Abstract:
A positionable shifter assembly for use in a vehicle adapted to transport a physically limited person, wherein a front passenger compartment includes a dashboard, a driver side compartment, a passenger side compartment, and a vehicle shifter disposed between the driver side compartment and the passenger side compartment. The positionable shifter assembly includes a platform configured to support the vehicle shifter, wherein the platform is configured be positioned at a plurality of locations within the front passenger compartment. A securing mechanism is the configured to secure the positionable shifter assembly at one of the plurality of locations within the vehicle.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present application relates to a passenger vehicle for transporting one or more passengers, and more particularly to a passenger vehicle which is retrofitted for transporting one or more passengers seated in a wheelchair. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Automobile manufacturers do not currently mass-produce passenger vehicles specifically designed to transport passengers having physical limitations, either as a driver or as a non-driving passenger. Consequently, mass-produced passenger vehicles are modified, or retrofitted, by a number of aftermarket companies dedicated to supplying vehicles to physically limited passengers. Such vehicles can be modified by removing certain parts or structures within a vehicle and replacing those parts with parts specifically designed to accommodate the physically limited passenger. For example in one configuration, a van is retrofitted with a ramp to enable a physically limited individual using a wheelchair to enter the vehicle without the assistance of another individual. 
     Other known products for retrofitting a vehicle, such as a van, include wheel chair lifts, lift platforms, and lowered floor surfaces. In some instances, a door of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) van is enlarged or otherwise modified to permit entry of the physically limited individual through what is known as the assisted entrance. Once inside the van, individuals who use the assisted entrance are often located in a rear passenger compartment of the van adjacent to or behind the assisted entrance. 
     While these seating locations provide for the transport of the physically limited individual, such locations do not always lend themselves to providing good sightlines which enable the passenger to see a complete view of the road and the surrounding scenery. Consequently, what is needed is a modification to an OEM vehicle which allows the physically limited individual seated in a wheelchair to be located in the front passenger compartment, either as the passenger or as the driver, particularly in an OEM vehicle having a center mounted vehicle shifter or center mounted console. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, there is provided a positionable shifter assembly for supporting a shifter in a front passenger compartment of a vehicle. The shifter assembly includes a bracket assembly configured to be stationarily fixed in the front passenger compartment of the vehicle wherein the bracket assembly defines a first axis. A carriage assembly is operatively connected to the bracket assembly and is adapted to support the shifter for movement along a second axis inclined with respect the first axis. A securing mechanism is operatively connected to the carriage assembly and is configured to secure the carriage assembly to the bracket assembly at a desired location along the second axis. 
     In another embodiment, there is provided a shifter assembly for use in a vehicle adapted to transport a physically limited person, wherein a front passenger compartment includes a dashboard, a driver side compartment, a passenger side compartment, and a vehicle shifter disposed between the driver side compartment and the passenger side compartment. The shifter assembly includes a shifter support assembly including a platform configured to support the shifter, wherein the platform is configured be positioned at a plurality of locations within the vehicle. A securing mechanism is operatively connected to the shifter support assembly and is configured to secure the shifter support assembly at one of the plurality of locations within the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned aspects of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an elevational side view of a sport utility vehicle including an access ramp. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top plan sectioned view of a sport utility vehicle including a positionable shifter assembly. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a positionable shifter assembly located adjacently to a dash of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a positionable shifter assembly including a shifter. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a positionable shifter assembly lacking a shifter. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an underneath perspective view of a positionable shifter assembly. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front elevational view of a positionable shifter assembly. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side elevational view of another embodiment of a positionable shifter assembly. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a positionable shifter assembly. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a sport utility vehicle (SUV)  10  available from any number of United States and foreign manufacturers. In the illustrated embodiment, the SUV, also called a crossover vehicle, includes a unibody construction, but other SUV&#39;s having a frame on body construction, are also included in the present disclosure. Consequently the use of SUV herein is includes all types and kinds of sport utility vehicles constructed with a body on frame construction, a unibody construction, or other constructions. In addition, while the SUV is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the present disclosure is directed to all passenger vehicles carrying one or more passengers. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the SUV  10  including a body  12  operatively coupled to front wheels  14  and rear wheels  16 . The SUV  10  includes a unibody construction. A first passenger side door  18  is located between the front wheels  14  and rear wheels  16  and provides access to a passenger for sitting in a front seat of the vehicle adjacent to the driver. In this position, the passenger has a clearer view of the road when compared to sitting in a middle row or back row of seats of the vehicle. 
     The SUV  10  has been modified to include a second passenger side door  20  coupled to the unibody frame through a mechanical linkage (not shown). In other embodiments, the side door  20  is coupled to the unibody frame through a sliding mechanism. In this embodiment, the second passenger side door has been modified to slide along a track (not shown) as opposed to the manufacturer supplied door which is hinged to swing away from the vehicle, as is understood by those skilled in the art. In addition to modifying the door  20  to slide along the track, an opening  22  to the interior, in some embodiments, is modified or widened to provide access to a passenger seated in a wheelchair. The opening is defined on the sides thereof by an edge of the door  20  and the edge of the door  18 . The vehicle is further modified to include a ramp assembly  24  which provides rolling access of the wheelchair from pavement  26  into an interior  28  of the vehicle  10 . The ramp assembly  24  is installed at the opening  22  and is movable between the interior of the vehicle, where it is stored in some embodiments, and to the exterior for wheelchair access. 
     In known modified vehicles, such as modified vans, the middle row of seats is removed from the manufacturer supplied vehicle to enable access to a wheelchair supporting a passenger. Once the wheelchaired passenger moves into the interior of the vehicle, the passenger or caregiver locates the wheelchair in the middle portion of the interior behind the driver and passenger seats of the front row. While the wheelchaired passenger is readily and safely transported by the vehicle when located at this position, the passenger can have difficulty communicating with the driver and difficulty viewing the road and surrounding scenery. This location is therefore often frustrating for many individuals, particularly those individuals who led active lives prior to receiving their disability and continue to be actively involved. As used herein, wheelchaired passenger is used to indicate that the individual is making use of a wheelchair, whether that use is temporary or permanent. 
     Over the past few years, the number of wheelchaired individuals who desire to lead full active lives has increased. To accommodate such individuals, the SUV has become a preferred vehicle of choice, particularly with military veterans who received disabilities during their tours of duty. Consequently, the SUV  10  is further modified or retrofitted as illustrated in  FIG. 2  to provide a location having sufficient space for the wheelchaired passenger in the front passenger location next the driver. To retrofit the vehicle  10 , a manufactured SUV is purchased from a dealer or directly from the manufacturer and the manufacturer supplied center console is disassembled or removed from the vehicle. In particular, the original shifter is separated from other manufacturer supplied components and reused and located in the front passenger compartment in a positionable shifter assembly  34 , as described herein. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , a driver side location  30  and a passenger side location  32  are located in a front passenger compartment on either side of the positionable shifter assembly  34 , which includes a center console  36  and a shifter  38 . In this embodiment, the shifter assembly  34  is configured to move along a line  40  such that the shifter assembly  34  is positionable within the front passenger compartment to either increase or decrease the amount of usable floor area in either of the driver side location  30  and the passenger side location  32 . When moved closer to the driver side location  30 , the passenger side position  32  is enlarged sufficiently to accommodate a wheelchair  42 . In another embodiment, a driver seat  44  is removed and the shifter assembly  34  is moved toward the passenger side position  32  to accommodate the wheelchair  42  when located in the driver side location  30 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a vehicle dash  46 , the location of which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the vehicle dash  46  is disposed adjacent to the center console  36  and to a shift knob  48  which extends from the center console  36 . The center console  36  is generally located in a middle area between the driver side location  30  and the passenger side location  32 . The center console  36 , which includes the shifter assembly  34 , is positionable along the direction  40  to move the center console  36  in one direction or the other depending on the desired location. 
     The center console  36  supports the shifter assembly  32  within a housing  50 . A user accessible handle  52  is located and accessible at a bottom portion  54  of the housing  50 , which is configured to surround the handle  52 . The user accessible handle  52  is accessible by either individual located in one of the driver side location  30  and the passenger side position  32 . Movement of the handle  52  from a first position to a second position enables movement of the console  36  along the direction  40  in either direction. In one position, the handle  52  fixes or locks the console  36  in place with respect to the dash  46  and in the other position releases the console  36  for movement along the direction  40 . In one embodiment, the console  36  is supported by and moves on a rail structure  56  in response to a force applied by one of the passengers to move the console from side to side. If the wheelchaired passenger is to be located in the location  32 , then the console  36  is moved toward the driver side location  30  to provide sufficient space for locating the wheelchair in the front passenger area. Once the console  36  is located as desired, the handle  52  is moved to the other of the first position or second position to fix the location of the console  36 , so that further movement along the direction  40  is substantially prevented until the handle  52  is again moved. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of the positionable shifter assembly  34  including the shifter  38 , with the shift knob  48 , and a portion of the housing  50 , the majority of which is not shown to illustrate the shifter assembly  34 . The assembly  34  includes a bracket assembly  60  operatively coupled to a carriage assembly  62 . The carriage assembly  62  is configured to move on one or more rails  64  which extend from a first side  66  to a second side  68  of the bracket assembly  60 . The bracket assembly  60  further includes a plurality of feet  70  which are configured to engage a supporting structure located at or behind or the dash  46  of the vehicle  10 . While the rails  64 , as illustrated, are depicted as having a round cross-section, other embodiments include other cross-sections such as rectangular, oval, or square, such as the rails  56  of  FIG. 3 . In one embodiment, the bracket assembly  62  defines a first axis  65  which extends generally along a length of the bracket assembly  62  and the rails  64  define a second axis  67 , generally perpendicular to the first axis. In this embodiment, the carriage assembly  62  moves generally parallel to the dash  46 . 
     The carriage assembly  62  includes first and second supports  72  (see also  FIG. 6 ) one or both of which are configured to engage one of both of the rails  64 . In one embodiment, each of the first and second supports  72  includes one or more apertures  74  including an insert or sleeve  76  which circumscribes the rail  64 . The insert  76 , in different embodiments, is formed of a low friction material to promote ease of movement of the carriage assembly  62  along the rails. In other embodiments, the insert  76  is not present, and the rail directly engages the supports  72 . In one or more embodiments, the sleeve  76  includes a bearing or bearing bushing. 
     Each of the rails  64  includes a length which is greater than the distance between the first and second supports  72  such that the carriage assembly  62  is positionable between the first side  66  and the second side  68  during reciprocal movement thereof. In one embodiment, the distance between the first side  66  and the second side  68  is about four (4) inches and permits an extent of movement of the carriage assembly  62  of about 4 inches. In other embodiments, the travel distance of the carriage assembly  62  with respect to the bracket assembly  60  is selected to achieve a desired travel distance within the constraints provided by the configuration of the vehicle  10 . In other embodiments, a single rail is used. 
     A securing mechanism  80  is operatively connected to the carriage assembly  62  to secure the carriage assembly  62  at a desired location with respect to the bracket assembly  60 . In one embodiment, the securing mechanism  80  includes a lever  82  having an end portion  84 , which in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , is covered by the handle  52 . As used herein, the term “lever” includes levers of different types. The end portion  84  is movable from a first position to a second position along the direction  86  to release the carriage  62  for reciprocal movement along the rails  64  and to fix the position of the carriage assembly  62  with respect to the rails  64 . The direction  86  is used to illustrate an up and down movement of the lever  82  in a direction, which in different embodiments, is generally linear or which is curved, for instance when the lever  82  moves about an axis of rotation. In other embodiments, other securing mechanisms to adjustably locate the carriage assembly  62  with respect to the bracket assembly  60 , move along the axis  65 . 
     The carriage assembly  62  further includes a support  90  which is operatively connected to the shifter  38 , and in particular to a base  92  of the shifter  34 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the support  90  is configured to couple to the base  92  through one or more apertures configured to receive connectors (not shown). As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the support  90  is coupled to the first and second supports  72 , which in turn are supported for movement with respect to the bracket assembly  60 . The feet  70  are generally perpendicular to a plane defined by a support surface  94  of the support  90 . Consequently, coupling of the feet  70  to an appropriate support structure of the vehicle  10  locates the support surface  94  generally parallel with the floor of the vehicle  10 , either when stationary or during movement of the carriage assembly  62  between the first side  66  and second side  68  of the bracket assembly  60 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the lever  82  of the securing mechanism  80 , which terminates at one end with the end portion  84 , terminates at another end  96  configured to engage a locating strip  98  including a plurality of indentations  100  to provide a friction brake. In one embodiment, the end  96  includes one or more projections  102  configured to engage the indentations  100 . The securing mechanism  80  includes a coupler  104  which operatively connects a portion of lever  82  (located between the ends  84  and  96 ) such that the lever  82  is pivotable about the rail  64  closest to the locating strip  98 . Consequently, movement of the end  84  in a direction toward the support  90  disengages the projections  102  from the indentations  100  to release the carriage assembly  62  from its fixed position. A resilient member or spring  106 , disposed between the lever  82  and the bracket  90 , which keeps the projections  102  in contact with the indentations  100 , is compressed during this movement. Once the carriage assembly  62  is moved to the desired location, a release of the end  84  reengages the projections  102  with the indentations  100  under expansion of the spring  106 . In another embodiment, the spring  106  is absent and is replaced by a torsion spring located at the rail  64  and the lever  82 . Other embodiments include other types of springs, including leaf springs 
     The carriage assembly  62  includes a locator  108  which is connected to the support  90  and includes a first part  110  and a second part  112  as seen in  FIG. 7 . The first part  110  and second part  112  extend downward and away from the support  90 . The first part  110  and  112  define a space therebetween configured to receive a corresponding U-shaped bracket  114  extending from the lever  82 . The U-shaped bracket  114  moves toward the support  90  during compression of the spring  106  and limits upward and sideward movement of the lever  82  with respect to the locator  108 . In this configuration, therefore, repeated engagement and disengagement of the projections  102  with the indentations  100  remain relatively consistent during the useful life of the shifter assembly  34 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of the carriage assembly  62  including the support  90 . In this configuration, a first support  120  is coupled to the support  90  and engages a rail  122  and a second support  124  engages a second rail  126 . A contact plate  128  is located between the first rail  122  and the second rail  126  and extends from one side bracket to another side bracket of the bracket support  60 . The first support  120  and the second support  124  are coupled together with a connector  130  through a third support  132 . In one embodiment, the third support  132  is a rectangular tube in which a brake plate  134  is located and which pivots about or rests on a pin  136  extending through the interior thereof. In other embodiments, the first support  120 , second support  124  and third support  132  are combined together to from a single unitary part, two parts or more than three parts. 
     A first end  138  of the brake plate  134  is located adjacently to the contact plate  128 , and upon movement of the brake plate  132  about the pin  136 , the brake plate  134  is moved into and out of engagement with the contact plate  128 . Movement of the brake plate  134  is provided by a lever  140  having a cam end  142  which engages a compressible spacer  144 . Another end  146  of the brake plate  134  is coupled to a rod  148  which is also operatively connected to the lever  140 . The end  146  is fixed to the rod  148  such that up and down movement of the rod (as illustrated) moves the end  138  into and out of contact with the contact plate  128 . Therefore, movement of the lever  140  about an axis of the cam end  142  moves rod  148  and therefore the end  138  to fix the location of the carriage assembly  62  once located at a desired position. A stop  149 , such as a nut, is fixedly coupled to the rod  148  to substantially prevent movement of the brake plate  134  along the rod  148 , in at least one direction. Upon actuation of the brake plate  134 , a bending moment is provided at the pin  136  to engage the end  138  at the contact plate  128 . The axis of rotation of the cam end  142  is offset such that the cam end  142  compresses the spacer  144  in one position and decompresses the spacer  142  in another position. In the position illustrated, the cam end  142  has compressed the spacer  144  and the end  138  is held relatively securely in contact with the contact plate  128  to fix the location of the carriage assembly  62  with respect to the bracket  66 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment of the positionable shifter assembly  34  including a center console  36  and a shifter  38 . In this embodiment, the shifter assembly  34  is configured to move in either direction along the line  40  upon rotation of a knob  150 , which is a type of lever. In this embodiment, one or both of the bracket assembly  60  and carriage assembly  62  includes a rail  152  and a threaded rod  154 . The threaded rod  154  is operatively connected to a threaded portion of the carriage assembly  62  (not shown), such that rotation of the knob  150  moves the carriage assembly  62  with respect to the bracket assembly  60 . In other embodiments, the knob  150  is replaced with an electrical drive system which moves the carriage assembly  62  with respect to the bracket assembly  60  using electrical power. In one embodiment, the knob  150  is replaced with a pushbutton and a motor is added, whereupon activation of the pushbutton drives the motor which rotes the threaded rod. 
     While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention have been disclosed herein, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.