FLOORING FOR A VEHICLE AND SEATING ATTACHED THERETO

Abstract: The present invention relates to a floor for a vehicle constructed from a plurality of inter-engaged elongate members (Items 11 and 12) (figure 1) supported upon the original load area of the vehicle. The elongate members may have semi-circular male and female connections (Items 15 and 16) (figure 1) along either side, and may have an anchorage recess (Item 21) (figure 1) running along their length. The recess has means to prevent an anchorage member (Item 24) (figure 2) from being vertically removed, where the anchorage member may be used to anchor a seat or wheel chair support structure in place in two such recesses (figures 3 and 4). The anchorage members are attached to the base or the seat or wheel chair support by means of an adjustable tightening mechanism, thus operating to draw the anchorage block towards the base. The anchorage member may have a T-form or L-form, and the wheel chair support may have a ratcheted strap retaining mechanism.

Description: FLOORING FOR A VEHICLE AND SEATING ATTACHED THERETO. The present invention relates to the field of automotive vehicles, and in particular relates to methods of providing and retaining seating in the load area of the vehicle. Traditionally, automobile manufacturers manufacture vehicles for specific tasks. Vans are light trucks which have a large enclosed rear cargo load space. The same chassis may, as an alternative, be sold as a minibus with an array of seats in the rear load area. Recently a need has developed for a method of quickly and conveniently converting vehicles, manufactured as general cargo carriers, for passenger transport. This involves the anchorage of seats to the vehicle floor. The known methods of seat anchorage involve strengthening the structure of the floor by reinforcement with, for example a ladder frame of longitudinal and transverse members. Such frameworks provide discontinuities on the floor surface, and must be made of heavy gauge steel to provide sufficient strength to provide regulatory crash resistance. Once installed the frameworks are very difficult to remove, and provide little flexibility in seating arrangement. One aim of the present invention is to provide a seat anchorage system, and apparatus for converting the load area of a vehicle for seating, of improved strength improved flexibility of seating arrangement, and which is readily returnable to a full or partial cargo load configuration. Frequently it is necessary to provide transport for wheel chair bound persons. While vehicles converted for wheel chair access are well known, the conversions are dedicated and non-returnable. The present invention therefore also seeks to provide a system whereby a wheel chair bound person may be safely retained in his her wheel chair, and retaining means which may readily be removed, when not in use. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a member for use as a floor section of a vehicle, which member is elongate, formed with a generally flat upper wall portion defining a section of floor surface, and is provided with support means for maintaining said upper wall portion spaced apart from the load area upon which the support means is to stand, which member is provided with neighbouring member engagement means along the long sides thereof so that plural members may be inter-engaged side by side one with another along long sides thereof to form a floor surface comprising plural floor surface sections. According to another aspect of the invention the member is formed with an elongate seat anchorage recess, which recess is formed with vertical constraint means for preventing a seat anchorage feature accommodated in the recess from lifting out of the recess, the arrangement being such that seating may be attached to the floor sections by entry of respective seat anchorage features of a seat or seating into the recesses. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for converting the load area of a vehicle for passenger transport, comprising a plurality of elongate floor sections, each section having an upper wall portion defining a section of floor surface and support means for maintaining said upper wall portion spaced apart from the load area upon which the support means are to stand, which floor sections are provided with neighbouring section engagement means permitting inter-engagement of the floor sections side by side one with another along long sides thereof thereby to form a floor surface over the load area, and wherein two or more of the floor sections are formed with an elongate seat anchorage recess, which recess is formed with vertical constraint means for preventing a seat anchorage feature accommodated in the recess from lifting out of the recess, the arrangement being such that seating may be attached to the floor sections by entry of respective seat anchorage features of a seat or seating into the recesses . The floor sections may inter-engage by means of each floor section being provided with an elongate male feature running along one side of the section and a corresponding female feature running along the other side of the section, so that facing male and female features of adjacent floor sections may be engaged with each other. In one embodiment, the male and female features may each have a generally semi-circular cross-section. The recess may be formed under an elongate slot in the upper wall portion, a lip or lips of which slot provide the vertical constraint means. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle floor comprising plural members or apparatus as hereinbefore described, arranged over the load surface of the vehicle, wherein the floor sections are laid side by side, inter-engaged with one another, and each secured to the load surface, and wherein two or more of the floor sections are each formed with said elongate recess. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a seat anchorage system for securing seating to a vehicle floor of the type hereinbefore described, comprising a seat base provided at a front end region therefore with at least one front anchorage block to be accommodated in one floor section recess and provided at a rear end region thereof with at least one rear anchorage block to be accommodated in another floor section recess, wherein the blocks are attached to the base by means of an adjustable tightening mechanisms, which mechanisms are each operative to draw a block towards the base member, so that the block may be urged against a vertical constraint feature of the recess in which the block is accommodated. In certain embodiments the block has a T-form or L-form. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a general purpose anchorage system for securing seats or other objects onto a vehicle floor of the type hereinbefore described, which anchorage system comprises a base portion, provided at a front end region thereof with first engaging means for engaging the recess of one floor section, and at a rear end region thereof with second engaging means for engaging the recess of another floor section, and wherein releasable locking means are provided which permit movement apart of the first and second recess engaging means from a release position in which the engaging means may be lifted out of the respective recesses, to a locked position in which the first and second recess engaging means are urged against their respective recess, thereby locking the seat or other object in position. The releasable locking means may comprise a first screw threaded traveller which acts against one of the engagement means to displace it apart from the other engagement means. The recess engaging means may comprise a member formed with an L-section end region. The releasable engagement means may further comprise a second screw threaded traveller which acts on the said one engagement means, thereby to provide a second locking mechanism. The active engagement means may comprise a member pivotally mounted and which is moved through an arc by the first screw threaded traveller and/or the second traveller. The structure may be provided with a removable seat portion attachable to a front side region of the structure, thereby to provide an occasional seat. The structure may be provided with a folding support strut, which strut opens to engage with an underside of the seat portion and folds to permit wheel chair retention. The anchorage system for the wheel chair is preferably a general purpose system according to the invention as hereinbefore described. The invention also provides apparatus for converting the load area of a vehicle for passenger transport, comprising a plurality of elongate floor sections, each section having an upper wall portion defining a section of floor surface and support means for maintaining said upper wall portion spaced apart from the load area upon which the support means are to stand, which floor sections are adapted to inter-engage side by side one with another along long sides thereof thereby to form a floor surface over the load area, and wherein one or more of the floor sections is formed with an elongate recess for accommodating a seat anchorage block which may be slid along said recess but is constrained by the shape of the recess from lifting out of the recess, the arrangement being such that seating may be attached to the floor sections by fixing of the seating to anchorage blocks accommodated in the recess or recesses. The present invention effectively involves the laying of a complete false floor over the original load area. The floor is quickly layable because it simply involves the inter-engagement of a small number of elongate sections. The floor sections may be laid fore-aft in the vehicle or transversely according to requirements. The transverse configuration is preferred for the sake of preventing forward movement of seating along the recesses in the event of a vehicle crash. This latter configuration also allows seating easily to be positioned and re-positioned transversely in the vehicle, by sliding along the recesses. Each floor section may be formed from an unitary piece of metal, preferably aluminium alloy. A top surface of each section may be provided with a tread or grip to provide safe access for passengers walking on the floor. Elongate fillet sections are preferably provided in order to close recesses when they are not occupied. These may be formed from plastics material, and arranged to resiliently lock in place. Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the drawings of modes or putting the various aspect of the present invention into effect. In the drawings :- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of flooring according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a seat anchorage member for use with the flooring shown in figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a retaining mechanism for a wheel chair support frame, engaged with the floor of figure 1. Figure 4 is a view from one side of a wheel chair support frame according to the present invention, along with a wheel chair braced against the frame. Figure 5 is a side view showing a modified configuration of the wheel chair support frame shown in figure 4, in which a seat portion is provided on the frame. In figure 1 a section of false flooring laid over the load area of a vehicle is shown generally as 10. The flooring is made up of two configurations of flooring members; a flat-topped member 1 1 and a member 12 formed with a recess 13. End regions of the members are shown, although in practice the members will be elongate so that they can be laid transversely across the entire load area of a vehicle. The members Items 1 1 and 12 Figure 1 are each formed at one side thereof with an elongate bead 15 of semi-circular cross-section. The bead runs along the side of the member, providing a male portion for engagement with a corresponding female channel 16 running along a neighbouring member. Each member is provided at one side with a bead, and at the opposite side with a channel. In this way the member may be placed side by side in engagement with each other, to form a continuous false floor. The members each are formed with a depending L-section floor support 18. The floor support stands on the vehicle load area, and provides spacing between the floor area and a false floor surface 20. The members 12 with recesses also have a lower wall portion 9 of the recess which sits on the vehicle floor. The members are attached to the vehicle floor by common attachment means, for example bolting or welding. Each recess is formed with an upper elongate slot 21. having on either side thereof two elongate lip portions Items 22 and 23 figure 1. These provide constraint to retain a T-section seat anchorage member 24, shown in figure 2 (not to scale). The anchorage is slid into a recess, providing a vertically orientated screw threaded bore 25. The bore permits attachment of a chair leg (not shown), or other seat frame portion (not shown), provided that the chair has a boltable anchorage point. In this way conventional vehicle seats may be attached to the floor. Tightening of a bolt into the anchorage member will urge an upper surface portion of the member 24 against the underside of the lips Items 22 and 23 figure 1 of the recess, thereby securely anchoring a seat or seat assembly against movement. Figure 3 shows a sectional view through a false floor 29. The floor is made up of members 1 1 and 12 lain side by side and engaged with one another. There are two flat-topped members 1 1 to each recess member 11. A steel housing 30 of generally rectilinear configuration is shown placed on an upper surface of the floor. A front end region 31 of the housing is formed as a tray with upstanding front wall 32, and sidewalls (one visible as 21). A rear end region of the housing is formed as a transversely extending box 34, shown in section in the figure. The front wall 32 has attached to an inner face thereof an L-section front plate 36. The base 38 of the plate is directed forward and depending from a lower wall 37 of the housing. The base is entered into the recess 13 of a floor member, and hooked under a lip 23 of the recess, as shown in the figure. At a rear end region of the housing, a generally L-section rear plate member 40 is pivotally connected at a top end thereof to the housing. The pivot 41 permits the depending plate to move fore - aft through an arc, as shown in the figure. An upper end region of the rear plate is provided with a rearwardly directed arm 44. The arm has pivotally attached thereto a threaded sleeve 45. Entered in to the sleeve is a threaded portion of a rod 46. The rod extends vertically out of a top wall 47 of the box. The rod is provided at a top end with a gnurled wheel 48 which permits manual rotation of the rod. A stopper nut 49 is provided on a lower end of the rod. A compression spring 50 is provided between an upper surface of the sleeve 45 and a lower surface portion of the box top wall 47. In the region where the rod passes through the upper wall, the rod is rotatably held in a collar 51. The collar permits rotation of the rod, without permitting vertical travel thereof. Rotation of the gnurled wheel causes the sleeve 45 to travel up or down the rod, according to the direction of rod rotation. The rear arm 44 travels with the sleeve and pivots the rear plate member about its pivot. In this way the plate may be moved rearwardly so that base lip member 55 of the plate member engages with the underside of the recess lip 22. A front wall 57 of the rear box is provided with a fixed screw threaded collar 58. Entered into the collar is a screw threaded traveller rod 59. This rod is provided at an end outside the box with a gnurled wheel 61. At the other end of the rod and annular ring 56 is fixed radially to the rod. A protective flexible sheath 62 is provided around the exterior portion of the rod. to protect against jamming by grit and dirt. Rotation of the rod gnurled wheel 61 directs the rod toward the rear plate member. Further rotation causes the rod to press against the plate member, locking it in position. Both front end corners of the housing are each provided with an upstanding loop 65 of semicircular form. Upstanding from a rear half of the housing is a generally vertical tubular framework 69 comprising, on each side of the housing, front 66 and rear 67 upstanding members. The general arrangement is shown more clearly in figure 4. Upstanding members converge towards a head restraint portion 70 of the framework. The upright members are braced by lower cross member 71 and digital struts 72 and 73. The upright framework, provides a secure mounting for a wheel chair 75. A rear frame portion 76 of the wheel chair abuts a stopper 77 on the framework front upright member 76. Two strops 78 and 79 are attached to under-seat portions 80 and 81 of the wheel chair. These are shown in the figure as loops, but could be any secure feature on the framework. The attachment is by hooks at the free end of the strops. The lower ends of the strops are hooked into a metal ring 83. A webbing ribbon 84 is also hooked into the ring. The ribbon is entered into a front side of the housing loop 65, and then threaded rearwardly above the housing, under the cross member 71 and up a rear end of the upstanding framework. A ratchet locked spindle 85 is provided on a rear portion of the framework. The spindle takes the free end of the ribbon, permitting locking thereof by ratcheted movement of the ribbon through the spindle. A loop 86 is provided at the free end of the ribbon to facilitate drawing down of the ribbon and tightening down of the ribbon. As the ribbon is pulled tight, the wheel chair is urged down against the floor, and against the framework by virtue of the sloping orientation of the front upright member 66. The ratchet may be released for removal of the wheel chair by unlocking of the spindle pawl. Suitable ratchet mechanisms are well known and generally available. In practice, there are two ribbons running side by side, and two ratchet spindles on the framework and four strops for attachment to underside comer portions of the wheel chair framework. Occasionally it may be desired to use the upright frame as a conventional seat. In this case a convertible embodiment of the frame may be provided. This embodiment is shown in figure 5, in which features described with regard to figure 4 are identically numbered. The front upright is provided with a backrest portion 90, which removably engages the framework by means of spring clamps. A U-form strut 91 is pivotally attached at each leg end 92 (one only visible) thereof to the housing front side wall 93. The strut is movable from a folded away position in which the top end 95 thereof rests against the framework, to a working configuration in which the strut is extended upright and forward, and engaged with the underside front end region of a seat portion 96. A rear end region of the seat is provided with adjustable clamp portions 97 (two; one visible) which grasp the front uprights of the framework. In this way the framework may be readily converted for passenger use. Preferably a seat belt assembly (not shown) is attached to the framework, providing bracing for a passenger, whether seated on the seat portion or the wheel chair. The present invention provides a system of flooring for converting the load area of a vehicle for seating, an anchorage system for anchoring structures to the flooring and a structure for securing a wheel chair for occupied transport in the vehicle. All of these are readily installable, and adapted for easy operation, and if desired removal.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A member for use as a floor section of a vehicle, which member is elongate, formed with a generally flat upper wall portion defining a section of floor surface, and is provided with support means for maintaining said upper wall portion spaced apart from the load area upon which the support means is to stand, which member is provided with neighbouring member engagement means along long sides thereof so that plural members may be inter-engaged side by side one with another along long sides thereof to form a floor surface comprising plural floor surface sections. 2. A member as claimed in claim I wherein the member is formed with an elongate seat anchorage recess, which recess is formed with vertical constraint means for preventing a seat anchorage feature accommodated in the recess from lifting out of the recess, the arrangement being such that seating may be attached to the floor sections by entry of respective seat anchorage features of a seat or seating into the recesses. 3. Apparatus for converting the load area of a vehicle for passenger transport, comprising a plurality of elongate floor sections, each section having an upper wall portion defining a section of floor surface and support means for maintaining said upper wall portion spaced apart from the load area upon which the support means are to stand, which floor sections are provided with neighbouring section engagement means permitting inter-engagement of the floor sections side by side one with another along long sides thereof thereby to form a floor surface over the load area, and wherein two or more of the floor sections are formed with an elongate seat anchorage recess, which recess is formed with vertical constraint means for preventing a seat anchorage feature accommodated in the recess from lifting out of the recess, the arrangement being such that seating may be attached to the floor sections by entry respective seat anchorage features of a seat or seating into the recesses. 4. A member or apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the floor sections inter-engage by means of each floor section being provided with an elongate male feature running along one side of the section and a corresponding female feature running along the other side of the section, so that facing male and female features of adjacent floor sections may be engaged with each other. 5 . A member or apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the male and female features each have a generally semi-circular cross-section. 6. A member or apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 2 to 5 wherein the recess is formed under an elongate slot in the upper wall portion, a lip or lips of which slot provides the vertical constraint means. 7. A vehicle floor comprising plural members or apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged over the load surface of the vehicle, wherein the floor sections are laid side by side, inter-engaged with one another, and each secured to the load surface, and wherein two or more of the floor sections are each formed with said elongate recess. 8. A seat anchorage system for securing seating to a vehicle floor of the type claimed in claim 7, comprising a seat base provided at a front end region thereof with at least one front anchorage block to be accommodated in one floor section recess and provided at a rear end region thereof with at least one rear anchorage block to be accommodated in another floor section recess, wherein the blocks are attached to the base by means of an adjustable tightening mechanisms, which mechanisms are each operative to draw a block towards the base member, so that the block may be urged against a vertical constraint feature of the recess in which the block is accommodated. 9. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the block has a T-form or L-form. 10. A general purpose anchorage system for securing seats or other objects onto a vehicle floor of the type claimed in claim 7, which anchorage system comprises a base portion, provided at a front end region thereof with first engaging means for engaging the recess of one floor section, and at a rear end region thereof with second engaging means for engaging the recess of another floor section, and wherein releasable locking means are provided which permit movement apart of the first and second recess engaging means from a release position in which the engaging means may be lifted out of the respective recesses, to a locked position in which the first and second recess engaging means are urged against their respective recess, thereby locking the seat or other object in position. 11. An anchorage system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the releasable locking means comprises a first screw threaded traveller which acts against one of the engagement means to displace it apart from the other engagement means. 12. An anchorage system as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the recess engaging means comprise a member formed with an L-section end region. 13. An anchorage system as claimed in claim 1 1 or claim 12 wherein the releasable engagement means comprises a second screw threaded traveller which acts on the said one engagement means, thereby to provide a second locking mechanism. 14. An anchorage system as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the active engagement means comprises a member pivotally mounted and which is moved through an arc by the first screw threaded traveller and/or the second traveller. 15. An anchorage system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pivotally mounted member has a first depending portion which may be acted upon by the first traveller, and a second laterally extending member which may be acted upon by the second traveller. 16. A wheel chair support structure for securing a wheel chair to be occupied in a vehicle, comprising an anchorage system for securing the structure on a vehicle floor and provided with a generally upright rigid support frame, which frame is provided with wheel chair retaining means for urging a wheel chair downwards towards a floor upon which the structure is anchored and backwards against a front region of the structure. 17. A structure as claimed in claim 16 and provided with a cushioned back rest against which a wheel chair back may be juxtaposed. 18. A wheel chair support structure as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the wheel chair retaining means comprises one or more straps which are attached to the wheel chair, and a ratcheted strap tensioning mechanism. 19. A wheel chair support structure as claimed in claim 18 wherein the straps are routed from the wheel chair, down through one or more loops on the structure located under the normal wheel chair position and back under a cross bar at a lower end region of the structure and up to the ratchet tensioning mechanism, which mechanism is located on a rear portion of the upright structure. 20. A wheel chair support structure as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19 and provided with a seat portion attachable to a front side region of the structure, thereby to provide an occasional seat. 21. A wheel chair support structure as claimed in claim 20 and provided with a folding support strut, which strut opens to engage with an underside of the seat portion and folds to permit wheel retention. 22. A wheel chair support structure as claimed in any of claims 16 to 21 wherein the anchorage system is a system as claimed in any of claims 10 to 16. 23. A member, apparatus, anchorage system, or wheel chair support structure as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

Inventors: HARDMAN GRAHAM, HARDMAN, GRAHAM
Applicants: HARDMAN GRAHAM, HARDMAN, GRAHAM
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B60N2
IPC codes: A61G3, B60N2, B62D25