Vehicle

A vehicle, including: a panel member provided at a vehicle body, the panel member opposing a wheelchair, which has boarded the vehicle, in a vehicle width direction; a front side securing member provided at the panel member, the front side securing member being caused to contact a front portion side of a handrim of the wheelchair or a front portion side of a wheel of the wheelchair; and a rear side securing member that presses a rear portion side of the handrim or a rear portion side of the wheel toward a vehicle body front side so as to push the front portion side of the handrim or the front portion side of the wheel against the front side securing member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-108206 filed on Jun. 23, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle that can be boarded and exited in a wheelchair.

Related Art

A vehicle that an occupant of a wheelchair can board in the wheelchair and drive in the wheelchair has been known since heretofore (for example, see U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0285146).

When an occupant of a wheelchair is on board this vehicle, the wheels of the wheelchair are locked by a brake provided at the wheelchair, and the occupant of the wheelchair is restrained in the vehicle by a seatbelt provided in the vehicle.

However, the brake provided at the wheelchair and the seatbelt provided in the vehicle are not a structure that secures the wheelchair itself relative to the vehicle. Therefore, when the vehicle accelerates, decelerates or the like, the possibility of the wheelchair moving relative to the vehicle due to inertial force cannot be eliminated. When the wheelchair moves relative to the vehicle, it may be difficult to assure safety of the occupant of the wheelchair.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle that may assure safety of an occupant of a wheelchair.

In order to achieve the object described above, a vehicle according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes: a panel member provided at a vehicle body, the panel member opposing a wheelchair, which has boarded the vehicle, in a vehicle width direction; a front side securing member provided at the panel member, the front side securing member being caused to contact a front portion side of a handrim of the wheelchair or a front portion side of a wheel of the wheelchair; and a rear side securing member that presses a rear portion side of the handrim or a rear portion side of the wheel toward a vehicle body front side so as to push the front portion side of the handrim or the front portion side of the wheel against the front side securing member.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the front side securing member and the rear side securing member sandwich in the vehicle front-and-rear direction and secure a front portion side and rear portion side of a handrim or wheel of a wheelchair. Therefore, when the vehicle accelerates, decelerates or the like, movement of the wheelchair itself relative to the vehicle due to inertial force may be suppressed. As a result, safety of an occupant of the wheelchair is assured.

In a vehicle according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle according to the first aspect, a rail member that extends in a vehicle body front-rear direction is provided at the panel member, and the front side securing member is movably supported at the rail member.

According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the rail member that extends in the vehicle front-and-rear direction is provided at the panel member. Thus, stiffness of the panel member is improved and the panel member may withstand a side collision of the vehicle. That is, at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, safety of an occupant of the wheelchair is assured. Moreover, because the front side securing member is supported by the rail member to be movable, a position of the front side securing member may be altered, and the wheelchair can be positioned at a suitable position according to an outer diameter of the handrim or wheel of the wheelchair.

In a vehicle according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle according to the second aspect, the front side securing member is structured to be movable by a manual operation by an occupant of the wheelchair.

According to the third aspect of the present disclosure, the front side securing member can be moved by a manual operation by the occupant of the wheelchair. Therefore, the front side securing member may be moved expeditiously by a simple structure.

In a vehicle according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle according to the second aspect or third aspect, the rail member includes an upper and lower pair of rail members, and in a view seen in the vehicle body front-rear direction, the front side securing member comprises a set of two front side securing members respectively provided at an upper side and a lower side relative to a center of the handrim or a center of the wheel.

According to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the rail members are provided as an upper and lower pair. Therefore, stiffness of the panel member is improved more effectively, and the panel member may more effectively withstand a side collision of the vehicle. Moreover, the front side securing members are provided as a set of two at the upper and lower sides of the center of the handrim or the center of the wheel, as seen in the vehicle front-and-rear direction. Therefore, the front portion side of the handrim or wheel of the wheelchair is secured more effectively.

In a vehicle according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle according to the fourth aspect, seen in the vehicle body front-rear direction, the rear side fixing member is provided between the set of the two front side securing members.

According to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the rear side securing member is provided, as seen in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, between the front side securing members that are provided as a set of two. Thus, seen in the vehicle width direction, the handrim or wheel of the wheelchair is sandwiched and secured by the vertices of a substantial isosceles triangle whose altitude direction is in the vehicle front-and-rear direction. Therefore, the wheelchair may be more effectively and stably secured, and when the vehicle accelerates, decelerates or the like, movement of the wheelchair itself relative to the vehicle due to inertial force is more effectively suppressed or prevented.

In a vehicle according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the rear side securing member is structured as a mechanical structure that may be caused to press the rear portion side of the handrim or rear portion side of the wheel toward the vehicle body front side by a manual operation by an occupant of the wheelchair.

According to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the rear side securing member is structured by the mechanical structure. Pressing of the rear portion side of the handrim or wheel toward the vehicle body front side by the mechanical structure is enabled by a manual operation by an occupant of the wheelchair. Therefore, fabrication costs of the rear side securing member may be reduced compared to a structure that is moved by an electric mechanism.

In a vehicle according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the vehicle according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the panel member includes a pair of panel members respectively disposed at a left side and a right side, and the front side securing member and the rear side securing member are provided so as to correspond to the handrim at each of the left side and the right side or the wheel at each of the left side and the right side.

According to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the panel members are arranged as a pair at left and right, and the front side securing members and rear side securing members are respectively provided at the left and right handrims or wheels. Therefore, the panel members may withstand a side collision of the vehicle more effectively, and the wheelchair is more stably secured.

In a vehicle according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle according to any one of the first to seventh aspects further includes a retractable slope member at the lower side of a rear portion of a floor panel, the slope member enabling the wheelchair to board the vehicle when a back door is open.

According to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the retractable slope member is provided at the lower side of the rear portion of the floor panel. Therefore, an occupant of a wheelchair may board the vehicle expeditiously from the vehicle body rear side of the vehicle by using the slope member, and may move into a driving position without changing orientation.

According to the present disclosure as described above, safety of an occupant of a wheelchair may be assured.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Herebelow, an exemplary embodiment relating to the present disclosure is described in detail in accordance with the drawings. For convenience of description, the arrow UP that is shown where appropriate in the drawings indicates a vehicle body upper direction, the arrow FR indicates a vehicle body front direction, the arrow LH indicates a vehicle body left direction, and the arrow RH indicates the vehicle body right direction. In the following descriptions, where the directions up and down, front and rear, and left and right are recited without being particularly specified, the same represent up and down in the vehicle body vertical direction, front and rear in the vehicle body front-and-rear direction, and left and right in the vehicle body left-and-right direction (the vehicle width direction).

As shown inFIG.1toFIG.4, a vehicle10according to the present exemplary embodiment is employed as a small car (a microvehicle) for a single occupant, which can be driven by an occupant P of a wheelchair60. A back door12is provided at a rear portion of the vehicle10. The back door12may, for example, be turned about a hinge portion at a right end portion side (vehicle width direction one end portion side) of the back door12. Thus, the whole of the rear portion of the vehicle10may be opened up or closed by the back door12.

A floor panel14, which structures a floor of a vehicle cabin, is provided in the vehicle10. A retractable, flat plate-shaped slope member16is provided at the lower side of a rear portion of the floor panel14. That is, a storage space (not shown in the drawings) in which the slope member16can be stored is formed in a lower portion of the floor panel14. The slope member16is structured to be movable in and out of the storage space manually or automatically.

Side panels20are provided at two side portions of the vehicle10(vehicle body). The side panels20serve as a left and right pair of panel members. At each side panel20, front side securing members30, a rear side securing member40and so forth, which are described below, are provided. The side panels20have similar structures with left-and-right symmetry. Accordingly, descriptions are mostly given only for the side panel20at one side (the left side).

As is shown in more detail inFIG.5, the side panel20is structured with a flat plate-shaped outer panel22and an inner panel24with a hat shape in cross section. An upper flange portion and a lower flange portion of the inner panel24are joined to an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion of the outer panel22, forming a chamber. A wall portion24A of the inner panel24that faces to the vehicle width direction inner side opposes the wheelchair60that is on board in the vehicle width direction.

An upper and lower pair of rail members28(formed as an upper and lower pair) are provided at an outer face side of the wall portion24A of the inner panel24(i.e., inside the chamber). Each rail member28is formed in a substantial letter “C” shape in cross section, the open side of which is oriented to the vehicle width direction inner side, and extends in the front-and-rear direction. An opening portion26is formed in the wall portion24A of the inner panel24opposing a vertical direction central portion of each rail member28in the vehicle width direction. The opening portion26is formed in a substantially oval shape that is narrow and long in the front-and-rear direction (seeFIG.2).

The front side securing members30are supported at the rail members28to be movable along the rail members28in the front-and-rear direction. To describe this more specifically, each front side securing member30includes a sliding portion32with a substantial letter “U” shape in cross section, a flat plate-shaped support portion34and a cylindrical (rod-shaped) main body portion36. The sliding portion32is provided by being inserted into the rail member28in the front-and-rear direction. The support portion34is provided at a vertical direction central portion of the sliding portion32. The main body portion36protrudes a predetermined length to the vehicle width direction inner side from a wall face of the support portion34that faces to the vehicle width direction inner side.

The sliding portion32and support portion34are disposed inside the rail member28(i.e., at the outer face side of the inner panel24). The main body portion36protrudes to the vehicle width direction inner side (into the vehicle cabin) through the opening portion26(seeFIG.2). Vehicle width direction inner side end portions of the main body portions36, which are an upper and lower set of two main body portions, are integrally connected by a cylindrical (rod-shaped) connecting portion38, an axial direction of which is in the vertical direction.

Therefore, the occupant P of the wheelchair60may grip the connecting portion38and (by a manual operation) move the front side securing members30(the main body portions36) along the upper and lower pair of rail members28. In other words, the front side securing members30are structured to be movable along the rail members28that are an upper and lower pair by a manual operation by the occupant P of the wheelchair60. Note that the connecting portion38is not shown in the drawings ofFIG.2andFIG.3.

A method of securing the front side securing members30relative to the rail members28is similar to a method of securing a vehicle seat to seat rails, which is not shown in the drawings. That is, the sliding portion32of each front side securing member30includes an engaging portion (not shown in the drawings) that can be detachably engaged with plural notch portions (not shown in the drawings) formed in the rail member28, such that the sliding portion32may be secured at plural predetermined positions of the rail member28. An operation portion such as a lever or the like (not shown in the drawings) is provided at the connecting portion38for switching the engaging portions between an engaged state and a disengaged state.

A front portion side of a handrim62, which is fabricated of metal, of the wheelchair60that has boarded through the rear portion of the vehicle10abuts (touches) against outer periphery faces of the main body portions36that are provided as a set of two. That is, each main body portion36protrudes to a length that enables the handrim62of the wheelchair60to abut against the outer periphery face of a distal end portion of the main body portion36in a state in which the wheelchair60is in a driving position.

Viewed in the front-and-rear direction (which is a front-and-rear direction of the wheelchair60), portions of the handrim62against which the main body portions36in the set of two respectively abut are portions that are separated by equal distances to the upper and lower sides relative to the center of the ring-shaped handrim62(sandwiching the center; seeFIG.3). Because these portions are the abutting portions, a position of the front side securing members30in the front-and-rear direction may be adjusted expeditiously in accordance with an outer diameter of the handrim62.

As shown inFIG.1,FIG.3andFIG.4, the rear side securing member40is turnably provided inside the chamber of each side panel20of the vehicle10. The rear side securing member40presses a rear portion side of the handrim62toward the front so as to push the front portion side of the handrim62against the outer periphery faces of the main body portions36of the front side securing members30.

As is shown in detail inFIG.6, the rear side securing member40includes a cylindrical bearing44and a cylindrical (rod-shaped) main body portion46. The bearing44is turnable in both forward and reverse directions about an axial direction in the vertical direction. The main body portion46is bent in a right angle and integrally provided at a lower end portion of the bearing44. That is, an axial direction of the main body portion46is oriented in a horizontal direction and the main body portion46is structured to be turnable about the bearing44.

The main body portion46is formed with a length that, when the main body portion46is turned to substantially 90° toward the vehicle width direction inner side in plan view, enables an outer periphery face of a distal end portion thereof to abut against the rear portion side of the handrim62. A long hole portion24B in a substantially oval shape whose length direction is in the front-and-rear direction is formed in a rear end portion of the inner panel24. The long hole portion24B allows the main body portion46to turn (protrude) to the vehicle width direction inner side (inFIG.5andFIG.6, only a portion of the long hole portion24B is shown).

The bearing44is inserted into a penetrating hole (not shown in the drawings) in a flat plate-shaped bracket42, which is integrally provided at an inner side face of the outer panel22(inside the chamber). The bearing44is supported at the bracket42to be turnable and not capable of dropping. The bearing44is continuously urged to the vehicle width direction outer side by an urging member such as a torsion spring (not shown in the drawings) or the like, such that the main body portion46is urged to be oriented to the vehicle rear side (such that the axial direction of the main body portion46is urged to be in the front-and-rear direction).

One end portion of a wire (cable)48is attached and wound in a predetermined direction round a portion of the bearing44that protrudes to the upper side beyond the bracket42. Another end portion of the wire48is attached to a lower end portion50D of a turning lever50that is structured with a ratchet mechanism. The wire48and the lower end portion50D of the turning lever50are disposed inside the chamber of the side panel20.

In a side view seen in the vehicle width direction, the turning lever50is formed in a substantial letter “L” shape. An inflected portion50A of the turning lever50is oriented to the rear side. The inflected portion50A is turnably supported inside a support mount52with an axial direction in the vehicle width direction. The support mount52is provided at an upper face of the inner panel24and has a substantial letter “U” shape in cross section. An upper portion50U of the turning lever50is formed in a cylindrical shape (the upper portion50U is a portion at the upper side relative to the inflected portion50A and is below referred to as a grip portion). The upper portion50U is disposed at a position at which the occupant P of the wheelchair60on board the vehicle10can grip the upper portion50U with their hand.

Thus, a structure is formed in which, when the occupant P of the wheelchair60grips the upper portion50U of the turning lever50with their hand and turns (moves) the upper portion50U toward the rear side about the inflected portion50A, the lower end portion50D of the turning lever50turns (moves) toward the front side and pulls the wire48toward the front side.

When the wire48is pulled toward the front side, the bearing44round which the wire48is wound turns in opposition to the urging force of the urging member, and the main body portion46is turned substantially 90° toward the vehicle width direction inner side in plan view. Hence, the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40presses the rear portion side of the handrim62of the wheelchair60toward the front.

A turning angle (turning amount) of the turning lever50may be adjusted in a number of steps. That is, the turning lever50is structured with the ratchet mechanism, which can lock the turning angle at each step. Thus, a pulling amount (distance) of the wire48may be adjusted. Therefore, a pressing force with which the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40presses the rear portion side of the handrim62may be adjusted in accordance with the outer diameter of the handrim62.

Thus, the rear side securing member40is structured as a mechanical structure that is capable of pressing the rear portion side of the handrim62toward the front with the main body portion46that is turned to the vehicle width direction inner side by a manual operation, which is the operation in which the occupant P of the wheelchair60turns (moves) the upper portion50U of the turning lever50toward the rear side. A pressure force of the rear side securing member40may be adjusted by the ratchet mechanism that can be locked at a number of steps.

As shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, seen in the front-and-rear direction (the front-and-rear direction of the wheelchair60), the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40is provided between the main body portions36of the front side securing members30that are formed as a set of two (and is preferably provided at substantially the same height as the center of the handrim62). That is, as shown inFIG.3, in a side view seen in the vehicle width direction, the handrim62is sandwiched and secured by the main body portions36and the main body portion46that are disposed at the vertices of a substantial isosceles triangle whose altitude direction is in the front-and-rear direction.

Now, operation of the vehicle10according to the present exemplary embodiment that is structured as described above is described.

First, when an occupant P of the wheelchair60is boarding the vehicle10, the back door12is turned and the rear portion of the vehicle10is opened up. The slope member16is pulled out from the storage space formed at the lower side of the floor panel14manually (an operation by a person other than the occupant P of the wheelchair60) or automatically, and an end portion at the pulling-out direction side of the slope member16is rested on a road surface.

Hence, because the slope member16is disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the road surface, the occupant P of the wheelchair60may easily move along an upper face of the slope member16to an upper face of the floor panel14. That is, the occupant P of the wheelchair60may expeditiously board from the rear side of the vehicle10by using the slope member16, and may move into the driving position without changing orientation.

The occupant P of the wheelchair60that has boarded the vehicle10causes the front portion side of each handrim62of the wheelchair60to abut (touch) against the main body portions36of the front side securing members30that are a set of two. At this time, because the front side securing members30are provided as a set of two at the upper and lower sides relative to the center of the handrim62, the front portion side of the handrim62of the wheelchair60may be more effectively secured than in a structure in which only one of the front side securing members30is provided.

Here, a position in the front-and-rear direction of the front side securing members30(the main body portions36) is adjusted in accordance with the outer diameter of the handrim62such that the wheelchair60itself is secured at a suitable position for when the occupant P of the wheelchair60is driving the vehicle10. That is, the occupant P of the wheelchair60grips each connecting portion38with their hand and, while operating the operation portion (while keeping the engagement portions in the disengaged states thereof) moves the front side securing members30along the rail members28. The occupant P releases the connecting portion38at the suitable position. Thus, each engaging portion is engaged with one of the plural notch portions formed in the rail member28, and the front side securing members30are secured at the suitable position.

The front side securing members30are movably supported at the rail members28, and the main body portions36that are provided as the set of two at the upper and lower sides relative to the center of the handrim62are integrally connected by the connecting portion38. Therefore, by gripping the connecting portion38, the occupant P of the wheelchair60may change the positions of the upper and lower pair of main body portions36(front side securing members30) simultaneously.

In addition, as described above, the front side securing members30may be moved and then engaged and secured by a manual operation by the occupant P of the wheelchair60(the operation of the operation portion provided at the connecting portion38). Therefore, the front side securing members30may be moved expeditiously by a simple structure. Thus, the wheelchair60may be positioned easily at a suitable position according to the outer diameter of the handrim62of the wheelchair60.

When the front portion side of the handrim62of the wheelchair60is abutted (touched) against the main body portions36of the set of two front side securing members30, the occupant P of the wheelchair60pulls the turning lever50(turns the upper portion50U of the turning lever50toward the rear side). Accordingly, the wire48is pulled toward the front side, the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40turns toward the vehicle width direction inner side about the bearing44in opposition to the urging force of the urging member, and the main body portion46presses the rear portion side of the handrim62(a portion thereof at substantially the same height as the center of the handrim62) toward the front.

Thus, the front portion side and rear portion side of the handrim62of the wheelchair60may be sandwiched in the front-and-rear direction and secured by the front side securing members30and the rear side securing member40. Therefore, movement of the wheelchair60itself relative to the vehicle10, due to inertial force when the vehicle10accelerates or decelerates or inertial force when the vehicle10is subject to a frontal collision or side collision, may be suppressed or prevented, and safety of the occupant P of the wheelchair60may be assured.

Needless to say, before the occupant P of the wheelchair60pulls the turning lever50, the occupant P locks a wheel64of the wheelchair60with a brake (not shown in the drawings) provided at the wheelchair60and restrains their own body in the vehicle10with a seatbelt (not shown in the drawings) provided in the vehicle10.

A pressure force when the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40presses the rear portion side of the handrim62toward the front is adjusted by a pressure force (turning amount) when the turning lever50is pulled. That is, because the turning lever50that causes the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40to turn is structured with a ratchet structure, the pulling amount (distance) of the wire48may be adjusted stepwise (in a number of steps). Therefore, the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40may press the rear portion side of the handrim62toward the front appropriately in accordance with the outer diameter of the handrim62.

As described above, the rear side securing member40is structured as a mechanical structure such that the rear portion side of the handrim62is pressed toward the front by a manual operation by an occupant P of the wheelchair60(the operation of pulling the turning lever50). Therefore, fabrication costs of the vehicle10may be reduced compared to, for example, a structure that is moved by an electric mechanism.

In a side view seen in the vehicle width direction, the handrim62is sandwiched and secured by the main body portions36and main body portion46arranged at the vertices of a substantial isosceles triangle whose altitude direction is the front-and-rear direction. Therefore, the wheelchair60may be more effectively and stably secured than in a structure in which the handrim62is sandwiched and secured at single points in the front-and-rear direction. Thus, movement of the wheelchair60itself relative to the vehicle10due to inertial force when the vehicle10accelerates, decelerates or the like may be more effectively suppressed or prevented.

The side panels20are arranged as a left and right pair, and the front side securing members30and the rear side securing member40are respectively provided in correspondence with each of the handrims62at left and right. Therefore, the wheelchair60may be more stably secured than in a structure in which the front side securing members30and the rear side securing member40are provided in correspondence with the wheelchair60at only one of left or right.

Because the rail members28that extend in the front-and-rear direction are provided at each side panel20, stiffness of the side panel20may be improved, and the side panel20may withstand a side collision of the vehicle10. That is, at the time of a side collision of the vehicle10, a deformation amount of the side panel20to the vehicle width direction inner side may be reduced, and an injury criterion of the occupant P of the wheelchair60may be reduced.

Furthermore, because the rail members28are provided as an upper and lower pair, stiffness of the side panel20may be more effectively improved than in a structure in which only one of the rail member28is provided. Thus, the side panel20may more effectively withstand a side collision of the vehicle10(a deformation amount of the side panel20to the vehicle width direction inner side may be more effectively suppressed and an injury criterion of the occupant P of the wheelchair60may be more effectively reduced). Thus, even when there is a side collision of the vehicle10, safety of the occupant P of the wheelchair60may be assured.

When the occupant P of the wheelchair60is exiting from the vehicle10, the occupant P releases the ratchet mechanism and tilts the upper portion50U of each turning lever50toward the front side. Accordingly, because the force pulling the wire48toward the front side is released, the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40is turned toward the vehicle width direction outer side by the urging force of the urging member.

As a result, securing of the wheelchair60(the handrim62) by the front side securing members30and the rear side securing member40is released. Hence, the back door12is turned, the rear portion of the vehicle10is opened up, the slope member16is pulled out manually (an operation by a person other than the occupant P of the wheelchair60) or automatically, and the occupant P of the slope member16may exit from the vehicle10.

Hereabove, the vehicle10according to the present exemplary embodiment is described on the basis of the attached drawings, but the vehicle10according to the present exemplary embodiment is not limited to the vehicle shown in the drawings; designs may be modified as appropriate within a scope not departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, rather than the handrim62, the wheel64may be sandwiched in the front-and-rear direction and secured by the front side securing members30and the rear side securing member40.

However, if the wheel64is secured, the wheel64resiliently deforms when pressed. Therefore, the possibility of the wheelchair60moving within a range of this resilient deformation cannot be eliminated. Accordingly, it is preferable if the handrim62that is fabricated of metal and does not resiliently deform when pressed is sandwiched in the front-and-rear direction and secured by the front side securing members30and the rear side securing member40. Further, the front side securing members30may be structured to be moved by an electric mechanism in response to a switch operation by the occupant P of the wheelchair60.

It is sufficient if the structure that turns the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40about the bearing44is a mechanical structure; the structure is not limited to the structure shown in the drawings. For example, although not shown in the drawings, a link mechanism is possible in which, when a lever member is tilted toward the front side, a rod member of which one end portion is attached to a lower end portion of the lever member slides to the rear side. The bearing44is provided at the other end portion side of the rod member, and turns such that the main body portion46turns to the vehicle width direction inner side. It is sufficient if this link mechanism is a structure in which a turning amount (pressure force) of the main body portion46of the rear side securing member40can be adjusted by a turning angle of the lever member (a movement amount of the rod member to the rear side).

The rear side securing members40may be provided at the floor panel14rather than at the side panels20(the inner panels24). That is, the rear side securing members40may be formed as a structure in which (portions of) side portions at both left and right of a rear portion of the floor panel14rise up when the turning lever50is turned and press the rear portion sides of the handrims62toward the front side. A mode in which portions of the floor panel14rise up in this manner may be structured with an electric mechanism rather than a mechanical mechanism.