vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle capable of effectively supporting lower limbs of an occupant.SOLUTION: A vehicle 1 has a vehicle body frame 3 constituting a skeleton, an outer shell 11 for covering the vehicle body frame from the front, a wheel 5 for supporting vehicle body frame movably, and a seat 9 provided on an upper part of the vehicle body frame, and constituting a seating face 9A where an occupant is seated. The front end of the seat extends forward beyond the upper end of the front face of the outer shell.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, efforts to provide access to sustainable transport systems that take into consideration vulnerable people among transport participants have been gaining momentum. For example, research and development efforts are being actively conducted to realize vehicles that are accessible and convenient for vulnerable people.

[0003] A single-person mobility device that can be used by people with disabilities and that can travel on rough roads without switching operations is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The mobility device in Patent Document 1 comprises left and right front wheels and left and right rear wheels that are omnidirectional wheels, a body that rotatably supports the front and rear wheels, a seat, a motor, and crawlers. A plate-shaped footrest is provided at the front of the seat for the user to place their feet on. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-285087 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Meanwhile, a sustainable transportation system that also takes vulnerable people into consideration requires vehicles that can accommodate each individual passenger. Specifically, for example, people with disabilities in their lower limbs may need vehicles that can support their lower limbs. The transportation device described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a footrest for placing feet, but is unable to support the entire lower limbs of the passenger.

[0006] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle that can effectively support the lower limbs of a passenger, thereby contributing to the development of a sustainable transportation system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a vehicle (1) having a body frame (3) that forms a skeleton, an outer shell (11) that covers the body frame from the front, wheels (5) that movably support the body frame, and a seat (9) that is provided on the upper part of the body frame and forms a seating surface (9A) on which a passenger sits, and the front end of the seat extends forward beyond the upper end of the front surface of the outer shell.

[0008] According to this aspect, the front end of the seat is configured to extend forward beyond the upper end of the front surface of the outer shell, thereby providing stable support for the backs of the knees of the occupant's lower legs.

[0009] In the above aspect, preferably, a storage member (69) capable of storing articles is provided on the front surface of the outer shell.

[0010] According to this aspect, the space below the front end of the seat can be effectively utilized.

[0011] In the above aspect, preferably, the upper end of the front surface of the storage member is located at the same position as or rearward of the front end of the lower surface of the seat in the front-rear direction.

[0012] According to this aspect, the storage member makes it difficult for the occupant's calves to be pushed out, thereby improving the comfort of the vehicle.

[0013] In the above aspect, the front surface of the storage member is preferably flush with the front surface of the seat.

[0014] According to this aspect, the calves of the passenger can be well supported.

[0015] In the above aspect, preferably, the storage member has a constant front-to-rear width from the top end to the bottom end.

[0016] According to this aspect, the front surface of the storage member is parallel to the front surface of the outer shell, so that even when the storage member is provided, the calves can be well supported.

[0017] In the above aspect, preferably, the left-right width of the front surface of the storage member at the upper end is the same as the left-right width of the lower edge of the front surface of the seat.

[0018] According to this aspect, an area capable of adequately supporting the calves of the passenger can be secured on the front surface of the storage member.

[0019] In the above aspect, preferably, a restraining member (67) for restraining the calves of the occupant is provided, and at least a portion of the restraining member is storable between the storage member and the front surface of the outer shell.

[0020] According to this aspect, the restraining member can be stored when not in use. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the above configuration, a vehicle can be provided that can effectively support the lower legs of the passenger. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] Left side view of the vehicle [Figure 2] Left side view of the vehicle with the seat in the low position and the rear shell removed [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of a vehicle viewed from the front with the seat in the low position and the rear shell removed [Figure 4] Left-right cross-sectional view of the drive unit and drive wheels [Figure 5] Left side view of the vehicle with the seat in the high position and the rear shell removed [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a seat frame, a first leg, and a second leg; [Figure 7] Vehicle floor plan [Figure 8] Front view of the vehicle [Figure 9] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a state in which the rear end of the operating lever is removed from the outer shell, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state in which the through-hole is sealed by a sealing member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a vehicle according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the vehicle is configured as an inverted pendulum vehicle.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is a vehicle for one person that can be seated and ridden, and corresponds to a so-called electric wheelchair.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the vehicle 1 has a body frame 3, drive wheels 5 mounted on the body frame 3, a drive unit 7 that drives the drive wheels 5, one seat 9 mounted on the body frame 3, and an outer shell 11 (see Figure 1) that covers the drive wheels 5 and the drive unit 7. The body frame 3 and the outer shell 11 form a body 12 of the vehicle 1.

[0026] For the sake of convenience, the following description will be given by defining front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions based on the front of the vehicle 1 (specifically, the front of the passenger seated in the seat 9).

[0027] The body frame 3 forms the skeleton of the vehicle 1. As shown in the schematic diagram of Figure 3, the body frame 3 has a lower frame 3A extending in the left-right direction and an upper frame 3B connected to the upper part of the lower frame 3A. The upper frame 3B has a lower central frame 3C extending in the up-down direction. The lower part of the central frame 3C is connected to the lower frame 3A so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction.

[0028] The body frame 3 is provided with an inclination angle sensor 13. The inclination angle sensor 13 detects the inclination angle of the body frame 3. The inclination angle sensor 13 may be configured with one or more MEMS sensors that detect the inclination angles of the upper frame 3B and the lower frame 3A, respectively, using the direction of gravitational acceleration, for example. The inclination angle sensor 13 outputs the detected inclination angle to the drive unit 7.

[0029] The drive wheels 5 are wheels provided on the body 12, and support the body 12 so that it can move along the floor surface. The drive wheels 5 are configured as omnidirectional wheels that can move the body 12 in all directions, including forward / backward and left / right, along the floor surface. In this embodiment, the drive wheels 5 are configured as omniwheels. The drive wheels 5 may also be configured as caster wheels or the like.

[0030] 2, the drive unit 7 drives and controls the drive wheels 5. The drive unit 7 includes a drive source 15 that drives the drive wheels 5, a control device 17 that controls the drive of the drive source 15, and a battery (not shown) that supplies power to the drive source 15 and the control device 17.

[0031] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, two drive wheels 5 are provided on the left and right sides of a lower frame 3A of the vehicle 1. A pair of drive units 7, one on each side, for driving the respective drive wheels 5, is also provided on the left and right sides of the lower frame 3A.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, the drive unit 7 includes, in addition to the drive source 15, a pair of drive disks 21 rotatably supported on the lower frame 3A, and a plurality of drive rollers 23 rotatably supported on each of the drive disks 21. The drive source 15 is equipped with a pair of actuators 25 (see also Figure 2) that independently rotate the pair of drive disks 21. The pair of drive disks 21 are arranged coaxially with each other, and their rotation axes extend in the left-right direction. The plurality of drive rollers 23 are arranged circumferentially at intervals on the outer periphery of the drive disk 21, and are each supported rotatably about an axis that is inclined relative to the circumferential direction of the drive disk 21.

[0033] 2, each of the actuators 25 includes an electric motor 27 and a transmission mechanism 29 (see also FIG. 4) that transmits the rotational force of the electric motor 27 to the corresponding drive disk 21. The transmission mechanism 29 may be, for example, a belt transmission mechanism. The electric motor 27 may be disposed above the drive disk 21.

[0034] 2 and 4, the drive wheel 5 is annular and is disposed coaxially with the pair of drive discs 21. The drive wheel 5 contacts a plurality of drive rollers 23 and rotates around the central axis and the annular axis by the drive of the drive rollers 23. Therefore, the drive unit 7 constitutes a device that transmits power by utilizing the frictional force caused by contact with the drive wheel 5, i.e., a friction drive device.

[0035] In this embodiment, the drive wheel 5 has an annular core body 31 and a plurality of driven rollers 33 rotatably supported by the core body 31. Each of the driven rollers 33 is supported by the core body 31 so as to be rotatable about the axis of the annular core body 31. Each of the driven rollers 33 abuts against a drive roller 23, receives a load from the drive disk 21, and rotates relative to the core body 31.

[0036] The battery is supported by the vehicle body frame 3. In this embodiment, the battery is supported at the rear of the lower frame 3A. The battery may be a known lithium ion battery.

[0037] The control device 17 is configured with one or more electronic control units (ECUs) including a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), and memories such as a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The control device 17 performs various controls by having the processor execute arithmetic processing according to a program. The control device 17 may be configured as a single piece of hardware, or as a unit consisting of multiple pieces of hardware. At least some of the functions of the control device 17 may be realized by hardware such as an LSI, an ASIC, or an FPGA, or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The control device 17 is supported inside or at the rear of the lower frame 3A. The control device 17 is connected to the inclination angle sensor 13 and is configured to be able to acquire the inclination angle detected by the inclination angle sensor 13.

[0038] The control device 17 can independently control the left and right electric motors 27. When the control device 17 (more specifically, the processor of the control device 17) controls the left and right electric motors 27 so that the corresponding drive disks 21 rotate at the same rotational speed and in the same direction, the left and right drive wheels 5 rotate in the same direction at the same rotational speed as the drive disks 21. This generates a propulsive force in the front-to-rear direction relative to the floor surface in the vehicle 1, causing the vehicle 1 to move in the front-to-rear direction.

[0039] When the left and right electric motors 27 rotate the corresponding drive disks 21 in different directions or at different rotational speeds, the driven rollers 33 of the drive wheels 5 rotate relative to the core body 31. Independent driving of the left and right electric motors 27 by the control device 17 generates propulsive forces in the left and right directions relative to the floor surface in the vehicle 1. This allows the vehicle 1 to move in all directions, including forward, backward, left and right, relative to the floor surface.

[0040] In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 further includes a lifting device 35 for raising and lowering the seat 9 between a low position (see FIG. 2) and a high position (see FIG. 5) that is higher than the low position.

[0041] 2, the lifting device 35 is coupled to the upper frame 3B of the body frame 3 and the seat 9. The lifting device 35 extends and contracts in the vertical direction, thereby displacing the seat 9 up and down relative to the upper frame 3B of the body frame 3.

[0042] The lifting device 35 may have, for example, a base supported by the upper frame 3B, a movable body mounted on the base so as to be movable up and down and connected to the seat 9, a ball screw mechanism for moving the movable body relative to the base, and an electric motor for driving the ball screw mechanism.

[0043] Alternatively, the lifting device 35 may be a rack-and-pinion mechanism driven by an electric motor, a linear motor, or an air cylinder that expands and contracts using compressed air from a compressor.

[0044] 2 and 5, the high position of the seat 9 may be located vertically above the low position of the seat 9. In other embodiments, the high position of the seat 9 may be offset laterally from the low position of the seat 9.

[0045] 1 and 3, the seat 9 forms a surface on which a passenger sits, i.e., a seat surface 9A. In this embodiment, the seat 9 includes a seat cushion 9B that forms the seat surface 9A, a seat back 9C that is provided at the rear end of the seat cushion 9B and functions as a backrest, and an armrest 9D that connects the seat cushion 9B and the seat back 9C and functions as an armrest.

[0046] 2 and 3, the seat 9 has a seat frame 39 supported by the lifting device 35 and a pad 41 supported on the upper part of the seat frame 39. The upper surface of the seat 9 forms a seating surface 9A. A passenger can sit on the pad 41 from above.

[0047] 6, the seat frame 39 is formed in a rectangular frame shape in a plan view. The seat frame 39 is connected to the upper end of the lifting device 35. The seat frame 39 supports the pad 41 from below.

[0048] As shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, in this embodiment, at least one support member 43 extending downward is provided on the seat frame 39. A pair of left and right footrests 45 are connected to the extending ends of the support member 43. Each footrest 45 supports the soles of the passenger's feet. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the support member 43 and the footrest 45 are preferably spaced apart from the floor regardless of the position of the seat 9.

[0049] 2, the vehicle 1 includes at least one first leg 49 for allowing the vehicle 1 to move relative to the floor surface when the seat 9 is in a low position, and at least one second leg 51 for fixing the vehicle 1 to the floor surface. In this embodiment, both the first leg 49 and the second leg 51 are coupled to the seat frame 39 and supported by the body frame 3 via the lifting device 35.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 6 , each of the first legs 49 extends downward from the seat frame 39. Each of the first legs 49 has a roller 53 at its lower end. Each of the second legs 51 extends downward from the seat frame 39. Each of the second legs 51 has a contact member 55 at its lower end. In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 has four first legs 49 and four second legs 51. Each of the first legs 49 is rotatably connected to the seat frame 39 at its upper end. Each of the first legs 49 has a similar configuration to one another, and each of the second legs 51 has a similar configuration to one another.

[0051] The rollers 53 are rotatably supported at the lower ends of the first legs 49. The rollers 53 may be casters whose rotation axis rotates around a vertical axis relative to the first legs 49. In another embodiment, balls may be supported at the lower ends of the first legs 49 instead of the rollers 53. When the seat 9 is in a low position, the first legs 49 are each pressed against the floor surface, rotate at their upper ends, and are preferably positioned laterally away from the body frame 3.

[0052] The second leg 51 is extendable in the vertical direction and is biased in the extension direction. The abutting member 55 has a higher coefficient of friction than the second leg 51. The abutting member 55 may be made of, for example, rubber or elastomer. The abutting member 55 may have higher flexibility than the second leg 51.

[0053] The vehicle 1 is equipped with an input device 59 that accepts input from a passenger related to operation of the vehicle 1, i.e., an operation input. When the passenger operates the input device 59 while the seat 9 is in the low position, the second leg 51 retracts and retracts. As a result, the second leg 51 is displaced between an extended position where the abutment member 55 abuts the floor surface and a retracted position where the abutment member 55 is separated from the floor surface. Additionally, the control device 17 may be configured to accept an operation input from the input device 59 to displace the seat 9 between the low position and the high position when the second leg 51 is in the retracted state.

[0054] 5, when the seat 9 is in the high position, the rollers 53 and the contact members 55 are both spaced apart from the floor. At this time, the control device 17 (more specifically, the processor) executes a predetermined program to control the drive of the drive source 15 (inverted pendulum control) based on the tilt angle detected by the tilt angle sensor 13, thereby maintaining the body frame 3 in an inverted state. As a result, the passenger, while seated on the seat 9, can move the passenger's center of gravity, thereby moving the vehicle 1 forward, backward, left, and right relative to the floor.

[0055] 2, when the seat 9 is in the low position and the second leg 51 is in the extended position, the frictional force between the abutment member 55 and the floor surface keeps (locks) the vehicle 1 in a stopped state (parked state) where it cannot move relative to the floor surface. In other words, the second leg 51 functions as a locking device that restricts the movement of the vehicle 1 by the rollers 53 and keeps the vehicle 1 in a parked state where it cannot move.

[0056] When the seat 9 is in the low position and the second leg 51 is in the retracted position, the roller 53 of the first leg 49 abuts the floor surface. At this time, the control device 17 (more specifically, the processor) executes a predetermined program based on input to the input device 59 to control the driving of the drive source 15 and move the vehicle 1 forward, backward, left, and right. This allows the passenger to move the vehicle 1 forward, backward, left, and right relative to the floor surface by performing an input operation on the input device 59. In this embodiment, the control device 17 is capable of performing control corresponding to each traveling mode, such as a translation mode in which the vehicle 1 translates relative to the floor surface, and a turning mode in which the vehicle 1 turns.

[0057] 7 and 8, the vehicle 1 may be provided with a notification device 60 that notifies the passenger of the status of the vehicle 1. The status of the vehicle 1 notified by the notification device 60 may include, for example, the remaining battery charge, the position of the seat 9 (low position, high position), the driving mode of the vehicle 1, etc. In this embodiment, the notification device 60 is provided in front of the right armrest 9D, and notifies the passenger of the status of the vehicle 1 by illuminating a corresponding portion of the front upper surface of the armrest 9D.

[0058] As shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8, the outer shell 11 covers the drive wheels 5, drive unit 7, body frame 3, first leg 49 and second leg 51 from the front, rear, left and right, and forms the outer shell of the vehicle 1. The body frame 3 and the outer shell 11 form a body 12 of the vehicle 1. In other words, the body 12 includes the body frame 3 and the outer shell 11. The drive wheels 5, drive unit 7 and seat 9 are supported by the body 12.

[0059] The outer shell 11 makes it difficult for external loads to be applied to the drive wheels 5, drive unit 7, body frame 3, first leg 49, and second leg 51. This protects the drive wheels 5, drive unit 7, body frame 3, first leg 49, and second leg 51.

[0060] In this embodiment, the outer shell 11 has a rear shell 61 that covers the drive wheels 5, drive unit 7, body frame 3, first leg 49, and second leg 51 from the left and right outer sides and rear, and a front shell 63 that covers the drive wheels 5, drive unit 7, body frame 3, first leg 49, and second leg 51 from the front. The rear shell 61 forms the outer shells of the left and right and rear parts of the vehicle 1, and the front shell 63 forms the outer shell of the front part of the vehicle 1.

[0061] In this embodiment, the outer shell 11 is joined at its upper edge to the seat frame 39. When the seat 9 moves up or down, the outer shell 11 moves up or down together with the seat 9.

[0062] As shown in Figure 7, the outer shell 11 is provided with restraint sections 65 for restraining the legs of the occupant. The restraint sections 65 include a pair of left and right knee belts 67. The knee belts 67 are strip-shaped members made of cloth and function as restraint members for securing the legs of the occupant to the front part of the vehicle 1. In this embodiment, one end of the knee belts 67 is fixed to the left and right ends of the front surface of the rear shell 61, respectively.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 2, the front shell 63 is provided below the seat 9 with a front surface 63A that faces forward and extends substantially in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 may be inclined diagonally forward and downward. Alternatively, the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 may be inclined diagonally forward and downward and may also be gently curved so as to protrude forward in a side view. The front surface 63A of the front shell 63 forms a calf support portion that supports the calves of the occupant from behind.

[0064] In this embodiment, the left-right width of the front surface 63A (calf support portion) of the front shell 63 is set to be the same as the left-right width of the seat 9. This allows the calves of a passenger seated on the seat 9 to be effectively supported by the front surface 63A of the front shell 63. However, this is not limiting, and the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 may be set to be slightly larger than the left-right width of the seat 9.

[0065] 2, the upper end of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 abuts against the underside of the front end portion of the seat 9. The front end of the seat 9 extends forward beyond the upper end of the front shell 63. In other words, the seat 9 (more specifically, the seat cushion 9B) has an extension 9F that extends forward beyond the upper end of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63.

[0066] A storage member 69 is provided on the upper part of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63. The storage member 69 is located between the front end of the seat 9 and the upper end of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 (more specifically, in the front-rear direction, between the front edge of the lower surface of the seat 9 and the upper end of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63).

[0067] Next, the input device 59 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 7, the input device 59 includes an operating switch 71 provided on at least one of the left and right sides of the seat 9, a joystick 73, and an operating lever 75 provided on at least one of the left and right sides of the vehicle 1.

[0069] The operation switch 71 receives input from the passenger related to the operation of the vehicle 1, i.e., operation input. Based on the operation input received by the operation switch 71, the control device 17 controls the drive unit 7 and the lifting device 35. The operation switch 71 may be configured as a membrane switch, or may be configured as a button displayed on a touch panel, etc.

[0070] In this embodiment, the input device 59 includes a power switch, a lift switch, and a movement direction switch as operation switches 71. The power switch accepts an input for turning the power of the vehicle 1 on and off. The lift switch accepts an input for raising and lowering the seat 9 to switch the seat 9 between a low position and a high position. The movement direction switch accepts an operation input from the passenger related to the selection of the movement mode of the vehicle (parallel movement mode, rotation mode, etc.).

[0071] The joystick 73 receives operational input from the passenger regarding the direction and amount of movement of the vehicle 1. The joystick 73 may include an operation button for controlling the lifting device 35. In this embodiment, the joystick 73 is provided at the front end of the armrest 9D located on the left side. However, the joystick 73 may also be provided at the armrest 9D located on the right side, or may also be provided at the outer shell 11 (for example, at the front upper edge of the outer shell 11). When the seat 9 is in the low position and the second leg 51 is in the retracted position, the control device 17 controls the drive unit 7 based on the operational input from the joystick 73 to drive the vehicle 1.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the operating lever 75 is rod-shaped. As shown in FIG. 1, the operating lever 75 is provided on the side of the vehicle 1. The operating lever 75 is preferably provided on the left or right side of the vehicle 1. In this embodiment, the operating lever 75 is arranged so as to extend downward toward the front (i.e., extend downward toward the front) on at least one of the left and right sides of the body 12 (specifically, on the left and right sides of the rear shell 61). The operating lever 75 is coupled at its rear to the second leg 51 so as to be rotatable about an axis that passes through the rear and extends left and right. In this embodiment, the operating lever 75 is provided on the left side of the body 12 (specifically, on the left side of the rear shell 61).

[0073] When the seat 9 is in the low position and the second leg 51 is in the extended position, if the passenger lifts the front end of the operating lever 75, the second leg 51 is moved to the retracted position. This moves the abutment member 55 away from the floor surface, allowing the vehicle 1 to travel. On the other hand, when the seat 9 is in the low position and the second leg 51 is in the retracted position, if the passenger presses down the front end of the operating lever 75, the second leg 51 is moved to the retracted position, and the vehicle 1 enters a state in which it cannot move relative to the floor surface (parked state). In other words, the operating lever 75 receives an operation input from the passenger to operate the second leg 51 in order to switch the vehicle 1 (body 12) between a parked state in which it cannot move and a runnable state in which it can move.

[0074] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an input unit 77 is provided at the upper end of the second leg 51 for displacing the second leg 51 between an extended position and a retracted position. As shown in FIG. 9, the input unit 77 includes a hexagonal prism-shaped shaft 79 (rod) that protrudes outward to the left and right of the vehicle 1. The shaft 79 is configured to be rotatable about its axis in the direction of protrusion. The second leg 51 is displaced between the extended position and the retracted position by input to the input unit 77, specifically, by rotation of the shaft 79 about its axis in the direction of protrusion. However, the shape of the shaft 79 is not limited to a hexagonal prism, and may be a square prism or a pentagonal prism, or may be a pillar with a cross-shaped cross section. In this embodiment, the second leg 51 is provided with a known link mechanism 80 for converting the rotational movement of the shaft 79 into extension and retraction movement.

[0075] The rear shell 61 is provided with a through-hole 81 that penetrates in the left-right direction at a position corresponding to (aligned with) the shaft portion 79 at the rear end of the operating lever 75. A connecting portion 83 that protrudes inward in the left-right direction is provided at the rear end of the operating lever 75. The connecting portion 83 is cylindrical, and is provided with receiving recesses 85 that are recessed outward in the left and right directions at its left and right inner ends. The receiving recesses 85 have a cross section (a hexagonal cross section in this embodiment) that aligns with the shaft portion 79.

[0076] When the operating lever 75 is attached to the vehicle 1, the connection portion 83 protrudes through the through-hole 81 of the rear shell 61 and is received in the receiving recess 85. This connects the operating lever 75 to the second leg 51 via the through-hole 81. This allows the operating lever 75 to pass through its rear end and rotate about a pivot X (also referred to as an axis; see FIG. 1) that extends in the left-right direction. At this time, the operating lever 75 does not rotate under its own weight, and may be supported by the second leg 51 so that its posture is maintained. This allows the operating lever 75 to rotate when a passenger applies weight.

[0077] In FIG. 1, the position of the operating lever 75 when the second leg 51 is in the retracted position is shown by a solid line. When the second leg 51 is in the retracted position, the operating lever 75 extends downward and forward. At this time, when the rider lifts the front end of the operating lever 75, the operating lever 75 rotates clockwise on the page in FIG. 1 around its rear end. This rotates the shaft 79, and the second leg 51 is in the retracted position. At this time, the operating lever 75 extends generally in the front-to-rear direction. The rotation range of the operating lever 75 may be set to an angle range from the state in which the operating lever 75 extends downward and forward, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, to the state in which the operating lever 75 rotates clockwise on the page and extends generally in the front-to-rear direction.

[0078] When the rider then presses down on the front end of the operating lever 75, the operating lever 75 rotates counterclockwise on the page of Figure 1 around its rear end, rotating the shaft 79. This causes the second leg 51 to move to the extended position. In Figure 1, the position of the operating lever 75 when the second leg 51 is in the extended position is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0079] As shown in Fig. 1, the front end of the operating lever 75 is set so as not to overlap the drive wheels 5 in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) over the entire range of rotation of the operating lever 75. In other words, the trajectory (see dashed line) of the front end of the operating lever 75 when the second leg 51 is displaced from the extended position to the retracted position is configured so as to avoid the drive wheels 5 in a side view. This increases the safety of the vehicle 1 when operating the operating lever 75. Alternatively, the operating lever 75 may be set so that all portions, including the front and rear ends, do not overlap the drive wheels 5 in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) over the entire range of rotation of the operating lever 75.

[0080] In this embodiment, the connecting portion 83 and the shaft portion 79 are configured to be connectable / separable, and the operating lever 75 is configured to be connectable / separable at its rear end to the second leg 51 (i.e., the locking device). Also, a magnet 89 provided at the front of the operating lever 75 is connectable / separable to the outer shell 11. As a result, the operating lever 75 is configured to be detachable from the vehicle body 12, and the passenger can attach or detach the operating lever 75 to or from the vehicle body 12 as needed.

[0081] The vehicle 1 is provided with a sealing member 87 (cap) for sealing the through-hole 81 after the operating lever 75 is removed. When the operating lever 75 is removed, the sealing member 87 is fitted into the through-hole 81, thereby sealing the through-hole 81 and hiding the shaft 79.

[0082] In this embodiment, the operating lever 75 abuts against the rear shell 61 at its front end. The operating lever 75 has an arch shape that bulges outward to the left and right between its front and rear ends. As a result, when a load is applied to the vehicle 1 from the left or right side, the operating lever 75 resists the load and functions as a bumper that reduces the load transmitted to the body frame 3, the seat 9, the control device 17, etc. By configuring the operating lever 75 to have an arch shape in this way, the vehicle 1 can be protected. Furthermore, by configuring the operating lever 75 to have an arch shape, when the vehicle 1 collides with a person or object located nearby, the load transmitted to the person or object located nearby can be reduced.

[0083] The front end of the operating lever 75 may be configured to be rounded in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, rounded surfaces are provided at left and right outer-side corners 75A of the front end of the operating lever 75. As a result, the left and right outer-side front ends of the operating lever 75 form an arc shape when viewed from above. By rounding the front end of the operating lever 75 in the vehicle width direction in this way, the operating lever 75 is less likely to get caught on people or objects located around the vehicle 1 while the vehicle 1 is traveling. Rounded surfaces may also be provided at left and right outer-side corners 75B of the rear end of the operating lever 75, and the rear end of the operating lever 75 may also be configured to be rounded in the vehicle width direction.

[0084] When the rear shell 61 is made of a magnetic metal thin plate, it is preferable that magnets 89 be provided on the left and right inner surfaces of the operating lever 75 at portions that come into contact with the rear shell 61. Alternatively, when the rear shell 61 is made of a non-magnetic material (for example, plastic), magnets 91 or metal members (metal members) may be provided on the left and right inner surfaces of the rear shell 61 at positions that correspond to the magnets 89 provided on the operating lever 75 so as to attract the magnets 89 provided on the operating lever 75.

[0085] The magnet 89 is attracted to the rear shell 61 (or the magnet 91 provided on the rear shell 61), thereby fixing the operating lever 75 to the rear shell 61. This prevents the operating lever 75 from rotating due to its own weight, and prevents the operating lever 75 from swinging.

[0086] In this embodiment, the operating lever 75 abuts against the rear shell 61 at its front end, and therefore the magnet 89 provided on the operating lever 75 is disposed at the front end of the left and right inner surfaces of the operating lever 75. However, this is not limited to this embodiment, and when the operating lever 75 abuts against the rear shell 61 (outer shell 11) at multiple locations on the left and right inner surfaces, the magnet 89 may be provided at any of these multiple locations.

[0087] Next, the storage member 69 will be described in detail.

[0088] The storage member 69 is a bag made of cushioned fabric and has a bag-like shape with an internal storage space. The storage member 69 has a rectangular box shape with faces facing the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear face of the storage member 69 is connected to the front face 63A of the front shell 63. The upper and lower edges of the rear face of the storage member 69 may be fixed to the front face 63A of the front shell 63. The storage member 69 may be configured to be detachable from the front face 63A of the front shell 63.

[0089] As shown in Fig. 8, a line fastener 93 is provided on a front surface 69A of the storage member 69. When the line fastener 93 is opened, an opening is formed in the storage space inside the storage member 69. By opening and closing the line fastener 93, a passenger can store items in the storage space inside the storage member 69.

[0090] 2, the storage member 69 has a predetermined thickness in the front-rear direction. The upper surface of the storage member 69 abuts against the lower surface of the front end of the seat 9.

[0091] The upper end of the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 is located at the same position in the front-rear direction as the front edge of the lower surface of the seat 9, or is located rearward. In this embodiment, the upper end of the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 is located at the same position in the front-rear direction as the front edge of the lower surface of the seat 9. The upper end of the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 is continuous with the lower edge of the front surface of the seat 9. As a result, the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 and the front surface 9E of the seat 9 are flush with each other.

[0092] The storage member 69 is configured so that the front-to-rear width is constant in the up-down direction. The left-to-right width (width in the left-to-right direction) of the upper end of the front surface of the storage member 69 is set to be the same as the left-to-right width of the lower edge of the front surface of the seat 9.

[0093] As shown in Fig. 8, at least a portion of the knee belt 67 is configured to be able to be stored between the storage member 69 and the front surface 63A of the front shell 63. In this embodiment, the other end of the knee belt 67 can be inserted between the storage member 69 and the front shell 63. This allows the other end of the knee belt 67 to be inserted and stored between the storage member 69 and the front shell 63 when the knee belt 67 is not in use. This prevents the knee belt 67 from flapping when not in use.

[0094] Next, the effects of Vehicle 1 will be explained.

[0095] 1, the operating lever 75 is provided on at least one of the left and right side surfaces of the outer shell 11. Therefore, compared to when the operating lever 75 is located at the position of the occupant's elbow, the posture when operating the operating lever 75 is less restricted. Also, compared to when the operating lever 75 is located at the position of the occupant's elbow or when a joystick is provided at the position of the occupant's elbow instead of the operating lever 75, the occupant can operate the operating lever 75 with a larger movement, making it easier to operate the vehicle 1.

[0096] The passenger can switch the vehicle 1 from the parked state to the driveable state by lifting the front end of the operating lever 75 and rotating the operating lever 75. Then, the passenger can switch the vehicle 1 from the driveable state to the parked state by pushing down the front end of the operating lever 75 and rotating the operating lever 75. In this way, the passenger can perform operation input by rotating the operating lever 75, making it easy to operate the vehicle 1.

[0097] 2, the front end of the seat 9 is positioned forward of the upper end of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63. This provides better support for the occupant's lower legs, particularly the backs of the knees, compared to when the front end of the seat 9 is moved back until it is at the same position as the upper end of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63.

[0098] In addition, because the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 is located rearward of the front end of the seat 9, the occupant can pull their legs rearward. By adjusting the degree of pulling, the occupant can reduce the pressure that may be applied to their calves, improving the comfort of the vehicle 1 when seated in the seat 9.

[0099] In this way, by improving the comfort of the vehicle 1, the present invention can provide a means of transportation that takes into consideration people in vulnerable positions, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable transportation systems.

[0100] On the other hand, depending on the condition of the occupant's lower limbs, there may be cases where it is necessary to strongly support the calves rather than allowing the legs to be pulled backward. In such cases, it is necessary to fill the gap between the front end of the seat 9 and the front surface 63A of the front shell 63.

[0101] In this embodiment, a storage member 69 capable of storing items is provided between the front end of the seat 9 and the front surface 63A of the front shell 63. When it is necessary to support the calves of the occupant, the calves of the occupant can be supported on the front surface 69A of the storage member 69. Furthermore, the space between the front end of the seat 9 and the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 can be effectively utilized.

[0102] Furthermore, the upper edge of the front surface of the storage member 69 is located at the same position in the front-to-rear direction as or behind the front edge of the lower surface of the seat 9. Therefore, the storage member 69 makes it difficult for the occupant's calves to be pushed out, improving the comfort of the vehicle 1.

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 is flush with the front surface 9E of the seat 9. By providing the storage member 69, when a passenger who needs stronger support for his or her calves boards the vehicle 1, the storage member 69 can provide good support for the passenger's calves.

[0104] The storage member 69 is configured so that its front-to-rear width is constant in the up-down direction. Therefore, even when the storage member 69 is provided, the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 has substantially the same shape as the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 in a side view. As a result, even when the storage member 69 is provided, the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 provides good support for the occupant's calves.

[0105] The left-right width at the upper end of the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 is set to be the same as the left-right width of the lower edge of the front surface 9E of the seat 9. Therefore, a sufficient area can be secured on the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 to adequately support the calves of the passenger.

[0106] In this embodiment, the first leg 49, the second leg 51, the outer shell 11, and the operating lever 75 are configured to rise and fall together with the seat frame 39. Therefore, the relative positions of the seat 9, the first leg 49, the second leg 51, the outer shell 11, and the operating lever 75 do not change when the seat 9 is raised or lowered. As a result, the position of the operating lever 75 relative to the occupant and the position of the storage member 69 are kept constant regardless of whether the seat 9 is raised or lowered. In addition, the relative position of the operating lever 75 and the through-hole 81 does not change, preventing the operating lever 75 from falling off when the seat 9 is raised or lowered.

[0107] Although the description of the specific embodiment has been completed above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be widely modified and implemented.

[0108] In the above embodiment, the vehicle 1 is provided with the lifting device 35 that raises and lowers the seat 9, and the control device 17 is configured to be capable of inverted pendulum control, but this is not limiting. The vehicle 1 may not be provided with the lifting device 35, and the control device 17 may be configured to drive the drive wheels 5 based on input to the input device 59, thereby moving the vehicle 1 along the floor surface.

[0109] In the above embodiment, the input device 59 includes the operation switch 71 and the joystick 73, but the input device 59 may have any configuration as long as it is capable of receiving operation input from a passenger. Although the notification device 60 is provided in the vehicle 1, the notification device 60 may not be provided.

[0110] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the vehicle 1 was applied to an electric wheelchair, but the present invention can also be applied to other single-person vehicles 1 such as carts equipped with steering wheels, and motorcycles equipped with internal combustion engines.

[0111] In addition, the present invention is also applicable to a vehicle 1 that is not provided with a drive device and is configured to move by the rider rotating the drive wheels 5 themselves. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1: Vehicles 3: Body frame 9: Sheet 11: Outer Shell 67: Knee belt (an example of a restraining member) 69: Storage material

Claims

1. A body frame that forms the skeleton, an outer shell that covers the body frame; wheels that movably support the body frame; a seat provided on an upper portion of the body frame and constituting a seating surface on which a passenger sits; the outer shell includes a front shell that covers the body frame from the front, and a rear shell that covers the body frame from the left and right outer sides and from the rear, the rear shell has a left side portion covering the body frame from the left outer side, a rear portion covering the body frame from the rear, and a right side portion covering the body frame from the right outer side, the front shell is disposed rearward of a front edge of the left side portion and a front edge of the right side portion, a front end of the seat extends forward beyond an upper end of the front shell; A vehicle in which a storage member capable of storing items is provided on the front surface of the front shell.

2. A vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the front shell is located below the seat, faces forward, and has a front surface that extends in an up-down direction.

3. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the front surface of the storage member is located at the same position as or rearward of a front end of a lower surface of the seat in the front-rear direction.

4. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a front surface of the storage member is flush with a front surface of the seat.

5. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the storage member has a constant longitudinal width from its top end to its bottom end.

6. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the left-right width of the front surface of the storage member at its upper end is the same as the left-right width of the front lower edge of the seat.

7. a restraining member for restraining the calves of the occupant; 3. The vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the restraining member is retractable between the storage member and the front surface of the front shell.

Images