Vehicle structure that is easy to get on and off

Abstract

[Solution] A vehicle structure (1) includes a front seat (3) for a driver (G) and a rear seat (4) for a passenger (P) that are aligned with each other. The front seat (3) is slidable and / or tiltable between a rear position where it is firmly fixed to a frame (14) of the rear seat (4) by releasable locking devices (18, 19), and a forward position where a gap is formed between the front seat (3) and the rear seat (4), making it easy for the passenger (P) to get in and out.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure including a front seat for a driver and one rear seat for a passenger, which are arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a structure thus made, in which the front seat is slidable along a guide between a rear position and a front position.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, a large number of four-wheel vehicles that are not classified as automobiles or four-wheel automobiles are commercially available. Such vehicles usually include a seat portion similar to that of a motorcycle, for example, a frame having one saddle arranged for two passengers to sit on, and are provided with four wheels to give the vehicle the comfort and stability of a motorcycle while maintaining the maneuverability and low weight of a motorcycle.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] A common drawback of such vehicles arises from the conventional saddle-shaped seat portion, especially when the driver is already sitting on the saddle or when a rigid frame roof or object holder trunk is equipped on the vehicle. In particular, it is quite difficult for passengers to get on and off the vehicle. Furthermore, since there is probably no backrest with a safety belt in both seat portions, the comfort of the passengers is reduced, the passengers are forced to use helmets, and the risk of injury to the passengers in case of an accident is increased.

[0004] The vehicle currently available on the market that has a motorcycle chassis and an automobile seat part is the BMW C1. Such a vehicle comes with two different configurations. The first one provides a seat part without a covering that protrudes outside the roof frame and is designed as a support for the object holder trunk. The second one provides a rear extension of the saddle-like seat, but it has the drawback that it is quite difficult for a passenger to get on and off because they have to lift one foot and cross such an extension before they can sit down.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a vehicle that has the typical characteristics of an automobile and the comfort, safety, and ease of getting on and off typical of an automobile for passengers.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. To achieve such an object, the present invention relates to a vehicle structure of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1, which is provided with a front seat that can slide along a guide. Its main features are that in the rear position, the front seat is in contact with the frame of the rear seat. For example, in the forward position of the seat, the front seat is firmly fixed to the rear seat by a releasable locking device, and an access space is formed between the front seat and the frame of the rear seat to facilitate the getting on and off of passengers.

[0007] Thanks to this solution, it is possible to provide a vehicle that has the advantages obtained from the comfort and safety of an automobile-type seat while maintaining the typical maneuverability and low weight characteristics of a motorcycle or a scooter.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the front seat can also be tilted with respect to the transverse axis between the rear driving position and the front position of the vehicle to facilitate the getting on and off of passengers.

[0009] According to the present invention, the front seat preferably comprises at least one bracket protruding from the frame of the front seat, and the bracket is hingedly attached to or removed from at least one corresponding pin integrally coupled to the central frame portion, enabling the aforementioned rotation of the front seat.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rear seat is equipped with a safety belt, and in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the locking device is configured to transmit the tensile load generated in the safety belt to the frame of the rear seat.

[0011] According to the present invention, the aforementioned releasable locking device preferably comprises at least one pin integrally coupled to the frame of the rear seat and at least one corresponding hole integrally coupled to the frame of the front seat and provided with an element for locking or releasing the pin. This locking device can be released by a lever arranged to actuate the locking element of the hole to release the pin.

[0012] According to the present invention, the aforementioned front seat guide comprises an intermediate frame including a pair of side sleeves and a central sleeve that can slide the front seat by means of a linear electric actuator. Thereby, the distance between the front seat and the rear seat can be adjusted. Even such an electric actuator can be conveniently operated using an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a tablet. Thanks to this solution, it is possible to adjust the position of the front seat as a function of the driver's height while maintaining the safety typical of the vehicle structure according to the present invention and the ease of getting in and out of the vehicle for the passengers. Furthermore, this enables storing a customized driving position or customizing it with a shared application.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the releasable locking device comprises an electronic lock with an electromagnet that can be operated using an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a tablet.

[0014] In another embodiment according to the present invention, the electronic lock, fork, sleeve, linear actuator, and intermediate frame are included in one device integrally coupled to the front seat frame.

[0015] The vehicle structure according to the present invention may include two, three, or four wheels. The three-wheel configuration may provide a pair of steerable front wheels or a pair of driven rear wheels. The vehicle may be driven by at least one electric, internal combustion, or hybrid engine. The electric engine can be attached to the wheels of the vehicle.

[0016] In one embodiment, the vehicle structure includes a roof supported by a frame with at least a pair of side airbags arranged to protect the driver and passengers during a side impact. Further, the vehicle structure according to the present invention includes at least one of a further front airbag arranged on the backrest of the front seat to protect the passengers during a frontal impact and at least one front airbag carried by the front frame portion, or by the handlebar, or by minimal side components, to protect the driver during a frontal impact.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the structure includes, for example, a front video camera installed at the front of the frame and a monitor or TFT (thin film transistor) supported by the backrest of the front seat. The video camera image is projected onto the monitor in real time, and the passengers can view the route.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the central frame portion includes a pair of upper cross pieces that support guides or devices for adjusting and tilting the front seat, a pair of lower cross pieces, and a plurality of uprights that connect those pairs of cross pieces, and forms a structure for accommodating a battery therein if necessary. The rear seat frame includes a pair of upper cross pieces that support the seat portion of the passenger seat, a plurality of uprights that connect the pair of cross pieces to the central frame portion, and a support that horizontally connects the pair of cross pieces to each other and supports at least one pin.

[0019] In a further embodiment, at the front position of the front seat, the space formed between the front seat and the rear seat frame extends downward and rearward to the aforementioned upper cross piece that supports a guide or device for adjusting and tilting the front seat.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the vehicle structure according to the present invention has a flexible storage compartment that is variable from a first closed configuration housed either behind the backrest of the rear seat or inside the external trunk, to a second open operating configuration where the compartment is placed on the seat portion of the rear seat or protrudes rearward from the rear portion of the frame.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the battery can be removed from a structure configured to accommodate the battery so that it can slide rearward between the rear wheels for replacement.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided as non-limiting examples.

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a vehicle structure 1 according to the present invention, which includes a four-wheel motorcycle-type frame 2 having four wheels Ra, Rp and a vertical axis A, one front seat 3 for a driver G, and one rear seat 4 for one passenger P arranged in a row along such a vertical axis A.

[0024] Thus, the vehicle 1 is generally of a conventional type, and only the essential components and those components explicitly referred to in the present invention are described.

[0025] The front frame portion 2a carries a pair of front wheels Ra, tilts in a conventional manner that enables the vehicle 1 to tilt like a motorcycle, and is steered by a conventional handlebar M. The rear frame portion 2b also carries a pair of rear wheels Rp and tilts in a conventional manner.

[0026] As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the central frame portion 2c includes a pair of upper cross pieces 5 that support the guide 6 of the front seat 3, a pair of lower cross pieces 7, and three pairs of uprights 8 that connect the pair of cross pieces 5 and 7, which together form a box-like structure for accommodating the battery B as required.

[0027] Although not shown as it is known to those skilled in the art, the vehicle 1 includes a frame 21 for a roof 22 in a conventional manner and is operated by an electric engine disposed in a suitable housing F provided between the rear wheels Rp.

[0028] Here, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the front seat 3 includes a frame 9 that supports an automobile-type station having a seat portion 11, a backrest 12, and a pair of safety belts 13 having four points for fixing to the frame 9. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 5, the front seat 3 further includes a rear attachment 17 protruding from the seat portion 11, and on it, a pair of holes 18 are provided, each having a releasable locking element 10 provided thereon as described later.

[0029] As will be described later, as well shown in Fig. 5, the rear seat 4 includes a frame 14 including a pair of upper cross pieces 15 that carry the seat portion 20, two pairs of uprights 16 that connect the pair of cross pieces 15 to the central frame portion 2c, and a support 23 that horizontally connects the pair of cross pieces 15 to each other and supports a pair of pins 19. The rear seat 4 also includes a backrest 31 and a four-point connection safety belt 30 carried by the rear portion of the frame 21.

[0030] The front seat 3 is installed on a guide 6 carried by the central frame portion 2c so as to be movable between the rear position shown in Fig. 4 and the front position shown in Fig. 5.

[0031] More specifically, referring to Fig. 6, the front seat 3 is shown in a rear position corresponding to the driving configuration of the vehicle 1. At this time, the attachment 17 of the front seat 3 is in contact with the frame 14 of the rear seat 4, and the pin 19 supported by the cross piece 15 of the rear seat 4 engages with the corresponding hole 18 of the rear attachment 17 of the front seat 3, and they are held there by the locking element 10.

[0032] In this configuration, the frame 9 of the front seat 3 and the frame 14 of the rear seat 4 are firmly fixed as if they were one frame. At the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle 1, the tensile load generated in the safety belt 13 of the front seat 3 due to the inertia of the driver G is transmitted to the frame 14 of the rear seat 4, which has a particular advantage in ensuring the safety of the driver G.

[0033] Fig. 7 shows that the front seat 3 is in a front position corresponding to the configuration for the boarding and alighting of the passenger P on the rear seat 4. When the front seat 3 is in such a front position, a space 24 without obstacles is formed between the front seat 3 and the rear seat 4, and there is no need to overcome obstacles with the legs until one can sit on the rear seat 4, facilitating the boarding and alighting of the passenger P.

[0034] Thanks to this solution, the vehicle 1 according to the invention, while having a pair of seats with the typical backrests of a motor vehicle, in particular provides convenience in getting on and off for the passengers P, and reveals the advantages of a motor vehicle such as the maneuverability provided by the characteristics of a motorcycle chassis.

[0035] With reference to the rear position of the front seat 3 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a detailed description of a first embodiment of a releasable locking device according to the invention, comprising pins 19 and holes 18, will be given below. Each pin 19 comprises a stem extending from a support 23 of the rear seat 4 and terminating in a conical head 24. In the driving position of the front seat 3, the conical head 24 of each stem is engaged by a locking element 10 of a corresponding hole 18 provided in an attachment 17 of the front seat 3. The locking element 10 of each hole 18 can be released by each cable 25 of a flexible transmission actuated by a lever 26 pivoting with respect to the frame 2.

[0036] Based on the above, the operating state of the vehicle 1, that is, the procedure from the state where the rear seat 4 is in the rear configuration until the passenger P sits on the rear seat 4, will be described below.

[0037] First, it is necessary to release the pins 19 from the respective holes 18 using the lever 26, enabling the seat 3 to slide on the guide 6 until it reaches its forward position. The access space 24 secured by the forward movement of the seat allows the passenger P to easily sit on the rear seat 4 without encountering obstacles with their legs.

[0038] Next, the seat 3 must be slid on the guide 6 and the pins 19 engaged and locked in the respective holes 18 to return the seat 3 to the rear configuration.

[0039] The same procedure can be repeated so that the passenger P can get off the vehicle 1.

[0040] The differences between the modified example of the present invention shown in FIG. 10 and the embodiment of FIG. 4 are that the frame 21 of the roof 22 is provided with three pairs of side airbags 27 arranged to protect the driver G and the passenger P during a side collision, and that in order to protect the passenger P during a frontal collision, a front airbag 29 carried by the backrest 12 of the front seat 3 is provided. Further, FIG. 11 shows another front airbag 41 carried by the front frame portion 2a and protecting the driver G in the case of a frontal collision or with minimal side components (lateral components).

[0041] Furthermore, in the modified example of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, a front video camera 28 is provided which is installed at the front part of the frame 2 and arranged to send images in real time to a monitor 32 carried by the backrest 12 of the front seat 3. Thereby, the passenger P can see the road in front of the vehicle 1 and can minimize the discomfort that may occur during movement.

[0042] FIGS. 11 to 15 show a second embodiment of the vehicle structure 1 according to the present invention, and parts that are the same as or similar to those already described are shown using the same reference numerals.

[0043] As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 12 and 3, the central frame portion 2c includes a pair of upper cross pieces 5 that support respective supports 43 for a device 40 for driving, adjusting, and tilting the front seat 3, a pair of lower cross pieces 7, and three pairs of uprights 8 that connect the pair of cross pieces 5, 7, and forms a box-like structure for accommodating the battery B with them as necessary.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 14, a detailed description of an apparatus 40 for driving, adjusting, and rotating the front seat 3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The apparatus 40 consists of an elongated body including at its end a conventional electronic lock 36 arranged to engage at least one pin 19 integrally coupled to the frame 14 of the rear seat 4 in the driving position of the vehicle 1. Such an electronic lock 36 can be conveniently actuated by using an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a tablet to unlock the front seat.

[0045] The apparatus 40 further includes, at the end of the apparatus 40 opposite the lock, an intermediate frame 42 for supporting the front portion of the seat portion 11 of the front seat 3. The intermediate frame 42 includes a pair of side sleeves 37 and a central sleeve 44 arranged to adjust the distance between the front seat and the rear seat 4 as a function of the driver's height by a linear electric actuator 39. The intermediate frame 42 is connected rearwardly to a fork 38 protruding from the lock 36. The linear electric actuator 39 can be conveniently actuated by using an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a tablet. As best shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the apparatus 40 further includes a pair of brackets 34 hinged by a pair of pins 35 protruding from the intermediate frame 42 and integrally joined to respective supports 43. Thus, referring to FIG. 13, the front seat 3 can be tilted with respect to the transverse axis T (shown in FIG. 13) in a configuration for the passenger P to get on and off the rear seat 4. When the front seat 3 is in such a tilted position, a space 24 without obstacles is formed between the front seat 3 and the rear seat 4, facilitating the passenger P to get on and off and not forcing the passenger P to step over an obstacle with the legs before sitting on the rear seat 4.

[0046] Based on the foregoing second embodiment of the vehicle structure 1 according to the present invention, the procedure from the operating state of the vehicle, i.e., starting from the state where the rear seat 4 is in the driving configuration, until the passenger P can sit on the rear seat will be described below.

[0047] First, it is necessary to unlock the electronic lock 36, for example, by means of a mobile phone, so that the seat 3 can rotate relative to the pin 35 until it reaches its inclined position. The access space 24 secured by the rotation of the seat allows the passenger P to easily sit on the rear seat 4 without encountering obstacles for the legs. Next, the seat 3 must be returned to the driving configuration by engaging and locking the pin 19 using the electronic lock 36. By repeating the same procedure, the passenger P can get out of the vehicle 1.

[0048] In a further embodiment according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 15, at least one of the batteries B can be removed from the structures 5, 7 configured to accommodate the battery B so that it can slide rearward between the rear wheels for replacement. In particular, when the vehicle structure according to the invention comprises a pair of rear drive wheels Rp, the dimensions at the rear of the mechanism are minimized and can be slid through like a drawer when replacing the battery B, so that charging does not take time and the vehicle can be restarted quickly as needed.

[0049] In a further embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the vehicle structure includes two variants of a storage compartment 45 suitable for increasing the volume for transporting articles, provided by a container made of fiber 45 as a non-limiting example.

[0050] In the first variant shown in FIG. 16, the compartment 45 can be converted from a first closed configuration where it is stored behind the backrest 31 of the rear seat 4 to a second open operating configuration where the compartment 45 is placed on the seat portion 20 of the rear seat 4. In particular, the compartment 45 is arranged behind the backrest 31 of the rear seat 4 and fixed to the frame 15 located behind it, and can be opened by folding the backrest 31 during use and fixed to the upper part of the backrest 12 of the front seat 3, so that the trunk capacity is increased.

[0051] In the second modification shown in FIG. 17, the compartment 45 can be converted from a first closed configuration in which it is housed in the external trunk to a second open operating configuration in which the compartment 45 projects rearward from the rear portion 46 of the frame 21. In particular, the compartment 45 is disposed inside the lid of the external trunk and is fixed to the frame located behind it, and during use, since it opens using the opening of the same lid, the load-bearing capacity increases.

[0052] Obviously, the details and embodiments of the structure may be widely changed with respect to those described and illustrated without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the following claims. Thus, for example, the overall configuration of the frame of the vehicle 1 may be different from that shown in the drawings.

Claims

1. A frame (2) having a vertical axis (A), a front frame portion (2a) carrying at least one front wheel (Ra) steered by a handlebar (M), a rear frame portion (2b) carrying at least one rear wheel (Rp), and a central frame portion (2c) carrying a guide mechanism (6, 40) extending parallel to the vertical axis (A). One front seat (3) for a driver (G) and one rear seat (4) for a passenger (P) arranged in a line along the vertical axis (A), wherein the front seat (3) is slidable along the guide mechanism (6, 40) between a rear position and a front position, and each of the front seat (3) and the rear seat (4) comprises a frame (9, 14), a seat portion (11, 20), and a backrest (12, 31). One front seat (3) for a driver (G) and one rear seat (4) for a passenger (P). Comprising In the rear position, the front seat (3) contacts the frame (14) of the rear seat (4) and is firmly fixed to the frame (14) by a releasable locking device (18, 19). In the front position, a space (24) is formed between the front seat (3) and the frame (14) of the rear seat (4) to facilitate boarding and alighting of the passenger (P). A vehicle structure (1).

2. The front seat (3) is further tiltable with respect to the transverse axis (T) between a rear driving position and a front position of the vehicle structure to facilitate boarding and alighting of the passenger (P). The vehicle structure (1) according to claim 1.

3. The front seat comprises at least one bracket (34) protruding from the frame (9) of the front seat (3). The at least one bracket (34) is connected to or released from at least one corresponding pin (35) integrally joined to the central frame portion (2c). The vehicle structure (1) according to claim 2.

4. A safety belt (13) is provided on the front seat (3). During a frontal collision of the vehicle structure (1), the locking device (18, 19) transmits the tensile load generated in the safety belt (13) to the frame (14) of the rear seat (4). The vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The releasable locking device is at least one pin (19) integrally joined to the frame (14) of the rear seat (4), and at least one corresponding hole (18) provided in an appendage (17) protruding from the front seat (3) and having a locking element (10) for locking or releasing the pin (19). The vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4. **Claim 6** The locking device (18, 19) is released by a lever (26) arranged to operate the locking element (10) to release the pin (19). The vehicle structure (1) according to claim 5. **Claim 7** The releasable locking device comprises an electronic lock (36) operable using an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a tablet. The vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. **Claim 8** The guide mechanism (40) includes an intermediate frame (42) having a pair of side sleeves (37) and a central sleeve (44) that slide the front seat (3) by a linear electric actuator (39) to adjust the distance between the front seat (3) and the rear seat (4), and a fork (38). The intermediate frame (42) is connected to the fork (38) carried by the frame (9) of the front seat (3). The linear electric actuator (39) is operable by an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a tablet. The vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. **Claim 9** The electronic lock (36), the fork (38), the side sleeve (37), the central sleeve (44), the linear electric actuator (39), and the intermediate frame (42) are included in one device (40) constituting the guide mechanism integrally joined to the frame (9) of the front seat (3). The vehicle structure (1) according to claim 8. **Claim 10** The vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising two, three, or four wheels (Ra, Rp). **Claim 11** The vehicle structure (1) is driven by at least one electric engine, internal combustion engine, or hybrid engine. The vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10. **Claim 12** comprising a frame (21) for the roof (22), The frame (21) is provided with at least one pair of side airbags (27) arranged to protect the driver (G) and the passenger (P) during a side collision, and the vehicle structure (1) is provided with at least one front airbag (29) carried by the backrest (12) of the front seat (3) to protect the passenger (P) during a frontal collision, or at least one front airbag (41) carried by the front frame portion (2a) or by the handlebar (M) to protect the driver (G) during a frontal collision, and the vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising at least one of the above.

13. a front video camera (28), and a monitor (32) or a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) supported by the backrest (12) of the front seat (3), and further comprising the vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein an image of the front video camera (28) is transmitted onto the monitor (32) in real time so that the passenger (P) can visually recognize the route.

14. the central frame portion (2c) is provided with a pair of upper cross pieces (5) supporting the guide mechanism (6) or the guide mechanism (40) of the front seat (3), a pair of lower cross pieces (7), and a plurality of uprights (8) connecting the pair of upper cross pieces (5) and the pair of lower cross pieces (7), and forms a structure for accommodating the battery (B) as required, the vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. the frame (14) of the rear seat (4) is provided with a pair of upper cross pieces (15) supporting the seat portion (20) of the rear seat (4), a plurality of uprights (16) connecting the pair of upper cross pieces (15) to the central frame portion (2c), and a support (23) horizontally connecting the pair of upper cross pieces (15) to each other and supporting at least one pin (19) constituting the locking device, the vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. At the front position of the front seat (3), the space (24) formed between the front seat (3) and the frame (14) of the rear seat (4) is an upper cross piece (5) that supports the guide mechanism (6), or a vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 that extends downward and rearward to the guide mechanism (40) of the front seat (3).

17. Comprising a flexible storage compartment (45), The storage compartment (45) is variable from a first closed configuration housed behind the backrest (31) of the rear seat (4) or in an external trunk, to a second open operating configuration placed on the seat portion (20) of the rear seat (4) or protruding rearward from the rear portion (46) of the frame (21), of the vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. Comprising an upper cross piece (5), a lower cross piece (7), and a battery (B), The battery (B) is removable from the upper cross piece (5) and the lower cross piece (7) arranged to accommodate the battery (B) so as to slide rearward between the rear wheels (Rp) for replacement, of the vehicle structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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