Passenger vehicle

Abstract

Described is a vehicle for transporting passengers comprising a platform (2) for supporting a plurality of seats (3), each of which comprises a backrest (4) and a sitting part (5); the platform has a free zone (6) interposed between two seats (3), intended for positioning a wheelchair (8) or a further seat (3); at the zone (6) there are anchoring means (7) intended to anchor the wheelchair (8) to the platform (2) of the vehicle (1) and a retaining system (9) intended for the passenger seated in the wheelchair (8); the retaining system (9) comprises a winding device (10) of a retaining belt (11) having a closing buckle (12) which can be engaged in a suitable receiving device (13); the retaining belt (11) has one end connected to an anchor (14); the winding device (10) of the retaining belt (11) and the anchor (14) are supported by a same seat (3) and the receiving device (13) of the closing buckle (12) is positioned on the opposite side of the free zone (6) of the platform (2).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] PASSENGER VEHICLE

[0003] Technical field

[0004] This invention relates to a vehicle for transporting passengers.

[0005] In particular, a vehicle for transporting passengers who are autonomous and non-autonomous when getting into and out of the vehicle who need to be transported seated in a wheelchair.

[0006] Background art

[0007] The prior art vehicles have a zone dedicated to the location of a wheelchair.

[0008] It is known that brackets are provided on the platform in that zone for anchoring straps having an anchoring element to be fixed to the wheelchair at predetermined anchoring points.

[0009] Generally, there are four anchoring points, a front pair and a rear pair. The seat belts of the passenger seated in the wheelchair are fixed below these anchoring points.

[0010] The belts can be abdominal, pelvic or three-point, depending on the required level of safety.

[0011] In this scenario, as well as fixing the wheelchair to the vehicle, an operator installs the seat belts of the passenger; it is therefore necessary to install and uninstall the belt for each journey.

[0012] The four-point passenger seat belt is easy to use but does not meet the safety regulations already in force.

[0013] The three-point passenger seat belt, the anchor points of which must be provided on the frame of the vehicle, complies with the safety regulations in force.

[0014] However, if the wheelchair position is provided between two seats for the passengers, the three-point connection is particularly disadvantageous since the belt intended for the passenger in the wheelchair must pass through the seats interposed between it and the wall of the vehicle onwhich the anchoring points of the belt are provided.

[0015] Disclosure of the Invention

[0016] The need has therefore been felt of developing a vehicle for transporting passengers comprising a platform for supporting a plurality of seats and a zone dedicated to a location for positioning at least one wheelchair, interposed between two seats

[0017] The retaining system comprises a winding device of a retaining belt having a closing buckle which can be engaged in a suitable receiving device. The retaining belt has an end connected to an anchor.

[0018] According to this innovative system, the winding device of the retaining belt and the anchor are supported by a same seat and the receiving device of the closing buckle from the other seat, between which there is the area dedicated to the location for positioning a wheelchair, as described in independent claim 1.

[0019] Advantageously, this solution avoids the interference of the belt with the seats and the person seated in the wheelchair, as shown in the prior art. Another advantage is the compliance with current regulations, since the retaining system is a three-point solution.

[0020] A further advantage is determined by the possibility of moving together with the seat the retaining belt intended for the passenger in a wheelchair since it is no longer fixed statically to the frame of the vehicle.

[0021] Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The features of the invention are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred, non-limiting example embodiment of the invention and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle for transporting passengers according to the invention;

[0023] - Figure 2 is a schematic front view of a detail of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the vehicle of Figure 1.

[0024] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a vehicle for transporting passengers, which is referred to in this invention also more simply in this description with the term vehicle.

[0025] In particular, the vehicle 1 is, for example, a passenger vehicle for transporting persons, in the form of a van, minibus, automobile, ambulance.

[0026] The vehicle 1 comprises a platform 2 for supporting a plurality of seats 3, each of which comprises a backrest 4 and a sitting part 5.

[0027] The platform 2 has a free zone 6 dedicated to the positioning of a wheelchair 8 or a further seat 3. The free zone 6 is interposed between two seats 3.

[0028] At the free zone 6 there are anchoring means 7 intended to anchor the wheelchair 8 to the platform 2 of the vehicle 1.

[0029] According to an example embodiment, the anchoring means 7 comprise two pairs of brackets 19 installed on the platform 2, a front pair and a rear pair.

[0030] The brackets 19 are connected directly to the platform 2 or they are connected on suitable longitudinal guides, a front guide and a rear guide. A belt 20 is connected to each bracket 19, each provided with an anchoring element 21 intended to be connected to the wheelchair 8.

[0031] Thus, the anchoring means 7 comprise a pair of front belts 20 and a pair of rear belts 20.

[0032] With reference to the anchoring means 7, the terms front and rear refer to the relative positioning of the components relative to the wheelchair 8. The vehicle 1 comprises a retaining system 9 intended for the passenger seated in the wheelchair 8.

[0033] The retaining system 9 comprises a winding device 10 of a retaining belt 11 having a closing buckle 12 which can be engaged in a suitablereceiving device 13.

[0034] The retaining belt 11 has one end connected to an anchor 14.

[0035] The winding device 10 of the retaining belt 11 is supported by a seat 3 and the receiving device 13 of the closing buckle 12 is positioned on the opposite side of the free zone 6 of the platform 2.

[0036] According to the embodiment illustrated, the receiving device 13 is supported by the other seat 3 between which is positioned the free zone 6 of the platform 2.

[0037] Alternatively, the receiving device 13 is anchored to the platform 2 or to the means 7 for anchoring the wheelchair 8.

[0038] The anchor 14 is provided on the same seat 3 which supports the winding device 10.

[0039] A device 18 is provided for inhibiting the use of the seat 3 supporting the winding device 10 of the retaining belt 11, if the retaining belt 11 is in use for the passenger seated in the wheelchair 8.

[0040] Advantageously, the retaining system 9 can be switched for a passenger positioned on the seat 3 which supports the winding device 10 of the retaining belt 11 and to which the belt is anchored, if it is not in use for the passenger seated on the wheelchair 8.

[0041] The seat 3 comprises a respective receiving device 15 intended to be engaged by the closing buckle 12 of said retaining belt 11.

[0042] In the absence of a passenger seated on the wheelchair 8, the retaining system 9 according to the invention can be used for a passenger seated on the seat 3 for supporting and anchoring the retaining belt 11.

[0043] The retaining system 9 is a three-point retaining system wherein the retaining belt 11, once the closing buckle 12 is connected to the receiving device 13, is intended to define a diagonal strap 16, a horizontal strap 17 both connected to the receiving device 13 which defines a common anchoring point. to the two straps 16, 17.

[0044] The winding device 10 of the retaining belt 11 is positioned on a portion of the backrest 4 of the seat 3 at a height such that, in use, it is above ashoulder of the passenger.

[0045] The anchor 14 of the retaining belt 11 is located at a side 5a of the sitting part 5 of the seat 3.

[0046] The receiving device 13 is positioned along a side 5a of the sitting part 5 of the seat 3 on which it is installed, opposite to the anchor 14 of the retaining belt 11.

[0047] The distance between the receiving device 13 and the anchor 14 of the retaining belt 11 is greater than the transversal dimensions of the wheelchair 8.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle for transporting passengers comprising a platform (2) for supporting a plurality of seats (3), each of which comprises a backrest (4) and a sitting part (5);5 the platform has a free zone (6) interposed between two seats (3), intended for positioning at least one wheelchair (8) or a further seat (3); at the zone (6) there are anchoring means (7) intended to anchor the wheelchair (8) to the platform (2) of the vehicle (1) and a retaining system (9) intended for the passenger seated in the wheelchair (8);10 the retaining system (9) comprises a winding device (10) of a retaining belt (11) having a closing buckle (12) which can be engaged in a suitable receiving device (13);the retaining belt (11) has one end connected to an anchor (14); characterised in that15 the winding device (10) of the retaining belt (11) and the anchor (14) are supported by the same seat (3) and the receiving device (13) of the closing buckle (12) is positioned on the opposite side of the free zone (6) of the platform (2).20 2. The vehicle according to the preceding claim characterised in that the receiving device (13) is supported by the other seat (3) between which is positioned the free zone (6) of the platform (2).

3. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised 25 in that the retaining system (9) is a three-point retaining system wherein the retaining belt (11), once the closing buckle (12) is connected to the receiving device (13, 15), is intended to define a diagonal strap (16), a horizontal strap (17) both connected to the receiving device (13, 15) defining a common anchoring point.

4. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterisedin that the winding device (10) of the retaining belt (11) is positioned on a portion of the backrest (4) of the seat (3) at a height such that it is, in use, above a shoulder of the passenger.

5. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the anchor (14) of the retaining belt (11) is located at a side (5a) of the sitting part (5) of the seat (3).

6. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the receiving device (13, 15) is positioned along a side (5a) of the sitting part (5) of the seat (3) on which it is installed, opposite to the anchor (14) of the retaining belt (11).

7. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, with reference to the zone (6) dedicated to the positioning of the wheelchair (8), the distance between the receiving device (13) and the anchor (14) of the retaining belt (11) is greater than the transversal dimensions of the wheelchair (8).

8. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a device (18) for inhibiting the use of the seat (3) supporting the winding device (10) of the retaining belt (11 ), if the retaining belt (11 ) is in use for the passenger seated in the wheelchair (8).

9. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the retaining system (9) is switchable for a passenger positioned on the seat (3) which supports the winding device (10) of the retaining belt (11 ), if it is not in use for the passenger seated on the wheelchair (8).

10. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the anchoring means (7) comprise two pairs ofbrackets (19) installed on the platform (2), a front pair and a rear pair, and a plurality of belts (20), each constrained to a respective bracket (19) and provided with an anchoring element (21) intended to be connected to the wheelchair (8).

11. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is in the form of a van, minibus, automobile, ambulance.

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