Lifting device for a wheelchair, and motor vehicle

Abstract

A lifting device for lifting a wheelchair into and out of a rear loading space of a motor vehicle includes lifting assemblies, fastened within a loading space of the vehicle, each having a pivot bearing; a telescopic lifting arm, connected to the pivot bearings to pivot about an axis in the vehicle transverse direction; a transverse stay which runs in the vehicle transverse direction, connected to free end portions of the lifting arms; and a coupling unit disposed on the transverse stay and configured to couple at least indirectly to the wheelchair.

Claims

1. A lifting device for lifting a wheelchair into and out of a rear loading space of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least two lifting assemblies fastenable to a floor of the loading space, mutually spaced apart in a vehicle transverse direction, or on mutually opposite loading space side walls of the loading space, each of the lifting assemblies having a pivot bearing fastenable to the floor of the loading space or to one of the loading space side walls; at least one telescopic lifting arm, wherein a first end portion is connected to the pivot bearing to be pivotable about a pivot axis that runs in the vehicle transverse direction; at least one actuator, which, for pivoting the lifting arm about the pivot axis engages on the lifting arm; at least one actuator, which, for telescoping the lifting arm engages on the lifting arm; at least one transverse stay which runs in the vehicle transverse direction and which is connected to free end portions of the lifting arms; and at least one electrically actuatable coupling unit which is disposed on the transverse stay and which, in a coupling state, is coupled at least indirectly to the wheelchair and in an uncoupling state is uncoupled from the wheelchair.

2. The lifting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling unit comprises at least one electromagnet.

3. The lifting device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one metal plate, at least indirectly fastenable to the wheelchair, wherein when the coupling unit is in the coupling state, the coupling unit is attracted to the at least one metal plate by the electromagnet per a magnetic field generated by the electromagnet.

4. The lifting device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one joint connected to the metal plate and by way of which the metal plate is connectable to the wheelchair to be pivotable about a rotation axis that is parallel with the vehicle transverse direction.

5. The lifting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transverse stay is configured to be adjustable in length.

6. The lifting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one actuation electronics system which is connected to the actuators and to the coupling unit and which is set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit in such a manner that the wheelchair, when lifted into or out of, respectively, the loading space, is held upright and rear wheels of the wheelchair herein roll along a rear portion of the vehicle.

7. The lifting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuation electronics system is set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit in such a manner that the lifting arms in a resting state of the lifting device, proceeding from the pivot bearings, run in a forward direction.

8. The lifting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuation electronics system is set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit in such a manner that the coupling unit, with the wheelchair having been lifted into the loading space, remains in the coupling state of said coupling unit.

9. A vehicle, comprising: lifting assemblies, fastened within a loading space of the vehicle, each having a pivot bearing; a telescopic lifting arm, connected to the pivot bearings to pivot about an axis in a vehicle transverse direction; a transverse stay which runs in the vehicle transverse direction, connected to free end portions of the lifting arms; and a coupling unit disposed on the transverse stay and configured to couple at least indirectly to a wheelchair, wherein the coupling unit includes an electromagnet configured to, when in a coupling state, generate a magnetic field to attract the wheelchair.

10. A vehicle, comprising: lifting assemblies, fastened within a loading space of the vehicle, each having a pivot bearing; a telescopic lifting arm, connected to the pivot bearings to pivot about an axis in a vehicle transverse direction; a transverse stay which runs in the vehicle transverse direction, connected to free end portions of the lifting arms; a coupling unit disposed on the transverse stay and configured to couple at least indirectly to a wheelchair; an actuator configured to pivot the lifting arm about the pivot axis; an actuator configured to telescope the lifting arm; and an actuation electronics system connected to the actuators and to the coupling unit, configured to hold the wheelchair upright when the wheelchair is being lifted into or out of the loading space, such that rear wheels of the wheelchair roll along a rear portion of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuation electronics system is configured to utilize the actuators to pivot the lifting arms from a resting state in which the transverse stay is within the loading space to a loading state in which the transverse stay is in proximity of a backrest of the wheelchair.

12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuation electronics system is configured to utilize the actuators to simultaneously retract the lifting assemblies and pivot the lifting arm to pull the wheelchair in the direction of the vehicle until rear wheels of the wheelchair are in contact with a rear portion of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the loading space of the vehicle is located at a rear of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a tailgate configured to pivot to close the loading space when the wheelchair is disposed completely within the loading space.

15. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the loading space of the vehicle is located at a rear of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a tailgate configured to pivot to close the loading space when the wheelchair is disposed completely within the loading space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment for a motor vehicle according to the disclosure, having a lifting device that is in a resting position;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 1, in a first loading state;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 1, in a second loading state; and

(4) FIG. 4 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 1, in a third loading state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) In the different figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference signs, and so said parts are generally also described only once.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment for a motor vehicle 1 according to the disclosure in the form of a passenger motor vehicle.

(7) The motor vehicle 1 has a rear loading space 2 having a rear loading space opening 3 and a tailgate 4 which in a closed position (not shown) closes the loading space opening 3 and in the open position shown releases the loading space opening 3. A rear portion 5 of the motor vehicle 1 adjoins the loading space opening 3 on the floor of the latter, said rear portion 5 configuring a rear bumper (not shown) of the motor vehicle 1, and having a protective element 6 that is disposed so as to be offset toward the floor in relation to the bumper.

(8) The motor vehicle 1 furthermore has a lifting device 7 for lifting an electric wheelchair (not shown in FIG. 1) into the rear loading space 2 and for lifting the electric wheelchair out of the loading space 2. The lifting device 7 has two lifting assemblies 10 and 11 which are fastened to a loading space floor 8 so as to be mutually spaced apart in a vehicle transverse direction, or alternatively fastened to mutually opposite loading space side walls 9 of the loading space 2.

(9) Each lifting assembly 10 or 11, respectively, has a pivot bearing 12 or 13, respectively, that is fastened to the loading space floor 8, or alternatively to one of the loading space side walls 9, a telescopic lifting arm 15 or 16, respectively, that by way of a first end portion is connected to the pivot bearing 12 or 13, respectively, so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 14 that runs in the vehicle transverse direction, an actuator (not shown) which for pivoting the lifting arm 15 or 16, respectively, about the pivot axis 14 engages on the lifting arm 15 or 16, respectively, and an actuator (not shown) which for telescoping the lifting arm 15 or 16, respectively, engages on the lifting arm 15 or 16, respectively.

(10) The lifting device 7 furthermore has a transverse stay 17 which runs in the vehicle transverse direction and which is connected to free end portions of the lifting arms 15 and 16. The transverse stay 17 can be configured so as to be adjustable in the length thereof.

(11) The lifting device 7 moreover has an electrically actuatable coupling unit 18 which is disposed on the transverse stay 17 and which in a coupling state is coupled at least indirectly to the electric wheelchair and in an uncoupling state is uncoupled from the electric wheelchair. The coupling unit 18 can have at least one electromagnet (not shown). The lifting device 7 herein can have at least one metal plate (not shown) which is at least indirectly fastenable to the electric wheelchair and which in the case of a coupling unit 18 that is in the coupling state thereof is attracted by the electromagnet by way of a magnetic field generated by the electromagnet. To this end, the lifting device 7 can moreover have at least one joint (not shown) which is connected to the metal plate and by way of which the metal plate is connectable to the electric wheelchair so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis that is parallel with the vehicle transverse direction.

(12) The lifting device 7 furthermore has an actuation electronics system (not shown) which is connected to the actuators and to the coupling unit 18 and which is set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit 18 in such a manner that the electric wheelchair when lifted into or out of, respectively, the loading space 2 is held upright and rear wheels of the electric wheelchair herein roll along the rear portion 5 of the motor vehicle 1. The actuation electronics system is set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit 18 in such a manner that the lifting arms 15 and 16 in the resting state shown of the lifting device 7, proceeding from the pivot bearings 12 and 13, run in a forward direction. The actuation electronics system is moreover set up for actuating the actuators and the coupling unit 18 in such a manner that the coupling unit 18, with the electric wheelchair having been lifted into the loading space 2, remains in the coupling state of said coupling unit 18, as is shown in FIG. 4.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the motor vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1, in a first loading state. An electric wheelchair 19 which is disposed in a loading position behind the motor vehicle 1, the rear side of the former facing the motor vehicle 1, is moreover shown. The rear wheels 20 of the electric wheelchair 19 are thus positioned so as to face the motor vehicle 1.

(14) The lifting device 7 has been transferred from the resting position thereof, shown in FIG. 1, to the loading state shown, in that the lifting arms 15 and 16 have been pivoted about the pivot axis 14 and the lifting arms 15 and 16 herein or subsequently have been deployed such that the transverse stay 17 and the coupling unit 18 disposed on the latter are disposed in the direct proximity of a backrest 21 of the electric wheelchair 19. The coupling unit 18 has subsequently been transferred from the uncoupling state thereof to the coupling state thereof, on account of which the electric wheelchair 19 is coupled to the lifting device 7. Next, the lifting arms 15 and 16 are retracted, on account of which the electric wheelchair 19 in a manner corresponding to arrow 22 is pulled in the direction of the motor vehicle 1 until the rear wheels 20 are in contact with the rear portion 5, as is shown in FIG. 3.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the motor vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1, in a second loading state. The lifting device 7 has been transferred from the loading state thereof, shown in FIG. 2, to the loading state shown, in that the lifting arms 15 and 16 by way of an electric actuation of the actuators (not shown) that are provided for pivoting the lifting arms 15 and 16 have been pivoted in a manner corresponding to arrow 23 about the pivot axis 14 in the direction of the rear loading space 2 and inter alia upward, on account of which the electric wheelchair 19 has been lifted. The rear wheels 20 of the electric wheelchair 19 herein have rolled substantially vertically along the rear portion 5 of the motor vehicle 1. The lifting arms 15 and 16 during said pivoting movement of the lifting arms 15 and 16 have moreover been deployed so as to prevent the electric wheelchair 19 tilting backward while the latter is being lifted.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the motor vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1, in a third loading state. The lifting device 7 has been transferred from the loading state thereof, shown in FIG. 3, to the loading state shown in that the lifting arms 15 and 16 have been retracted again as soon as the electric wheelchair 19 has been lifted sufficiently high, or as soon as the rear wheels 20 of the electric wheelchair 19 are disposed substantially or completely above a lower edge of the loading space opening 3, while the pivoting movement of the lifting arms 15 and 16 into the rear loading space 2 has continued. On account of said simultaneous movements of the lifting arms 15 and 16, the electric wheelchair 19 has been pulled into the rear loading space 2, wherein the electric wheelchair 19 has rolled across the loading space floor 8 in the forward direction of the motor vehicle 1 until said electric wheelchair 19 has assumed the shown loaded position in which the electric wheelchair 19 is disposed completely within the rear loading space 2. Lastly, the tailgate 4 can be pivoted in a manner corresponding to arrow 24, so as to close the loading space 2.

(17) The lifting device 7 can remain coupled to the electric wheelchair 19 in the loaded position of the latter so as to be able to secure the loaded position of the electric wheelchair 19 relative to the motor vehicle 1. Alternatively, the lifting device 7 can be uncoupled from the electric wheelchair 19 in the loaded position of the latter and be transferred to the resting position shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the loaded position of the electric wheelchair 19 relative to the motor vehicle 1 has to be mechanically secured in another way.

(18) The unloading procedure, or the lifting of the electric wheelchair 19 out of the rear loading space 2, respectively, is performed by carrying out the aforementioned steps in a reversed order.