclined surface 8e while sloping downward. Furthermore, a third inclined surface 8g is formed on the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8, sloping upward from the front end of the second inclined surface 8f as it moves forward.

[0034] As shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, when the slope 20 is in the retracted position, it can be in an upright position. The upright position is the position in which the slope 20 extends in the vertical direction. The slope 20 in the retracted position may extend vertically or may be slightly inclined forward or backward, but all of these cases are included in the definition of the upright position.

[0035] As shown by the solid line in Figure 1, when the slope 20 is in a collapsed state, it extends approximately horizontally and, together with the floor panel 8 in front of it, can form a floor surface. The collapsed slope 20 may be inclined so that it is lower towards the front or lower towards the rear, but all of these cases are included in the definition of the collapsed state.

[0036] In this embodiment, a ramp fixing structure A (shown in Figure 1) is provided for fixing the ramp 20, which can be switched between a reclined state (shown by a solid line in Figure 1) and a retracted state (shown by a dashed line in Figure 1), to the vehicle body 2 in the retracted state. Specifically, rear frames 2c (shown in Figures 2 and 3) are provided on both the left and right sides of the tailgate 15 at the rear of the vehicle body 2, and both the left and right sides of the ramp 20 in the retracted state are fixed to the left and right rear frames 2c, respectively.

[0037] Figures 5 and 6 show the ramp fixing structure A installed on the right side of the wheelchair-accessible vehicle 1. The ramp fixing structure A installed on the left side is symmetrical to the ramp fixing structure A installed on the right side, and its structure and effects are the same; therefore, the ramp fixing structure A installed on the right side will be described in detail.

[0038] Figure 5 shows the state in which the retracted ramp 20 is fixed to the rear frame 2c by the ramp fixing structure A to prevent it from tipping over. On the other hand, Figure 6 shows the state immediately before the retracted ramp 20 is fixed to the rear frame 2c. As also shown in Figures 7 to 9, the ramp fixing structure A includes a catch pin 21, a guide member 22, a regulating member 23, and a locking member 24. The ramp fixing structure A can also be called, for example, a ramp fixing device.

[0039] The catch pin 21, guide member 22, and regulating member 23, which constitute the slope fixing structure A, are provided on the back side of the slope 20. The back side of the slope 20 is the surface located below when the slope 20 is in the unfolded state, and the surface located behind when the slope 20 is in the upright position. In the following description, the upright position of the slope 20 will be used as the reference. When the slope 20 is in the upright position, the lower end of the slope 20 is supported by the hinge 20a (shown in Figure 2, etc.) around an axis extending in the left-right direction. By rotating the slope 20 around the axis of the hinge 20a, it is possible to switch from the unfolded state to the retracted state, and from the retracted state to the unfolded state. Also, by rotating the slope 20 around the axis of the hinge 20a, it is possible to switch from the collapsed state to the retracted state, and from the retracted state to the collapsed state. In the retracted state, the lower part of the slope 20 is the part to which the hinge 20a is attached.

[0040] The guide member 22 is shaped like a long cylinder in the vertical direction and is fixed to the lower part of the back surface of the slope 20. The upper end of the guide member 22 is closed, while the lower end of the guide member 22 is open. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the peripheral wall of the guide member 22 has a vertical groove 22a extending in the vertical direction, an upper groove 22b connected to the upper end of the vertical groove 22a and extending horizontally (towards the rear), and a lower groove 22c connected to the lower end of the vertical groove 22a and extending horizontally (towards the rear). The vertical groove 22a, the upper groove 22b, and the lower groove 22c are continuous.

[0041] The catch pin 21 is, for example, cylindrical in shape and has an outer diameter that allows it to be housed in the guide member 22. The catch pin 21 housed in the guide member 22 is held on the back side of the slope 20 by the guide member 22. In other words, the guide member 22 holds the catch pin 21 on the slope 20 such that its axial direction is vertical when the slope 20 is in its stored position.

[0042] The inner diameter of the guide member 22 is set so that the catch pin 21 can move vertically. As a result, the guide member 22 guides the catch pin 21 only in the axial direction, while restricting its radial movement. A projection 21a is provided at the middle of the catch pin 21 in the vertical direction, projecting radially from the main body of the catch pin 21. The projection 21a is formed to be movable within the vertical grooves 22a, upper groove 22b, and lower groove 22c formed in the guide member 22, and is also formed to project outward from the outer surface of the guide member 22. When the projection 21a is placed in the upper groove 22b, the catch pin 21 is held in the raised position and cannot move vertically. On the other hand, when the projection 21a is placed in the lower groove 22c, the catch pin 21 is held in the lowered position and cannot move vertically. When the projection 21a is placed in the vertical groove 22a, the catch pin 21 can move freely vertically.

[0043] The restricting member 23 can be switched between a restricting state in which it engages with the catch pin 21 and restricts the axial movement of the catch pin 21, and an unrestricted state in which it is not engaged with the catch pin 21 and allows the catch pin 21 to move in the axial direction. The restricting member 23 is positioned directly below the guide member 22 and has a fixed portion 23a that is fixed to the back surface of the slope 20, and an engaging portion 23b that extends from the fixed portion 23a to the lower end of the catch pin 21 and engages with the lower end of the catch pin 21 by contacting it from below. The fixed portion 23a and the engaging portion 23b are made of, for example, a single elastic plate material (elastic material), and the entire restricting member 23 is elastically deformable. Note that the fixed portion 23a and the engaging portion 23b may be made of separate members.

[0044] The fixed portion 23a is fastened and fixed to a portion of the back surface of the slope 20 that is located below the lower end of the guide member 22. The engaging portion 23b extends upward from the top of the fixed portion 23a, and is formed so that it moves further away from the back surface of the slope 20 the further it goes upward. Since the engaging portion 23b is made of an elastic material, it is configured to be displaceable in the front-rear direction, that is, in the radial direction of the catch pin 21.

[0045] A bent portion 23c is formed at the upper end of the engaging portion 23b, which is bent forward. When no external force is acting on the engaging portion 23b, the bent portion 23c of the engaging portion 23b is located a predetermined distance rearward from the back surface of the slope 20 and is positioned to contact the lower end of the catch pin 21 from below. By the bent portion 23c contacting the lower end of the catch pin 21 from below, the downward movement of the catch pin 21 in the axial direction can be restricted, and this state is the restricted state. In other words, the engaging portion 23b is configured to be displaceable in the radial direction of the catch pin 21 and is positioned to contact the lower end of the catch pin 21 from below when in the restricted state. The shape of the bent portion 23c can be set arbitrarily. Also, the bent portion 23c may be provided as needed and may be omitted.

[0046] When the engaging portion 23b, which is in a restricted state, is pressed forward, it can be displaced forward because it is made of an elastic material (as shown in Figure 8). When the engaging portion 23b is displaced forward, the bent portion 23c is accommodated in the receiving hole 20c formed in the slope 20. As a result, the bent portion 23c of the engaging portion 23b is positioned in front of the lower end of the catch pin 21, so it is not engaged with the catch pin 21, and the restricting member 23 is switched to an unrestricted state that allows the catch pin 21 to move downward. When the pressing force is removed, the engaging portion 23b returns to its original shape, and the restricting member 23 switches back to the restricted state.

[0047] The locking member 24 is fixed to the rear frame 2c, which is a member of the vehicle body. The locking member 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape that can accommodate the lower portion of the catch pin 21, and both its upper and lower ends are open. The locking member 24 is positioned to correspond to the lower end of the catch pin 21 when the ramp 20 is in the retracted state. Specifically, as shown in Figure 8, when the ramp 20 is in the retracted state, the lower end of the catch pin 21 inside the guide member 22 approaches the rear frame 2c, and the position of the locking member 24 is determined so that the opening of the upper end of the locking member 24 is located directly below the lower end of the catch pin 21 in this state.

[0048] The restricting member 23 is switched from a restricted state to an unrestricted state in accordance with the movement of the slope 20 from a collapsed state to a retracted state. As the slope 20 moves from a collapsed state to a retracted state, the locking member 24 presses and displaces the engaging portion 23b until it is in an unrestricted state. This displacement of the engaging portion 23b is due to the position of the locking member 24.

[0049] In other words, when the user switches the ramp 20 from the reclined state to the stored state, the ramp 20 is rotated from front to back around the axis of the hinge 20a. As the user moves, the lower part of the ramp 20 approaches the rear frame 2c, and the engaging portion 23b of the restricting member 23 fixed to the lower part of the ramp 20 approaches the locking member 24 fixed to the rear frame 2c. Before the ramp 20 is completely switched to the stored state, the engaging portion 23b of the restricting member 23 comes into contact with the locking member 24 and is pressed forward. As a result, the engaging portion 23b is displaced forward, and when the ramp 20 is completely switched to the stored state, the engaging portion 23b is positioned in front of the lower end of the catch pin 21.

[0050] If the engaging portion 23b is positioned in front of the lower end of the catch pin 21, there will be no member supporting the catch pin 21 from below, so the catch pin 21 will fall under its own weight, and the lower portion of the catch pin 21 will be housed inside the locking member 24. The amount of downward movement of the catch pin 21 is restricted by the guide member 22. Specifically, the catch pin 21 is able to move downward because the protruding portion 21a of the catch pin 21 is located within the vertical groove 22a of the guide member 22. When the catch pin 21 falls and is housed in the locking member 24, the protruding portion 21a comes into contact with the lower edge of the vertical groove 22a. This restricts further downward movement of the catch pin 21. In other words, the guide member 22 restricts the amount of movement of the catch pin 21 so that only the lower portion of the catch pin 21 is housed in the locking member 24.

[0051] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, when a user switches the ramp 20 for getting the wheelchair 50 on and off from the retracted state to the stored state, the engaging portion 23b of the restricting member 23 engages with the catch pin 21 during the intermediate stages of the operation, restricting the downward movement of the catch pin 21, thereby preventing unexpected movement of the catch pin 21. Then, when the ramp 20 is in the stored state, the restricting member 23 switches from the restricted state to the unrestricted state, allowing the catch pin 21 to move in the axial direction.

[0052] At this time, the locking member 24 is positioned directly below the catch pin 21 so as to correspond to the lower end of the catch pin 21. As a result, the catch pin 21 moves downward under its own weight, guided by the guide member 22, and the lower part of the catch pin 21 is housed in the locking member 24. With the lower part of the catch pin 21, held by the guide member 22, housed in the locking member 24, the ramp 20 is fixed to the vehicle body 2, and the forward tilting of the ramp 20 is suppressed. In other words, the catch pin 21 is automatically housed in the locking member 24 simply by the user moving the ramp 20 from the reclined state to the stored state, making it easy to lock the ramp 20 in the upright position.

[0053] 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. For example, the rear seat 6, etc., can be omitted. The present invention can also be applied to a vehicle with three rows of seats. [Industrial applicability]

[0054] 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]

[0055] 1. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles 2 car bodies 2b opening 8 Floor Panels 20 slopes 21 Catch Pin 22 Guide member 23 Regulating members 23a Fixed part 23b Engagement part 24 Locking member A. Slope fixing structure

Claims

1. A ramp fixing structure that fixes a ramp to the vehicle body, which can be switched between a reclined state where it is folded down toward the floor panel and a retracted state where it is stored inside the vehicle in an upright position, Catch pin and, A guide member holds the catch pin on the slope such that its axial direction is vertical when the slope is in the retracted position, and guides the catch pin in the axial direction. A restricting member that can be switched between a restricting state in which it engages with the catch pin and restricts the axial movement of the catch pin, and an unrestricted state in which it is not engaged with the catch pin and allows the axial movement of the catch pin, The system includes a locking member that is fixed to the vehicle body, positioned to correspond to the lower end of the catch pin when the ramp is in the retracted state, and formed in a cylindrical shape capable of accommodating the lower portion of the catch pin, The restricting member is a slope fixing structure that switches from the restricted state to the unrestricted state in accordance with the movement of the slope from the collapsed state to the stored state.

2. In the ramp fixing structure according to claim 1, The regulating member has a fixed portion that is fixed to the slope, and an engaging portion that extends from the fixed portion to the lower end of the catch pin and engages with the lower end of the catch pin by contacting it from below, thus forming a slope fixing structure.

3. In the ramp fixing structure described in claim 2, The engagement portion is configured to be displaceable in the radial direction of the catch pin and is positioned to contact the lower end of the catch pin from below when in the restricted state, in a slope fixing structure.

4. In the ramp fixing structure described in claim 3, A ramp fixing structure wherein the engaging portion is pressed and displaced until it becomes the unrestricted state as the ramp moves from the collapsed state to the stored state.

5. In the ramp fixing structure according to claim 4, A ramp fixing structure wherein, as the ramp moves from the collapsed state to the stored state, the locking member presses and displaces the engaging portion until it is in the unrestricted state.

6. In the ramp fixing structure according to claim 4, The engagement portion is made of an elastic material and is positioned to contact the lower end of the catch pin from below when not being pressed, thus forming a slope fixing structure.

7. In the ramp fixing structure according to claim 1, The guide member is a slope fixing structure that restricts the amount of movement of the catch pin so that only the lower portion of the catch pin is accommodated by the locking member.

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