[0001] This invention relates to passenger-carrying vehicles specially adapted for carrying
disabled passengers in wheelchairs. It is primarily concerned with taxicabs with provisions
for taking a wheelchair, but may also be found to be of value in light minibuses.
[0002] In our European patent application No.86306819 (Publication No.0214838) we have disclosed
a layout for the passenger-carrying compartment of a taxicab in which there is provision
for holding a wheelchair, in its erected condition, securely in place so that the
taxi can carry a disabled passenger in his or her wheelchair, in contrast to the present
situation, which involves the occupant having to leave the chair whilst the chair
is folded and put in the luggage area and the disabled passenger is lifted bodily
into one of the ordinary seats.
[0003] This still leaves the problem of getting the wheelchair, complete with occupant,
into the taxi. Where there are not several able-bodied people able to lift it directly,
one needs to provide ramps. The aim of the present invention is to make this possible
in a convenient manner, and without incursion into the space available for normal
use of the vehicle.
[0004] According to the invention a passenger-carrying vehicle, in particular a taxi, has
at least one door opening of a standard lateral width sufficient to take an erected
wheelchair and the door which closes that opening is provided on its inner face with
a recess or compartment which receives, in folded or otherwise collapsed form, a pair
of ramps which are capable of being extended and placed in position between the sill
of the opening and the ground. Preferably the ends of the ramps and the sill have
inter-engaging means, such as pegs and sockets, to locate those ends securely and
eliminate any danger of the ramps being displaced as a wheelchair is pushed up them.
[0005] In one preferred arrangement the ramps are of channel section and are hinged at the
midpoints of their lengths; this reduces them, when folded, to a length which allows
them to be placed horizontally one above the other in the compartment which occupies
the greater part of the inside of the door below the waist rail.
[0006] The ramps may be secured in their stowed position by a strap or straps, and the compartment
is preferably closed by a panel which conceals them completely. According to the further
feature of the invention a latch which holds the panel closed is released by a catch
mounted in the free edge of the door, i.e. that opposite the hinge, and so the panel
cannot be opened except when the door has first been opened. This prevents the panel
being opened by passengers while the vehicle is in motion.
[0007] An example of an arrangement according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying
sketches, of which figure 1 shows the inside of the door with the ramps stowed but
the panel open, Figure 2 shows the ramps in a position ready for use, and Figure 3
shows a single ramp partly folded.
[0008] The ramps, shown at 1, are of extruded aluminium alloy channel section, lined with
patterned rubber treads 2 and hinged in the middle of their lengths. They fold to
fit in a compartment 3 in the inside lower face of a taxi door 4 and are held in place
by a strap 5. A panel 6, hinged at its lower edge, closes the compartment and is held
closed by a latch 7. It will be noted that the latch is in the edge of the door and
so it cannot be released inadvertently or deliberately by the passengers when the
door is closed.
[0009] Each ramp has a pair of studs 8 in its underside at one end and these engage in sockets
9 at appropriate spacings in the sill 10 of the door opening to locate the ramps securely
in use. As indicated in Figure 3, the studs 8 may also engage sockets in the other
end of the ramp itself in the folded condition, helping to keep it folded.
[0010] It will be appreciated that we have a provided a facility which allows a passenger-carrying
vehicle, such as a taxi, to be used by disabled people confined to a wheelchair, yet
without requiring external assistance or equipment, as the driver on his own can place
the wheelchair in the vehicle, yet the equipment is stowed away neatly when not in
use and detracts in no way from the normal use of the vehicle.
1. A passenger-carrying vehicle having a door opening of a standard lateral width
sufficient to take an erected wheelchair, characterised in that the door (4) which
closes that opening is provided on its inner face with a recess or compartment (3)
which receives, in folded or otherwise collapsed form, a pair of ramps (1) which are
capable of being extended and placed in position between the sill (10) of the opening
and the ground.
2. A wheel according to claim 1 characterised in that the door sill (10) and one end
of each ramp are provided with inter-engaging means (8,9) to locate those ends of
the ramps securely in relation to the sill (10).
3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that each ramp (1) is
of channel section and is hinged in the middle.
4. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the recess
or compartment (3) is closed by a panel (6) which, when closed, conceals the ramps
(1) within, and the panel is releasable by a latch (7) which is only operable when
the door (4) is open.
5. A vehicle according to claim 4 characterised in that the latch (7) is in the free
edge of the door (4).
6. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in the form of a taxicab.
