WO2009140714A1

WO2009140714A1 - Vehicle mounted, wheelchair boarding apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2009140714A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000286
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Denis Zisti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-20
Filing date: 2009-03-12
Publication date: 2009-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-20
Also published as: AU2008202212B2; WO2009140714A9; AU2008202212A1

Abstract

A vehicle mounted wheelchair boarding apparatus has a ramp (24) connected to the body (22) of the vehicle by pivot assembly (26) at a location intermediate the front and rear of the body. The ramp (24) extends to the rear of the body and terminates in a ground engageable edge (28). There are actuating means (30) for pivotally moving the ramp (24) between a horizontal position and a lowered position where the edge (28) engages the ground, hi use, a wheelchair (32) can be manoeuvred immediately behind the body for wheeling up the ramp (24) when in the lowered position and can be transported on the ramp when in the horizontal position.

Description

VEHICLE MOU NTED. WHEELCHAIR BOARDING APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wheelchair boarding apparatus for use in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

It is often difficult for people with physical disabilities to board vehicles. This is a particular challenge for people in wheelchairs who are unable to temporarily lift themselves from the wheelchair and must remain seated for boarding the vehicle. Although it is possible for a carer to manually lift a person from their wheelchair, seat the person in the vehicle and then locate the wheelchair in the vehicle's storage area, this is a laborious task and one that poses a safety risk to both the person in the wheelchair and the carer. It can only be performed by carers who have sufficient strength and training, and adds to the time the vehicle takes to reach a destination.

In an attempt to address these problems, some vehicles have been modified to include a ramp system for enabling people in wheelchairs to board from the rear of the vehicle. Such ramp systems have generally comprised a single ramp that is pivotally connected to a mounting location at the very rear of the vehicle and can pivot between an upright position when not in use and a lowered or ground engaging position when in use. The ramp may be raised and lowered either manually or automatically by suitable motorised actuator, but has the disadvantage that, when lowered, it protrudes a considerable distance from the rear of the vehicle, and so can only be effectively used where there is sufficient space behind the vehicle. This space is required , not only for allowing the ramp to be lowered to the ground, but for allowing the wheelchair to be manoeuvred behind the ramp for subsequent climbing up the ramp. This severely restricts the circumstances in which such vehicle mounted ramp systems can be used, particularly in relation to finding suitable parking space. A further disadvantage of such ramp systems is the obstruction to the line of a driver's sight through the rear window of the vehicle which the ramp presents when in the upright position. A still further disadvantage arises when the vehicle, without a wheelchair passenger on board , is needed to carry items in the storage area, in which event the ramp must first be lowered to load the items.

SUMMARY OF I NVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the shortcomings and problems of the prior art.

According to the present invention, there is provided a wheelchair boarding apparatus for use in a vehicle, the vehicle including a body, the apparatus comprising. -

(a) a ramp connected to the body by pivot means at a location intermediate a front and a rear of the body, the ramp extending to the rear of the body and terminating in a ground engagable edge, and,

(b) actuating means for pivotally moving the ramp between a horizontal position and a lowered position where the edge engages the ground, wherein, in use, a wheelchair can be manoeuvred immediately behind the body for wheeling up the ramp when in the lowered position and can be transported on the ramp when in the horizontal position.

Preferably, the actuating means comprises a pair of motor operated arm assemblies, each assembly including an extendable and retractable arm.

It is preferred that the actuating means is operated by an up-down switch.

In a preferred form, the ramp defines a floor of a storage area of the vehicle, and the up-down switch is located on a side wall of the storage area.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a ramp door that defines a rear wall of the storage area of the vehicle, the ramp door being openable and closable by hinge means along a vertical axis to allow access of the wheelchair to and from the ramp.

In a further preferred form, the apparatus includes a kill switch that is pressed when the ramp door is closed , the pressed switch being adapted to kill the operation of the actuating means.

The apparatus may further include means for restraining movement of the wheelchair when the ramp is in the horizontal position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a body and a wheelchair boarding apparatus, the apparatus comprising a ramp connected to the body by pivot means at a location intermediate a front and a rear of the body, the ramp extending to the rear of the body and terminating in a ground engagable edge, and actuating means for pivotally moving the ramp between a horizontal position and a lowered position where the edge engages the ground, wherein, in use, a wheelchair can be manoeuvred immediately behind the body for wheeling up the ramp when in the lowered position and can be transported on the ramp when in the horizontal position. BRI EF DESCRI PTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle showing a wheelchair boarding apparatus including a ramp system of the prior art,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the vehicle of Fig. 1 and showing a person in a wheelchair using the prior art apparatus to board the vehicle,

Fig. 3 is a side view of a vehicle showing a wheelchair boarding apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the ramp door open, and showing a person in a wheelchair about to use the apparatus to board the vehicle,

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the vehicle of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the locations, and enlarged views, of the up-down switch and the kill switch of the apparatus used in the vehicle shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the ramp door open and the ramp in the lowered position,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, partly cut-away, view of the rear of the vehicle shown in Fig. 6 showing the internal locations of the actuating means and the pivot means for the ramp, and showing a person in a wheelchair about to use the apparatus to board the vehicle,

Fig. 8 is a further enlarged view of the pivot means shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a further enlarged view of the actuating means shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 1 0 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the person in a wheelchair using the apparatus to board the vehicle,

Fig. 1 1 is a view similar to Fig. 1 O showing the person in a wheelchair in the vehicle, and showing the ramp in a horizontal position,

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 1 1 showing the ramp door closed,

Fig. 13 is a further enlarged view of the rear of the vehicle shown in Fig. 12 showing a ramp safety holder,

Fig. 14 is an isolated side view of part of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 to 13 with the ramp shown in a horizontal position,

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 with the ramp shown in a lowered position,

Fig. 1 6 is an isolated rear view of part of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 to 1 3 with the ramp shown in a horizontal position, and

Fig. 1 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 6 with the ramp shown in a lowered position.

MODES FOR CARRYI NG OUT THE INVENTION

The vehicle 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has mounted thereon a wheelchair boarding apparatus of the prior art. A ramp system of that apparatus enables people in wheelchairs to board from the rear of the vehicle, and a single ramp 12 of that system is pivotally connected to a mounting location at the very rear of the vehicle. The ramp can pivot between an upright or generally vertical position (not shown) when not in use, and a lowered or ground engaging position (see Figs. 1 and 2) when in use. In this example, the ramp 12 is raised and lowered automatically by a suitable motorised actuator located beneath the ramp. When lowered, the ramp protrudes a considerable distance from the rear of the vehicle and so the vehicle needs to be parked in an area where there is sufficient space behind the vehicle both to allow the ramp to be lowered to the ground and to allow the wheelchair to be manoeuvred behi nd the ramp for subsequent climbing up the ramp (as shown in Fig . 2). The numerous disadvantages of such a ramp system were d escribed earlier in this specification.

The aforementioned disadvantages are overcome by the present invention , a preferred embodiment of which is shown in Figs. 3 to 1 7.

The vehicle 20 has a body 22 and a wheelchair boarding apparatus mounted thereon . The apparatus has a ramp 24 connected to the body 22 by pivot means 26 at a location intermed iate a front and a rear of the body. The ramp 24 extends to the rear of the body 22 and terminates in a ground engageable edge 28.

The ramp 24 is pivotally moveable by actuating means 30 between a horizontal positron (see Figs. 3 and 4) and a lowered position (see Fig . 6) where the edge 28 engages the ground . In use, a wheelchair 32 can be manoeuvred immed iately behind the body 22 for wheeling up the ramp 24 when in the lowered position , and can be transported on the ramp when in the horizontal position .

Figs. 3 and 4 show the vehicle 20 with its hatch door 34 opened and with a ramp door 36 of the wheelchair boarding apparatus also opened . The ramp door 36, when closed , defines a rear wall of a storage area of the vehicle, whilst the ramp 24, when i n the horizontal position , defines a floor of the storage area of the vehicle. The ramp door 36 is openable and closeable by hinge means along a vertical axis to allow access of the wheelchair to and from the ramp but only, of course, when the ramp is i n the lowered position.

Fig . 5 shows an up-down switch 40 for operating the actuating means 30, the up-down switch being located on a side wal l of the storage area. Fig . 5 also shows a kill switch 42 that is pressed down by the closing of the ramp door 36 so as to kill the operation of the actuating means 30.

As shown in Figs. 7, 9 to 12 , and 14 to 17, the actuati ng means 30 includes a pair of motor operated arm assemblies 44, 46, with each assembly having an extendable and retractable arm 48 , 50, respectively.

In order to move the ramp to its lowered position, a user, such as the driver of the vehicle or the carer of a person in a wheelchair, opens the hatch door 34 and then opens the ramp door 36, before pressing the down part of the up-down switch 40 to lower the ramp (see Figs. 6 and 7).

The wheelchair can then be wheeled up the ramp (see Fig. 10), and the up part of the up-down switch 40 can be pressed to raise the ramp to its horizontal position, thereby also orientati ng the wheelchair to a horizontal position in readiness for transporting the person in the wheelchair (see Fig . 1 1 ). Means for restraining movement of the wheelchair may then be put into effect

The ramp door 36 is then closed, thereby pressing down on the kill switch 42 and so kil ling the operation of the actuating means for however long the ramp door is closed . The ki ll switch 42, when pressed down, cuts a power supply circuit to the motor operated arm assemblies 44, 46. The hatch door 34 is then closed and the vehicle is free to d rive away (see Fig . 12).

There is a ramp safety holder 46 (see Fig. 13) mounted to the bottom of the ramp door which has a forwardly extending support arm 48 that prevents the ramp from loweri ng to the g round in the event of any malfunction of the actuating means duri ng transportation .

Figs. 14 to 1 7 show the extended and retracted positions of the arms 48 , 50 of the motor operated arm assemblies 44, 46 that guide movement of the ramp about pivot means 26.

The motor operated arm assemblies 44, 46 are, in this example, linear actuators which convert low DC voltage of, say, 12 volts, into a linear movement. Each assembly i ncludes a motor, a gear arrangement and a spindle arm that is extendable from, and retractable into, an aluminium housing. Each assembly is pivotaϋy mounted to the body of the vehicle. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the wheelchair boarding apparatus described above without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A wheelchair boarding apparatus for use in a vehicle, the vehicle including a body, the apparatus comprising:-

(b) actuating means for pivotally moving the ramp between a horizontal position and a lowered position where the edge engages the ground , wherein, in use, a wheelchair can be manoeuvred immediately behind the body for wheeling up the ramp when in the lowered position and can be transported on the ramp when in the horizontal position.

2. The wheelchair boarding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuating means comprises a pair of motor operated arm assemblies, each assembly including an extendable and retractable arm.

3. The wheelchair boarding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuating means is operated by an up-down switch.

4. The wheelchair boarding apparatus of claim 3 wherein the ramp defines a floor of a storage area of the vehicle, and the up-down switch is located on a side wall of the storage area.

5. The wheelchair boarding apparatus of claim 4 wherein the apparatus includes a ramp door that defines a rear wall of the storage area of the vehicle, 1 O

the ramp door being operable and closable by hinge means along a vertical axis to allow access of the wheelchai r to and from the ramp.

6. The wheelchair boarding apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus includes a kill switch that is pressed when the ramp door is closed , the pressed switch being adapted to kill the operation of the actuating means.

7. The wheelchair boarding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus i ncludes means for restraining movement of the wheelchair when the ramp is i n the horizontal position.

8. A vehicle comprising a body and a wheelchair boarding apparatus, the apparatus comprising a ramp connected to the body by pivot means at a location i ntermediate a front and a rear of the body, the ramp extending to the rear of the body and terminating in a ground engagable edge, and actuating means for pivotally moving the ramp between a horizontal position and a lowered position where the edge engages the g round , wherei n, in use, a wheelchair can be manoeuvred immediately behi nd the body for wheeling up the ramp when in the lowered position and can be transported on the ramp when in the horizontal position.