Car seat fixing device

Abstract

To reduce the burden on wheelchair users. [Solution] The wheelchair securing device 10 is a base plate B1 installed in a continuous state with the floor surface F1, and includes a base plate B1 that supports the wheelchair WC that has moved from the floor surface F1. When the wheelchair WC is placed on the base plate B1, it is configured to tilt downward and sink below the floor surface F1, with the connection point with the floor surface F1 as a pivot point P.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] This disclosure relates to a wheelchair fixing device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a floor of a wheelchair mounting space that has an engaging groove provided in a floor inclined so that the rear side in the entering direction of the wheelchair is lowered to temporarily hold the wheelchair.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technology of Patent Document 1, when getting off the vehicle, it is necessary to step over a step to move from the temporarily fixed state, which imposes a burden on wheelchair users.

[0005] This embodiment aims to reduce the burden on wheelchair users.

[0006] A wheelchair fixing device according to an embodiment of this disclosure is a substrate installed in a state continuous with the floor surface, the wheelchair fixing device including a substrate that supports a wheelchair that has moved from the floor surface. When the wheelchair is placed on the substrate, the substrate is configured to incline downward from the floor surface and sink with a connection point with the floor surface as a fulcrum.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to this disclosure, the burden on wheelchair users can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic side view illustrating the configuration of a wheelchair securing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a schematic side view illustrating the configuration of a wheelchair securing device and a locking mechanism provided in the wheelchair securing device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a schematic top view illustrating the configuration of a wheelchair securing device and a locking mechanism provided in the wheelchair securing device according to the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the figures.

[0010] In each figure, identical or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of this embodiment, the description of identical or corresponding parts will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0011] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an overview of the wheelchair securing device 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic side view illustrating the configuration of the wheelchair securing device 10 according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the wheelchair securing device 10 is configured to be installed in a vehicle. The vehicle may be any vehicle, but for example, it may be an autonomous vehicle.

[0013] The wheelchair securing device 10 is a base plate B1 installed in a continuous state with the floor surface F1, and includes a base plate B1 that supports the wheelchair WC as it moves from the floor surface F1. Furthermore, the wheelchair securing device 10 may include a support plate B2 that extends upward from the base plate B1 and is configured to support the wheelchair WC on the base plate B1 from behind. In this specification, as shown in Figure 1, "upward" refers to the direction indicated by the arrow X.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the floor surface F1 has an inclined surface F2 that extends inclined beneath the base plate B1. A spring S is positioned between the lower surface of the base plate B1 and the upper surface of the inclined surface F2. When the wheelchair WC', which was on the floor surface F1, moves and is placed on the base plate B1 (wheelchair WC), the weight of the wheelchair WC presses down on the base plate B1 (base plate B1'), temporarily fixing the wheelchair WC in place. When the wheelchair WC moves off the base plate B1, the restoring force of the spring S causes the base plate B1' to return to its original position (base plate B1).

[0015] When using a vehicle in a wheelchair, securing the wheelchair is necessary for safety reasons. In conventional welfare vehicles, a caregiver would secure the wheelchair using belts or the like. However, in unmanned, autonomous vehicles, for example, it is assumed that there will be no caregiver. According to this embodiment, the wheelchair securing device 10 has two states: one in which the floor surface F1 and the base plate B1 are flat (normal state), and another in which the base plate B1' is positioned below the floor surface F1 (temporary securing state). With this configuration, when the wheelchair WC moves to the base plate B1, the base plate B1 automatically lowers and enters the temporary securing state. Therefore, the wheelchair WC user can secure their wheelchair without relying on a caregiver. Furthermore, when disembarking, as the wheelchair WC moves forward, the restoring force of the spring S biases the base plate B1' back to its original position (base plate B1). Therefore, as the wheelchair WC moves forward, the angle with the floor surface is reduced, making it easier to move. Thus, the burden on the wheelchair user is reduced.

[0016] In this embodiment, the substrate B1 can be formed from a steel plate floor panel or the like. The floor panel may be part of the floor surface F1. The support plate B2 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction of entry of the wheelchair WC entering backward, and extends upward from the substrate B1 (in the direction of arrow X), supporting the wheelchair WC from behind as it enters the wheelchair fixing device, thereby restricting the movement of the wheelchair WC beyond the substrate B1 to the rear. Note that the support plate B2 is not limited to the shape shown, and for example, cylindrical, hemispherical, rectangular prism, or L-shaped wheel stoppers can be used. The support plate B2 may be movable. Alternatively, instead of providing a support plate B2, a restricting groove or the like may be formed in the substrate B1 to restrict the movement of the wheelchair WC beyond the substrate B1 to the rear. In this case, the support plate B2 can be omitted.

[0017] The spring section S is designed to be pushed down by the weight of the wheelchair WC when it is placed on the base plate B1, and to push up the base plate B1 back to its original position by restoring force when the wheelchair WC moves forward to exit the base plate B1. When selecting the spring that makes up the spring section S, the maximum and minimum loads acting on the spring are calculated, and the required spring constant is determined accordingly. The material of the spring can be arbitrarily selected considering the required spring constant, strength, durability, etc. For example, steel or stainless steel can be used, and other materials can be selected as needed. As for the shape of the spring section S, any shape can be selected, such as a coil-shaped compression spring, a leaf spring, or a torsion spring, and a shape and dimensions suitable for the required load and displacement range can be selected.

[0018] As a modification of this embodiment, instead of the spring portion S, a configuration may be adopted in which the substrate B1 is operated using pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. For example, a lever is provided on the substrate B1, and by operating the lever, the substrate B1 is pushed down by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. When the wheelchair WC exits from above the substrate B1, the lever is returned, and the substrate B1 returns to its original position by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. The lever may be provided with a light-emitting device such as a lamp, and by lighting or turning on the light-emitting device, the user of the wheelchair WC may be guided to lower the lever. Alternatively, instead of the light-emitting device, guidance may be provided by outputting sound from a speaker.

[0019] As another modification of this embodiment, instead of the spring portion S, the substrate B1 may be operated by a motor. For example, when the motor operates, the substrate B1 may be configured to be pushed down by a mechanism such as a ball screw or a linear guide. In this example, the motor is operated by a switch. When the user of the wheelchair WC who has moved onto the substrate B1 presses a switch installed on a wall or the like, the motor operates, and the ball screw or the linear guide operates to push down the substrate B1. When the wheelchair WC exits from above the substrate B1, when the user of the wheelchair WC pulls the switch, the motor operates, and the substrate B1 returns to its original position by the ball screw or the linear guide. This switch may also be provided with a light-emitting device or the like to guide the user of the wheelchair WC to operate the switch.

[0020] As described above, the wheelchair fixing device 10 according to this embodiment includes a substrate B1 installed in a state continuous with the floor surface F1, and the substrate B1 supports the wheelchair WC that has moved from the floor surface F1. When the wheelchair WC is placed on the substrate B1, the substrate B1 is configured to incline downward from the floor surface F1 and sink with the connection point with the floor surface F1 as the fulcrum P.

[0021] According to this embodiment, by positioning the wheelchair WC on the substrate B1, the wheelchair WC can be automatically temporarily fixed. Also, when getting off the vehicle, when the wheelchair WC moves forward, the substrate B1 returns to its original position. Therefore, the inclination of the path of the wheelchair WC is alleviated and it is easy to move. Thus, the burden on wheelchair users is reduced.

[0022] The wheelchair fixing device 10 according to this embodiment may further include a locking mechanism for fixing the wheelchair WC on the substrate B1.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the configuration of the locking mechanism will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view schematically showing the configuration of the locking mechanism. FIG. 3 is a schematic top view schematically showing the configuration of the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes stoppers L7, L7' that are inserted between the rims of the wheels of the wheelchair WC to restrict the movement of the wheels, and a lever L1 that is operated by the user to activate the stoppers L7, L7'. The locking mechanism is configured such that the stoppers L7, L7' are activated by operating the lever L1 in a state where the substrate B1 sinks and the wheelchair WC is temporarily fixed. When getting off the vehicle, by lowering the lever L1, the stoppers L7, L7' are removed and the lock is released.

[0024] The operation of the locking mechanism will be explained with reference to Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the locking mechanism comprises a lever L1, a ratchet L2 attached to the lever L1, a pinion L3 and a rack L4 fixed to the lever L1, a pinion L5 that rotates by the rack L4 and engages with racks L6 and L7, and a stopper L7' provided on rack L6. Rack L7 also serves as a stopper. When the wheelchair WC is placed on the base plate B1 and the base plate B1 is pushed down, the lever L1 is pulled up by the user of the wheelchair WC, causing pinion L5 to rotate due to pinion L3 and rack L4. The rotation of pinion L5 causes racks L7 and L6 to move, and the stopper L7, which also serves as a rack, and the stopper L7' provided on rack L6 are inserted into the gap in the rim of the rear wheel of the wheelchair WC. As a result, the wheelchair WC is locked in place. Furthermore, lever L1 has a ratchet mechanism, and the ratchet L2 can hold lever L1 in the pulled position. In other words, the lock will not be released unless lever L1 is lowered while releasing the ratchet L2 on lever L1. A light-emitting device such as a lamp may be provided at the operating part of lever L1, and the operation of lever L1 may be guided by illuminating or flashing the light-emitting device. Stoppers L7 and L7' may be equipped with a mechanism that makes insertion and removal easy. For example, the tips of stoppers L7 and L7' may be rounded, or they may be made movable by combining them with a torsion recoil spring or the like.

[0025] According to this embodiment, wheelchair users can lock the wheels using a lever at their fingertips without relying on an assistant. Therefore, even in unmanned autonomous vehicles or the like where there is no assistant, wheelchair users can secure their wheelchairs. This reduces the burden on wheelchair users.

[0026] As a modification of this embodiment, the locking mechanism may be operated using a switch and a motor. For example, when the wheelchair WC is temporarily fixed, the user of the wheelchair WC operates the switch instead of pulling the lever L1. The motor then operates and rotates the pinion L5. The subsequent operation is the same as when the lever L1 is pulled up, so the explanation is omitted. To release the locking mechanism, the user operates the switch again. The motor then operates, and the rotation of the pinion L5 moves the racks L7 and L6, which also serve as stoppers. The stoppers L7 and L6, which also serve as racks, are removed from the gap in the rim of the rear wheel of the wheelchair WC, and the lock is released. The switch may be equipped with a light-emitting device to guide the user in fixing or releasing the wheelchair WC.

[0027] In this embodiment, the locking mechanism may include a detection device that detects the operating state of the stoppers L7 and L7'. When the wheelchair securing device 10 is installed in a vehicle, the detection device may, upon detecting that the stoppers L7 and L7' have been activated and the wheelchair WC has been secured, communicate with the vehicle to notify it that the wheelchair WC has been secured. When the vehicle detects that the wheelchair WC has been secured, it may depart based on the detection information. Alternatively, the detection information may be used in combination with information from an in-vehicle camera to determine whether to depart. When the vehicle is being driven by a driver, this information allows the driver to determine whether to depart the vehicle without leaving the driver's seat.

[0028] With this configuration, in the case of an autonomous vehicle, the vehicle can depart only after automatically detecting the securing status of the wheelchair toilet. Furthermore, even when the vehicle is being driven by a driver, the driver's manual check is eliminated, improving operational efficiency.

[0029] In this embodiment, a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair securing device 10 may also be equipped with a boarding / alighting guidance device that provides guidance on the use of the wheelchair securing device 10. The boarding / alighting guidance device may include a control unit that, upon detecting a wheelchair user boarding the vehicle, guides the wheelchair user to a stopping position for using the wheelchair securing device 10.

[0030] In this configuration, wheelchair users who wish to use the vehicle register their wheelchair use when making a reservation for the vehicle. Reservations can be made, for example, through any passenger reservation system. The control unit of the passenger boarding / alighting guidance system detects wheelchair users based on information from the passenger reservation system and information acquired by image sensors such as external and internal cameras installed in the vehicle. When the control unit detects that a wheelchair user has boarded, it guides the wheelchair user on a display installed in the vehicle using images or videos, such as a video, indicating the orientation in which to park the wheelchair. The control unit may also provide guidance via voice from speakers installed in the vehicle. Alternatively, the boarding position and boarding orientation may be clearly indicated on the floor surface F1 using projection mapping. Guide grooves may also be projected onto the floor surface F1 at the tire positions where the wheelchair toilet should be parked. Guidance to the exit may be provided in a similar manner when alighting.

[0031] This configuration allows wheelchair users to intuitively understand the parking position of wheelchair-accessible restrooms, enabling smoother movement. Therefore, it can reduce the burden on wheelchair users.

[0032] Furthermore, the wheelchair securing device 20 according to this embodiment may also be provided with a seat belt securing device that includes a seat belt and a seat belt insertion port for securing an occupant in a wheelchair WC. In addition, a mechanism may be installed to detect when a seat belt is inserted into the seat belt insertion port and notify the vehicle.

[0033] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, multiple blocks described in the block diagram may be combined, or a single block may be divided. Instead of executing multiple steps described in the flowchart in chronological order as described, they may be executed in parallel or in a different order, depending on the processing capacity of the device performing each step, or as necessary. Other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 Wheelchair fixation device WC,WC' Wheelchair B1, B1' substrate B2,B2' Support plate F1 Floor F2 slope S spring part P fulcrum L1 Lever L2 Ratchet L3 pinion L4 Rack L5 pinion L6 Rack L7 Stopper (Rack) L7' Stopper

Claims

1. A wheelchair securing device comprising a substrate installed in a continuous state with the floor surface, and the substrate supporting a wheelchair that has moved from the floor surface, The aforementioned circuit board is configured to tilt downward and sink below the floor surface, with the connection point to the floor surface acting as a pivot point, when the wheelchair is placed on it, in the wheelchair fixing device.

2. The floor surface has an inclined surface that extends in an inclined manner at the lower part of the substrate, It comprises a spring portion positioned between the lower surface of the substrate and the upper surface of the inclined surface, The wheelchair fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is configured to sink under pressure from the weight of the wheelchair placed on it due to the action of the spring, and returns to its original position due to the restoring force of the spring when the wheelchair moves off the substrate.

3. The wheelchair is further provided with a locking mechanism for securing it to the substrate, The wheelchair locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a stopper that restricts the movement of the wheels by being inserted between the rims of the wheelchair wheels, and a lever that is operated by the user to activate the stopper.

4. The aforementioned wheelchair securing device is installed in the vehicle. The locking mechanism includes a detection device for detecting the operating state of the stopper. The wheelchair securing device according to claim 3, wherein when the detection device detects that the stopper has been activated and the wheelchair has been secured, it communicates with the vehicle to notify that the wheelchair has been secured.

5. A wheelchair securing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A boarding / alighting guidance device that provides guidance on the use of the wheelchair securing device. A vehicle equipped with, The aforementioned boarding / alighting guidance device, A vehicle equipped with a control unit that, upon detecting a wheelchair user riding in the vehicle, guides the wheelchair user to a parking position for using the wheelchair securing device.

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