JP2003191793A - Folding staircase for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an auxiliary means for getting on/off a vehicle which improves a problem that general auxiliary steps are not sufficiently low and a step width thereof is narrow for old people or people using a wheelchair. <P>SOLUTION: This folding staircase with three steps or more comprises at least a rotationally movable first step board with a base end 2b as a shaft; a rotationally movable second step board 3 with a base end 3b as a shaft; a joining arm 5 hinge-connected to a side surface part 3a of the second step board and a side surface part 2a of the first step board; a joining arm 6 hinge- connected to a side surface part 3a of the second step board; and a third step board 4 in which the joining arm 5 and the joining arm 6 are hinge-connected to a side surface thereof 4a, respectively; and a third step board 4 in which the joining arm 5 and the joining arm 6 are hinge-connected to a side surface part 4a thereof, respectively and which operates according to rotational movements of the first step board and the second step board. Since providing three steps reduces the height of one step and the third step is projected near the ground by a principle of magic hand, even young children, old people, or physically handicapped persons can very easily get on/off the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a staircase for assisting passengers getting on and off, which is suitable for a side slide door of a vehicle, especially a one-box or minivan type automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, large vehicles called RVs (recreational vehicles) have become popular, but these RV type vehicles are generally high in height, making it difficult for children, the elderly, and people with physical disabilities to get on and off. There is. Therefore, a type of vehicle with a step-in assistance step has been introduced, in which a step board is provided under the side door from the beginning, or when the side door is opened, the step board protrudes from under the floor.

[0003]

Although the present general assisting steps are sufficiently useful for a normal person, it is very difficult for a handicapped person such as an infant, an elderly person who has a weak leg or a wheelchair, or a wheelchair user. Improvements such as the height being not sufficiently low and the step width being narrow remain. In other words, it is hard to say that any of the auxiliary steps are only conscious of the healthy person, and the person carrying the handicap is taken into consideration.

In view of this, the present invention provides a boarding / alighting assisting means for everyone other than a healthy person.

[0005]

The boarding / alighting assisting means of the present invention has a base end portion pivotally supported by a vehicle and is rotatable between a folding position in an upright state and a projecting position in a recumbent state. A stepped tread and a second stepped tread that has a base end portion pivotally supported by the vehicle below the first stepped tread, and is rotatable between a folding position in an upright state and an extended position in a recumbent state, A first portion in which an intermediate portion is hingedly connected to a side surface portion of the second step tread and one end thereof is hingedly connected to a side surface portion of the first step tread.
Connection arm, a second connection arm hinged to the side surface of the second step tread nearer to the tip than the first connection arm, the other end of the first connection arm and the second connection arm. At least a third step tread, each arm being hinge-connected to a side surface thereof, and moving between a folding position in an upright position and an extended position in a recumbent position in accordance with the rotational movement of the first step tread and the second step tread. It is characterized by three or more folding stairs.

According to this folding staircase, the height of each step is reduced by having three steps, and the third step overhangs near the ground due to the principle of the magic hand. Even if there is, it will be very easy to get on and off. Further, it is easy to appropriately increase the number of steps by applying the connecting arm structure that connects the second step and the third step treads to the third step and thereafter.

Further, according to the folding staircase of the present invention, since each tread plate is in an upright state when folded, it is possible to store the tread plate compactly even if the tread plate is wide. Therefore, it is possible to employ a tread having a width sufficiently wider than that of the conventional one.

In such a foldable staircase, each tread plate in the overhanging position with respect to the floor surface of the vehicle is such that it becomes horizontal (that is, parallel to the ground) when the vehicle is tilted by the action of the suspension due to the load when getting on and off. It is better to tilt it. Of course, it doesn't have to be exactly horizontal,
It only has to look horizontal and give passengers a sense of security. The inclination angle is preferably 5 degrees (there may be a difference of about ± 1 degree). That is, the lean of the vehicle depends on the weight and the hardness of the suspension, but if it is set to about 5 degrees, a horizontal feeling can be obtained on average.

Further, by providing an urging means for urging the tread plate in the folding direction, the operation force at the time of folding can be reduced, and it becomes possible for an elderly person or the like having a weak force to easily operate it. That is, when the stairs are stretched out, the stairs move by themselves under their own weight, and therefore they can be operated without much force. Therefore, if a damper such as a gas spring that generates a biasing force against the weight of the tread, that is, in the folding direction of the tread, is attached, the operating force can be reduced.

Furthermore, it is preferable to provide an operation grip extending upward from the connecting arm so that the operation can be performed in a natural posture without bending over. Moreover, by making each tread mesh-like, it becomes difficult for mud and snow on the shoe sole to remain on the tread, which helps prevent slipping over and dirt.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A specific example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The folding staircase 1 of this embodiment is installed in a one-box type side slide door, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the folding position and FIG. 2 is a projecting position. Further, FIG. 3 shows a side view in the projecting position, and FIG. 4 shows an operating state.

The folding staircase 1 includes a first step tread 2 and a second step tread 2.
It is a three-stage type including a step tread 3 and a third step tread 4, and has a magic hand type structure (parallel link structure) in which they are connected by connecting arms 5 and 6.

The first step tread 2, which is the uppermost step, serves as a base end by pivotally supporting the base end portion of the side surface portion 2a at a pivot fulcrum 2b on a support bracket 10 fixed to the underfloor portion of the passenger compartment.
It is attached so as to be rotatable about this center between an upright folded position (FIG. 1) and a recumbent extended position (FIG. 2). Further, one end 5a of the connecting arm 5 is provided near the tip of the side surface 2a (closer to the outside of the vehicle compartment).
Are hinged.

The second step tread 3 of the intermediate step is rotated by the support bracket 20 at a position lower than the step of the first step tread 2 and shifted to the outside of the vehicle compartment by the thickness of the first step tread 3. Can be mounted as possible. That is, the base end portion of the side surface portion 3a is rotatably supported by the support bracket 20 at the fulcrum 3b to form the base end portion, and the fold position in the upright state (FIG. 1) and the overhang position in the recumbent state (FIG. 2) are centered around this. It is attached so that it can rotate between them. An intermediate portion 5b of the connecting arm 5 is hingedly connected to an intermediate portion of the side surface portion 3a of the second step tread 3. Further, the end portion 6a of the other connecting arm 6 is hinge-connected to the side surface portion 3a further toward the tip.
The second step tread 3 has a plate width twice that of the first step tread 2 in this example. Of course, it is also possible to adopt a wider one.

The lowermost third step tread 4 has the same plate width as the second step tread 3, and the connecting arm 5 is located near the base end of the side surface 4a.
The other end 5c is hinge-connected, and the end 6b of the connecting arm 6 is hinge-connected to the intermediate portion of the side surface 4a.

Both of the connecting arms 5 and 6 are devised to have a shape which allows the surface area to be maximized without colliding with each other when folded (see FIGS. 1 and 4A), and has increased strength. The interval between the end portions of the connecting arms 5 and 6 is a factor that determines the step difference of each step. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an operation grip G extending upward is fixed to the connecting arm 6. By extending the operation grip G upward, stair operation can be performed in a natural standing posture without bending down.

To assist in improving the operability, a damper D of a gas spring is connected between one end 5a of the connecting arm 5 and the support bracket 20, as shown in FIGS. . This damper D serves as an urging means, and the urging force in the folding direction always acts, so that the operating force can be reduced. Further, it is possible to obtain a shock absorbing action when the stairs 1 is pulled down to the projecting position.

The support bracket 10 is reinforced by connecting the rib member 30.
As will be shown in detail, the stopper S is fixed to the inside of the shaft fulcrum 2b of the first step tread 2. The stopper S is fixed by the two fixing holes S1 and S2, and the fixing holes S1 and S2 are provided so that the height with respect to the floor plane of the passenger compartment is shifted by a difference d. As a result, the flat plate-shaped projection piece Sp of the stopper S is tilted and fixed by the angle θ.
The optimum angle of the inclination angle θ is 5 degrees. The fixing hole S
It is also possible to make the angle adjustment possible by making one of S1 and S2 a long hole.

The first step tread 2 has an extension 2c extending further from the shaft fulcrum 2b, and when the extension 2c is rotated from the folding position to the projecting position, the extension 2c becomes a protrusion Sp of the stopper S. Abut. As a result, further rotation is stopped, and the treads 2, 3 and 4 stop at the projecting position in a recumbent state in which the vehicle is tilted by the inclination angle θ with respect to the floor plane of the passenger compartment. If the treads 2 to 4 are thus inclined, the treads 2 to 4 become horizontal with respect to the ground when a load is applied to the treads 2 to 4 and the vehicle is tilted by the action of the suspension when getting on and off. If there is no such inclination as in the prior art, as the vehicle leans, the treads will also lean toward the outside, which may cause anxiety for the aged and the physically handicapped, as well as the healthy person. Become. In other words, by preliminarily providing the footboard with an inclination corresponding to the inclination of the vehicle, it is possible to maintain the level when actually getting on and off the vehicle and eliminate the anxiety.

For the purpose of further increasing safety, the treads 2 to 4 are reticulated in this example (FIGS. 1 and 2). As a result, mud and snow adhering to the soles of the shoes fall through the mesh, which contributes to the prevention of dirt on the treads 2 to 4 and the prevention of slippage due to dirt.

The folding staircase 1 of the present example having the above-mentioned configuration
This operation is shown in FIG. FIG. 4A is a side view of the folding position, FIG. 4B is an intermediate position, and FIG. 4C is a projecting position.

In the folded position of FIG. 4A, each tread plate 2-4 is
Both are upright and are compactly stored without taking the width. In this state, since the treads 2 to 4 are in the upright state, even if the width of the treads is wide, the treads only extend upward and have no relation to the lateral width. That is, it is possible to increase the width of the treads 2 to 4 without increasing the storage space. Further, if the treads 2 to 4 project above the floor surface of the passenger compartment in this stored state, it is possible to have a function as a wheel stopper or a luggage stopper of the wheelchair.

When the operation grip G is operated to be pulled out from the state shown in FIG. 4A, the first step tread 2 and the second step tread 3 rotate about the shaft fulcrums 2b and 3b, and the connecting arms 5 and 6 associated therewith. The third step tread 4 comes out by the action of.

When operated to the projecting position of FIG. 4C, the extension 2c of the first step tread 2 comes into contact with the stopper S to stop the rotation, and the treads 2 to 4 are moved 5 degrees with respect to the floor of the passenger compartment. Stop in a recumbent state with a slope of. At this time, the lowermost third step tread 4 projects to the vicinity of the ground, and since there are three stairs, the step difference is small and it is possible to provide a boarding / alighting assisting means that is very easy to get on and off.

[0026]

According to the present invention, since it can be stored in a very compact manner because it is in the upright state in the folded position, the width of the tread can be wide, and the number of steps is 3 or more, so that each step is one step. Since the difference in level can be kept small,
A foldable staircase for a vehicle is provided that greatly improves the entry / exitability of infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

In addition, since the tread plate is inclined with respect to the vehicle floor surface in the projecting position and the tread plate has a net shape, it is possible to further improve the entry / exitability, and in addition, it is extended upward. By providing the operation grip and the biasing means in the folding direction, a very easy-to-operate one is provided.

Moreover, since the structure is simple, retrofitting to various vehicles is easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding staircase according to the present invention in a folded position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a folding staircase according to the present invention in an extended position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the folding staircase according to the present invention in a projecting position.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the folding stairs according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a stopper portion for the first step tread.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Folding stairs 2 First step tread 3 2nd step tread 4 3rd step tread 5 First connecting arm 6 Second connecting arm

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first step tread having a base end portion pivotally supported by the vehicle and rotatable between a folding position in an upright state and an extended position in a recumbent state, and below the first step tread. A second step tread that has a base end portion pivotally supported by the vehicle and is rotatable between a folding position in an upright state and an extended position in a recumbent state, and an intermediate portion on a side surface portion of the second step tread plate. A first connecting arm hinge-connected and one end of which is hinge-connected to the side surface of the first step tread, and a side surface of the second step tread closer to the tip than the first connecting arm. The second connecting arm hingedly connected, the other end of the first connecting arm and the second connecting arm are hingedly connected to the side surfaces, respectively, and the first stepping plate and the second stepping plate are connected. According to the pivoting motion, it is possible to move between the folded position in the upright state and the extended position in the recumbent state A folding staircase for a vehicle, comprising at least a moving third step tread. 2. A foldable stairway for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each tread plate in the projecting position is inclined with respect to the floor surface of the vehicle so that the vehicle is horizontal when the vehicle is inclined by the load when getting on and off. . 3. A folding stair for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the inclination angle is 5 degrees. 4. The folding staircase for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing means for biasing the tread plate in a folding direction. 5. The foldable staircase for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an operating grip extending upward from the connecting arm. 6. The folding staircase for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each tread plate has a mesh shape.