Vehicle structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle structure that appropriately facilitates getting in and out of the vehicle using assist grips. [Solution] A vehicle structure A is provided with an assist grip 2 used for a user 8 to grasp when getting in or out of the vehicle 1 through an entry / exit opening 11C, wherein the assist grip 2 is mounted in the passenger compartment 10 in front of the vehicle seat 3C, diagonally above the front, or above the vehicle seat 3C, so that the user 8 can grasp it with their hand when seated in the vehicle seat 3C, and when the door 12C is open and the user 8 gets in or out of the vehicle 1, a part of the assist grip 2 is extendable and retractable so that it can be extended toward the entry / exit opening 11C or the outside of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure such as an automobile, and more particularly to a type of vehicle structure provided with assist grips (boarding / alighting grips).

Background Art

[0002] As a specific example of the vehicle structure, there is one described in Patent Document 1. In the vehicle structure described in this document, a movable assist grip is provided at the edge of the boarding / alighting opening of the vehicle (the edge of the center pillar). Although this assist grip does not extend outside the vehicle when the door of the boarding / alighting opening is closed, it can be switched to a state of extending outside the vehicle when the door is opened. According to such a configuration, when a user boards or alights from the vehicle, the user can grasp the assist grip with the hand, so that it is possible to facilitate the boarding / alighting operation of the user.

[0003] However, in the above prior art, there was room for improvement as described below.

[0004] The movable assist grip described in Patent Document 1 is configured as a relatively short, rotatable member. When the door is open, it is in a horizontal position, extending outwards from the edge of the center pillar. However, when the door is closed, it rotates approximately 90°, becoming upright in the vertical direction, adjacent to the center pillar. Therefore, a user can only accurately grasp the assist grip when they are outside the vehicle. In other words, once a user's upper body enters the vehicle to get in, it becomes difficult to hold onto the assist grip, and they then need to stabilize their body by gripping a suitable object such as a vehicle seat. Similarly, when a user gets out of the vehicle, it is difficult to accurately grasp the assist grip until their upper body is sufficiently outside the vehicle. Therefore, during that period, they need to stabilize their body by gripping a suitable object such as a vehicle seat. Some users may find such actions troublesome or burdensome. In particular, for users who use wheelchairs or elderly people with weak legs, the burden of getting on and off vehicles becomes even more pronounced, and they may have difficulty getting on and off the vehicle. Therefore, it is desirable that these issues be appropriately resolved. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-221844 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-72443 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] This invention was conceived under the circumstances described above, and its objective is to provide a vehicle structure that can appropriately facilitate getting in and out of the vehicle using the assist grip. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following technical measures.

[0008] The vehicle structure provided by the present invention is a vehicle in which a vehicle seat is mounted inside the passenger compartment, and an entry / exit opening that can be opened and closed by a door is provided on the side of the vehicle seat, and A vehicle structure comprising an assist grip used for a user to grasp with their hand when getting in or out of a vehicle through the aforementioned entry / exit opening, wherein the assist grip is mounted in the interior of the vehicle at a position in front of, diagonally above, or above the vehicle seat so that the user can grasp it with their hand while seated in the vehicle seat, and is characterized in that a part of the assist grip can be extended toward the entry / exit opening or the outside of the vehicle when the door is open and the user gets in or out of the vehicle.

[0009] This configuration yields the following effects: In other words, when a user gets in or out of a vehicle, the assist grip is extended, with a portion of the assist grip extending toward the entry / exit opening or the outside of the vehicle. On the other hand, this assist grip is inherently possible for a user to grasp with their hand while seated in the vehicle seat. Therefore, unlike Patent Document 1, when a user gets into a vehicle from outside, it is not difficult for the user to grasp the assist grip after their upper body has entered the vehicle interior, and they can continue to grasp the assist grip and sit in the vehicle seat in this state. Also, when a user who is in the vehicle gets out, unlike Patent Document 1, it is not difficult for the user to grasp the assist grip until their upper body has left the vehicle, and the user can firmly grasp the assist grip with their hand and support their body throughout the entire period from when they are seated in the vehicle interior until they get out of the vehicle. For these reasons, the present invention can appropriately facilitate getting in and out of a vehicle. In particular, it is useful in significantly reducing the burden on users who are wheelchair users or elderly people with weak legs when getting in and out of a vehicle. Furthermore, the assist grip is retractable, and when extended, its overall length is increased, making it easier for the user to grasp. In addition, when getting in and out of the vehicle, the user can move their body by pulling on the assist grip along its length. The assist grip can be used not only when the user gets in and out of the vehicle, but also as a regular assist grip to compensate for shaking while the vehicle is in motion, making it even more convenient.

[0010] In the present invention, preferably, the door is a hinged door and further comprises engaging means provided on the door and the assist grip, which are capable of engaging the assist grip and the door with each other when the door is open and a portion of the assist grip is located outside the vehicle.

[0011] This configuration yields the following effects: In other words, since the open door and the assist grip can be engaged using the engagement mechanism, the open state of the door can be stabilized, preventing the door from flapping violently due to external forces such as wind. Furthermore, since a portion of the assist grip is supported by the door, it is also possible to stabilize the mounting state of the assist grip. Therefore, it is preferable that the assist grip does not wobble significantly when the user grasps it with their hand, thus preventing the user from feeling uneasy.

[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of embodiments of the invention given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic side view showing an example of a vehicle structure according to the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) is a schematic plan cross-sectional view of Figure 1, and (b) is a schematic plan cross-sectional view showing an example of the operating state of (a). [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the main parts of the vehicle structure. [Figure 4] (a) is a perspective view showing a specific example of an assist grip used in the vehicle structure shown in Figures 1 to 3, and (b) is a perspective view of the assist grip in (a) in an extended state. [Figure 5] (a) is a schematic plan cross-sectional view showing another example of a vehicle structure according to the present invention, and (b) is a schematic plan cross-sectional view showing an example of the operating state of (a). [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a specific example of an assist grip used in the vehicle structure shown. [Figure 7] (a) is a cross-sectional view of section VIIa in Figure 5(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view of section VIIb in Figure 5(b). [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of a key part illustrating another example of a vehicle structure according to the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a principal - part perspective view showing another example of the vehicle structure according to the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] In the vehicle structure A shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a telescopic assist grip 2 described later is attached to the vehicle 1. Inside the passenger compartment 10 of the vehicle 1, a plurality of vehicle seats 3A to 3C, including front and rear seats, are installed. However, in the present embodiment, as an example, a case where the user 8 rides in the right - hand region of the vehicle seat 3C (having a seat cushion 30 and a seat back 31), which is the rear bench seat, among these plurality of vehicle seats 3A to 3C will be described. Therefore, the vehicle seat 3C corresponds to a specific example of the vehicle seat described in claim 1 of the present application. On the side surface portion of the vehicle 1, an entrance / exit opening 11C located on the side (right - hand side) of the vehicle seat 3C and a door 12C capable of opening and closing it are provided. These entrance / exit opening 11C and door 12C correspond to specific examples of the entrance / exit opening and the door described in claim 1 of the present application. The door 12C is, for example, a hinge - type door. The front portion of this door 12C is connected to the vehicle body via a hinge (not shown) and is rotatable in the horizontal direction around the hinge.

[0016] As well - represented in FIG. 4, the assist grip 2 includes a grip main body portion 20, a grip extension portion 21, a bracket portion 22, and an operation button 23 for a lock mechanism. The grip body portion 20 and the grip extension portion 21 are both parts that the user 8 grasps with their hand. The grip body portion 20 is, for example, a bar-shaped cylindrical portion that extends horizontally. The grip extension portion 21 comprises a main portion 21a and an auxiliary portion 21b connected to one end of the main portion 21a. The main portion 21a is a bar-shaped cylindrical portion that extends horizontally, but the other end of the main portion 21a on the outward side in the vehicle width direction is a moderately curved or bent portion 21c. When the user 8 grasps the grip extension portion 21 with their hand to extend or retract the assist grip 2 as will be described later, grasping the bent portion 21c makes it less likely for their hand to slip.

[0017] The auxiliary portion 21b of the grip extension portion 21 is slidably fitted to the grip body portion 20. Due to the sliding motion of this grip extension portion 21, the assist grip 2 (more precisely, the length of the combined portion of the grip body portion 20 and the grip extension portion 21 that the user 8 grasps with their hand) is extendable and retractable. The operation button 23 for the locking mechanism is used to switch and control the locking and unlocking of the sliding movement of the grip extension 21 relative to the grip body 20. Although not shown in the drawing, in this assist grip 2, when the operation button 23 is not pressed, the sliding movement of the grip extension 21 relative to the grip body 20 is restricted by the lock. The device is equipped with a mechanism. When the operation button 23 is pressed, the lock state by the locking mechanism is released, and the sliding movement of the grip extension 21 becomes possible. When the operation button 23 is released, it returns to the original locked state. There are conventionally known locking mechanisms that can perform such operations, and these can be used.

[0018] The bracket portion 22 is a part for attaching the assist grip 2 to a predetermined location in the vehicle interior 10, and includes, for example, two arm portions 22a connected to the grip body portion 20, and a connecting portion 22b that connects these two arm portions 22a to each other. Preferably, the bracket portion 22, the grip body portion 20, and the grip extension portion 21 are all made of resin to facilitate and reduce the cost of their manufacture. More preferably, the bracket portion 22 and the grip body portion 20 are integrally molded.

[0019] In this embodiment, the assist grip 2 is mounted on the upper part of the seat back 32 of the vehicle seat 3A, which is the front driver's seat. As a means of mounting to this part, the bracket portion 22 is provided with a pair of holes 22c, and as shown in Figure 3, a pair of stays 33a provided on the headrest 33 of the vehicle seat 3A are inserted through these holes 22c. This secures the bracket portion 22, and the grip body portion 20 and the grip extension portion 21 are located behind the upper surface of the seat back 32 of the vehicle seat 3A. As a result, the assist grip 2 is positioned close to the front of the user 8 seated in the vehicle seat 3C, and the user 8 can grasp the assist grip 2 with both hands (or one hand) while remaining seated.

[0020] Furthermore, when the assist grip 2 is set to an extended state with the grip extension portion 21 slid outward in the vehicle width direction, it can extend toward the vehicle entry / exit opening 11C or the outside of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 2(b). Preferably, when the assist grip 2 is extended, a part of the assist grip 2 (outer end portion) is located in the entry / exit opening 11C, and more preferably, a part of the assist grip 2 is located beyond the entry / exit opening 11C and outward. The grip extension 21 is set so as not to slide beyond a predetermined dimension, preventing the grip extension 21 from unintentionally detaching from the grip body 20.

[0021] Next, the operation of the vehicle structure A described above will be explained.

[0022] As shown by the solid line in Figure 2(b), when a user 8 who is outside the vehicle opens the door 12C and enters the vehicle 1, the assist grip 2 is first set to the extended state shown in Figure 4(b), and a part of the assist grip 2 (the outer end) is positioned at or outside the entry / exit opening 11C. With this setting, the user 8 can enter the vehicle compartment 10 while holding onto the assist grip 2. Here, since the assist grip 2 is attached near the front position of the vehicle seat 3C, the user 8 can still hold onto the assist grip 2 even after their upper body has entered the vehicle compartment 10, and the user 8 can use the assist grip 2 to stabilize their body until they have finished sitting on the vehicle seat 3C. There is no need to release the assist grip 2 and grab onto another part. After user 8 has finished getting into vehicle 1, the assist grip 2 can be returned to the non-extended state shown in Figure 4(a), thereby avoiding interference between the assist grip 2 and the door 12C and allowing the door 12C to be closed properly.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2(a), when user 8 is riding in vehicle 1, it is convenient for them to effectively cope with shaking and other movements of the vehicle while it is in motion by holding onto the assist grips 2 with both hands. Next, when user 8, who is in vehicle 1, gets out of the vehicle, the door 12C is opened and the assist grip 2 is set to the extended position. In this setting, the assist grip 2 extends from the front position of the vehicle seat 3C to the entry / exit opening 11C or to the position outside of it, so that user 8 can firmly grasp the assist grip 2 with their hand and support their body throughout the entire period from when they are seated in the vehicle seat 3C until they get out of the vehicle.

[0024] Thus, according to the vehicle structure A of this embodiment, it is possible to easily get on and off the vehicle 1 by effectively utilizing the retractable assist grip 2, which is convenient. In particular, when the user 8 is a wheelchair user or an elderly person with weak legs and hips, it is preferable as it greatly reduces the burden on the user 8 when getting on and off the vehicle 1. Furthermore, since the assist grip 2 uses a telescopic mechanism in which the grip extension 21 slides relative to the grip body 20, the structure of the assist grip 2 can be simplified while making the telescopic operation easy, resulting in good usability.

[0025] Figures 5 to 9 show other embodiments of the present invention. In these figures, elements identical or similar to those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0026] In the vehicle structure Aa shown in Figure 5, the assist grip 2A and the door 12C are provided with engaging portions 5 and 6 that can engage with each other (corresponding to specific examples of the engaging means of claim 2 of this application). More specifically, the engaging portion 5 is a part provided with an engaging projection 50 that can extend and retract downward from the lower surface of the outer end of the grip extension 21. The engaging projection 50 is constructed, for example, by providing a hole 51 that penetrates in the vertical direction at the outer end of the grip extension 21, and inserting a pin 52 into this hole 51 so that it can move up and down. The lower part of the pin 52 corresponds to the engaging projection 50. On the other hand, the engaging portion 6 is located inside the passenger compartment 10 of the door 12C and has an engaging hole 60 (or engaging recess) into which the engaging projection 50 can engage (fit).

[0027] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5(b), when the door 12C is opened and the assist grip 2A is set to the extended position, the engaging projection 50 of the assist grip 2A can be engaged (fitted) into the engaging hole 60 of the door 12C (see also Figure 7). This allows the open door 12C and the assist grip 2A to be engaged and connected. This configuration stabilizes the open position of the door 12C, preventing it from flapping violently due to external forces such as wind. Furthermore, since a portion of the assist grip 2A is supported by the door 12C, the mounting of the assist grip 2A is also stabilized. Therefore, when the user 8 grasps the assist grip 2A with their hand, the assist grip 2A will not wobble significantly, thus preventing the user from feeling uneasy.

[0028] In the vehicle structure Ab shown in Figure 8, the assist grip 2B is mounted on the instrument panel 16 so as to be located in front of the vehicle seat 3B, which is the front passenger seat. In other words, in this embodiment, the vehicle seat 3B corresponds to the vehicle seat described in claim 1 of this application, and the entry / exit opening 11B on its side (left side), and the door 12B that can open and close it, correspond to the entry / exit opening and door described in claim 1 of this application. Compared to the assist grip 2A in the embodiments of Figures 5 to 7, the assist grip 2B differs in that the grip body portion 20 and the grip extension portion 21 are reversed left and right, and the configuration of the bracket portion 22 is different, but the other basic configuration is the same. Although not illustrated in the illustrations, the means for attaching the assist grip 2B to the instrument panel 16 is, for example, screw fastening. This is a means to an end. However, it is not limited to this.

[0029] In the vehicle structure Ac shown in Figure 9, the assist grip 2C is mounted on the ceiling 17 of the passenger compartment 10 so as to be positioned diagonally above or in front of the vehicle seat 3B. The assist grip 2C has a similar configuration to the assist grip 2B shown in Figure 8, but the engaging parts 5 and 6 are omitted.

[0030] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 9, when the user 8 gets in and out of the vehicle seat 3B, which is the front passenger seat, they can use the assist grips 2B and 2C to obtain the same effect as in the embodiments described earlier, which is convenient.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The specific configuration of each part of the vehicle structure according to the present invention can be modified in various ways within the scope intended by the present invention.

[0032] As can be understood from the embodiments described above, the vehicle seat described in claim 1 of this application may be either the rear vehicle seat 3C or the front passenger seat 3B, but it may also be any other vehicle seat. Furthermore, the retractable assist grip intended by the present invention only needs to be provided in at least one location in the vehicle interior, and can be provided in multiple locations in the vehicle interior (for example, a configuration in which it is provided in a total of two locations corresponding to the left and right sides of the rear seat, or a configuration in which it is provided in a total of three locations including the two locations in question plus the location corresponding to the front passenger seat).

[0033] The assist grip can be mounted in front of, diagonally above, or above the vehicle seat within the vehicle interior, so that the user can grasp it with their hands (either with both hands or one hand) while seated in the vehicle seat. The specific mounting location of the assist grip is not limited; it can be mounted on the headrest, instrument panel, or ceiling of the vehicle interior, for example, on the center pillar, or even supported by the floor panel. The assist grip may be removable or not. Preferably, the assist grips are positioned and made of materials that do not cause significant harm to the user in the event of a vehicle collision, and are also designed to buckle easily in the event of a collision with the user if necessary.

[0034] When extending the assist grip, it is sufficient that a portion of the assist grip be extended toward the entry / exit opening or the outside of the vehicle; it does not necessarily have to extend all the way to the location of the entry / exit opening or to the outside of the vehicle. Even if a portion of the assist grip only extends to a point slightly in front of the entry / exit opening (towards the inside of the vehicle), the user can still grasp that portion with their hand from outside the vehicle.

[0035] The engagement means of claim 2 of this application is not limited to a combination of an engaging projection and an engaging hole (or engaging recess) that can be fitted together, but can also be any other type of engagement means (for example, a configuration in which a part of the assist grip is inserted into a lateral hole that can be used to prevent it from coming off and to allow it to be released, a means of clamping a part of the assist grip with a clamp provided on the door side, a means of magnetically attaching a part of the assist grip to the door, etc.). The door in claim 2 of this application is of the hinged type, but the door in claim 1 of this application is not limited to the hinged type and can be, for example, a sliding door. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] A, Aa~Ac Vehicle Structure 1 vehicle 10 Cabin 11B, 11C Entrance / Exit openings Doors 12B, 12C 2,2A~2C Assist Grip 3B, 3C Vehicle Seats 5. Engaging part (engaging means) 6. Engaging part (engaging means) 8 users

Claims

1. A vehicle in which a vehicle seat is installed inside the passenger compartment, and an entry / exit opening that can be opened and closed by a door is provided on the side of the vehicle seat, This vehicle is equipped with an assist grip that is used for the user to grasp with their hand when getting in or out of the vehicle through the aforementioned entry / exit opening, A vehicle structure that is equipped with, The vehicle structure is characterized in that the assist grip is mounted in the interior of the vehicle at a position in front of, diagonally above, or above the vehicle seat so that the user can grasp it with their hand while seated in the vehicle seat, and that a portion of the assist grip is extendable and retractable so that it can be extended toward the entry / exit opening or the outside of the vehicle when the user gets in or out of the vehicle with the door open.

2. A vehicle structure according to claim 1, The aforementioned door is a hinged door, A vehicle structure further comprising engaging means provided on the door and the assist grip, which are capable of engaging the assist grip and the door with each other when the door is open and a portion of the assist grip is located outside the vehicle.

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