vehicle

Abstract

To provide an easy-to-operate vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle 1 has a vehicle body 12, a wheel 5 for supporting the vehicle body movably, a seat 9 supported by the vehicle body, and constituting a seating face where an occupant is seated, and a control lever 75 for receiving operation input from the occupant. The control lever is provided rotatably around a pivot X extending in the longitudinal direction, on the side face of the vehicle body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, efforts have been actively made to provide access to a sustainable transportation system that takes into account people in vulnerable positions among transportation participants. For example, research and development are actively being conducted to realize vehicles that can be used by people in vulnerable positions and are more convenient.

[0003] In particular, electric wheelchairs are attracting attention as vehicles that can be used by people with disabilities and are more convenient. Patent Document 1 discloses an electric wheelchair having a vehicle body frame, and left and right front wheels and left and right rear wheels supported by the vehicle body frame.

[0004] At the rear of the vehicle body frame, a seat forming a seating area and left and right armrests integrally attached to the seat are provided. A joystick for operating the electric wheelchair is provided at the front end of the right-arm armrest.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] By the way, in a sustainable transportation system that takes into account people in vulnerable positions, vehicles that can accommodate each rider are required. In the electric wheelchair of Patent Document 1, an operation unit is provided at the front end of the right-arm armrest. However, since the joystick located at the armrest requires bending the elbow to operate, it may be difficult for people with disabilities to operate.

[0007] In light of the above background, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle that is easy to operate. Ultimately, this will contribute to the development of a sustainable transportation system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle (1) comprising a vehicle body (12), wheels (5) that movably support the vehicle body, a seat (9) supported by the vehicle body and constituting a seat surface on which a passenger sits, and an operating lever (75) that receives operational input from the passenger, wherein the operating lever is rotatably mounted on the side of the vehicle body around a pivot (X) extending in the left-right direction.

[0009] In this embodiment, since the operating lever is located on the side of the vehicle body, it can be operated without bending the elbow as much as when operating a joystick located at the armrest. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle that is easy to operate.

[0010] In the above embodiment, preferably, the vehicle body is provided with a locking device (51) for maintaining the vehicle body in a parked state, and the operating lever is connected to the locking device at one end and receives the operation input for operating the locking device.

[0011] According to this embodiment, the vehicle can be parked by rotating the operating lever, thus providing a vehicle that is easy to operate.

[0012] In the above embodiment, preferably, the operating lever does not overlap with the wheel at least at its front end when viewed in the left-right direction.

[0013] This configuration enhances the safety of the vehicle.

[0014] In the above embodiment, preferably, the operating lever is detachably coupled to the vehicle body.

[0015] In this embodiment, the passenger can attach and detach the operating lever as needed.

[0016] In the above embodiment, preferably, the vehicle body includes a vehicle body frame (3) that forms the skeleton and an outer shell (11) that constitutes the outer shell, the outer shell is provided with a through hole (81) at a position corresponding to the rear end of the operating lever, and the operating lever and the locking device are connected via the through hole.

[0017] According to this embodiment, the vehicle can be protected by the outer shell, and the operating lever and the locking device can be combined.

[0018] In the above embodiment, preferably, a sealing member (87) for sealing the through hole when the operating lever is removed is provided.

[0019] According to this embodiment, the through hole can be sealed when the operating lever is removed.

[0020] In the above embodiment, preferably, a magnet (89) is provided at the other end of the operating lever, and a magnet (91) or metal member that attracts the magnet provided at the other end of the operating lever is provided at a corresponding position on the outer shell.

[0021] In this embodiment, the other end of the operating lever is fixed to the outer shell by the attraction between a magnet provided on the other end of the operating lever and a magnet or metal member provided on the outer shell. This prevents the operating lever from wobbling.

[0022] In the above embodiment, preferably, the operating lever has an arch shape that bulges outwards to the left and right between its ends.

[0023] According to this embodiment, when a load is applied to the operating lever from the left or right outside, the operating lever will resist that load, thereby protecting the vehicle.

[0024] In order to solve the above problems, in one aspect of the present invention, an R surface is provided at the corners (75A, 75B) outside the vehicle on at least one end of the operation lever.

[0025] According to this aspect, it is difficult for the operation lever to catch on a person or an object located around the vehicle.

[0026] In the above aspect, preferably, the wheels are omnidirectional wheels.

[0027] According to this aspect, the vehicle can be configured to be movable back and forth, left and right along the floor surface.

Effect of the Invention

[0028] According to the above configuration, a vehicle with easy operation can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] [Figure 1] Side view of the vehicle as seen from the left direction [Figure 2] Side view of the vehicle with the seat in the low position and the rear shell removed, as seen from the left direction [Figure 3] Schematic diagram when the vehicle with the seat in the low position and the rear shell removed is seen from the front direction [Figure 4] Left - right cross - sectional view of the drive unit and the drive wheels [Figure 5] Side view of the vehicle with the seat in the high position and the rear shell removed, as seen from the left direction [Figure 6] Perspective view showing the seat frame, the first leg, and the second leg [Figure 7] Plan view of the vehicle [Figure 8] Front view of the vehicle [Figure 9] (A) Perspective view showing the state when the rear end of the operation lever is removed from the outer shell, and (B) Perspective view showing the state when the through - hole is sealed by the sealing member [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the vehicle is configured as an inverted pendulum type vehicle.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, Vehicle 1 is a single-person vehicle that one person can sit and ride in, and is equivalent to a so-called electric wheelchair.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the vehicle 1 comprises a body frame 3, drive wheels 5 mounted on the body frame 3, a drive unit 7 for driving the drive wheels 5, a seat 9 mounted on the body frame 3, and an outer shell 11 (see Figure 1) covering the drive wheels 5 and the drive unit 7. The body frame 3 and the outer shell 11 constitute the body 12 of the vehicle 1.

[0033] For the sake of clarity, the following explanation will define the forward, backward, left, right, and up-down directions based on the front of Vehicle 1 (more specifically, the front of the passenger seated in Seat 9).

[0034] The vehicle frame 3 forms the skeleton of the vehicle 1. As shown in the schematic diagram of Figure 3, the vehicle 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 central frame 3C extending in the up-down direction at its lower part. The central frame 3C is connected to the lower frame 3A at its lower part so as to be rotatable around a pivot axis that extends in the front-rear direction.

[0035] The vehicle frame 3 is provided with a tilt angle sensor 13. The tilt angle sensor 13 detects the tilt angle of the vehicle frame 3. The tilt angle sensor 13 may be composed of one or more MEMS sensors that detect the tilt angles of the upper frame 3B and the lower frame 3A, respectively, using the direction of gravitational acceleration. The tilt angle sensor 13 outputs the detected tilt angle to the drive unit 7.

[0036] The drive wheels 5 are wheels mounted on the vehicle body 12 and support the vehicle body 12 so that it can move along the floor surface. The drive wheels 5 are omnidirectional wheels that can move the vehicle body 12 along the floor surface in all directions: forward, backward, left, and right. In this embodiment, the drive wheels 5 are omnidirectional wheels. The drive wheels 5 may also be composed of other types of wheels, such as caster wheels.

[0037] As shown in Figure 2, the drive unit 7 drives the drive wheels 5 and controls that drive. 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.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the vehicle 1 has two drive wheels 5 provided on the left and right sides of the lower frame 3A. A pair of left and right drive units 7, which drive each of the drive wheels 5, are also provided on the left and right sides of the lower frame 3A.

[0039] As shown in Figure 4, the drive unit 7 includes a 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 includes a pair of actuators 25 (see also Figure 2) that rotate the pair of drive disks 21 independently. The pair of drive disks 21 are arranged coaxially with respect to each other, and their rotation axes extend in the left-right direction. The plurality of drive rollers 23 are arranged at circumferential intervals around the outer circumference of the drive disks 21 and are rotatably supported about an axis inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the drive disks 21.

[0040] As shown in Figure 2, each actuator 25 has an electric motor 27 and a transmission mechanism 29 (see also Figure 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 positioned above the drive disk 21.

[0041] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the drive wheel 5 is annular in shape and is positioned coaxially with the drive disks 21 between a pair of drive disks 21. The drive wheel 5 contacts a plurality of drive rollers 23 and rotates around its central axis and annular axis by the drive of the drive rollers 23. Thus, the drive unit 7 is a device that transmits power by utilizing the frictional force due to contact with the drive wheel 5, i.e., a friction drive device.

[0042] In this embodiment, the drive wheel 5 has an annular core 31 and a plurality of driven rollers 33 rotatably supported on the core 31. Each driven roller 33 is supported on the annular core 31 so as to be rotatable about the axis of the core 31. Each driven roller 33 contacts the drive roller 23 and rotates relative to the core 31 by receiving a load from the drive disk 21.

[0043] The battery is supported by the vehicle 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.

[0044] The control device 17 is composed of one or more electronic control units (ECUs) including a processor such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). The control device 17 performs various controls by having the processor execute calculations 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 implemented by hardware such as an LSI, ASIC, or FPGA, or 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 tilt angle sensor 13 and is configured to acquire the tilt angle detected by the tilt angle sensor 13.

[0045] 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 to rotate the corresponding drive disks 21 at the same rotational speed and in the same direction, the left and right drive wheels 5 each rotate at the same rotational speed and in the same direction as the drive disks 21. As a result, the vehicle 1 generates thrust in the forward and backward direction relative to the floor, and the vehicle 1 moves in the forward and backward direction.

[0046] When the left and right electric motors 27 each rotate the corresponding drive disk 21 in different directions or at different rotational speeds, the driven roller 33 of the drive wheel 5 rotates relative to the core body 31. The independent drive of the left and right electric motors 27 by the control device 17 generates a thrust force for the vehicle 1 in the left-right direction relative to the floor. As a result, the vehicle 1 can move in all directions relative to the floor: forward, backward, left, and right.

[0047] In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 is further equipped with a lifting device 35 for raising and lowering the seat 9 between a low position (see Figure 2) and a high position (see Figure 5) that is higher than the low position.

[0048] As shown in Figure 2, the lifting device 35 is connected to the upper frame 3B of the vehicle body frame 3 and the seat 9. The lifting device 35 extends and retracts in the vertical direction, thereby displacing the seat 9 vertically relative to the upper frame 3B of the vehicle body frame 3.

[0049] The lifting device 35 may, for example, include a base supported by an upper frame 3B, a movable body mounted on the base so as to be vertically movable and coupled to a 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.

[0050] The lifting device 35 may also be a rack and pinion mechanism driven by an electric motor, or a linear motor. Alternatively, the lifting device 35 may be an air cylinder that expands and contracts using compressed air from a compressor.

[0051] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the higher position of sheet 9 is preferably located vertically above the lower position of sheet 9. In other embodiments, the higher position of sheet 9 may be offset laterally from the lower position of sheet 9.

[0052] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the seat 9 constitutes the surface on which the passenger sits, i.e., the seat surface 9A. In this embodiment, the seat 9 comprises a seat cushion 9B that constitutes the seat surface 9A, a seat back 9C provided at the rear end of the seat cushion 9B and functioning as a backrest, and an armrest 9D that connects the seat cushion 9B and the seat back 9C and functions as an armrest.

[0053] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the seat 9 has a seat frame 39 supported by a lifting device 35 and a pad 41 supported on the upper part of the seat frame 39. The seat 9 has a seat surface 9A on its upper surface. The passenger can sit on the pad 41 from above.

[0054] As shown in Figure 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.

[0055] As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, in this embodiment, the seat frame 39 is provided with at least one support member 43 extending downward. A pair of left and right footrests 45 are connected to the extended 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 footrests 45 may be raised above the floor regardless of the position of the seat 9.

[0056] As shown in Figure 2, the vehicle 1 includes at least one first leg 49 for making the vehicle 1 movable relative to the floor when the seat 9 is in a low position, and at least one second leg 51 for fixing the vehicle 1 relative to the floor. In this embodiment, both the first leg 49 and the second leg 51 are coupled to the seat frame 39 and supported by the vehicle body frame 3 via a lifting device 35.

[0057] As shown in Figure 6, each first leg 49 extends downward from the seat frame 39. Each first leg 49 is equipped with a roller 53 at its lower end. Each second leg 51 extends downward from the seat frame 39. Each second leg 51 is equipped with 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 first leg 49 is rotatably coupled to the seat frame 39 at its upper end. Each first leg 49 has a similar configuration to one another, and each second leg 51 has a similar configuration to one another.

[0058] The roller 53 is rotatably supported at the lower end of the first leg 49. The roller 53 may be a caster whose axis of rotation rotates about a vertical axis relative to the first leg 49. In other embodiments, a ball may be supported at the lower end of the first leg 49 instead of the roller 53. When the seat 9 is in the low position, each of the first legs 49 may be pressed against the floor and rotate at its upper end, positioned laterally away from the vehicle frame 3.

[0059] The second leg 51 is extendable and retractable in the vertical direction and is biased in the extension direction. The contact member 55 has a higher coefficient of friction than the second leg 51. The contact member 55 may be made of, for example, rubber or elastomer. The contact member 55 may have higher flexibility than the second leg 51.

[0060] Vehicle 1 is equipped with an input device 59 that receives input from the passenger regarding operations on Vehicle 1, i.e., operation input. When the passenger operates the input device 59 while the seat 9 is in the low position, the second leg 51 extends or retracts. As a result, the second leg 51 is displaced between an extended position where the contact member 55 contacts the floor surface and a retracted position where the contact member 55 is away from the floor surface. In addition, the control device 17 may be configured to receive 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.

[0061] As shown in Figure 5, when the seat 9 is in a high position, the roller 53 and the contact member 55 are lifted off the floor. At this time, the control device 17 (specifically the processor) executes a predetermined program based on the tilt angle detected by the tilt angle sensor 13 to control the drive of the drive source 15 (inverted pendulum control) and maintain the vehicle frame 3 in an inverted state. As a result, the passenger can move the vehicle 1 forward, backward, left and right relative to the floor by shifting their own center of gravity while seated in the seat 9.

[0062] As shown in Figure 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 contact member 55 and the floor surface keeps the vehicle 1 immobile and stationary (parked) relative to the floor surface (locked). In other words, the second leg 51 functions as a locking device that restricts the movement of the vehicle 1 by the roller 53 and maintains the vehicle 1 in an immobile parked state.

[0063] When the seat 9 is in a low position and the second leg 51 is in a retracted position, the roller 53 of the first leg 49 is in contact with the floor. At this time, the control device 17 (specifically the processor) executes a predetermined program based on the input to the input device 59 to control the drive of the drive source 15 and move the vehicle 1 forward, backward, left and right. As a result, the rider can move the vehicle 1 forward, backward, left and right relative to the floor by performing input operations on the input device 59. In this embodiment, the control device 17 is capable of performing control corresponding to each driving mode, such as a parallel movement mode in which the vehicle 1 is moved parallel to the floor, and a turning mode in which the vehicle 1 is turned.

[0064] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the vehicle 1 may be equipped 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 battery level, 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 on the front of the right armrest 9D, and the status of the vehicle 1 is notified to the passenger by illuminating the corresponding portion of the upper front surface of the armrest 9D.

[0065] 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, forming the outer shell of the vehicle 1. The body frame 3 and the outer shell 11 constitute the vehicle body 12 of the vehicle 1. That is, the vehicle 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 vehicle body 12.

[0066] 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, respectively. This provides protection for the drive wheels 5, drive unit 7, body frame 3, first leg 49, and second leg 51.

[0067] In this embodiment, the outer shell 11 has a rear shell 61 that covers the drive wheels 5, drive unit 7, vehicle 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, vehicle frame 3, first leg 49 and second leg 51 from the front. The rear shell 61 constitutes the outer shell of the left, right and rear of the vehicle 1, and the front shell 63 constitutes the outer shell of the front of the vehicle 1.

[0068] In this embodiment, the outer shell 11 is connected to the seat frame 39 at its upper edge. When the seat 9 is raised or lowered, the outer shell 11 moves up and down together with the seat 9.

[0069] As shown in Figure 7, the outer shell 11 is provided with restraints 65 for restraining the rider's legs. The restraints 65 include a pair of left and right knee belts 67. The knee belts 67 are cloth belt-shaped members and function as restraints that fix the rider's legs to the front of the vehicle 1. In this embodiment, one end of each knee belt 67 is fixed to the left and right front ends of the rear shell 61, respectively.

[0070] As shown in Figure 2, the front shell 63 has a front surface 63A that faces forward and extends substantially vertically below the seat 9. In this embodiment, the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 may be inclined diagonally forward toward downward. Alternatively, the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 may be inclined diagonally forward toward downward and also gently curved so as to protrude forward in a side view. The front surface 63A of the front shell 63 constitutes a calf support portion that supports the passenger's calves from the rear.

[0071] 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 front surface 63A of the front shell 63 to effectively support the calves of the passenger seated in the seat 9. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, 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.

[0072] As shown in Figure 2, the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 abuts against the lower surface of the front end portion of the seat 9 at its upper end. The front end of the seat 9 extends forward beyond the upper end of the front shell 63. In other words, the seat 9 (specifically the seat cushion 9B) has an extension portion 9F that extends forward beyond the upper end of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63.

[0073] A storage member 69 is provided at the top 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).

[0074] Next, with reference to the drawings, the details of the input device 59 will be described.

[0075] As shown in Figure 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.

[0076] The operation switch 71 receives input from the passenger regarding 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 made up of a membrane switch, or it may be made up of a button displayed on a touch panel or the like.

[0077] In this embodiment, the input device 59 includes a power switch, a lifting switch, and a movement direction switch as operation switches 71. The power switch receives input to turn the power of the vehicle 1 on and off. The lifting switch receives input to switch the seat 9 between a low position and a high position by raising or lowering the seat 9. The movement direction switch receives operation input from the passenger regarding the selection of the vehicle's movement mode (parallel movement mode, turning mode, etc.).

[0078] The joystick 73 receives input from the passenger regarding the direction and amount of movement of the vehicle 1. The joystick 73 may also have operation buttons for controlling the lifting device 35. In this embodiment, the joystick 73 is located at the front end of the left armrest 9D. However, the joystick 73 may also be located on the right armrest 9D, or on the outer shell 11 (for example, 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 operation input from the joystick 73 to move the vehicle 1.

[0079] As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the operating lever 75 is rod-shaped. The operating lever 75 is provided on the side of the vehicle 1, as shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the operating lever 75 is provided on both the left and right sides of the vehicle 1. In this embodiment, the operating lever 75 is positioned to extend downwards and forwards from at least one of the left and right sides of the vehicle body 12 (more specifically, the left and right sides of the rear shell 61). At the rear, the operating lever 75 is rotatably coupled to the second leg 51 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 vehicle body 12 (more specifically, the left side of the rear shell 61).

[0080] When the seat 9 is in the low position and the second leg 51 is in the extended position, lifting the front end of the operating lever 75 moves the second leg 51 to the retracted position. This causes the contact member 55 to lift off the floor surface, making the vehicle 1 drivable. On the other hand, when the seat 9 is in the low position and the second leg 51 is in the retracted position, pushing down the front end of the operating lever 75 moves the second leg 51 to the retracted position, making the vehicle 1 immobile relative to the floor surface (parked state). In other words, the operating lever 75 receives input from the passenger to operate the second leg 51 in order to switch the vehicle 1 (vehicle body 12) between an immobile parked state and a drivable state.

[0081] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, an input section 77 for displacing the second leg 51 between an extended position and a retracted position is provided at the upper end of the second leg 51. As shown in Figure 9, the input section 77 is equipped with 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 rotate with its axis in the direction of protrusion. The second leg 51 is displaced between an extended position and a retracted position by input to the input section 77, specifically by rotation of the shaft 79 with its axis in the direction of protrusion. However, the shape of the shaft 79 is not limited to a hexagonal prism; it may be a square prism, a pentagonal prism, or a column 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 motion of the shaft 79 into extension and retraction motion.

[0082] 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. The rear end of the operating lever 75 is provided with a connecting portion 83 that protrudes inward in the left-right direction. The connecting portion 83 is cylindrical and has receiving recesses 85 that are recessed outward to the left and right at its left and right inner ends. The receiving recesses 85 have a cross-section that aligns with the shaft portion 79 (in this embodiment, a hexagonal cross-section).

[0083] When the operating lever 75 is attached to the vehicle 1, the connecting 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 rotate around a pivot X (also called an axis; see Figure 1) that passes its rear end and extends in the left-right direction. At this time, the operating lever 75 may not rotate under its own weight and may be supported by the second leg 51 to maintain its position. This configuration allows the operating lever 75 to rotate when a load is applied by the rider.

[0084] Figure 1 shows the position of the operating lever 75 when the second leg 51 is in the retracted position, indicated by a solid line. When the second leg 51 is in the retracted position, the operating lever 75 extends downwards and forwards. When the rider lifts the front end of the operating lever 75, the operating lever 75 rotates clockwise in the plane of Figure 1, with its rear end as the center. This causes the shaft 79 to rotate, and the second leg 51 returns to the retracted position. At this point, the operating lever 75 extends roughly in the front-to-back direction. The rotation range of the operating lever 75 may be set to an angular range from the state in which the operating lever 75 extends downwards and forwards, as shown by the solid line in Figure 1, to the state in which it rotates clockwise in the plane of the paper, and the operating lever 75 extends roughly in the front-to-back direction.

[0085] Subsequently, when the passenger pushes down the front end of the control lever 75, the control lever 75 rotates counterclockwise in the plane of Figure 1 with its rear end as the center, and the shaft portion 79 rotates. As a result, the second leg 51 extends to the extended position. In Figure 1, the position of the control lever 75 when the second leg 51 is in the extended position is shown by a dashed line.

[0086] As shown in Figure 1, throughout the entire range of rotation of the operating lever 75, the front end of the operating lever 75 is set so as not to overlap with the drive wheel 5 when viewed in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction). That is, when the second leg 51 is displaced from the extended position to the retracted position, the trajectory of the front end of the operating lever 75 (see dashed line) is configured to avoid the drive wheel 5 when viewed from the side. This enhances the safety of the vehicle 1 when operating the operating lever 75. Alternatively, throughout the entire range of rotation of the operating lever 75, all parts of the operating lever 75, including the front and rear ends, may be set so as not to overlap with the drive wheel 5 when viewed in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction).

[0087] In this embodiment, the connecting portion 83 and the shaft portion 79 are configured to be connectable and detachable, and the operating lever 75 is configured to be connectable and detachable to the second leg 51 (i.e., the locking device) at its rear end. In addition, the magnet 89 provided at the front of the operating lever 75 is connectable and detachable to the outer shell 11. As a result, the operating lever 75 is configured to be detachable from the vehicle body 12, and the occupant can attach and detach the operating lever 75 from the vehicle body 12 as needed.

[0088] Vehicle 1 is equipped 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 can be fitted into the through hole 81 to seal the through hole 81, thereby concealing the shaft portion 79.

[0089] In this embodiment, the operating lever 75 abuts against the rear shell 61 at its front end. The operating lever 75 has an arched shape that bulges outwards 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 acts as a bumper that resists the load and reduces the load transmitted to the vehicle frame 3, seat 9, control device 17, etc. By configuring the operating lever 75 to have an arched shape in this way, the vehicle 1 can be protected. Furthermore, by configuring the operating lever 75 to have an arched shape, when the vehicle 1 collides with a person or object located in the surrounding area, the load transmitted to that person or object can be reduced.

[0090] The front end of the operating lever 75 is preferably configured to be rounded in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, rounded surfaces are provided at the left and right outer corners 75A of the front end of the operating lever 75. As a result, the left and right outer 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 when the vehicle 1 is in motion. Rounded surfaces are also provided at the left and right outer corners 75B of the rear end of the operating lever 75, so that the rear end of the operating lever 75 is also configured to be rounded in the vehicle width direction.

[0091] When the rear shell 61 is made of a thin metal plate with magnetic properties, it is preferable that magnets 89 be provided on the left and right inner surfaces of the operating lever 75 in 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 components) may be provided on the left and right inner surfaces of the rear shell 61 at positions corresponding to the magnets 89 provided on the operating lever 75, so as to attract the magnets 89 provided on the operating lever 75.

[0092] 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 it from wobbling.

[0093] In this embodiment, since the operating lever 75 abuts against the rear shell 61 at its front end, the magnets 89 provided on the operating lever 75 are positioned at the front ends of the left and right inner surfaces of the operating lever 75. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the magnets 89 may be provided at any of the multiple locations on the left and right inner surfaces of the operating lever 75 that abut against the rear shell 61 (outer shell 11).

[0094] Next, we will describe the details of the storage component 69.

[0095] The storage member 69 is a bag made of cushioning fabric and has a storage space inside. The storage member 69 has a rectangular box shape with surfaces facing in the front-to-back direction. As shown in Figure 2, the storage member 69 is connected to the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 at its rear. The storage member 69 may be fixed to the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 at its upper and lower rear edges. The storage member 69 may also be configured to be detachable from the front surface 63A of the front shell 63.

[0096] As shown in Figure 8, a wire fastener 93 is provided on the front surface 69A of the storage member 69. When the wire fastener 93 is opened, an opening is formed in the storage space inside the storage member 69. By opening and closing the wire fastener 93, the passenger can store items in the storage space inside the storage member 69.

[0097] As shown in Figure 2, the storage member 69 has a predetermined thickness in the front-to-back direction. The storage member 69 is in contact with the lower front end surface of the sheet 9 on its upper surface.

[0098] 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 end of the lower surface of the sheet 9, or at a position behind it. 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 end of the lower surface of the sheet 9. The upper end of the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 is continuous with the lower front edge of the sheet 9. As a result, the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 and the front surface 9E of the sheet 9 are flush.

[0099] The front-to-back width of the storage member 69 is configured to be constant in the vertical direction. In addition, the left-to-right width (width in the left-to-right direction) of the upper front edge of the storage member 69 is set to be the same as the left-to-right width of the lower front edge of the sheet 9.

[0100] As shown in Figure 8, at least a portion of the knee belt 67 is configured to be storable 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 not in use. Thus, it is possible to prevent the knee belt 67 from flapping around when not in use.

[0101] Next, I will explain the effect of Vehicle 1.

[0102] As shown in Figure 1, the operating lever 75 is located on at least one of the left or right sides of the outer shell 11. Therefore, the posture required to operate the operating lever 75 is less restricted compared to when the operating lever 75 is located at the rider's elbow. Also, compared to when the operating lever 75 is located at the rider's elbow, or when a joystick is provided at the rider's elbow instead of the operating lever 75, the rider can operate the operating lever 75 with a larger range of motion, making it easier to operate the vehicle 1.

[0103] Thus, by improving the operability of vehicle 1, the present invention can provide a means of transportation that takes into consideration vulnerable people, and therefore contributes to the development of a sustainable transportation system.

[0104] The rider can switch the vehicle 1 from the parked state to the drivable state by lifting the front end of the control lever 75 and rotating the control lever 75. Subsequently, the rider can switch the vehicle 1 from the drivable state to the parked state by pushing down the front end of the control lever 75 and rotating the control lever 75. In this way, the rider can easily operate the vehicle 1 by inputting controls through the rotation of the control lever 75.

[0105] As shown in Figure 2, the front end of the seat 9 is positioned forward of the upper edge of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63. This allows for better support of the occupant's lower limbs, particularly the area behind the knees, compared to when the front end of the seat 9 is set back to the same position as the upper edge of the front surface 63A of the front shell 63.

[0106] Furthermore, because the front 63A of the front shell 63 is located behind the front edge of the seat 9, the passenger can pull their legs back. By adjusting the degree to which they pull their legs back, the passenger can reduce the pressure that may be applied to their calves, thereby improving the comfort of the vehicle 1 when seated in the seat 9.

[0107] On the other hand, depending on the condition of the passenger's lower limbs, it may be necessary to provide strong support to 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.

[0108] 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 passenger's calf, the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 can support the passenger's calf. 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.

[0109] Furthermore, the front upper end of the storage member 69 is located at the same position in the front-rear direction as the front underside of the seat 9, or at a position further back. As a result, the storage member 69 makes it less likely for the passenger's calves to be pushed out, improving the comfort of the vehicle 1.

[0110] 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 their calves boards the vehicle 1, the storage member 69 can provide good support for the passenger's calves.

[0111] The front-to-back width of the storage member 69 is configured to be constant in the vertical direction. Therefore, even when the storage member 69 is provided, the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 has a shape that is generally the same as the front surface 63A of the front shell 63 when viewed from the side. As a result, even when the storage member 69 is provided, the passenger's calves are well supported by the front surface 69A of the storage member 69.

[0112] The left-right width 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 at its upper end. Therefore, a sufficient area can be secured on the front surface 69A of the storage member 69 to adequately support the passenger's calves.

[0113] In this embodiment, the first leg 49, the second leg 51, the outer shell 11, and the operating lever 75 are configured to move up and down together with the seat frame 39. Therefore, the relative positions of the seat 9, the first leg 49 and 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 remain constant regardless of the raising or lowering of the seat 9. 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 out when the seat 9 is raised or lowered.

[0114] This concludes the description of specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be broadly modified and implemented.

[0115] In the above embodiment, the vehicle 1 was provided with a lifting device 35 for raising and lowering the seat 9, and the control device 17 was configured to control an inverted pendulum; however, the embodiment is not limited to this. The vehicle 1 may not be provided with a 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 to move the vehicle 1 along the floor surface.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the input device 59 included an operation switch 71 and a joystick 73, but the input device 59 may have any configuration as long as it is capable of receiving operation input from the passenger. In the vehicle 1, a notification device 60 was provided, but the vehicle may also be configured without a notification device 60.

[0117] Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes an example in which the vehicle 1 is applied to an electric wheelchair, the present invention can also be applied to other single-person vehicles 1 such as carts equipped with a steering wheel, or motorcycles equipped with an internal combustion engine.

[0118] Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable to vehicles 1 that do not have a drive system and are configured to move by the rider rotating the drive wheels 5 themselves. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0119] 1: Vehicles 3: Vehicle frame 5: Drive wheels 9: Sheet 11: Outer shell 12: Vehicle body 51: Second leg (an example of a locking device) 73: Operating device 75: Operating lever 75A: Corner 75B: Corner 81: Through hole 87: Sealing member 89: Magnet 91: Magnet X: Axis

Claims

1. The car body and, Wheels that support the aforementioned vehicle body in a movable manner, A seat supported by the vehicle body and constituting a seat surface on which an occupant sits, A locking device for maintaining the vehicle body in a parked state, It has an operating lever that receives an input from the passenger for operating the locking device, The vehicle body includes a vehicle frame that forms the skeleton and an outer shell that constitutes the outer shell. The aforementioned operating lever is located on the side of the vehicle body. The outer shell is provided with a through hole at a position corresponding to the rear end of the operating lever. The operating lever is rotatably coupled at its rear end to the locking device via the through hole, around a pivot extending in the left-right direction. The operating lever is detachably connected to the vehicle body and the locking device. A vehicle further comprising a sealing member for sealing the through hole when the operating lever is removed.

2. A magnet is provided at the front end of the aforementioned operating lever. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a magnet or metal member that attracts the magnet provided at the front end of the operating lever is provided at a corresponding position on the outer shell.

3. The car body and, Wheels that support the aforementioned vehicle body in a movable manner, A seat supported by the vehicle body and constituting a seat surface on which an occupant sits, A locking device for maintaining the vehicle body in a parked state, It has an operating lever that receives an input from the passenger for operating the locking device, The aforementioned operating lever is rotatably mounted on the side of the vehicle body around a pivot extending in the left-right direction. The operating lever is connected to the locking device at one end. 、 The vehicle body includes a vehicle frame that forms the skeleton and an outer shell that constitutes the outer shell. The outer shell is provided with a through hole at a position corresponding to the rear end of the operating lever. The operating lever and the locking device are connected via the through hole. A magnet is provided at the other end of the aforementioned operating lever. A magnet provided at the other end of the operating lever is placed at the corresponding position on the outer shell. A vehicle equipped with a magnet or metal component that attracts other objects.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the operating lever is detachably coupled to the vehicle body.

5. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operating lever, at least at its front end, does not overlap with the wheel when viewed in the left-right direction.

6. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operating lever has an arch shape that bulges outwards to the left and right between its ends.

7. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the corner on the outer side of at least one end of the operating lever is provided with a rounded surface.

8. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wheels are omnidirectional wheels.

Images