AU720927B2 - Vehicle interior conversion - Google Patents

Description

WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -1- TITLE: VEHICLE INTERIOR CONVERSION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle interior conversion structure or system that is adapted for easy removal from a base vehicle to which it has been fitted, at completion of the vehicle's duty cycle, for subsequent refitting to a new base vehicle, ideally with minimal impact on the base vehicle structure.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in conversion of commercially available vans or four wheel drive vehicles for use as ambulances, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is equally adaptable to other similar vehicle interior applications, such as mobile blood collection or dental units, where hygiene and cleanliness are major concerns and reuse of the costly interior fitout and/or easy resale of the used base vehicle is highly desirable.

BACKGROUND ART In the past, conversion or fitting out of commercially available vehicles into ambulances, has usually been achieved through an in-situ build up of the new interior, by individually securing a large number of separate and distinct sub-structures to the stripped interior of the existing vehicle body. This is normally done using a large number of bracket members, separately securable support struts, anchoring devices and the like. The sub-structures would typically comprise a large number of separate side wall components, cupboards, panels, plattens, and other fixtures such as shelves, workstations etc. The anchorage points and harnesses for the various items of WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -2removable equipment usually present in an ambulance, would also normally be connected directly to the vehicle itself.

Typically, with ambulances and other such vehicles which have similarly high levels of utilisation, the acceptable operating life or duty cycle of the vehicle running gear will be substantially less than the potential life of the interior conversion componentary, due in main to the need to ensure base vehicle reliability, safety and efficiency.

Up to now, it has not generally been economically viable to strip down a converted ambulance vehicle and reuse the majority of internal conversion componentary. This has been due in part both to the prohibitive skilled labour costs involved in the complex dismantling and reassembly processes, and to concerns regarding the integrity of the reassembled unit and damage or contamination that could occur in the transfer process. Furthermore, once the old vehicle body has been stripped of the individually connected internal fittings, it is not then in a condition ready or suitable for immediate resale as a used vehicle.

Another disadvantage of the prior art conversion systems, which is particularly applicable to ambulances, is that the mounting and assembly of a large number of separate individual components, results in a correspondingly large number of joining edges and crevices. For the purposes of good hygiene through facilitating effective cleaning and prevention of entrapment of contaminated body fluids and the like, it is necessary to ensure these individual joins are adequately sealed. This further adds to the problems and costs associated with dismantling and reassembly.

WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -3- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved vehicle interior conversion which will overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above discussed disadvantages of the prior art.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular re-useable vehicle rear cab interior conversion including: a fully moulded left hand longitudinally extending wall panel of a height extending from an upper edge adjacent a side wall and/or a roof portion of the vehicle and terminating in a lower longitudinally extending peripheral sealing edge at or adjacent a floor of the vehicle; a fully moulded right hand longitudinally extending wall panel of a height extending from an upper edge adjacent a side wall and/or the roof portion of the vehicle and terminating in a lower longitudinally extending peripheral sealing edge at or adjacent the floor of the vehicle; a centre floor panel having two longitudinally extending sealing edges, said centre floor panel being adapted on fitment to be disposed intermediate said right and left hand wall panels to retain said right and left hand wall panels in the vehicle by sealing connection of a lower sealing edge on each of said left and right hand wall panel lower sealing edges with the respective longitudinal sealing edges of said centre floor panel.

Ideally, the sealing connection of the centre floor panel with the left hand and right hand wall panels includes a sealing strip fixed to and overhanging each of the longitudinal edges of the centre floor panel, which in use overlie the corresponding WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -4lower sealing edges of the respective wall panels, so as to simultaneously retain the wall panels in the vehicle by securement of the centre panel to the vehicle floor.

Desirably, one of said left or right hand wall panels extends from the floor to the roof portion to form a full length wall panel, and the other of said wall panels extends only up to or adjacent the lower edge of a window disposed in the side of the vehicle to form a lower wall panel.

Preferably, the lower wall panel includes an integrally formed mounting portion adapted to mount a seat. In the preferred form the lower wall is positioned on the side of the vehicle which minimises driver blind spots and enables a driver to communicate easily with personnel in the seat in the rear cab.

Preferably, the lower wall has, at its end to be located adjacent the rear of the vehicle, an emergency equipment storage area in the form of a box formation also approximately the width of a standard seat. Ideally the storage formation includes an opening that allows direct access from a rear door of the vehicle without the need to enter the rear cab.

In a preferred form, the surface of the lower wall extends in smooth transition from the rear of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, commencing with the rear storage compartment, then the mounting portion, then a flat floor surface level with the centre floor panel, followed by a base moulding and mounting platform for a workstation.

Desirably, horizontally extending moulded surfaces of the lower wall and the floor panel are configured to provide a base design with the mounting portion and only the lower portions of the rear storage compartment and front workstation. In this manner, various separately manufactured additional workstation cupboards and WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 storage racks or modules can be attached on to this base, to readily facilitate tailoring of the fitout to specific customer requirements.

Preferably, the floor panel is provided with a stretcher floor lock assembly such that in use, the floor panel is secured to the vehicle floor or chassis via the stretcher floor lock assembly engaging a suitable anchoring means on the vehicle floor or chassis.

In a preferred form, the right hand wall panel extends from the roof portion to the floor of the vehicle and is designed to comprise in its majority portion one single moulding defining a number of various storage areas to which separately manufactured doors, brackets and the like can be attached. Ideally, this wall panel is designed for carrying oxygen and as a general storage facility and the electrical circuitry is pre-fitted thereto so as again to minimise the physical impact on the base vehicle.

Optionally, a separate roof panel may also be provided.

Preferably, each of the panels are configured with smoothly curved surfaces to facilitate easy cleaning of the vehicle and prevent entrapment of contaminated fluids.

One particularly preferred embodiment of the invention as described hereinafter is designed specifically for use in the relatively compact interior of a standard Toyota Series LANDCRUISERTM eleven seater four wheel drive wagon.

Ideally, the interior conversion is capable of being packaged in a kit form for dispatch to remote areas for convenient installation into the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -6- Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a left hand lower side wall and floor panel module in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a right hand side wall panel module in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a schematic rear end view of the right hand side wall panel shown in figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic plan view showing the left hand panel module, right hand panel module and centre floor panel in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic rear end view of the full assembly shown in figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown a modular vehicle rear cab interior assembly 1 for a Toyota LANDCRUISER T M four wheel drive vehicle shown generally at 2. The conversion assembly 1 comprises a first fully moulded left hand longitudinally extending wall panel module 3, a second fully moulded right hand longitudinally extending wall panel module 4, and an intermediate centre floor panel An optional roof panel 6 is also illustrated.

The left hand wall panel 3 preferably extends from a height at or adjacent the side window level of the vehicle, or at a point on the side wall adapted for securement of the original vehicle side panels down the left hand side wall and across the left hand portion of the floor, terminating at a lower longitudinally extending peripheral sealing edge 7.

WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -7- The right hand side panel 4 preferably extends the fuill height of the vehicle from its upper edge 8 at or adjacent the vehicle roof portion 9, down to a lower longitudinally extending peripheral sealing edge 10 at or adjacent the vehicle floor 12.

The centre panel 5 includes a sealing strip at each of its longitudinal peripheral sealing edges 13, which in use each overhang the corresponding lower sealing edges 7 and 10 of the respective side wall modules, thereby simultaneously sealing and retaining the wall panels in the vehicle by securement of the centre panel 5 to the vehicle floor 12.

In the preferred form, the left hand lower side wall and floor panel module 3 has, at its end adjacent the rear of the vehicle, an emergency equipment storage area in the form of a compartment formation shown generally at 14. Ideally, this storage formation is open at the back for direct access from the rear door of the vehicle without the need to enter the vehicle cabin.

In this preferred form, the moulding surface of the left hand module 3 extends in smooth transition from the rear end of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, commencing firstly with the rear storage compartment 14, adjacent which is a raised seat mounting 15. Immediately in front of the seat mounting is a flat floor surface 16 which is approximately level with the centre floor panel. Ahead of the floor surface 16 is provided a base moulding and/or mounting platform for a workstation 17.

Desirably, the horizontally extending moulding surfaces of this lower wall and floor module are configured to provide a base design having a raised seat mounting and the lower portions only of the rear storage compartment 14 and front workstation 17 defined. In this manner, various separately manufactured additional workstation WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -8cupboards and storage racks or modules can be attached on to this base, to readily facilitate tailoring of the fitout to specific customer requirements.

The centre panel 5 is preferably secured to the base vehicle body or chassis via a stretcher floor lock assembly (not shown) which is provided thereon, and which is secured to a suitable anchoring point on the vehicle floor or chassis.

The right hand wall panel 4 is designed to be formed in its majority portion as one single moulding defining a number of various storage areas as shown in figure 2, to which separately manufactured doors, brackets and the like can be attached.

Ideally, the electrical circuitry is pre-fitted to this and/or the other modules prior to fitting into the vehicle, so as to minimise the physical impact on the base vehicle.

Preferably, all of the base panels and additional modules or componentary connected thereto, are configured with smoothly curved surfaces to facilitate easy cleaning of the vehicle and to minimise the likelihood of entrapment of contaminated fluids.

In use, each of the two wall panel modules are pre-assembled with additional storage compartments, doors, electrical circuitry and the like prior to fitment in the vehicle. The conversion is effected by first positioning the left hand and right hand wall panels in the vehicle interior. In the case of the left hand module which, preferably, includes the seating mount, the panel will be secured in part to the vehicle chassis via anchorage of the seat through the panel to the vehicle substructure. The right hand panel is similarly retained at only a minimum number of anchorage points.

The centre flooring section 5 is then fitted into the vehicle as the third phase of the assembly and acts to lock the left and right modules into the vehicle. This is achieved by firstly pushing the wall modules adjacent the vehicle walls by placement WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -9of the centre flooring section. The left and right hand modules are then locked into position from above by subsequent securement of the centre flooring section to the vehicle floor via the stretcher floor lock assembly which passes through the flooring section to the vehicle base 12 below. Sealing interconnection of the three modular units is achieved via compression fitting of the sealing strips 13 on the centre floor panel over the corresponding sealing edges 7 and 10 of the left hand and right hand modules respectively.

As will be apparent, the invention provides a means by which fitting and dismantling can be achieved with minimum disruption to both the base vehicle and to the componentary of the modules themselves. This means that the base vehicles can, after completion of its duty cycle, be stripped of the major assemblies showing little effect and remain presentable for resale. The concept also allows ready transfer of the used componentary to a new base vehicle in a reduced turn around time, thereby minimising down time for the vehicle out of the customer's fleet.

The concept of the three major assembly modules also provides a means of offering a vehicle fitout kit for potential export territories, with the base vehicle providing local content and a subsequent fitout requiring minimum technical understanding.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (17)

1. A modular re-useable vehicle rear cab interior conversion including: a fully moulded left hand longitudinally extending wall panel of a height extending from an upper edge adjacent a side wall and/or a roof portion of the vehicle and terminating in a lower longitudinally extending peripheral sealing edge at or adjacent a floor of the vehicle; a fully moulded right hand longitudinally extending wall panel of a height extending from an upper edge adjacent a side wall and/or the roof portion of the vehicle and terminating in a lower longitudinally extending peripheral sealing edge at or adjacent the floor of the vehicle; a centre floor panel having two longitudinally extending sealing edges, said centre floor panel being adapted on fitment to be disposed intermediate said right and left hand wall panels to retain said right and left hand wall panels in the vehicle by sealing connection of a lower sealing edge on each of said left and right hand wall panel lower sealing edges with the respective longitudinal sealing edges of said centre floor panel.

2. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 1, wherein the sealing connection of the centre floor panel with the left hand and right hand wall panels includes a sealing strip fixed to and overhanging each of the longitudinal edges of the centre floor panel, which in use overlie the corresponding lower sealing edges of the respective wall panels, so as to simultaneously retain the wall panels in the vehicle by securement of the centre panel to the vehicle floor.

3. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 1, wherein one of said left or right hand wall panels extends from the floor to the roof portion to form a WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -11- full length wall panel, and the other of said wall panels extends only up to or adjacent the lower edge of a window disposed in the side of the vehicle to form a lower wall panel.

4. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 3, wherein the lower wall panel includes an integrally formed mounting portion adapted to mount a seat.

A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 4, wherein in use the lower wall is positioned on the side of the vehicle which minimises driver blind spots and enables a driver to communicate easily with personnel in the seat in the rear cab.

6. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 5, wherein the lower wall has, at its end to be located adjacent the rear of the vehicle, an emergency equipment storage area in the form of a box formation also approximately the width of a standard seat.

7. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 6, wherein the storage formation includes an opening that allows direct access from a rear door of the vehicle without the need to enter the rear cab.

8. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 6, wherein the surface of the lower wall extends in smooth transition from the rear of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, commencing with the rear storage compartment, then the mounting portion, then a flat floor surface level with the centre floor panel, followed by a base moulding and mounting platform for a workstation.

9. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 8, wherein horizontally extending moulded surfaces of the lower wall and the floor panel are configured to provide a base design with the mounting portion and only the lower portions of the rear storage compartment and front workstation.

WO 98/51532 PCT/AU98/00360 -12- A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the floor panel is provided with a stretcher floor lock assembly such that in use, the floor panel is secured to the vehicle floor or chassis via the stretcher floor lock assembly engaging a suitable anchoring means on the vehicle floor or chassis.

11. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to any one of claims 1 to wherein the right hand wall panel extends from the roof portion to the floor of the vehicle and is designed to comprise in its majority portion one single moulding defining a number of various storage areas to which separately manufactured doors, brackets and the like can be attached.

12. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 11, wherein the right hand wall panel is designed for carrying oxygen and has a general storage facility and electrical circuitry pre-fitted thereto so as again to minimise the physical impact on the vehicle.

13. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to any one of claims I to 12, wherein a separate roof panel is provided.

14. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to claim 13, wherein the left hand panel, the right hand panel, the floor panel and the roof panel are configured with smoothly curved surfaces to facilitate easy cleaning and prevent entrapment of contaminated fluids.

15. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the interior conversion is designed specifically for use in the relatively compact interior of a standard Toyota FJ75 Series LANDCRUISERTM eleven seater four wheel drive wagon. 13-

16. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion according to any one of claims 1 to wherein the interior conversion is capable of being packaged in a kit form for dispatch to remote areas for convenient installation into the vehicle.

17. A vehicle rear cab interior conversion substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED this 4th Day of April, 2000 JAKAB INDUSTRIES PTY LTD Attorney: KEN BOLTON Registered Patent Attorney of The Institute ot Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS a. o a* *l oo