The present application relates to a passenger vehicle for transporting one or more passengers, and more particularly to a modified passenger vehicle which is configured to provide access to the vehicle for a physically limited passenger.
Automobile manufacturers do not currently mass-produce passenger motor vehicles specifically designed to transport passengers having physical limitations, either as a driver or as a non-driving passenger. Consequently, mass-produced passenger vehicles are modified, or retrofitted, by a number of aftermarket companies dedicated to supplying vehicles to physically limited passengers. Such vehicles can be modified by removing certain parts or structures within a vehicle and replacing those parts with parts specifically designed to accommodate the physically limited passenger. For example, in one configuration, a van is retrofitted with a ramp to enable a physically limited individual using a wheelchair to enter and exit the vehicle without the assistance of another individual.
Other known products for retrofitting a vehicle, such as a van, include wheel chair lifts, lift platforms, and lowered floor surfaces. In some instances, a door of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) van is enlarged or otherwise modified to permit entry and exit of the physically limited individual through what is known as the assisted entrance. Once inside the van, individual who uses the assisted entrance is located in a rear passenger compartment of the van adjacent to or behind the assisted entrance.
In a retrofitted van, the sliding side door moves toward the back of the vehicle to open a passenger entrance as well as to provide access to a ramp located beneath the floor. In some vehicles, which are considered as viable candidates for retrofitting, the construction of the OEM vehicle requires modification to accommodate the addition of a ramp. Not only must a subfloor be added, but the door opening needs to be widened to provide access for a wheelchair. Consequently, there is a need for a modification to an OEM vehicle to provide access to physically limited individuals or individuals confined to a wheelchair or other mobility alternatives to wheelchairs.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a chassis, a door track coupled to the chassis, a door operatively connected to the door track and adapted to move between a closed position and an open position, and a hinge assembly coupled to the door and movably coupled to the door track. The hinge assembly includes a first bracket coupled to the door, a second bracket coupled to the first bracket, and a transport assembly coupled to the second bracket and adapted to move along the door track as the door moves between the open and closed positions. The transport assembly includes a coupling member for releasably coupling the second bracket to the transport assembly. The track includes a trigger disposed along a path of travel taken by the hinge assembly, wherein contact between the coupling member and the trigger releases the second bracket from the transport assembly to move from a first position to a second position. Upon movement of the second bracket from the first position to the second position, the door moves to an extended open position with respect to the door track.
In one example of this embodiment, the track comprises a first end and a second end, the door being in the closed position when the hinge assembly is located at the first end and the door being in the open position when the hinge assembly is located at the second end. In this example, when the hinge assembly moves to the second end of the track, the second bracket is released from the transport assembly. In a second example, when the hinge assembly reaches the second end of the track, the transport assembly remains substantially fixed relative to the track as the second bracket moves from its first position to its second position.
In another example of this embodiment, the second bracket pivots relative to the transport assembly between the first and second positions. In yet another example, when the hinge assembly is at the first end of the track, the first bracket is pivoted inwardly in close proximity to the second bracket. As the hinge assembly moves from the first end, the first bracket pivots away from the second bracket. In a further example, the coupling member is pivotally coupled to the transport assembly. Here, the coupling member comprising a pawl configured to contact the trigger to induce pivotal movement of the coupling member and release the second bracket from the transport assembly. In yet a further example, the second bracket comprises a pin configured to be releasably coupled to the coupling member. In the first position, the coupling member is coupled to the pin, and in the second position, the coupling member is released from the pin.
In another example of this embodiment, the transport assembly comprises at least one rolling member configured to roll along the track as the door moves between the open and closed positions. In yet another example, the hinge assembly is movably disposed in at least a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration. In the first configuration, the door is in its closed position, the hinge assembly is at the first end, the first bracket is pivoted inwardly and the second bracket extends outwardly in a substantially perpendicular position relative the track. In the second configuration, the door is located between the open and closed positions, the hinge assembly is at the second end of the track, the first bracket is pivoted outwardly and arranged substantially perpendicular to the second bracket, and the second bracket extends outwardly in a substantially perpendicular position relative the track. In the third configuration, the door is located in the closed position, the hinge assembly is at the second end of the track, and the second bracket is pivoted relative to the transport assembly such that the second bracket extends angularly outwardly relative to the track.
In a different example, a hinge is located between the first bracket and second bracket, where the first bracket pivots relative to the second bracket about the hinge. Further, a biasing mechanism is coupled between the hinge and the transport assembly such that the biasing member is adapted to bias the hinge assembly to a closed configuration. In a further example, the hinge assembly is movable between a closed configuration, an open configuration, and an extended configuration, where the hinge assembly is in the closed configuration when the door is in its closed position and the hinge assembly is in the extended configuration when the door is in its open position.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an overtravel hinge assembly is provided for a vehicle door operatively coupled to a door track of a passenger vehicle. The overtravel hinge assembly includes a first bracket adapted to be mounted to the vehicle door, a second bracket pivotally coupled to the first bracket via a hinge, and a transport assembly pivotally coupled to the second bracket. The transport assembly has a coupling member for releasably coupling the second bracket to the transport assembly and a movable member adapted to contact and move along the door track as the vehicle door moves between an open and closed positions. The hinge assembly is configured to move between at least a closed configuration, an open configuration, and an extended configuration.
In one example of this embodiment, in the closed configuration, the first bracket is pivoted inwardly in close proximity to the second bracket, and the second bracket extends outwardly in a substantially perpendicular position relative the transport assembly. In the open configuration, the first bracket is pivoted outwardly about the hinge and arranged substantially perpendicular to the second bracket, and the second bracket extends outwardly in a substantially perpendicular position relative the transport assembly. In the extended configuration, the second bracket extends outwardly from the transport assembly at an angle greater than 90°.
In another example, a biasing mechanism is coupled between the hinge and the transport assembly, where the biasing member is adapted to bias the hinge assembly to the closed configuration. In a further example, the coupling member is pivotally coupled to the transport assembly. Here, the coupling member has a pawl configured to contact a portion of the track to induce pivotal movement of the coupling member and release the second bracket from the transport assembly. In yet another example, the second bracket comprises a pin configured to be releasably coupled to the coupling member. In the closed configuration, the coupling member is coupled to the pin, whereas in the extended configuration, the coupling member is released from the pin.
In a further example of this embodiment, the overtravel hinge includes a first biasing mechanism coupled between the hinge and the transport assembly, and a second biasing mechanism coupled between a base of the transport assembly and the coupling member. In this example, the second biasing mechanism is configured to bias the coupling member into contact with the pin. In another example, the movable member includes at least one wheel or roller bearing.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a hinge assembly is provided for movably coupling a vehicle door to a vehicle between an open position and a closed position. The vehicle has a chassis and a track coupled to the chassis, and the hinge assembly includes a first bracket adapted to be mounted to the vehicle door, a second bracket coupled to the first bracket, and a transport assembly coupled to the second bracket and adapted to move in contact with the track. The hinge assembly is configured to move between at least a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration. In the first and second configurations, the second bracket extends outwardly at a first angle relative to the transport assembly, and in the third configuration, the second bracket extends outwardly at a second angle relative to the transport assembly, where the second angle is greater than the first angle.
In one example of this embodiment, the hinge assembly may include a coupling member for releasably coupling the second bracket to the transport assembly and a biasing mechanism coupled to the transport assembly. The biasing member may be adapted to bias the hinge assembly to the first configuration.
In a different embodiment of the present disclosure, a motor vehicle may have a body, wherein the motor vehicle includes a track mounted to the body, the track having a first end and a second end, and a door adapted to move from a closed position to an open position. An overtravel hinge includes a door bracket mounted to the door and a link bracket including a pin, wherein the link bracket is rotatably coupled the door bracket. The overtravel hinge further includes a transport assembly having a latch releasably coupled to the pin, wherein the transport assembly movably engages the track. A trigger is mounted at the track, wherein the trigger is aligned along a path taken by the overtravel hinge. Contact of the trigger with the latch releases the latch from the pin to enable the link bracket to move with respect to the transport assembly.
In an alternative embodiment, there is provided an overtravel hinge for a sliding door operatively coupled to a track of a passenger vehicle. The overtravel hinge includes a door bracket adapted to couple to the door and a link bracket pivotally coupled to the door bracket, wherein the link bracket includes a pin. A roller assembly of the overtravel hinge is configured to move along the track, wherein the roller assembly includes a latch having a cutout and a pawl configured to engage a trigger. Contact of the pawl with the trigger moves the cutout away from the pin to enable movement of the link bracket with respect to the roller assembly.
The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.
In
In one embodiment, the vehicle 10 may include a body 12 operatively coupled to front wheels 14 and rear wheels 16. Here, the vehicle 10 includes a unibody construction. A first passenger side door 18 may be located between the front wheels 14 and rear wheels 16 such that the door 18 provides access to a passenger for sitting in a front seat of the vehicle 10 adjacent to the driver.
In another embodiment, the vehicle 10 may include a second passenger side door 20 coupled to the unibody frame through a sliding mechanism or the like. The frame or body 12 may include at least one track, for example, to enable a sliding mechanism coupled to the side door 20 to move between an open position and a closed position. In one example, the vehicle 10 may include more than one track. In another example, the vehicle 10 may include a plurality of tracks. In a further example, the vehicle 10 may include two or more tracks. In other embodiments, any number of tracks may be possible.
In one embodiment, the sliding mechanism may be modified to slide along one or more of the tracks to increase the size of an opening 22 to the interior 28 of the vehicle 10. For example, in one aspect, a roller assembly may roll along the one or more door tracks. In other aspects, the assembly may include a sliding assembly, such that the overall motion or movement of the door along the one or more tracks is a substantially sliding motion. The increased opening 22 may provide better access to a physically limited passenger or a passenger seated in a wheelchair. In one embodiment, the opening 22 may be defined on the sides thereof by an edge 19 of a B-pillar 23 of the vehicle and the edge 21 of the door 20. In some embodiments, an edge of a C-pillar, as is known by those skilled in the art, can define the opening as well. A door handle 25 may be used to open and close the door 20.
In another embodiment, the vehicle 10 may be further modified to include a ramp assembly 24 which provides rolling access of a wheelchair from a ground surface 26 into an interior 28 of the vehicle 10. The ramp assembly 24 may be installed at the opening 22 and is movable between the interior 28 of the vehicle, where it may be stored in some embodiments, and to the exterior for wheelchair access. As illustrated in
In some embodiments, a modified vehicle such as a modified van may include a plurality of rows of seats for passengers to be seated. In one instance, one row of seats may be removed from the manufacturer supplied vehicle to enable access to a wheelchair supporting a passenger. Once the wheelchaired passenger moves into the interior of the vehicle, the passenger or caregiver may locate the wheelchair in a central or middle portion of the interior behind the driver and passenger seats of the front row. As described herein, a wheelchaired passenger may be used to indicate that the individual is making use of a wheelchair, whether that use is temporary or permanent. Other types of mobility assistance devices are contemplated. In other embodiments, wheelchair users also use the front seating area of the vehicle. The principles and teachings of the present disclosure may also be applicable to a physically limited passenger who is not making use of a wheelchair. Moreover, a lift may be implemented with a vehicle instead of a ramp. Other devices may be used to assist with moving a physically limited passenger into and out of a vehicle.
As shown in
In several embodiments, a side door 20 may be movable relative to the body 12 via a sliding movement, rolling movement, or a combination thereof In at least one embodiment, the door 20 may include a mechanism which engages at least one of the tracks to facilitate the movement.
In one embodiment of a conventional vehicle passenger door, a sliding door hinge 36, such as the conventional sliding door hinge 36 of
In an OEM or conventional vehicle, three sliding door hinges are generally coupled to the inside of the door 20 such that each one engages one of the tracks 30, 32, and 34. The sliding door hinge 36 may be typically located at the middle track 32. Other types of sliding door hinges may be configured to engage the tracks 30 and 34. When conventional hinges 36 are used in the OEM or conventional vehicle, however, the size of the opening 22 is generally defined between the edge 19 of the B-pillar 23 and the edge 21 of the door 20. In
In one embodiment, to increase the size of the door opening 22, an overtravel hinge 60, as illustrated in
In the embodiment of
In one embodiment, and as also shown in
Referring to the embodiment of
In another embodiment, a perspective top view of the retractable hinge 60 is illustrated in
As best shown in
In a further embodiment, the roller assembly 70 may support a plurality of roller bearings which are configured to engage the track of the vehicle. In one example, the roller assembly 70 may include at least one roller bearing. In another example, the roller assembly 70 may include two or more roller bearings. In a further embodiment, the roller assembly 70 may include three roller bearings 84. Other embodiments may have other arrangements besides roller bearings. For example, the roller assembly 70 may have a single wheel which engages the track. In another example, the roller or transport assembly 70 may include a low-friction surface which slides along the track without rolling.
In another embodiment, each of the one or more roller bearings 84 may be supported by a base 86 as best shown in
In a further embodiment, the pivot 74 may include a pivot pin 88 as shown in
In some embodiments, the base 86 may also pivotally support a latch 96. As shown in
In a further embodiment, the latch 96 may include a cutout 102 in its body that is configured to engage a pin 104 that extends through and may be held in place by the first support block 90 and the second support block 92. As shown in
In another embodiment, as shown in
Referring to the illustrated embodiment of
In one embodiment, as shown in
Referring to an embodiment shown in
In other embodiments such as those shown in
While a latch 96 is shown and described herein, other devices or mechanisms may be used for releasably engaging the link bracket 72 to the roller or transport assembly 70. For example, a clamping mechanism may be used in place of the latch 96. Alternatively, an actuator (e.g., electric, hydraulic, etc.) may be operably controlled to further release the link bracket 72. In one instance, a solenoid and actuator may be employed to releasably couple the link bracket 72 relative to the transport assembly 70. A signal to the solenoid may energize it to actuate the cylinder or actuator to thereby release the link bracket 72.
In some embodiments, an electronic control system may be implemented where a sensor such as a Hall Effect sensor may be disposed for detecting a position of the hinge 60 or door relative to the track 32. As the door moves from the closed position to the open position, the sensor may communicate with a controller (not shown) the location of the hinge 60 or door. The controller may be programmed to energize the solenoid to actuate the cylinder or actuator at a desired position or location of the hinge or door relative to the track to thereby release the link bracket 72. In other embodiments, a remote control from a key fob or control inside the vehicle may be used to communicate instructions to the controller or solenoid. Other possibilities may be implemented to enable the additional rearward travel of the door when opening it to its fully open position.
Moreover, while a door handle 25 is described as being used by a user to open a vehicle door 20, it is further contemplated that an automatic or electronic door system may be incorporated in the vehicle. In this embodiment, a user control inside the vehicle or on a key fob, for example, may be actuated by a user to open and/or close the door. Further, the door may include a keypad or button which is actuated to open and/or close the door. In an electronic door system, a motor such as an electric motor may be activated by a controller to in turn actuate a cylinder or actuator to initiate movement of the door. The motor may provide the power to propel the door between its open and closed positions. A second motor may be used to move the door from its intermediate or partial open position 64 to its fully open position 66. Alternatively, the same motor may be used to achieve this additional movement.
In another embodiment, an actuator may be used to pivot the link bracket 72 relative to the roller or transport assembly 70. In a further embodiment, an actuator may be used to pivot the door bracket 76 relative to the link bracket 72. In some embodiments, a pair of actuators may be implemented to move the door bracket 76 and link bracket 72. In several embodiments, a latch 96, pin 104, pawl 100 and trigger 110 may be replaced with an electronic control system that includes a sensor for detecting a position of the hinge 60 or door relative to the track. A motor, actuator and the like may be used in conjunction with the sensor to fully control movement of the hinge 60 between its respective positions 62, 64, 66 shown in
While an electric system including sensors, electric motors and electric actuators may be used, in other embodiments a hydraulic control system may be implemented with a hydraulic motor and hydraulic actuator. In other embodiments, a combination of an electric and hydraulic control system may be used to move the hinge 60 between its various positions or configurations.
In some embodiments, a battery may be used to power the one or more motors and actuators to move the hinge 60. The battery may be the conventional vehicle battery, or it may be a second battery. Other power sources may be used as well.
While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been disclosed herein, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. For instance, the present disclosure is not limited to the modification of a purchased OEM vehicle, but can be incorporated into the OEM vehicle when manufactured. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/127,322, filed Dec. 18, 2020 and entitled “OVERTRAVEL HINGE,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Entry |
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ISR/WO dated Apr. 12, 2022 for PCT/US2021/063471. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20220195773 A1 | Jun 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63127322 | Dec 2020 | US |