GB2322352A

GB2322352A - Wheelchair stowage apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2322352A
Application number: GB9803405A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Leslie Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-19
Filing date: 1998-02-19
Publication date: 1998-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-19
Also published as: GB9703440D0; GB9803405D0; GB2322352B

Abstract

Wheelchair stowage apparatus for stowing a wheelchair in a load-carrying compartment 12 at the rear of a motor vehicle comprises a substantially U-shaped lifting arm 14 pivotally connected, about a substantially horizontal axis, to a mounting member 18 which is located within the load-carrying compartment. The mounting member 18 is rotatably mounted, about a vertical or near-vertical axis, on a saddle member 28, this saddle member 28 being slidably mounted in guides 30, which may be inclined. The lifting arm 14 also includes a telescopic portion (24, figures 7,8). The wheelchair may rest against a stop member 32, and the position of this stop member, together with the inclination of the guides 30 may be adjusted depending on the size and type of wheelchair. The U-shaped lifting arm 14 is pivoted so that the wheelchair can exit the compartment (figures 1 to 2), and the mounting member 18 then slides along the guides 30 (this figure). Thereafter the lifting arm 14 is pivoted so that the wheelchair approaches the ground (figures 4 and 6), and is then rotated so that the wheelchair is transferred from the rear of the vehicle to rest alongside the vehicle (figure 7). Finally the telescopic arm extends so that the wheelchair is transferred to rest next to the driver's door of the vehicle (figure 8).

Description

Wheelchair stowage apparatus The invention relates to wheelchair stowage apparatus for fitment to motor vehicles used by disabled persons.

A particular problem to a disabled driver is that of stowing his or her wheelchair in a motor vehicle and of gaining access to it once more when the vehicle has been parked, this being a very serious problem to a disabled driver completely unable to walk or able to walk only with great difficulty. Various attempts to solve this problem have previously been made but none has been completely successful. For example, in one earlier proposal a wheelchair has been stowed in an openable box structure mounted on the roof of a motor vehicle, power operated means being provided for stowing the wheelchair in the box structure or for unloading it therefrom when required for use. This arrangement has worked very well and has proved to be very reliable in use, but has the major disadvantage of being somewhat obtrusive, this being something which many disabled drivers find particularly objectionable. A further drawback to such an arrangement is that the box structure mounted on the roof of the vehicle produces considerable wind resistance and destroys the smooth flow of air over the vehicle as it is driven, this causing considerable drag, particularly at higher speeds, and resulting in impaired performance and higher fuel costs which disabled drivers also find irksome.

Other earlier proposals have involved the stowage of a wheelchair in the load-carrying compartment of a motor vehicle, these arrangements having the advantage of being unobtrusive and not affecting the aerodynamics and running costs of the vehicle, but generally being unduly complex in their design and/or difficult to install, resulting both in relatively high production costs for the apparatus concerned and also relatively high installation costs.

According to the invention, wheelchair stowage apparatus for stowing a wheelchair in the load-carrying compartment of a motor vehicle includes a generally U-shaped lifting arm pivotally connected, about a substantially horizontal axis, to a mounting member located within said compartment, and said mounting member being rotatably mounted for rotational adjustment about a vertical or near vertical axis on a saddle member slidably mounted, for movement generally forwardly or rearwardly of the vehicle, in guides located within the load-carrying compartment, said lifting arm having a first bar portion extending from said pivotal connection, a cross bar portion substantially at right angles to said first bar portion, and a telescopic portion extending substantially in parallel to said first bar portion, the arrangement being such that, from a fully stowed position within said load-carrying compartment, the wheelchair can be brought to a position within reach of the disabled driver of the vehicle in four stages of movement, that is to say a first stage of movement comprising the opening of the door of the loadcarrying compartment and a rearward movement of the saddle member to effect an initial rearward movement of the wheelchair within the load-carrying compartment of the vehicle; a second stage comprising a pivotal movement of the lifting arm to bring the wheelchair to a lowered position immediately behind the vehicle but facing transversely thereof; a third stage comprising a rotational movement of the mounting member on the saddle member to bring the wheelchair to a position alongside the vehicle and facing forwardly thereof, but still in the region of the rear of said vehicle; and a fourth stage comprising an extension of the telescopic portion of the lifting arm to bring the wheelchair to a position within reach of the disabled driver. The lifting arm may be provided with a stop member against which the wheelchair can rest when stowed in the load-carrying compartment of the vehicle. Said stop member may be adjustable in relation to the other parts of the lifting arm to facilitate the manner in which the apparatus can be fitted in different makes of vehicle of the hatchback or estate type. The guides on which the saddle member is mounted may be upwardly inclined towards an upstanding sill at the rear of the load-carrying compartment of the vehicle; the angle of inclination may be adjustable to facilitate the manner in which the apparatus can be fitted in different makes of vehicle of the hatchback or estate type. Means will preferably be provided for raising the wheelchair from the ground, or for taking at least a part of its weight onto the apparatus, before a re-loading cycle is started (or in other words to add a fifth stage of movement to the unloading cycle, this being a lowering or weight relieving movement when in reach of the disabled driver). Such means may be constituted by means for tilting the guides on which the saddle member is mounted, in this case transversely of the vehicle.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example only, one particular embodiment of the invention : Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a motor vehicle fitted with apparatus embodying the invention, and shows a wheelchair, in folded condition, which has thereby been stowed within the rear load-carrying compartment of the vehicle, and Figures 2 to 8 are views which illustrate the apparatus in various stages of use to bring the wheelchair to a position in reach of the disabled driver of the vehicle.

Referring now in particular to Figure 1 of the drawings, the motor vehicle there illustrated is shown to have a rear load-carrying compartment, generally indicated 10, in which a wheelchair W, in folded condition, has been stowed by apparatus embodying the invention. As shown, in this particular installation, during transport of the wheelchair, a part of its weight is supported by one of its wheels resting on the floor of the load-carrying compartment.

The apparatus embodying the invention, for producing the required movements to bring the wheelchair to a position within reach of the driver of the vehicle, includes a generally U-shaped lifting arm 14 pivotally connected, at 16, about a substantially horizontal axis, to a mounting member 18. The lifting arm has a first bar portion 20 extending from the pivotal connection at 16, a cross bar portion 22, and a telescopic portion 24 extending substantially in parallel to said first bar portion.

The mounting member 18 is rotatably mounted, for rotational adjustment about an upstanding (ie vertical or near vertical) axis 26 (see Figure 4) on a saddle member 28, the latter being slidably mounted, for movement generally forwardly or rearwardly of the vehicle, in guides 30. (In the drawings the guides 30 are shown to be arranged at an angle approximately 150 to the horizontal, but this angle can be adjusted to suite a particular installation, in particular the depth of the sill at the rear of the load-carrying compartment of the vehicle concerned). Remotely controlled power means for opening the rear door of the vehicle, for rotating the mounting member 18 on the saddle member, for moving the latter forwardly or rearwardly along its guides 30, and for pivoting the lifting arm 14 about the pivot 16, are not shown.

In use of the apparatus, a first stage in the unloading of the wheelchair is brought about by the opening of the rear door 12 of the vehicle and the bringing of the wheelchair to the rear of the load-carrying compartment, this movement being effected in two components, that is to say in a first component which involves the lifting and pivoting of the wheelchair on the lifting arm to the position shown in Figure 2, and a second component which involves the rearward sliding of the saddle member 28 along the guides 30 to move the wheelchair, still supported solely by the lifting arm, to the position shown in Figure 3. A second stage of movement is brought about by the pivoting of the lifting arm 14 about its pivotal connection 16 (see Figures 4 to 6), this bringing the wheelchair to a lowered position immediately behind the vehicle, but facing transversely thereof. A third stage of movement is brought about by rotating the mounting member 18 on saddle member 28 and by simultaneously sliding the latter forwardly of the vehicle along the guides 30 (see Figure 7), this bringing the wheelchair to a position alongside the vehicle and facing forwardly thereof, but still in the region of the rear of the vehicle. A fourth stage of movement is brought about by extending the telescopic portion 24 of the lifting arm so that the wheelchair is brought within reach of the disabled driver sitting in the vehicle (see Figure 8).

The re-loading of the wheelchair is effected by the reverse movements of those just described and it will be understood that when the wheelchair is being lifted into the load-carrying compartment of the vehicle, initially hanging down from its point of connection to the lifting arm, its abutment against the stop member 32 as the lifting arm is rotated (see Figure 4) will prevent it striking the rear bumper bar of the vehicle. For this reason, the stop member is adjustable in position on said lifting arm to facilitate the fitment of the apparatus to different makes of vehicle of the hatchback or estate type.

It should be noted that the various motions required to load or unload the wheelchair may not necessarily be performed in their entirety in the exact sequence previously described. For example, the pivoting of the lifting arm 14 about its pivotal connection 16 to bring the wheelchair to its lowered position immediately behind the vehicle may not necessarily lower the wheelchair to the ground. A final pivoting of the lifting arm to lower the wheelchair to the ground could constitute a fifth stage of movement after the wheelchair has been brought within reach of the disabled driver sitting in the vehicle (and re-loading of the wheelchair may well be effected by the reverse movements to those just described). Other of the essential movements previously described may be performed in stages where this best suits the installation of the apparatus in a particular motor vehicle.

Thus there is provided wheelchair stowage apparatus which it is thought will be an improvement on previously known apparatus in several respects. It is relatively unobtrusive and, having relatively few moving parts, is likely to be very reliable in use and simple to instal in most hatchback or estate type vehicles.

However, various modifications may be made. For example, means could be provided for raising the wheelchair from the ground, or for taking at least a part of its weight onto the apparatus, before the re-loading cycle is started. This could be done in various ways, for example by mounting the guides 30 for the saddle member 28 on a base plate capable of being tilted by remotely controlled power means. In apparatus intended for fitment to an estate type vehicle not having an upstanding sill at the rear of the load-carrying compartment, the guides 30 need not be upwardly inclined.

The manner in which the wheelchair can be connected to and disconnected from the lifting arm has not been described because this will depend on the design of the wheelchair and will be no problem to a person skilled in the art. A simple resilient hook-like connection will generally be appropriate, or the telescopic portion of the lifting arm may simply be connected to or engaged beneath a central strap element of the wheelchair for example.

Claims

1. Wheelchair stowage apparatus for stowing a wheelchair in the load-carrying compartment of a motor vehicle, the apparatus including a generally U-shaped lifting arm pivotally connected, about a substantially horizontal axis, to a mounting member located within said compartment, and said mounting member being rotatably mounted for rotational adjustment about a vertical or near vertical axis on a saddle member slidably mounted, for movement generally forwardly or rearwardly of the vehicle, in guides located within the load-carrying compartment, said lifting arm having a first bar portion extending from said pivotal connection, a cross bar portion substantially at right angles to said first bar portion, and a telescopic portion extending substantially in parallel to said first bar portion, the arrangement being such that, from a fully stowed position within said load-carrying compartment, the wheelchair can be brought to a position within reach of the disabled driver of the vehicle in four stages of movement, that is to say a first stage of movement comprising the opening of the door of the loadcarrying compartment and a rearward movement of the saddle member to effect an initial rearward movement of the wheelchair within the load-carrying compartment of the vehicle; a second stage comprising a pivotal movement of the lifting arm to bring the wheelchair to a lowered position immediately behind the vehicle but facing transversely thereof; a third stage comprising a rotational movement of the mounting member on the saddle member to bring the wheelchair to a position alongside the vehicle and facing forwardly thereof, but still in the region of the rear of said vehicle; and a fourth stage comprising an extension of the telescopic portion of the lifting arm to bring the wheelchair to a position within reach of the disabled driver.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the lifting arm is provided with a stop member against which the wheelchair can rest when stowed in the load-carrying compartment of the vehicle.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the stop member is adjustable in relation to the other parts of the lifting arm to facilitate the manner in which the apparatus can be fitted in different makes of vehicle of the hatchback or estate type.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the guides on which the saddle member is mounted are upwardly inclined towards an upstanding sill at the rear of the load-carrying compartment of the vehicle,

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the angle of inclination of the guides on which the saddle member is mounted is adjustable to facilitate the manner in which the apparatus can be fitted in different makes of vehicle of the hatchback or estate type.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which means are provided for raising the wheelchair from the ground, or for taking at least a part of its weight onto the apparatus, before a re-loading cycle is started (or in other words to add a fifth stage of movement to the unloading cycle, this being a lowering or weight relieving movement when in reach of the disabled driver).

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the means provided for raising the wheelchair from the ground, or for taking at least a part of its weight onto the apparatus, are constituted by means for tilting the guides on which the saddle member is mounted.

8. Wheelchair stowage apparatus for stowing a wheelchair in the load-carrying compartment at the rear of a motor vehicle, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.