GB2305897A - Converting vehicles to accommodate a wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

A reinforcing unit in the form of a substantially pre-fabricated framework is provided for fitting in existing vehicles such as London taxis or "black cabs" as a replacement for part of an existing partition wall. The framework provides a recess in the partition wall adapted to receive a wheelchair and may include independent securing means for said wheelchair and its occupant in the form of seat belts. The framework may be made up of welded steel members. A removable head restraint may be provided. A pivoting seat may be provided for use when a wheelchair is not carried.

Description

Converting Vehicles to accommodate a Wheelchair This invention relates to motor vehicles of the taxi type, in particular to those of the London taxi black cab" type, having a front luggage storage space beside the driver and a rear passenger compartment. Access to the rear passenger compartment is via side doors. These taxis are required to meet both London Public Carriage Office and/or Provincial Licensing Authority standards, in particular relating to wheelchair access.

When a person in a wheelchair wishes to use a taxi in existing older types it is necessary for the person to be transferred bodily from the wheelchair to one of the conventional passenger seats. The wheelchair is then folded down and stowed separately in the luggage area. This is the only way such a person can travel. However it is very inconvenient for both the passenger and the driver. The transfer takes time and is often difficult, especially if the passenger is severely disabled. The driver may be subject to back strain if the transfer is not performed correctly.

It is known in the prior art to manufacture a taxi of the black cab type which allows a disabled passenger to remain in his wheelchair throughout the journey. The wheelchair remains in its erected state and is secured in the passenger compartment so that it does not move within the taxi. Usually the wheelchair is fixed to the partition, or bulkhead, separating the driver from the passenger compartment. The partition also incorporates a seatbelt restraint for the wheelchair occupant. The partitions in these taxis do not extend across the width of the compartment in one plane. The part of the partition located directly behind the luggage storage space is offset forwardly from the part located directly behind the driving area. This results in extra space in the passenger compartment for the wheelchair.The taxis are provided with a variety of securing means for firmly securing the wheelchair and the passenger in place with respect to the partition.

Current regulations indicate that by the end of this century all London taxis must be able to accommodate passengers seated in their wheelchairs. These regulations are also being adopted in many provincial areas. Unless older taxis can be adapted or modified they will not meet the new standards and will not therefore be able to obtain a valid licence under Metropolitan Police Conditions of Fitness or provincial licensing authorities, which lay down relevant criteria.

It is an aim of this invention to provide a prefabricated unit, meeting relevant licensing authority criteria, that can be fitted into an existing taxi which does not have any access or securing means for wheelchairs.

The pre-fabricated units will be substituted for the normal fixed bulkhead. Modified door hinges may be included in the installation to permit 90" door opening for wheelchair access via ramps. The modified taxis will then be able to transport passengers in wheelchairs. The unit can be fitted into the body of the taxi in a very short time period and the owner of the taxi will therefore lose only a minimum of time off-road. Each taxi so modified may be supplied with access ramps to permit straightforward loading.

According to the present invention there is provided a reinforcing unit for incorporating in a partition wall of a vehicle, the unit comprising a reinforcing substantially pre-fabricated framework which is adapted to replace a part of said partition wall.

The reinforcing unit provides a partition which is stronger than the original and adds to the protection of the wheelchair passenger.

Preferably the framework defines a recess in said partition wall which is adapted to receive a wheelchair, the unit preferably including securing means adapted to hold the wheelchair and the passenger in the recess. The passenger restraint is independent of the wheelchair restraint.

Preferably the framework consists of welded steel structural members and is welded to the vehicle structure.

The invention further provides a method for incorporating said reinforced unit in a partition wall in b vehicle, comprising fabricating a unit comprising a reinforcing framework, removing part of said partition wall and securing said reinforced unit in place of the removed part.

Part of the existing internal structure of the wall may be re-used.

An advantage of such a pre-fabricated unit is that the owner of the vehicle who wishes to be able to transport passengers in wheelchairs will not have to have a substantial modification of the entire vehicle or buy a new vehicle.

This invention will therefore be of considerable value for fleet owners.

To assist a clear understanding of the invention a more detailed description is given below with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a floor frame of a reinforced unit; Figure 2 shows the front elevation of the floor frame; Figure 3 shows a plan view of a centre frame of a reinforced unit; Figure 4 shows the front elevation of the centre frame; Figure 5 shows a plan view of an upper frame of a reinforced unit; Figure 6 shows the front elevation of the upper frame; Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the whole unit fitted into a vehicle; and Figure 8 shows the frame support for the wheelchair passenger lap belt restraint.

The motor vehicle which is to be modified by the unit according to the invention is of the taxi type, that is a London black cab. It has a front space, including the driving area and a luggage storage space, and a passenger compartment at the rear. In a conventional taxi the front space and rear passenger compartment are divided by a transverse partition. Usually this partition carries one or two hinged seats for additional passengers.

The pre-fabricated unit 1 is designed to replace part of the partition, or bulkhead. The unit extends over the full height of the interior of the taxi.

The unit 1 comprises three basic sections, a floor frame 2, a centre frame 3 and an upper frame 4. These three frame sections, which are all substantially horizontal, are joined together by vertical sections. Some of the vertical sections may be utilised from the original partition. The sections are formed of elongate steel members which may be L-shaped or U-shaped or square shaped in cross-section and which may be pre-assembled so that the unit as a whole is ready to be substituted for part or all of the conventional partition.

The floor frame 2 can be seen in figures 1 and 2. The figures also show part of the existing floor brace of the conventional taxi body structure 5b.

The floor frame 2 includes an elongate member 5 and a second elongate member 6 running substantially parallel thereto. Two cross-members 7 and 8 lie perpendicular to the members 5 and 6 and form the basic framework of the floor frame. The corners of the basic framework are provided by vertical members 12 and 13 located at each end of member 6.

Members 12 and 13 may be part of the original partition.

The members 6, 7 and 8 are welded to the sidewalls of the vertical members 12 and 13. The opposite ends of members 7 and 8 are welded to the side wall of member 5. The outer end of member 5 is joined to the existing frame 5b which tapers slightly. When the unit is located within the taxi body structure the outer end of member 5 is welded to the tapered frame of the floor brace which is welded to the B pillar of the taxi body structure. A third vertical member 14 projects upwardly from the corner formed by the end of member 5 and member 7 and is welded thereto. The inner end of member 5 is welded to member 5a. Members 5, 6, 7 and 8 all lie in one plane, on the floor of the body structure.

A further vertical member 17 is located at the inner end of member 5a and projects upwardly therefrom. This member is preferably formed from part of the existing partition structure. When the unit is in place in the existing taxi body structure this vertical member 17 is located substantially at the inner side of the driving area. A further horizontal member 9 extends from the inner side of member 13 to the inner side of member 17. This member 9, although substantially horizontal, is not planar to the other members and includes a seat belt mounting bracket.

Member 9 is welded to the upper surface of member 5a, the side wall of member 17 and to the side wall of vertical member 13. Provision is made on member 6 for a seat belt fixing bolt 11, forming part of the wheelchair restraining device.

Brackets for attachment of a pivoting seat are provided on vertical members 12 and 13 at a known height in a conventional manner. These may be part of the original structure. The members 12 and 14 are provided with mounting plates 12a and 12b for the passenger lap belt housing and webbing guide, see figure 8.

The centre frame 3 can be seen in figures 3 and 4. The centre frame 3 includes three horizontal members 15, 16 and 18. Member 18 may be part of the original structure. These members are located on the top of the vertical members 12, 13 and 17. Together they span across the entire width of the taxi body structure. Member 15 is vertically above horizontal member 6. A plate-like member 19 is found at the outer end of member 15. This plate-like member 19 extends across to the top of vertical member 14. When the unit is installed within the taxi body structure the outer edge of member 19 and member 14 will be welded to the B pillar of the taxi body structure, using spacing brackets as required.

Attached below member 15 is a plate 20. This plate is for reinforcement purposes. The upper wheelchair restraint seat belt point is located on this plate.

Welded to the inner end of member 15 is member 16.

Member 16 is substantially vertically above member 9 and extends from the top of vertical member 13 to the top of vertical member 17. Member 17 is also welded to the side of member 18 which may be part of the original structure. When the unit is installed in the taxi body structure the free outer end of member 18 is welded to the existing structure.

The centre frame 3 is attached to the upper frame 4 by means of two vertical members 22 and 23. Vertical member 22 is located at the outer end of member 15. Vertical member 23 is substantially above member 17, at the joint of members 16 and 18. Vertical member 23 extends higher than member 22.

The upper frame 4 can be seen in figures 5 and 6. The upper frame 4 includes members 24 and 25. One end of member 24 is welded to the top of member 22 and extends to approximately the area above vertical member 13. One end of member 25 is welded to this free end of member 24 and extends to vertical member 23, where it is welded to the side thereof.

The upper frame also includes member 26. Member 26 is formed to follow the roof line of the taxi body structure.

One end of member 26 is welded to the top of vertical member 23. A plate 27 is positioned between member 24 and member 26 and is welded thereto. This plate 27 is for strengthening purposes.

The members of the unit are welded together to form a framework as described above. This is done before it is substituted for the conventional partition between the driving area and the passenger compartment. When a taxi is to be modified part of the existing partition is removed and replaced. Thus the unit can be fitted within the taxi body structure much faster than if all the members were substituted individually. The basic framework of the unit is trimmed as normal and the hinged seats replaced.

Alternatively the hinged seats can also form part of the modified unit.

The modified partition is much stronger than the conventional partition. It is formed to withstand greater impact forces in the fashion of a safety cell.

Due to the shape of the unit a recess is formed so that there is additional space in the rear passenger compartment in the modified taxi. This allows a wheelchair-bound passenger to turn around and be positioned in the recess with his back to the luggage storage space. The location of the seat belt fixing bolts and wheelchair restraints allows the passenger and the wheelchair to be securely positioned within the passenger compartment, the normal pivoting seat remaining flat against the partition. The design of the essential part of the modified unit is such that any impact to the side of the taxi is transmitted away from the passenger in the wheelchair.

Optionally, a passenger restraint such as a head rest/head restraint may be supplied for positioning behind a wheelchair passenger's head. This head rest/restraint may be of a removable type and it may be stored when not in use, for example at a storage point in the vehicle or at an external storage point, for example the office of a taxi firm.

Claims (13)

1. A reinforcing unit for incorporating in a partition wall of a vehicle, the unit comprising a reinforcing substantially pre-fabricated framework which is adapted to replace a part of said partition wall.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework when installed defines, at least in part, a recess adapted to receive a wheelchair.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further including securing means adapted to hold a wheelchair and a passenger in position.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for securing the wheelchair is independent of the means for securing the passenger.

5. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the framework consists of welded steel structural members.

6. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the framework may include parts of the existing partition wall.

7. A reinforcing unit according to one of the preceding claims, further incorporating a passenger head restraint device.

8. A reinforcing unit according to claim 7 or claim 8, where the passenger head restraint device is removable.

9. A method for incorporating a reinforcing unit in a partition wall in a vehicle, comprising fabricating a unit comprising a reinforcing framework, removing part of said partition wall and securing said reinforcing unit in place of the removed part of said partition wall.

10. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein part of the existing partition wall is re-used.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the unit is welded in place.

12. A reinforcing unit for incorporating in a partition wall of a vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method for incorporating a reinforcing unit in a partition wall in a vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.