WO1998025565A1

WO1998025565A1 - Equipment for vehicle for transferring and fixing a seat capable of being transformed into a wheelchair for a handicapped person

Info

Publication number: WO1998025565A1
Application number: PCT/FR1997/002243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thierry Baboulin
Original assignee: Thierry Baboulin
Priority date: 1996-12-10
Filing date: 1997-12-09
Publication date: 1998-06-18
Also published as: EP0954271B1; DE69707917D1; AU5486998A; CA2274937A1; EP0954271A1; FR2756729B1; FR2756729A1; JP2000511814A; DE69707917T2

Abstract

This equipment consists of: a seat whose structure (13) bearing the base plate and the back can be disunited from its front and rear running means; and a transferring structure comprising a pivoting arm (3) provided with means for securing the seat and intermediate means for moving the arm, vertically and horizontally. The invention is characterised in that the rear end of the arm (3) is articulated about a vertical axis (24) on the small vertical rod (26) of a parallelogram comprising two couplers (28, 29) and a large vertical rod (27), said large vertical rod being articulated on a vertical column (35) fixed against the vertical member of the vehicle door and linked with the small vertical rod (26) by an electric cylinder (40), while the vehicle is equipped, in its front and/or middle part, with a mounting base (B2) for positioning the seat.

Description

OVEN VEHICLE EQUIPMENT PROVIDING THE TRANSFER AND FIXING OF A SEAT TRANSFORMABLE INTO A WHEELCHAIR FOR

DISABLED 'invention relates to equipment for ensuring the transfer in and out of a vehicle of a seat supporting a disabled person, seat from the transformation of a wheelchair, and for securing this seat in the vehicle.

Many devices and devices are already known to facilitate the transfer of a disabled person to their seat by relieving the support staff of any physical effort.

Thus, FR-A-2572691 describes transfer means comprising: - a seat whose structure carrying the seat and the back can be separated from the front wheels and the rear wheels, and possibly from the step,

an arm composed of several elements articulated around vertical axes and of which the anterior one is provided with attachment means able to cooperate with complementary means carried by the seat,

- And a slide which, movable on a vertical column arranged in the vehicle, is linked to the arm and is connected to a vertical screw jack, ensuring the vertical movements of the arm relative to the column.

To transfer a disabled person to a vehicle with this device, the arm is first pivoted transversely and developed to protrude through the opening of the vehicle door, then is lowered below the level of the wheelchair seat, so that he can be capped by him when this seat is moved back. After the arm has been raised to come into contact with the bottom of the seat, and after actuation of means connecting the arm to the seat, a new elevation of low value makes it possible to offset the wheels from the ground with a view to their extraction. The disabled person can then be transferred to his seat by further vertical movement of the arm, folding of the elements thereof and pivoting of the assembly in the vehicle, through the opening provided for the door.

Regardless of the need, during the start phase, to have two people to immobilize the arm, respectively, preventing its great mobility from disturbing the attachment of its end to the seat, and controlling this attachment, such 1 equipment has the disadvantage of having a vertical stroke which is too limited down. In fact, due to the structure of the means ensuring the vertical displacements, the arm cannot descend below the level of the vehicle floor. It follows that it can only be installed in light cars and not in vehicles which, called minivans, have a raised floor of 15 cm and whose vertical level is much higher than that of the bottom of the seat. A wheelchair.

The device described in FR-A-2699129 is differentiated by the transfer structure comprising, on the one hand, a bent arm, the free end of which is provided with hooking means capable of cooperating with means complementary to the seat and whose l the other end is integral with a slide movable on a pivoting arm and, on the other hand, a chassis on which the pivoting arm is articulated and which is itself carried by means of vertical displacement composed of two pairs of rods and an electric screw jack.

In this device, the chassis ensures only the vertical displacements while the displacements in the horizontal plane are carried out by the pivoting arm and by the sliding bent arm. As before, this device is not applicable to monospace type vehicles with raised floors.

Furthermore, these devices are designed to allow the transferred seat to be positioned next to the driver of a vehicle with two side doors, that is to say a vehicle comprising door passages having an opening of the order of 1.10 meters, but cannot be used for vehicles with four doors and for all vehicles with openings of width less than the above value. Indeed, with narrower doors, during the pivoting of the seat in the passenger compartment, the path of the knees of the disabled person sitting on the secant seat, in the case of an opening for front door, the projection formed inside the vehicle by the overflow of the dashboard, and, in the case of the opening for a rear door, the door jamb, which hinders this pivoting and sometimes even makes it impossible. The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by providing a transfer device which, suitable for any vehicle and including on minivans higher up on the floor, makes it possible to transfer the seat of the wheelchair from the outside, either in place front is in the middle position by passing through a side opening, other than the front door, and this without any effort for the only person providing the necessary assistance.

To this end, in the equipment according to the invention, the rear end of the arm of the transfer structure is articulated about a vertical axis on the small amount of intermediate displacement means comprising, in addition to this amount, d on the one hand, two parallel connecting rods, the ends of which are articulated, on one side, on this small upright, and on the other side, on a large upright, on the other hand, a vertical column, fixed by its ends against the vehicle door jamb and on which is articulated the aforementioned large upright and, moreover, an electric actuator whose body is articulated at one upper end of the large upright and whose rod is articulated on the small upright, while the vehicle is provided in the front position and / or in the middle position, with a seat positioning base.

Thus, when the arm is pivoted out of the vehicle, the means ensuring its vertical movements are, at least in part, out of the vehicle and can, thanks to their composition and their arrangement, bring this arm to a level lower than that of the floor of the vehicle so that this arm is below the level of the bottom of the wheelchair seat. After the maneuvers for attaching the seat to the means for attaching the arm, disconnecting the wheels and raising the seat, the means for vertically moving the arm and the means for translating the arm allow the seat to be brought either to the base arranged in the front position, ie on the base arranged in the middle position. Furthermore, thanks to the possibility of sliding of the means for attaching the seat to the arm and to the structure of the means for vertical movement of the arm, the passage of the disabled person on his armchair through the opening of the door takes place very easily.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing by way of example an embodiment of this equipment in the case of its application to a minivan vehicle comprising a sliding side door.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the equipment when it is inside the vehicle and without the seat of the chair. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the exterior of a vehicle showing a wheelchair after the seat has been gripped by the equipment arm.

Figures 3 and 4 are side perspective views showing the seat when positioned respectively, in the front position and in the middle position in the vehicle.

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view from above showing the intermediate displacement means when they are, respectively, outside the vehicle in position PI for gripping a seat, inside in position P2 for positioning in the front position and in position P3 for positioning in the middle position. Figure 6 is a side view in longitudinal section along VI.VI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front end view along arrow VII of Figure 6.

As shown in FIG. 1, this equipment is composed of a transfer structure A and a base Bl or B2, intended to be fixed to the floor 2 of the vehicle, respectively, in the front seat next to the driver, or in the middle place, that is to say in the place behind the driver, in front of another row of seats in the case of a minivan vehicle. The transfer structure is itself composed of a substantially horizontal arm 3 and intermediate displacement means generally designated by 4.

The arm 3 is, in its general structure, similar to that described in French patent 2699129, that is to say carries a slider 5 which can slide longitudinally on it.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 6, the arm 3 is provided, against its two lateral edges, with longitudinal slides 6 of transverse cross section in "U" shape. In these slides can run rollers 7, which, mounted freely in rotation on horizontal axes, not shown, are carried by lugs 8, projecting vertically from the slide 5. FIG. 6 shows that, near its anterior end, the arm 3 is provided with a vertical lug 9, protruding downwards and the usefulness of which will be specified below.

FIG. 7 shows that the slide 5 has a cross section in a "U" shape turned over with flared wings giving it in cross section a trapezoidal profile which is complementary to that of the cross section of a groove 10, formed under the seat part 12 of the structure 13 of the seat of a wheelchair for the disabled. This slide 5 also comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, an axial blind light 14 opening out at the front by flared edges 15. This groove is intended to cooperate with a vertical finger 16, integral with the structure 13 of the seat and projecting down. Finally, near the bottom of the blind groove 14, the slide 5 is provided with means 17 for locking the finger 16, which can be unlocked by manual control 18.

The slide 5 is integral with a locking finger 19, with elastic return 20, capable of penetrating one or the other of the bores 22, 23 formed on the arm 3. This finger 19 ensures, by cooperation with the bores 22 and 23 above, respectively, the setting in position of the slide 5, in its advanced position, shown in FIG. 6, and the setting of the slide 5 in its retracted position shown in P3, FIG. 5.

As shown in Figure 1, the rear end of the arm 3 is integral with a vertical pivot 24 which is mounted free to rotate in two bearings 25 carried by the small vertical upright 26 of a deformable parallelogram. The latter is composed, in addition to the small upright 26, a large vertical upright 27 and two substantially parallel connecting rods 28 and 29. The front ends of these connecting rods are articulated at 30 on the small upright 26 while their posterior ends are articulated at 32 on the large upright 27.

Figure 1 shows that the lower link

29 comprises, near its articulation 30 on the small upright 26, a camber 33 in the concavity is turned downwards and the usefulness of which will be specified below.

The large upright 27 is integral with collars 34 by which it is articulated around a vertical column 35 fixed on the vehicle, in the immediate vicinity of the opening 36 formed in this vehicle for receiving a door and for example the sliding side door d 'a people carrier. The column is advantageously fixed by a base 37, the fixing and locking means of which, not shown, cooperate with the means and in particular the fixing bars for the anchoring wells 38 formed in the floor 2 of the vehicle to receive the side legs of the removable seats in this vehicle. The upper end of the column is secured to a perforated lug 39, the fixing of which on the door jamb is advantageously ensured by the screw or screws ensuring the fixing of the return buckle of the seat belt normally associated with the seat in the anchoring well from which the base 37 is fixed.

The intermediate means 4 for moving the arm which have just been described are completed by an electric actuator 40, one element of which, for example the body, is articulated by a horizontal axis 42 at the upper part of the large upright 27, and whose l the other element, and for example the rod, is articulated by an axis 43, near the upper end of the small upright 26.

FIG. 5 shows that when the connecting rods 28 and 29 of the deformable parallelogram are substantially in the horizontal position, their length lb is substantially equal to half the width LO of the opening 36 provided in the frame to receive the sliding door.

Each of the bases Bl and B2 is connected to the floor 2 by fixing and locking means projecting downward and cooperating with the anchoring wells 38 formed in the floor for anchoring the removable seats of the vehicle. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, this base Bl has a guide 70 having a cross section in "U" whose lateral wings are preceded by an inlet flare 72 (Fig. 5). The front parts of the wings are connected by a cross-member 73. This base Bl is integral with two lateral tabs 74, one of which is visible in FIG. 3, provided with notches 75 opening onto the rear. At least one of these legs has an articulated lock 76.

The base B2, shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, also includes an anterior guide 47 and, in its rear part, two vertical forks 48 each equipped with locking means 49, unlockable by manual control 50.

This transfer equipment is intended to cooperate with a wheelchair, the seat structure 13 of which is integral, in its rear part, with a through axle 52 whose parts projecting laterally serve for the removable fixing of the rear wheels 53 of the wheelchair. The front wheels 54 are each secured to a support 55 which is removably fixed in a bearing provided under the front part of the seat and equipped with locking means. To bring the seat structure 13 carrying the disabled person from the outside of the vehicle onto one or other of the bases Bl and B2, it is first necessary, starting from the position of the equipment shown in the figure 1, supply the electric actuator 40 so that it lifts the arm 3 relative to the base Bl or B2 in which it is immobilized, then rotate the entire structure transfer to passing it through the opening 36 for the door, so as to bring the arm 3 and part of the parallelogram outside the vehicle. In this position, the electric actuator 40 is supplied in the opposite direction, so as to cause the lowering of the arm 3 below the level of the floor 2 of the vehicle, until it comes to the position represented by the dashed line 60 at the Figure 4, position in which the arm 3 is positioned vertically at a level lower than that of the bottom of the seat structure 13 of the wheelchair.

This lowering of the arm is facilitated by the camber 33 of the rod 29 which, overlapping the door threshold, allows the amount 26 of the parallelogram to descend lower, without being hampered by the stop of this rod with the threshold. During this maneuver, and as shown in PI in FIG. 5, the arm 3 is manually pivoted so as to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

At this stage, and as in the previous devices, the wheelchair is moved back to overlap the arm 3, then the jack 40 is supplied to cause the raising of the arm 3 and the engagement of its slide 5 in the groove 10 of the armchair. After locking the finger 16, the arm 3 is raised, of the order of 1 cm, to allow the disassembly of the wheels 53 and 54, and it is then proceeded to raise it, over the entire upward vertical stroke up to the level of the mixed line 62 shown in FIG. 4, that is to say up to a level in which the arm is above the floor 2 of the vehicle with a value of the order of 200 mm.

During this elevation, the parallelogram can be pivoted relative to the column 35 so as to facilitate the penetration into the vehicle of the arm 3 carrying the seat 13 and the disabled person. During this pivoting, the slide 6 is brought back and locked in its rear position, by cooperation of the finger 19 with the bore 23, so as to limit the pivoting radius and facilitate passage through the door.

If the disabled person wishes to be placed next to the driver, the arm is brought into the position P2 of FIG. 5, first of all lowering the arm 3 and then moving it longitudinally so that its tab 9 penetrates in the guide 70 of the base Bl. Simultaneously, the slide 5 is moved on the front so that the ends of the axle 52 of the rear wheels of the seat structure 13 engage in the notches 75 of the legs 74 of the base. After locking by latch 76, the seat is perfectly positioned on the base. In this transport position, the slide remains locked under the seat. If the disabled person wishes to be placed in the middle position, or if the vehicle only has a base B2, the arm 3 is brought into position P3 in FIG. 5, position in which the arm 3 is lowered with the slide retracted towards the rear, so that the through axis 52 comes to engage in the forks 48, while simultaneously the lug 9 enters the guide 47. At the end of the downward movement, the latches 49 are locked and the slide is left as is.

It is obvious that it suffices to proceed in reverse to transfer the seat out of the vehicle from one or the other of the bases Bl or B2.

Claims

1 ° / Vehicle equipment to ensure the transfer and fixing of a seat (13) convertible into a wheelchair for disabled person composed: - of a vertical column (35) fixed against the door jamb of the vehicle,

- a seat whose structure (13), carrying the seat and the backrest, can be separated from its rolling means (53, 54), front and rear, - a transfer structure A articulated on the column and comprising an arm (3), horizontal and pivoting, carrying a slide (5) provided with means for positioning and attachment of means complementary to the seat, and intermediate means (4) able to move the arm (3), vertically, with the aid of a jack (40), and horizontally, by rotation, characterized in that the rear end of the arm 3 of the transfer structure A is articulated around a vertical axis (24) on the small upright (26) intermediate means (4) for movement, these means (4) comprising, in addition to this upright (26), two parallel connecting rods (28, 29) whose ends are articulated, on one side, on this small upright (26), and on the other side, on a large upright (27), itself articulated on the vertical column the (35), while the jack (40), of the electrical type, is articulated by one of its elements at the upper end of the large upright (27) and, by its other element, on the small upright (26 ), and that the vehicle is provided in the front position and / or in the middle position, with a base (Bl, B2) for positioning the seat (13).

2 ° / Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting rods (28, 29) of the transfer structure A have a length (Lb) which is substantially equal to half the width (LO) of the opening ( 36) of the door used to transfer the seat (13). 3 ° / Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical column (35) is integral with a base (34) provided with fixing and locking means in one of the anchoring wells (38), formed in the floor (2) of the vehicle for the lateral legs of the removable seats, and its upper end is secured to a perforated tab (39) for its fixing against the door jamb by the screw fixing, against this door jamb, the seat belt strap return loop.

4 ° / Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower connecting rod (29) of the transfer structure has, near its anterior end articulated on the small upright (26), a camber (33) whose concavity is turned down.

5 ° / Equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that the arm (3) comprises two lateral slides (6), of "U" section lying, constituting raceway for rollers (7) carried by a slide (6) , while the slide (6) has a U-shaped cross section turned downwards with diverging wings, capable of self-positioning a groove (10) of complementary profile formed under the structure (13) of the seat, and comprises, on the one hand and at its anterior end, a blind axial groove (14) which, opening towards the front by a flared part (15), is capable of positioning a finger (16) projecting vertically from the bottom of the structure (13 ) of the seat, and, on the other hand and at the bottom of the blind groove (14), a locking means (17) of the aforementioned finger (16), unlockable by manual control (18).

6 ° / Equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that the front end of the arm (3) is integral with a vertical tab (9) projecting downward and cooperating, at the end of transfer of the seat between the outside and the inside of the vehicle, with the entry wings of a U-shaped guide (73, 47), projecting vertically upwards from the seat positioning base (Bl, B2) 13. 7 ° / Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (Bl, B2) for positioning the seat (13) comprises fixing means cooperating with anchoring wells (38) in the floor (2) of the vehicle for fixing the removable seats of the vehicle.

8 ° / Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (Bl) for positioning the seat, attaching to the front place, comprises, on its rear part two tabs (74) lateral each provided with a notch (75 ) opening out towards the rear and capable of receiving a cylindrical part (52) projecting transversely from the structure (13) of the seat, at least one of these notches being associated with an articulated hook (76) for locking the cylindrical part . 9 ° / Equipment according to claim 1. characterized in that the base (B2) for positioning the seat, fixing in the middle place, comprises, on its rear part, two vertical forks (48) each capable of cooperating with a cylindrical seat of the structure (13) of the seat and each provided with means (49) for locking to the aforementioned range, these locking means being unlockable by a manual control (50).