Abstract:
A taxicab or other vehicle is designed specifically for persons with disabilities, although it can have other uses, e.g., a delivery vehicle. A ramp, stored in a cartridge under the vehicle floor, is extended to the curb to accommodate a wheelchair or other mobility aid. The floor is low enough that the slope of the ramp does not exceed regulations. The floor is lowered by providing a joint in the drive shaft to lower the drive shaft and eliminate the drive-train hump. An enclosure with a rotating window is provided to separate the driver from the front passenger area. The driver can unlock the doors on only one side to prevent a passenger from opening a door into traffic.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/734,284, filed Nov. 8, 2005, whose disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to a vehicle, such as a taxicab, having a low, flat floor and a ramp, designed for purposes such as accommodating a person using a mobility aid. For the purpose of the present disclosure, a mobility aid is any aid for personal mobility, such as a wheelchair or a scooter for disabled persons.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0003]     Taxicabs are typically modified versions of vehicles that were not initially designed with the needs of taxicab drivers and passengers in mind. A common example is the Ford Crown Victoria.  
         [0004]     Such vehicles are typically designed for and marketed to a variety of purchasers, including individual buyers, police forces, and car rental companies. Vehicles designed for other purchasers, particularly individuals, are designed to meet criteria not related to, and sometimes at cross purposes with, the needs of taxicab drivers and passengers. In particular, individual buyers may select a car more for image than for practical concerns. Also, police forces may be concerned with performance at speeds higher than those at which taxicabs are normally operated.  
         [0005]     Moreover, such vehicles are typically not designed to accommodate passengers in wheelchairs or other mobility devices. A passenger car typically has bench seating in the rear, which makes it difficult to move a wheelchair-using passenger into or out of the vehicle.  
         [0006]     Another problem is that while taxicab drivers typically prefer rear-wheel-drive vehicles, such vehicles have a drive-train hump in the floor. A drive-train hump seriously impedes entry into the vehicle by a passenger using a mobility aid.  
         [0007]     Still another problem is that traditional passenger sedans are not built with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in mind. Regulations under the ADA specify various requirements for vehicles for persons with disabilities. For example, a “box” or empty space of specified dimensions must be provided for a wheelchair. Also, if a ramp is extended from the vehicle to the curb, the ramp must have a slope not exceeding 1:4.  
         [0008]     Retrofitting a normal passenger sedan to meet such requirements is prohibitively expensive, if not outright impossible. For one thing, if the floor of the vehicle is raised to remove the drive-train hump, then a ramp of reasonable length will have a slope exceeding 1:4.  
         [0009]     Even if a vehicle existed that met the above requirement, or could be retrofitted in a cost-effective manner to do so, the fact would remain that different countries have different legal requirements for vehicles. In particular, national laws differ on whether a vehicle should be equipped to be driven on the left or right side of the road. Since a manufacturer that hopes to sell internationally must build vehicles complying with the laws in effect in each of its target markets, manufacturing is significantly complicated.  
         [0010]     Yet another problem specific to taxicabs is that passengers often try to exit the vehicle from the wrong side, e.g., the side facing traffic rather than the curb side. Some taxicab drivers report a high rate of collisions when passengers open doors into traffic. Vehicles marketed to families have child safety locks, but such locks do not address that problem.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     There thus exists a need in the art to address the above problems. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vehicle designed specifically to address those problems.  
         [0012]     To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention is directed to a vehicle designed specifically to serve as a taxicab for persons with disabilities.  
         [0013]     The floor of the vehicle is designed to provide a large, flat floor space for a wheelchair. Anchor points are provided to secure the wheelchair.  
         [0014]     A ramp is provided in the vehicle to allow access by the wheelchair-bound passenger. To simplify manufacturing, the ramp and the rails on which it moves are manufactured as a single cartridge or modular unit. If a manufacturer desires to build vehicles for both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive markets, the positioning of the cartridge can easily be reversed. The floor of the vehicle is sufficiently low that the slope of the ramp does not exceed the maximum allowable value (1:4 in the United States).  
         [0015]     Since the above features of the invention would appear to be mutually exclusive in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the drive train is designed to accommodate both. The engine and transmission are mounted in a tilted configuration so that the drive shaft extends from the transmission with a downward slope. The drive shaft is jointed so that at a point between the transmission and the differential, the downward slope changes to an upward slope. The differential is configured so that the drive shaft joins the differential at a lower portion of the differential. Such a configuration lowers the floor and offers an additional advantage in allowing the use of conventional suspension components, e.g., leaf springs.  
         [0016]     An enclosure for the driver is provided, also in a modular configuration that can easily be mounted in the vehicle. Since some jurisdictions require a partition between the driver and the passengers, while others forbid it, a partition can be provided or not, as needed. The partition window between the driver and the front passenger location is mounted on a single pivot point, so that it can be rotated out of the way instead of being raised and lowered linearly. A conventional coin slot can be provided as needed.  
         [0017]     The driver&#39;s enclosure can be designed to integrate an HVAC duct for the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The enclosure can also be configured to function as an office for the driver, with spaces for storing items that the driver routinely needs with in easy reach of the driver.  
         [0018]     Door locks are under individual control by the driver. At the end of the passenger&#39;s journey, the driver can unlock only the door on the curb side, to prevent the passenger from opening a door into traffic. Indicator lights can be provided, both inside the vehicle to indicate to the passenger where to exit and outside the vehicle to indicate to drivers which door is about to open.  
         [0019]     Other cost-saving measures can be implemented. For example, the front and rear bumpers are designed to be identical. Also, door panels and fenders are designed so that only two kinds need to be produced, which are mirror images of each other. All glass, including the windshield, is flat.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be disclosed in detail with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0021]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show two views of a vehicle according to the preferred embodiment;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the exterior body panels of the vehicle;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows the body of the vehicle;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows the chassis of the vehicle;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 5A-5D  show a wheelchair-bound passenger entering the vehicle;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show the ramp;  
         [0027]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show the frame of the cartridge in which the ramp is mounted;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  shows the cartridge;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  shows a motorized variation of the ramp;  
         [0030]      FIGS. 10A-10C  show the driver&#39;s enclosure;  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  shows a control panel to allow the driver to lock and unlock the doors of the vehicle; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  shows the layout of the interior seating area.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]     A preferred embodiment will be disclosed in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show two views of a vehicle  100  according to the preferred embodiment. As can be seen from the figures, and as will become clearer below, the vehicle is optimized for efficient and cost-effective use as a taxicab for persons with disabilities rather than as a personal pleasure vehicle.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the exterior body panels of the vehicle. The door outer panels  202 , fenders  204 , bumpers  206 , and bumper corners  208  are replaceable and interchangeable. The body replacement parts are shipped primed, ready for paint. The hood  210  and trunk lid  212  are formed of a sheet molding compound.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  shows the body  300 , which is constructed through all steel welded body construction.  
         [0037]     The body  300  is mounted on the frame (chassis)  400  of  FIG. 4 . The chassis is designed to allow a low, flat floor in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. The engine  402  and transmission  404  are mounted on the chassis  400  in a tilted configuration so that the first section  406  of the drive shaft extends from the transmission  404  with a downward slope. At the bracing member  408  of the chassis  400 , the first section  406  of the drive shaft is joined through a rotary joint  410  to a second section  412  of the drive shaft. The second section  412  of the drive shaft connects to a differential  414  at a lower portion of the differential. The rear axle  416  is supported on leaf springs  418 .  
         [0038]     The transmission  404  is an automatic transmission calibrated to the taxi driving cycle. The engine  402  and transmission  404  are designed to give good acceleration at low speeds to allow the vehicle to enter urban traffic. Generally, for taxicabs, acceleration to high speeds (e.g., 0-60 mph) is less important than acceleration to low speeds (e.g., 0-20 mph).  
         [0039]      FIGS. 5A-5D  show how a wheelchair-bound passenger P enters the vehicle  100 . In  FIG. 5A , a ramp  500 , whose construction will be explained in detail below, is extended from the vehicle to the curb. In  FIG. 5B , the passenger P is pushed up the ramp into an interior space  502  of the vehicle. In  FIG. 5C , the passenger P is entirely in the vehicle and is moving from the back seat area to the front seat area. In  FIG. 5D , the passenger P is in the front seat area. The manner in which the passenger P&#39;s wheelchair is secured to the floor of the vehicle will also be explained below.  
         [0040]      FIG. 6A  shows the ramp  500  from above. The ramp has rails  602 , as required by the ADA regulations. The rails  602  are spring-mounted on hinges  604  so that they can pop up when the ramp is extended and can be folded down when the ramp is not extended. Thus, the ADA requirement for rails can be met in a space-efficient manner.  FIG. 6B  shows the ramp  500  from below, with a center stop  606  at the end distal from the vehicle.  
         [0041]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show views from above and below of a frame  700  of the cartridge in which the ramp is mounted. The frame  700  includes roller bearings  702  for supporting the ramp as it is pulled out of the vehicle and pushed back in. The frame also includes a center guide rail  704  for guiding the movement of the ramp.  
         [0042]      FIG. 8  shows the cartridge  800 , including an upper surface  802 . A portion of the frame  700  is visible. At the end of the cartridge from which the ramp extends is a door  804  that is closed when the ramp is not extended. When the ramp is extended, the door  804  can act as a threshold. Latches  806  hold the door  804  closed when the ramp is not extended.  
         [0043]     It is contemplated that the ramp will be extended and withdrawn manually. Straps (not shown) can be provided on the distal end of the ramp for that purpose. As an alternative, however, the ramp can be motorized, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The ramp  902  slides in an out while being guided on guides  904 . A motor  906  turns gears  908 , which engage with gear teeth or slots  910  on the bottom face of the ramp. The ramp also has guide wheels or pins  912 .  
         [0044]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show the driver&#39;s enclosure  1000 . The enclosure has a guide  1002  for supporting a window  1004  that can be rotated out of the way, as shown in  FIG. 10B . The enclosure provides for a change slot  1006 .  
         [0045]     The enclosure does not enclose the entire front area of the vehicle. In a conventional sedan retrofitted for use as a taxicab, the front passenger seating area amounts to wasted space. In the preferred embodiment, since only the driver&#39;s seat rather than the entire front seating area is enclosed, the area that would be taken up by the front passenger seating area is instead made available for a wheelchair-bound passenger. That will be made clearer below with reference to  FIG. 12 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 10C  shows the driver&#39;s enclosure  1000  from above. The driver&#39;s seat  1008  is configured to provide an upright driving position and good visibility, similarly to the driving positions in tall stations wagons. A console  1010  provides compartments to store whatever the driver will need for a typical day, within easy reach of the driver.  
         [0047]     The driver&#39;s enclosure  1000  is of modular construction. In particular, the upper portion forming a partition is provided as a module, since some jurisdictions require such a partition, while others forbid it.  
         [0048]      FIG. 11  shows a control panel  1100 . The control panel  1100  includes conventional controls such as HVAC controls  1102  and window controls  1104 . In addition, the control panel includes controls  1106  to allow the driver to lock and unlock the doors on only one side of the vehicle. As explained above, the driver can use the controls  1106  to prevent a passenger from opening a door into traffic. Interior lights indicate to the passenger which door is unlocked. Exterior lights (shown in  FIG. 1B  as  102 ) indicate to other drivers which door is about to open.  
         [0049]      FIG. 12  shows a view from above of the interior seating area  1200  of the vehicle. The driver&#39;s enclosure is shown as  1000  and has been described above. Bench seats  1202 ,  1204  provide seating for four. The seats have cushions  1206  that are removable for washing or replacement and for access to the fuel pump. An area  1208  is provided for a passenger using a mobility aid. Since driver&#39;s enclosure  1000  encloses only the driver&#39;s seat rather than the entire front passenger area, the area  1208  extends into the front passenger area. As a result, the area is larger than required by ADA regulations, i.e., 32″×74″ as opposed to 30″×48″. While such dimensions do not allow ADA-compliant accommodations for two wheelchair-bound passengers, they do allow ADA-compliant accommodations for one wheelchair-bound passenger in one of two positions. Of course, an enlarged vehicle could provide ADA-compliant accommodations for two. Six anchor points  1210  are provided on the floor in that area for anchoring restraints for the wheelchair. An example of the restraints that can be used is the Q&#39;Straint restraining system, sold by Q&#39;Straint of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., U.S.A. The restraints, when not in use, are stored under the driver&#39;s seat  1008 .  
         [0050]     A screen can be provided in the engine&#39;s air intake to filter out debris such as pigeon feathers. That is not a common problem with vehicles owned by families. However, given the time each day when a taxicab is driven, rather than parked, it is a significant problem with taxicabs.  
         [0051]     While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed above, those skilled in the art who have reviewed the present disclosure will readily appreciate that other embodiments can be realized within the scope of the present invention. For example, dimensions and other numerical values are illustrative rather than limiting, as are disclosures of specific suppliers of parts. Also, the seating configuration can be changed as needed. Moreover, the invention can be implemented with fewer than all of the special features disclosed above with regard to the preferred embodiment. Furthermore, while the invention has been disclosed as compliant with U.S. regulations, it can be implemented for the regulations of any other country. In addition, the vehicle is not limited to its disclosed intended use as a taxicab for persons with disabilites, For example, it could be used as a delivery vehicle or as a family car. Therefore, the present invention should be construed as limited only by the appended claims.