Lifting device for a wheelchair, and motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10744046-B2
Application number	US-201816190983-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2018
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

A lifting device for lifting a wheelchair into and out of a rear loading space of a motor vehicle includes lifting assemblies, fastened within a loading space of the vehicle, each having a pivot bearing; a telescopic lifting arm, connected to the pivot bearings to pivot about an axis in the vehicle transverse direction; a transverse stay which runs in the vehicle transverse direction, connected to free end portions of the lifting arms; and a coupling unit disposed on the transverse stay and configured to couple at least indirectly to the wheelchair.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lifting device for lifting a wheelchair into and out of a rear loading space of a motor vehicle, comprising:
at least two lifting assemblies fastenable to a floor of the loading space, mutually spaced apart in a vehicle transverse direction, or on mutually opposite loading space side walls of the loading space, each of the lifting assemblies having a pivot bearing fastenable to the floor of the loading space or to one of the loading space side walls;
at least one telescopic lifting arm, wherein a first end portion is connected to the pivot bearing to be pivotable about a pivot axis that runs in the vehicle transverse direction;
at least one actuator, which, for pivoting the lifting arm about the pivot axis engages on the lifting arm;
at least one actuator, which, for telescoping the lifting arm engages on the lifting arm;
at least one transverse stay which runs in the vehicle transverse direction and which is connected to free end portions of the lifting arms; and
at least one electrically actuatable coupling unit which is disposed on the transverse stay and which, in a coupling state, is coupled at least indirectly to the wheelchair and in an uncoupling state is uncoupled from the wheelchair.

2. The lifting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling unit comprises at least one electromagnet.

3. The lifting device as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising at least one metal plate, at least indirectly fastenable to the wheelchair, wherein when the coupling unit is in the coupling state, the coupling unit is attracted to the at least one metal plate by the electromagnet per a magnetic field generated by the electromagnet.

4. The lifting device as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising at least one joint connected to the metal plate and by way of which the metal plate is connectable to the wheelchair to be pivotable about a rotation axis that is parallel with the vehicle transverse direction.

5. The lifting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transverse stay is configured to be adjustable in length.

6. The lifting device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one actuation electronics system which is connected to the actuators and to the coupling unit and which is set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit in such a manner that the wheelchair, when lifted into or out of, respectively, the loading space, is held upright and rear wheels of the wheelchair herein roll along a rear portion of the vehicle.

7. The lifting device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the actuation electronics system is set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit in such a manner that the lifting arms in a resting state of the lifting device, proceeding from the pivot bearings, run in a forward direction.

8. The lifting device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the actuation electronics system is set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit in such a manner that the coupling unit, with the wheelchair having been lifted into the loading space, remains in the coupling state of said coupling unit.

9. A vehicle, comprising:
lifting assemblies, fastened within a loading space of the vehicle, each having a pivot bearing;
a telescopic lifting arm, connected to the pivot bearings to pivot about an axis in a vehicle transverse direction;
a transverse stay which runs in the vehicle transverse direction, connected to free end portions of the lifting arms; and
a coupling unit disposed on the transverse stay and configured to couple at least indirectly to a wheelchair,
wherein the coupling unit includes an electromagnet configured to, when in a coupling state, generate a magnetic field to attract the wheelchair.

10. A vehicle, comprising:
lifting assemblies, fastened within a loading space of the vehicle, each having a pivot bearing;
a telescopic lifting arm, connected to the pivot bearings to pivot about an axis in a vehicle transverse direction;
a transverse stay which runs in the vehicle transverse direction, connected to free end portions of the lifting arms;
a coupling unit disposed on the transverse stay and configured to couple at least indirectly to a wheelchair;
an actuator configured to pivot the lifting arm about the pivot axis;
an actuator configured to telescope the lifting arm; and
an actuation electronics system connected to the actuators and to the coupling unit, configured to hold the wheelchair upright when the wheelchair is being lifted into or out of the loading space, such that rear wheels of the wheelchair roll along a rear portion of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the actuation electronics system is configured to utilize the actuators to pivot the lifting arms from a resting state in which the transverse stay is within the loading space to a loading state in which the transverse stay is in proximity of a backrest of the wheelchair.

12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the actuation electronics system is configured to utilize the actuators to simultaneously retract the lifting assemblies and pivot the lifting arm to pull the wheelchair in the direction of the vehicle until rear wheels of the wheelchair are in contact with a rear portion of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the loading space of the vehicle is located at a rear of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a tailgate configured to pivot to close the loading space when the wheelchair is disposed completely within the loading space.

15. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the loading space of the vehicle is located at a rear of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising a tailgate configured to pivot to close the loading space when the wheelchair is disposed completely within the loading space.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Longin David
• Cuypers Gunther
• Hannes Roel
• De Jong Eduard

Classifications

• A61G3/062

  using lifts connected to the vehicle · CPC title

• A61G3/0808

  Accommodating or securing wheelchairs · CPC title

• A61G3/0209 Primary

  with storage means for unused wheelchair or stretcher · CPC title