WO2005037597A1

WO2005037597A1 - Improved floor mounted on the bottom plate of transport vehicles for fastening chairs / seats and wheelchairs

Info

Publication number: WO2005037597A1
Application number: PCT/NL2003/000714
Authority: WO
Inventors: Helena Bibi Van Der Vaart-Jong; Roy Gert Arnold Kuipers; Marcel Johannes Hendricus Schouten
Original assignee: Beheers & Beleggingsmaatschappij Verachtert B.V.
Priority date: 2003-10-22
Filing date: 2003-10-22
Publication date: 2005-04-28
Also published as: EP1701860B1; DE60315734T2; EP1701860A1; ES2293019T3; DE60315734D1; ATE370019T1; DK1701860T3; AU2003304503A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, constructed as a floor plate (1) from rail and floor section parts (6, 7, 8) for retaining its form or shape, placement and gluing onto the bottom plate (2) of a transport vehicle (3), in which conversion can take place to passenger transport in minibus, ambulance, train, busses, trams, airplanes and such, in which of the added floor slab or plate (1) the interconnection of the rail- and floor section parts (6, 7, 8) is done with a round thread locking construction (18) and connection between rail section part (6) and the base plate (32) of the chair legs (33, 34) is done with a quick lock system or T-headed bolts with nuts and the use of security belts (39) or safety belts is done in a surprisingly simple, fast, and robust way with special retractors (5, 45) built into recesses of the floor.

Description

IMPROVED FLOOR MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM PLATE OF TRANSPORT VEHICLES FOR FASTENING CHAIRS/SEATS AND WHEELCHAIRS

The present invention relates to a device constructed as floor plate or slab or floor and consists of rail section and floor section parts and is fastened on the bottom plate of transport vehicles, such as vehicles with load floors for conversion to mini busses, according to the strict rules applicable for passenger transport up to 8 people, ambulances, trains, busses, trams, airplanes and such, in which on the mentioned floor plate or floor chairs/seats and wheelchairs are attachable, in which the mentioned fastening to the bottom plate can be done in a mechanical as well as a chemical way, in which the rail- and floor section parts are applied m a longitudinal direction of the transport vehicle, in which the mentioned chairs/seats can be coupled, mostly without tools in a so called chair/seat track on the mentioned rail section parts . A somewhat similar floor is known from the patent document EP 1028 885 (=W0 99/25601) from CHRISTENSEN, Martin (DK) , Basjstrup Bygade 57, Bajstrup, DK-6360 Tmglev (DK) . The invention concerns transport means, in which the floor consists of a plate, which is adjusted to the bottom plate and on which several chairs/seats or other help means for passenger transport can be fastened, in which the mentioned floor plate is provided with multiple recesses, which are divided over the surface in a suitable way, in which in the mentioned recesses of the mentioned plate fastening means for chairs and such can be applied. The floor with its many recesses has a very high flexibility h for furnishing mini busses, in which the chairs are fastened to the floor plate, in which the floor plate, which is fastened to the bottom plate of the vehicle can absorb extra collision energy, so that the passengers can be transported more safely in the concerned vehicle. The mentioned floor plate is fastened to the chassis beam and bottom plate by means of brackets with bolts. The plates have floor section parts with an inverted U- shape. Further the invention consists of floor elements, which are made through aluminium extrusion and roughly have a hollow rectangular cross-section internally provided with ridges. The raised side edges are constructed in such a way to lay form-matching onto each other. Further, through extrusion also rail section parts are available which can be inserted in the floor between the floor section parts. The rail section parts have a dovetail shape in vertical sense for inserting a dovetailed section for fastening a chair/seat leg, which is done with bolts. The interconnection between floor section parts and, if necessary, rail section parts is done by means of adhesion, welding and such. Although in principle the above mentioned floor has a good basis, which is more or less known from the state of the art, it still has quite a number of disadvantages being, that fastening the floor sections with bolts onto and through the bottom plate is relatively disadvantageous because of possible rusting, possible dissolution of the guarantee by the dealer and it is also very labour-intensive. Also, at least two rail section parts are necessary for each chair or seat, which produce or create rather many rail section parts with grooves or dovetail sections in the floor. Also, the embodiment of the floor with many divided openings gives an untidy appearance and stands in the way for a good finishing with a floor covering material . Further, it is a disadvantage, that the upper side of the created floor is not flat (mounting rubbers, etc.), through which a less attractive embodiment of the floor plate is created. The described disadvantages mainly still remain when the floor is glued to the bottom plate of the vehicle. It remains a disadvantage that the rail section part with a separate insert rail is rather complicated and expensive and for one chair/seat two of these rail section parts with accessories must be attached. Then, the floor section part has a rather broad design and can only be mutually glued on the tip surfaces, through which the interconnection is less suitable and strong. From the aforementioned information it appears that the known floor designs, constructed as a floor plate constructed of rail and floor section parts to be applied onto the bottom plate of transport vehicles have a number of disadvantages. The aim of the present invention is to provide such a modified and improved floor constructed of rail- and floor section parts that the disadvantages are eliminated and in which the device constructed as a floor plate can be put onto the market in a very economically responsible way. For this purpose a floor constructed of rail and floor section parts on which chairs and wheelchairs can be fastened according to the invention is developed in a very inventive way, characterized in that, on each chair track the chairs/seats can be coupled to a single rail section part, in which the mentioned rail section part has a continuous narrow slit on the upper side to internally form a mechanical strong U- shape with short bevelled flanges, which bevelled flanges are provided with a serration with a short pitch S on the inside for form-matching receipt of special T-headed bolts for fastening the base plates of the chairs/seats, in which fastening or locking of the mentioned T-headed bolt in the floor is done with an instrument provided with a lever, in which the mentioned U- shape of the mentioned rail section part is provided with relatively thick sides to absorb extreme intermittent loads, in which rail and floor section parts are mechanically interlockable and the floor can be fastened on the top side of the corrugated section of the bottom plate of the transport vehicle, in which in the floor section parts special coverable recesses are applied in a suitable pattern for retractors with ratchet construction and common retractors of securing belts for fastening wheelchairs, in which the material of the rail- and floor section parts is a rigid and ductile material with a relatively high shear and/or bending strength. The advantage is a flat floor plate onto which in a very efficient way chairs and wheelchairs can be mounted and which has a very professional design as well in appearance as use. Further the device according to the invention is further developed in such a way, that the mentioned rail section part has a box-shaped rectangular cross-section with raised ridges with bevelled flanges, to form a continuous narrow open slit upwards, in which the raised edges of the mentioned rail section part show special continuous lockable projections for coupling to special lockable projections of floor section parts situated below. The advantage is, that the floor plate forms a whole with regard to the transverse force and moment working. Further, the device according to the invention is further developed in such a way, that on the inside of the bevelled flanges a serration is provided for form-matching placement of the special T-headed bolt with operating lever for fastening the base plate of the chair/seat to be mounted. The advantage is that mounting the base plate of the chairs can be done at every distance between them in the transport vehicle. Further, the device according to the invention is further developed in such a way, that the mentioned special T-headed bolt for the chair/seat attachment is constructed in such a way, that when the T-headed bolt is stuck into the slit and is finished in such a way, that after a quarter of a turn, it fits form-matching in the mentioned serration on the inner side of the rail section part. The advantage is that sliding in longitudinal direction and naturally crosswise direction of the chair/seat in relation to the floor is impossible. Furthermore, the device according to the invention is further developed in such a way, that the mentioned special T-headed bolt for fastening the base plate of the chair/seat legs of the other end is provided with a locking pivotable eccentric construction with an operating mechanism constructed as a lever for a spring-loaded support on a matching cylindrical ring and thus clamps the base plate of the chair/seat legs onto the mentioned rail section part of the floor plate. The advantage is that the base plate of the chair/seat legs can be fastened quickly and safely onto the floor plate. Furthermore, the device according to the invention is further developed in such a way, that the mentioned special coverable recesses in the floor section parts for retractors of the securing belts of wheelchairs can consist of a lid used as a lever and lock, so it acts as a ratchet pawl to haul in the securing belt of a safety belt, by pulling out the mentioned lid and locking again by sliding back the mentioned lid and folding it in, in which fastening of the securing belt is done by means of toothed wheels and a ratchet construction and that by certain placement of retractors over the floor construction, large as well as small wheelchairs can be transported. On the other side it must be noted, that also two different types of retractors can be mounted into the recesses . The advantage is an interlocking for fastening large and small wheelchairs which is safe and easy in use for a chosen placement of wheelchairs with different sizes. The preferred construction of the invention will be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawing. In which: Fig. 1A/1B shows a view in oblique projection of the floor plate according to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is going to be placed on (figure 1A) and is placed on the bottom plate of the transport vehicle (figure IB) ; Fig. 2A/2B shows a cross-section over the floor plate with uncoupled rail and floor section parts (figure 2A) and a cross-section in which the rail- and floor section parts are coupled to each other and placed onto the bottom plate of the transport vehicle and constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section and in oblique projection the rail section part, in which according to a preferred embodiment the serration with the heart-to-heart distance S is indicated; Fig. 4 shows a view in perspective of the special T- headed bolt with lockable pivotable eccentric construction with lever as a quick-connector for fastening the base plate of the chair/seat legs to the rail section part;

Fig. 5 shows a view in oblique projection of the connection with the special T-headed bolt as quick- connector of the base plate of the chair/seat legs to the rail section part; Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of the line VI of figure 5 ; Fig. 7A show views in oblique projection of the special up to 7E coverable recesses in the floor section parts with retractors with ratchet construction for fastening wheelchairs in several phases according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows a view in oblique projection of the used retractors with ratchet construction of figures 7A up to 7E; and Fig. 9 shows a view in oblique projection of the used common retractor.

Figure 1A shows in view and in oblique projection the floor plate 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which this floor plate 1 is placed on the corrugated bottom plate 2 of a transport vehicle 3, in which the side and back side of the transport vehicle 3 have been left out. On the corrugations of the bottom plate 2, which actually forms a corrugated section, a not indicated layer of plastic glue or mastic has been applied. In figure IB placement of the whole floor plate 1 is roughly completed, meaning the floor covering material and such must still be applied. In the floor plate 1 the coverable recesses 4 with the retractors 5 with ratchet construction and the common retractors 45 are applied and namely for the buyer of the minibus or transport vehicle 3 in a suitable way. For the retractors 5 see figures 7B up to 7E and figure 8 and for the common retractors 45 see figure 9. Further, three rail section parts 6 are visible. Beside the rail section part 6 lay the floor section parts 7 and 8, as clearly shown in figures 2A and 2B. The thickness D of the rail and floor section parts 6, 7, 8 is approximately 60 mm and the working width of the rail section part 6 is approximately 60 mm and that of the floor section part approximately 180 respectively 230 mm. In figure 2A the required wall thicknesses, which are necessary for the demanded strength and rigidity are schematically indicated. In the floor section parts 7, 8 another centre ridge 9 is applied in the middle of the profile for more rigidity. The vertical side ridges 10, 11 of the floor section parts 7, 8 are receding in vertical sense and show continuous projections 12, 13, 14 which fit form-matching onto the continuous projections 15, 16, 17 of the rail section part 6. Further, it is shown that the in accordance continuous projection 12, 13, 14 of the floor section parts 7, 8 are applied left and right in reverse order. The same counts for the continuous projections 15, 16, 17 of the rail section part 6. The latter is done to be able to create a floor plate with the sections in the inverted position and with that make them repeatedly fit form-matching against each other. The continuous projections 13 and 16 further show a half-circle-shaped recess 18 to, as shown in figure 2B, to be locked with tensile strength with a continuous round thread profile 19. Further, if required glue can also be used at the head faces. In the cross-section of figure 2B of the rail section part 6 the slit 20 for receiving the special T-headed bolt with accessories (see figure 4) is applied as quick- connector. With regard to mechanical demands the thicknesses of the walls 21, 22 of the rail section are rather sturdy to keep the chair/seat with the rail section part 6 fastened with sufficient safety at a collision. Further the rail section 6 is provided with a small elevation 23 as thick as the floor covering 24, which can be vinyl or carpeting. Figure 3 shows in oblique projection the rail section part 6, in which according to a preferred embodiment the serrations 25 are applied to be able to place the special T-headed bolt 26 (figure 4) with lockable pivotable eccentric construction with a very short pitch S, being the quick-connection of the chair/seat to the floor plate 1. Figure 4 further shows in oblique projection the special T-headed bolt 26. The hammerhead 27 is finished in a halve circle at the top side and is rotatable to be placed in the serrations 25 through the slit 20 (figure 3) . The eccentric construction 28 with lever 29 and the spring loaded support on the cylinder ring 30 is clearly shown. The lever 29 can be operated with the foot pedal 31 and the construction can be seen as the quick-connector for the chair/seat to the floor plate 1. With that, it can be stated that the T-headed bolt can also be provided with a screw thread on the shank for a common bolt for a normal long lasting connection. Figure 5 shows a view in oblique projection of the attachment with the special T-headed bolt 26 of the base plate 32 of the chair/seat legs 33, 34 to the rail section part 6. The base plate 32 of the passengers seat is, for example, attached to a single rail section part 6 with two special T-headed bolts 26, and due to the design of one and other this connection is moment tight in all directions, so that a very stable set-up of the chair/seat is created in no time. Figure 6 shows a cross-section over the line VI of figure 5. Here it is shown in detail how the locking of the base plate 32 to the rail section part 6 is executed. The unlocking is done with a second lever 35. It is also possible to use an extra ratchet security. Figures 7A up to 7E show views in oblique projection of the special coverable recesses 4 (see figure IB) in the floor section parts 7, 8 with retractors 5 with ratchet construction 43 (see figures 7B up to 7E and figure 8) . The special coverable recess 4 is provided with a pivotable lid 36, that can easily be opened with a finger through recess 37. Figure 7B shows the pivotable lid 36 opened and the retractor 5 with ratchet construction 43 can be seen. The pivotable lid 36 has a telescopic part 38 to create a larger lever. In figure 7C a securing belt 39 for the wheelchair is pulled out and tensioned by moving the extended lever of the lid 36 back and forth. In figure 7D the securing belt 39 is tensioned and the telescopic part 38 is slid back in, through which locking takes place and the pivotable lid can be pushed back in the position of figure 7E. Figure 8 shows in more detail the retractor 5 with ratchet construction 43 in oblique projection, in which the different parts are as usual and a locking with the telescoping part 38 is added to the pivotable lid 36. Here it must be noted, that the mentioned retractors are situated in the floor. Figure 9 shows a common retractor 45 also for securing persons and wheelchairs, in which the principle of a common retractor is used. Placement of the different types of retractors is done in consultation with the client. Finally it has to be emphasized, that the above description constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, but that further variations and modifications are still possible without departing the scope of this patent document .

Claims

1. Device constructed as floor plate or floor and consists of rail section and floor section parts and is fastened on the bottom plate of transport vehicles, such as vehicles with load floors for conversion to mini busses, according to the strict rules applicable for passenger transport up to 8 people, ambulances, trains, busses, trams, airplanes and such, in which on the mentioned floor plate or floor chairs/seats and wheelchairs are attachable, in which the mentioned fastening to the bottom plate can be done in a mechanical as well as a chemical way, in which the rail- and floor section parts are applied in a longitudinal direction of the transport vehicle, in which the mentioned chairs/seats can be coupled, mostly without tools in a so called chair track on the mentioned rail section parts, characterized in that, on each chair track the chairs/seats can be coupled to a single rail section part (6) , in which the mentioned rail section part (6) has a continuous narrow slit (20) on the upper side to internally form a mechanical strong U-shape with bevelled flanges, which bevelled flanges are provided with a serration (25) with a short pitch on the inside for form- matching receipt of special T-headed bolts (26) for fastening the base plates (32) of the chairs/seats, in which fastening or locking of the mentioned T-headed bolt (26) in the floor is done with an instrument provided with a lever (29) , in which the mentioned U-shape of the mentioned rail section part (6) is provided with relatively thick sides (21) to absorb extreme intermittent load, in which rail and floor section parts (6, 7, 8) are mechanically interlockable and the floor can be fastened at the top side of the corrugated section of the bottom plate (2) of the transport vehicle, in which in the floor section parts (7, 8) special coverable recesses (4) are applied in a suitable pattern for retractors (5) with ratchet construction (43) and common retractors (45) of securing belts (39) for fastening wheelchairs, in which the material of the rail- and floor section parts (6, 7, 8) is a rigid and ductile material with a relatively high bending and shear strength.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, the construction of the mentioned floor (1) is done in such a way that it starts and ends with a fitting section of the floor section (8) , that connects to a rail section part (6) and following two floor section parts (7) and so on, in which the rail section part (6) can also be turned upside down to lay with its flat bottom side upwards if no rail section part (6) is necessary locally.

3. Device as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, the mentioned rail section part (6) has a box- shaped rectangular cross-section with raised ridges with bevelled flanges to form a continuous narrow open slit (29) upwards, in which the raised edges of the mentioned rail section part (6) show special continuous lockable projections (12, 13, 14) for coupling to special lockable projections (15, 16, 17) of the floor section parts (7, 8) situated below.

4. Device as claimed in claims 1 and 3, characterized in that, at the inside of the bevelled flanges a serration (25) is applied for form-matching placement of the special T-headed bolt (26) with operating lever (29) for fastening the base plate (32) of the to be mounted chair/seat.

5. Device as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that, on each raised side of the rail section part (6) three special continuous lockable cross- projections (15, 16, 17) are attached, in which the upper and lower continuous projection (15, 17) is constructed flat for, in vertical sense, locking the adjacent floor section parts and the intermediate continuous projection (16) is provided with a half-round continuous recess (18) for connection to a similar finishing of the raised side of the adjacent floor section part (7, 8), through which by means of a longitudinal round-thread profile (19) , a strong horizontal locking of the rail- and floor section parts (6, 7, 8) is created.

6. Device as claimed in aforementioned claims, characterized in that, the thickness of the mentioned floor is approximately 60 mm, that the rail section part (6) is approximately 60 mm wide and that the floor section part (7, 8) can be approximately 180 mm and 230 mm wide and 60 mm high.

7. Device as claimed in aforementioned claims, characterized in that, the floor section parts (7, 8) have a hollow rectangular cross-section consisting of two boxes in which the outer raised sides show a vertical recede to suitably connect to the mentioned rail section part (6) or floor section part (7, 8) .

8. Device as claimed in claims 1 and 4, characterized in that, the mentioned special T-headed bolt (26) for the chair/seat attachment is constructed in such a way, that when the T-headed bolt (26) is stuck into the slit (20) and is finished in such a way that after a quarter of a turn, it fits form-matching in the mentioned serration (25) on the inner side of the rail section part (6) .

9. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, the mentioned special T-headed bolt (26) for fastening the base plate (32) of the chair/seat legs (33, 34) is, on the other end provided with a locking pivotable eccentric construction (28) with an operating mechanism constructed as a lever (29) for a spring-loaded support on a matching cylindrical ring (30) and thus clamps the base plate (32) of the chair/seat legs (33, 34) onto the mentioned rail section part (6) of the floor plate (1) .

10. Device as claimed in claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that, the material of the rail- and floor section parts (6, 7, 8) can be aluminium with a minimum tensile strength at an 0,2% tensile limit of 90 Newton per mm².

11. Device as claimed in aforementioned claims, characterized in that, that the mentioned rail- and floor section parts (6, 7, 8) are fastened on the corrugation of the loading floor (2) of the vehicle by means of glue, in which the glue/mastic must be a very elastic and energy absorbing one .

12. Device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that, the mentioned plastic glue consists of a glue of a polyurethane with a tensile of approximately 400 percent.

13. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, the mentioned special coverable recesses (4) in the floor section parts (7, 8) for retractors (5) of the securing belts (39) of wheelchairs can consist of a lid (36) used as a lever (38) and lock, so it acts as a ratchet pawl to haul in the security belt (29) or a safety belt, by pulling out the mentioned lid (36) and locking again by sliding back the mentioned lid (36) and folding it in, in which fastening of the security belt (39) is done by means of toothed wheels and a ratchet construction and that by a certain placement of retractors (5) over the floor construction, large as well as small wheelchairs can be transported. = / =