Method of modifying a motorized vehicle for wheelchair accessibility and system thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11925588-B2
Application number	US-202117223056-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2021
Priority date	Apr 7, 2020
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

A hybrid passenger vehicle includes a chassis supported by at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, a body coupled to the chassis including at least one door, and a vehicle floor coupled to the chassis. The body defines an interior space configured to be occupied by at least one passenger when operating the vehicle, and the vehicle floor has a front end and a rear end. A rear wall is coupled to the rear end of the vehicle floor such that the rear wall defines a rearmost boundary of the vehicle floor. A rear suspension assembly is coupled to the chassis. The rear wall is arc-shaped, and the rear suspension assembly is located rearward of the rear wall.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A passenger vehicle, comprising:
a chassis supported by at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel;
a body coupled to the chassis including at least one door, the body defining an interior space configured to be occupied by at least one passenger when operating the vehicle;
a vehicle floor coupled to the chassis, the vehicle floor comprising a front end and a rear end;
a rear wall coupled to the rear end of the vehicle floor, the rear wall defining a rearmost boundary of the vehicle floor; and
a rear suspension assembly coupled to the chassis;
wherein, the rear wall is arc-shaped;
wherein, the rear suspension assembly is located rearward of the rear wall.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein an apex of the arc-shaped rear wall is a furthest rearward point of the rear wall.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one rearward sidewall coupled to the vehicle floor, the rear wall being coupled to the at least one rearward sidewall.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear suspension assembly comprises a first cross member and a second cross member, the first cross member being located forward of the second cross member.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the rear suspension assembly further comprises a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, the first and second cross members being coupled to the first and second mounting arms.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the first mounting arm and second mounting arm each include a pair of mounting holes for coupling to the chassis.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear suspension assembly comprises a first trailing arm and a second trailing arm coupled to the chassis.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the first and second trailing arms are located at least partially below the vehicle floor.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a high voltage tub integrally coupled to the chassis.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a battery disposed in the high voltage tub.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the high voltage tub is located towards a front portion of the chassis and below the vehicle floor.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a fuel tank located towards a rear portion of the chassis and aligned with or forward of a rear axle of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the fuel tank is located along a centerline of the chassis.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a fuel tank, the fuel tank comprising:
a low-profile body comprising a first wing portion and a second wing portion, the first wing portion being coupled to one side of a main body portion and the second wing portion being coupled to an opposite side of the main body portion;
at least one mounting hole defined in the first wing portion and the second wing portion for mounting the fuel tank to the chassis of the hybrid vehicle;
wherein, the main body portion comprises a greater height than the first and second wing portions;
wherein, the first and second wing portions comprise a first angled edge, and the main body comprises a second angled edge, the first angled edge having a greater angle than the second angled edge.

15. A method of modifying an OEM vehicle to a modified vehicle capable of transporting at least one wheelchaired passenger, the OEM vehicle including a chassis supported by a pair of front wheels and rear wheels, a vehicle floor, and a rear suspension assembly, the method comprising:
disassembling the rear suspension assembly from the chassis;
coupling an arc-shaped rear wall to the vehicle floor, where an apex of the arc-shaped rear wall is located as a furthest rearward point of the arc-shaped rear wall;
decoupling a front cross-member from a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm of the rear suspension assembly;
coupling a second front cross-member to the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm; and
assembling the rear suspension assembly with the second front cross-member to the chassis such that the second front cross-member is located rearward of the apex of the arc-shaped rear wall.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising disconnecting the first and second mounting arms from the chassis.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing a rear cross-member coupled to the first and second mounting arms rearward of the front cross-member, the rear cross-member being located rearward of the second front cross-member.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the front cross-member coupled at a first location to the respective first and second mounting arms;
the second front cross-member coupled to the first and second mounting arms at a second location along the respective mounting arm, where the second location is rearward of the first location along each mounting arm.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising moving the vehicle floor from a first height above a ground surface in the OEM vehicle to a location having a second height above the ground surface, where the second height is less than the first height.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
removing an OEM fuel tank from the vehicle;
providing a low-profile fuel tank;
coupling the low-profile fuel tank to the chassis proximate the rear suspension assembly, the low-profile fuel tank being coupled to the chassis at a location aligned with or forward of a rear axle of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Braun Corp

Inventors

• Wegner Christopher C
• Laird Michael

Classifications

• A61G3/0808 Primary

  Accommodating or securing wheelchairs · CPC title

• B62D21/11

  with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} · CPC title

• B62D25/2027

  the subunits being rear structures · CPC title

• B60G2800/202

  kneeling, e.g. for letting passengers on/off · CPC title

• B60G2800/203

  lowering the floor for loading/unloading · CPC title