EP4208139A1

EP4208139A1 - Vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP4208139A1
Application number: EP21772789.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wally Salvan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-09-04
Filing date: 2021-09-03
Publication date: 2023-07-12
Also published as: AU2020233648A1; CA3191618A1; FR3113828A1; US20230310236A1; CN116261441A; WO2022049252A1; FR3113828B1; ZA202303741B

Abstract

Said vehicle (2), which can be used by a physically disabled or an able-bodied person, in particular for sporting or leisure activities, comprises an integral plastic chair (4) and at least two main wheels (6), the chair (4) comprising a seat (40), a backrest (42) and lateral edges (43). The chair (4) has a recess (18) extending underneath the backrest (42) and the seat (40) and an opening passing through the chair (4) between the recess (18) and a rear portion of the backrest (42), the recess (18) and the opening being intended to receive a backrest of a chair (4) of a second identical vehicle positioned below said vehicle (2), in such a way that at least two identical vehicles (2) are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner.

Description

TITLE: Vehicle

The present invention relates to a vehicle that can be used by a physically handicapped or able-bodied person, in particular for sporting or leisure activities.

Leisure chairs for people with physical disabilities who move around, for example, in a wheelchair, are products that are generally bulky and difficult to store for storage or transport. Vehicles, such as for example wheelchairs, with a structure particularly suited to the practice of a sport such as basketball or rugby or tennis or a water sport, known from EP 2 498 741 comprise a rotomoulded seat and removable wheels . Such chairs have a large footprint, so that to store or transport chairs for an entire team sports team, a large floor space is required.

It is these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy by proposing a new vehicle making it possible to optimize the space on the ground necessary for storage or transport.

To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle that can be used by a physically handicapped or able-bodied person, in particular for sporting or leisure activities, comprising a seat made of one-piece plastic material and at least two main wheels, the seat comprising a seat, a backrest and side edges. This vehicle is characterized in that the seat has a cavity extending under the backrest and the seat and an opening passing through the seat between the cavity and a rear part of the backrest, the cavity and the opening being intended to receive a backrest a seat of a second identical vehicle positioned below said vehicle, so that at least two identical vehicles are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner.

Thanks to the invention, at least two vehicles can be stacked in a stable manner, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the space on the ground occupied by a set of vehicles, and therefore makes it possible to store them vertically in a storage space or in a vehicle. transport.

According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects, such a vehicle may incorporate one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically permissible combination:

The cavity comprises a curved surface facing downwards and whose shape is complementary to the curved shape of an upper edge of the side edges, and in the stacked configuration of two upper and lower vehicles respectively, the two curved surfaces of the upper vehicle rest on the upper edges of the side sills of the seat of the lower vehicle. The seat has, behind the backrest, a rounded storage space for the main wheels in a disassembled configuration.

The backrest has at least one through-hole having a flat, and the vehicle includes a screw through said at least one hole and a hub of the main wheels in the disassembled configuration and placed in the storage space, and maintaining the main wheels in the disassembled configuration fixed in the storage space.

The vehicle further comprises front rollers and rear rollers, which allow movement on the ground of this vehicle when the main wheels are in a disassembled configuration.

The main wheels are movable between:

• a mounted rolling configuration, in which each main wheel rotates around a respective central axis with respect to the vehicle, the vehicle being configured to rest on the ground via the main wheels, and

• a transport configuration, in which each main wheel is moved away from the corresponding seat according to a translation movement parallel to the corresponding central axis, whereas when at least two vehicles are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner, the main wheels of these vehicles being in the transport configuration, the main wheels of the vehicle located above the other form with the corresponding seat a housing for receiving the main wheels of the vehicle located below the other.

The vehicle further comprises front rollers and rear rollers, whereas when at least two identical vehicles are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner, the front and rear rollers of the lower vehicle allow the movement on the ground of the stack of vehicles.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of a vehicle, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[Fig 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle according to the invention, comprising main wheels in a mounted rolling configuration;

[Fig 2] Figure 2 is a side view of three vehicles, similar to that of Figure 1, stacked and whose main wheels are removed;

[Fig 3] Figure 3 is a rear view of the three vehicles of Figure 2; [Fig 4] Figure 4 is a section along the median plane IV of the three vehicles of Figures 2 and 3;

[Fig 5] Figure 5 is a rear view of the vehicle of Figure 1, two main wheels are removed and stored in a rear space;

[Fig 6] Figure 6 is a top view of the vehicle of Figure 5;

[Fig 7] Figure 7 is a section along the median plane VII of the vehicle of Figure 5;

[Fig 8] Figure 8 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure 5, equipped with large diameter main wheels stored in the rear space;

[Fig 9] Figure 9 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure 5, equipped with main wheels of reduced diameter stored in the rear space, and

[Fig 10] Figure 10 is a view from the rear of three vehicles, similar to that of Figure 1, stacked and whose main wheels are in a transport configuration.

The vehicle 2, as represented in FIG. 1, of the wheelchair type, can be used by a physically handicapped or able-bodied person, in particular for sporting or leisure activities. This vehicle 2 comprises a seat 4 for a user, the seat 4 comprising a seat 40, a backrest 42, and side edges 43 arranged on either side of the seat 40.

The backrest 42 has a through opening forming a handle 44.

The seat 4, made of plastic, is made from a single block. The seat 4 is for example produced by a process of the rotational molding type. The seat 4 can be made in series of different sizes. Seat sizes are for example made according to different wheel sizes, for example 22 inches, 24 inches, or 26 inches.

Optionally, a heating device, for example an electrical resistance, can be integrated into the seat 4. By using a seat 4 made of thermoformable polymer, this heating device makes it possible to produce a seat 4 adapted to each user by heating the seat beforehand. seat which then conforms to the morphology of the user.

In the present description, certain parts of the vehicle 2 are designated as being at the rear or at the front or at the top or at the bottom of the vehicle 2 or even on the lateral sides of the vehicle 2, these indications corresponding to a flat position of the vehicle 2 in which the user, resting on the seat 40 and the backrest 42, is facing forward. These positions of the vehicle 2 and of the user are however not limiting. The vehicle 2 can for example back up or be leaning to the side. The user can for example bend over or turn his chest.

The vehicle 2 comprises two main wheels 6, represented in FIG. 1 in a mounted rolling configuration, in which central axes X6 of rotation of the main wheels 6 are inclined with respect to the ground. Each central axis X6 is inclined with respect to the horizontal, forming a camber angle a. The camber angle a contributes in particular to the stability of the vehicle 2 during its movements on the ground. The main wheels 6 have hubs 60 which are hollow and intended to be mounted on an axle, not shown, which passes through the seat 4 under the seat 40. Each main wheel 6 is here mounted on the seat 4 by means of a respective rod 7 . Each rod 7 has an elongated shape, which extends along a respective central axis X6 when the corresponding main wheel 6 is in the mounted rolling configuration.

The vehicle 2 includes wheel supports 12 which are mounted in holes in the side flanges 43 and connected with the axle. Each wheel support 12 comprises an upper orifice 120 and a lower orifice 122, the upper orifice 120 being intended for the mounting of main wheels 6 of a size greater than the size of the main wheels 6 intended to be mounted on the lower orifice 122. example, 24-inch wheels can be mounted on the upper holes 120, and 22-inch wheels on the lower holes 122. When a vehicle 2 is equipped with two main wheels 6 in the mounted rolling configuration, these two wheels 6 have the same size.

In the mounted rolling configuration, the hub 60 of each main wheel 6 is traversed by a respective rod 7, this rod 7 cooperating with the corresponding wheel support 12. Each rod 7 is thus partly received in one of the upper 120 or lower 122 holes of the corresponding wheel support 12. Each wheel support 12 is provided with a locking device, not shown, configured to block the translation movements of the rod 7 relative to the wheel support 12 parallel to the corresponding central axis X6, so as to hold the wheel corresponding main 6 in mounted rolling configuration. Each rod 7 is then in a so-called “advanced” position. Each locking device is reversible, so as to allow the dismantling of the main wheels 6, as explained below. Each rod 7 is here a quick-clip axle, which cooperates with the corresponding wheel support 12 for easy assembly and disassembly.

The seat 4 includes a low platform 14, on which a user's feet are intended to rest. The low platform 14 comprises a peripheral rim 16 delimiting a protected space. The user's feet are advantageously held in this protected space.

The vehicle 2 comprises at least one front displacement member, comprising for example two front rollers 8. The vehicle 2 also comprises at least one rear displacement member, comprising for example two rear rollers 10. The rear rollers 10 have an anti- tipping. The rear rollers 10 are for example arranged in a position behind the seat 4 and at a determined height so that they remain above the ground, when the main wheels 6 are in the mounted rolling configuration, that is to say when the vehicle 2 rolls on a flat surface resting on its front rollers 8 and on its main wheels 6.

More generally, when the main wheels 6 are in the mounted rolling configuration, the front 8 and rear 10 rollers contribute to the stability of the vehicle 2.

As illustrated in Figures 2 to 9, the main wheels 6 of the vehicle 2 are removable. When a main wheel 6 is removed, the corresponding rod 7 is completely out of the corresponding wheel support 12.

When the main wheels 10 of the vehicle 2 are in the disassembled configuration, the front rollers 8 and the rear rollers 10 allow this vehicle 2 to move on the ground. The front 8 and rear rollers 10 are preferably located in the same geometric plane, so that when the vehicle 2 is moving on a flat surface, all the front 8 and rear 10 wheels rest on this surface.

The seat 4 has a cavity 18 extending under the backrest 42 and the seat 40, and an opening 20 passing through the seat 4 between the cavity 18 and a rear part 420 of the backrest 42. The cavity 18 and the opening 20 form a reception volume making it possible to accommodate a backrest of a seat of a second identical vehicle positioned below said vehicle, so that said vehicle and the second vehicle are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner. By “stably”, it is meant that these two identical vehicles thus stacked or stacked remain stationary relative to each other, at least in translation parallel to the ground or in rotation perpendicular to the ground.

It is thus possible to stack, or stack, at least two identical vehicles 2 on top of each other, or even three or more, and save substantial space on the ground. The cavity 18 is also extended on the front by an opening 24 delimited in the upper part by the seat 40, on the sides by the side edges 43 and in the lower part by the low platform 14.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent three identical vehicles 2A, 2B and 2C stacked, or stacked on top of each other in a vertical direction to form a stack. Thus, in a stacked configuration, the three vehicles 2A, 2B and 2C only occupy the space on the ground of a single vehicle 2.

When two - or more - identical vehicles 2 are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner, forming a stack of vehicles 2, the front 8 and rear 10 rollers of the vehicle 2 located the lowest allowing movement on the ground of the pile of vehicles 2.

The cavity 18 of the seat 4 of the vehicle 2B accommodates the side edges 43 of the seat 4 of the lower vehicle 2C, and the opening 20 of the seat 4 of the vehicle 2B allows to accommodate the backrest 42 of the seat 4 of the lower vehicle 2C. The cavity 18 comprises a curved surface 180 facing downwards and whose shape is complementary to the curved shape of the upper edge 430 of the side flanges 43. The curved surface 180 delimits, in the direction of the bottom of the seat 4, an enlargement of the width , in the lateral direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, of the cavity 18, making it possible to accommodate the side edges 43 of the seat 4 of the lower vehicle 2C. Thus in the stacked or stacked position, the two curved surfaces 180 of the upper vehicle 2B rest on the upper edges 430 of the side edges 43 of the seat 4 of the lower vehicle 2C. The same applies to the vehicles 2A and 2B, the vehicle 2B then becoming in this case the lower vehicle.

The opening 20 allows the insertion of the backrest 42 of the lower vehicle 2C in such a way that the latter is encompassed in the volume defined by the seat 4 of the upper vehicle 2B, the height of the two vehicles 2B and 2C stacked or stacked being lower to the combined total heights of these two vehicles.

Seen from the side as in FIG. 2, the opening 20 has a curved shape 200 which is complementary to the shape of an upper edge 422 of the backrest 42. In a stacked or stacked configuration, the lower part of the backrest 42 of the upper vehicle 2B therefore rests on the upper edge 422 of the backrest 42 of the lower vehicle 2C. The same applies to vehicles 2A and 2B.

In a stacked or stacked configuration, the front 8 and rear 10 rollers of the lowest located vehicle 2C allow the movement on the ground of the stack of vehicles 2A, 2B and 2C.

The main wheels 6 are removable for the transport or storage of the vehicles 2 and when the vehicles 2 are stacked or stacked, the main wheels 6 are removed. In order to allow storage of the main wheels 6, the seat 4 has, behind the backrest 42, a storage space 26 of rounded shape for the main wheels 6 in a disassembled configuration. This storage space 26 is in the form of an arcuate surface whose central axis is oriented in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 2. The storage space 26 is provided on a rear platform 28 of the seat 4, which extends in the lateral direction of the seat 4. The rear platform 28 is supported by two lateral protuberances 30 oriented in the front-rear direction, integral with the seat 4, and which also support the rear wheels 10.

The diameter of the storage space 26 makes it possible to store there main wheels of 24 inches in diameter (FIG. 8) or even 22 inches in diameter (FIG. 9). The main wheels 6 are placed parallel to each other with their running surface in contact with the arcuate surface forming the storage space 26. The central axis of the main wheels 6 in the stowed configuration is parallel to the central axis of the storage space 26. The backrest 42 has a through hole 46 directed in the front-rear direction. This hole 46 can be used to evacuate water present on the seat 40. The hole 46 has a flat 460, for example located on the front side. The vehicle 2 comprises a screw 22 passing through the hole 46 and the hubs 60 of the main wheels 6 in the disassembled configuration and placed in the storage space 26. A nut, not shown, is screwed onto the screw 22 to hold the main wheels 6 in the configuration removed secured in storage space 26.

In a variant not shown, the seat 4 may comprise two separate holes allowing each of the two main wheels 6 to be fixed independently.

Three stacked vehicles 2A, 2B and 2C are shown in Figure 10. The main wheels 6 of these vehicles 2 are each in a so-called "transport" configuration, in which each rod 7 is still partially received in the corresponding wheel support 12 , in a so-called "rearward" position. In the transport configuration, each main wheel 6 is farther from the seat 4 than in the mounted rolling configuration, while remaining linked, via the rod 7, to the rest of the vehicle 2. In other words, a main wheel 6 in transport configuration is moved away from the corresponding seat 4, according to a translational movement parallel to the corresponding central axis X6.

A deflection of the rod 7 between the advanced and retracted positions, as well as the camber angle a, are chosen so that, on the one hand, in the transport configuration, the main wheels 6 of the vehicle 2 located the lowest, here the vehicle 2C, do not touch the ground when this lowest vehicle 2 rests on its front 8 and rear 10 wheels, and, on the other hand, for the other vehicles 2A and 2B stacked on the lowest vehicle 2, each main wheel 6 in the transport configuration household, between this main wheel 6 and the corresponding seat 4, a housing V6 for receiving a main wheel 6 in the transport configuration belonging to the vehicle 2 located immediately below.

In other words, when the main wheels 6 of a vehicle 2 are in the transport configuration, the front rollers 8 and the rear rollers 10 allow this vehicle 2 to move on the ground. When two vehicles 2 in the transport configuration are stacked the one on the other in a stable manner, the main wheels 6 of the vehicle 2 located above the other form with the corresponding seat 4 a housing V6 for receiving the main wheels 6 of the vehicle 2 located below the other , while the front rollers 8 and the rear rollers 10 of the lowest vehicle 2 allow the movement on the ground of the stack of vehicles 2.

When storing the vehicles 2, it is thus possible to stack the vehicles 2 without having to completely disassemble the main wheels 6. Each rod 7 remaining engaged in the corresponding upper 120 or lower 122 orifice, it is particularly easy, during the return to service of the vehicles 2, to redo each main wheel 6 from its transport configuration to its mounted rolling configuration.

The travel of the rod 7 and the camber angle a are chosen according to the size of the main wheels 6 and the size of the seat 4. In practice, the travel of the rod 7 is between 50 and 120 mm, while that the camber angle a is between 0° and 22°, preferably between 5° and 20°. In the example illustrated, the travel of the rod 7 is equal to 120 mm, while the camber angle a is equal to 15°.

The locking device of each wheel support 12 advantageously comprises an indexing system, which indicates to the user that the rod 7 reaches its retracted position, when this user moves this main wheel 6 from its mounted rolling configuration to its mounted configuration. transport.

This method of fixing the main wheels 6 prevents a user from having to provide additional luggage to transport them.

Claims

9 CLAIMS

1. Vehicle (2) usable by a physically handicapped or able-bodied person, in particular for sports or leisure activities, comprising a seat (4) made of one-piece plastic material and at least two main wheels (6), the seat (4) comprising a seat (40), a back (42) and side edges (43), characterized in that the seat (4) has a cavity (18) extending under the back (42) and the seat (40) and an opening (20) passing through the seat (4) between the cavity (18) and a rear part (420) of the backrest (42), the cavity (18) and the opening (20) being intended to accommodate a backrest ( 42) of a seat (4) of a second identical vehicle (2) positioned below said vehicle (2), so that at least two identical vehicles (2) are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner .

2. Vehicle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the cavity (18) comprises a curved surface (180) facing downwards and whose shape is complementary to the curved shape of an upper edge (430) of the side edges (43), and in a stacked configuration of two vehicles (2) respectively upper and lower, the two curved surfaces (180) of the upper vehicle (2) rest on the upper edges (430) of the side edges (43) of the seat (42 ) of the lower vehicle (2).

3. Vehicle (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat (4) has, behind the backrest (42), a storage space (26) of rounded shape for the main wheels (6) in a disassembled configuration .

4. Vehicle (2) according to claim 3, wherein the backrest (42) comprises at least one through hole (46) having a flat (460), and in that the vehicle (2) comprises a screw (22) passing through said at least one hole (46) and a hub (60) of the main wheels (6) in the disassembled configuration and placed in the storage space (26), and maintaining the main wheels (6) in the disassembled configuration fixed in the storage space (26).

5. Vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising front rollers (8) and rear rollers (10), which allow movement on the ground of this vehicle when the main wheels (6) are in a disassembled configuration.

6. Vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main wheels (6) are movable between: - a mounted rolling configuration, in which each main wheel (6) rotates around a respective central axis (X6) with respect to the vehicle (2), the vehicle (1) being configured to rest on the ground by the between the main wheels (6), and

- a transport configuration, in which each main wheel (6) is moved away from the corresponding seat (4) according to a translation movement parallel to the corresponding central axis (X6), and in which when at least two vehicles (2) are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner, the main wheels (6) of these vehicles being in the transport configuration, the main wheels (6) of the vehicle (2) located above the other spare the seat (4) corresponding to a housing for receiving the main wheels (6) of the vehicle (2) located below the other.

7. Vehicle (2) according to claim 6, further comprising front rollers (8) and rear rollers (10), wherein, when at least two identical vehicles (2) are stacked on top of each other in a stable manner, the front (8) and rear (10) wheels of the lowest vehicle allow the movement on the ground of the stack of vehicles.