GB2408025A

GB2408025A - Method of modifying a vehicle involving removal of the b-pillar

Info

Publication number: GB2408025A
Application number: GB0326585A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Daniel Samuels; Brian Reginald Healy
Original assignee: W H Aspect Ltd
Current assignee: W H Aspect Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-14
Filing date: 2003-11-14
Publication date: 2005-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-14
Also published as: GB2408025B; GB0326585D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of modifying a vehicle having front and rear doors and at least one B-pillar therebetween to allow improved access to the vehicle comprising the steps of: <SL> <LI>(a) if necessary removing at least one of the doors from the vehicle; <LI>(b) removing the B-pillar; <LI>(c) mounting the B-pillar to one of the doors; <LI>(d) if necessary remounting the removed door, </SL> the mounting of the B-pillar on the door being such that the B pillar resumes substantially its original position in the vehicle when the door with the B pillar mounted thereon is closed, means being provided on one or both of the B pillar and the vehicle frame to cause the B-pillar to engage with the frame of the vehicle so as to provide a structural member upon such closure.

Description

DESCRIPTION

METHOD OF MODIFYING A VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a method of modifying a vehicle to afford better access to the side of the vehicle by removing the B-pillar from the vehicle and attaching it to one of the doors.

A number of standard cars are often modified after production in order to accommodate people with mobility problems who may be for example wheelchair bound. This modification is necessary as most manufacturers of cars do not take into consideration the possibility of disabled drivers or passengers and most of their cars are aimed at the general public.

Most types of cars that are modified for wheelchair users tend to be the larger cars such as multi-people vehicles (MPV) and estate cars. These larger cars are often preferred due to the larger doors and interior space which is necessary for accommodating a wheelchair and/or permitting a person to remain seated in a wheelchair whilst being transported. It will be evident that certain conditions would not permit a person to leave a wheelchair for fear of making their condition worse or causing problems in moving the person from the wheelchair onto a passenger or drivers seat. One common modification on the (MPV) type of car is to have a ramp which folds down from the rear of the car when the boot is open and a number of seats are removed so that a wheelchair can be wheeled directly into the vehicle and placed either in a passenger position or indeed in a driving position. Whilst this modification has a number of advantages, it also requires a number of seats to be removed from the vehicle and access is only gained from the rear and therefore the person in the wheelchair needs to be placed on a road and can not be wheeled into the vehicle from the pavement. Furthermore, the removal of a number of seats may not be appropriate should the disabled person be a member of a large family which necessitates a number of people to be transported at the same time. Indeed, should a person in a wheelchair be the driver or parent, it would be common for them to want to sit at the front of the vehicle which would require the removal of at least one or two of the rear seats.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate one or more of the problems associated with the prior art modifications as herein described above.

Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide a method of modifying a vehicle such that access can be gained from one or either side of the vehicle in addition to allowing most of the seats of the vehicle to remain intact thereby allowing a number of people to be carried in the same vehicle.

in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying a vehicle having front and rear doors and at least one B-pillar therebetween to allow improved access to the vehicle comprising the steps: l (a) if necessary removing at least one of the doors from the vehicle; (b) removing the B-pillar; (c) mounting the B-pillar to one of the doors; (d) if necessary remounting the removed door, the mounting of the Bpillar on the door being such that the B pillar resumes substantially its original position in the vehicle when the door with the B pillar mounted thereon is closed, means being provided on one or both of the B pillar and the vehicle frame to cause the B-pillar to engage with the frame of the vehicle so as to provide a structural member upon such closure.

Therefore, the present invention provides for a method of modifying a vehicle which provides improved access to a vehicle by removing the Bpillar and attaching it to one of the doors which in turn is attached to the vehicle in a different manner as it was previously.

A B-pillar in the context of this method should be taken to be a structural member which is disposed between the roof and the floor or sill of a vehicle frame and is commonly used as a member for mounting a rear door, housing a locking means and also used as an anchor point for a seat belt. Additionally, such a structural member is also used to provide structural rigidity for the chassis and the frame.

The method of modifying a vehicle may enable improved access to the side of a vehicle for disabled people. Although, such modification may also be relevant in a number of applications such as modifying the vehicle in order to accommodate wide loads which may or may not be disposed on wheels and the modification would equally be applicable to allow a pushchair or similar people carrying means into a vehicle.

The means provided on either/or both of the B pillar and the vehicle frame to cause the B-pillar to engage with the frame may comprise a releasable locking means. Such a releasable locking means may ensure that the B-pillar is positively located with the vehicle frame at substantially its original position when the doors of the vehicle are closed. Preferably, the releasable locking means comprises one or more protrusions extending from the B-pillar andior the frame of the vehicle.

Such protrusions may be received in one or more corresponding apertures disposed on the B-pillar and/or the frame of the vehicle. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that such an arrangement of protrusions and apertures will allow a number of configurations for the B- pillar to be positively located into the frame of the vehicle. The protrusions may be angled to enable the protrusions to be easily received in the apertures when the door is closed. Preferably, the protrusions are locating pins. Additionally, or alternatively, the releasable locking means may comprise one or more rectangular or cube shaped protrusions which are capable of being received in one or more rectangular or cube shaped apertures.

The rectangular or cube shaped protrusion may have at least one notch disposed on its surface, which may be capable of engaging a lip of the rectangular or cube shaped aperture in the event of the vehicle being involved in an accident.

Preferably the notch is facing the direction of travel. The use of the notch in the rectangular or cube shaped protrusion is to assist in the B-pillar acting as an anti- burst pillar in the event of a crash and such an anti-burst feature will be apparent to the skilled addressee.

A number of alternative releasable locking means may also be used in conjunction with this method of modifying a vehicle, but the releasable locking means will preferably be capable of releasably locking the Bpillar to the frame at both ends of the B-pillar to the upper and lower frame of the vehicle when the doors of the vehicle are closed. The Bpillar and/or the frame vehicle may be strengthened or modified in order to accommodate the releasable locking means and/or to strengthen the frame or subframe of the vehicle to ensure strength in the frame is not lost after modification should the vehicle subsequently be involved in an accident. The use of B-pillars in vehicles provide a number of functions, the first being a locating member for the attachment of a seat belt anchor. Secondly, a B- pillar may also function to provide structural rigidity for the chassis of the vehicle in order to confer a degree of protection to the occupants of a vehicle should it be involved in an accident. The B-pillar also provides a suitable member on which a door can be hinged. Therefore, the use of a releasable locking means and/or strengthening the B-pillar and the vehicle frame assists in alleviating problems ) associated with the reduction of strength of the vehicle frame in addition to maintaining an anchor point for a seat belt. A seat belt may additionally be anchored to the roof or a strengthening member attached thereto should it not be appropriate to attach the belt to the modified B-pillar.

Due to the removal of the B-pillar, a door can no longer be hung from this member. Therefore, the removed door is preferably attached to the vehicle to provide a gull-wing door, a suicide door or a sliding door. A number of alternative configurations of the doors can also be envisaged such that two doors are joined together in order to form a gull-wing and/or the doors may also drop downwards and therefore rest on the pavement.

The vehicle may be further modified so as to attach a ramp to the modified side of the vehicle in order to assist a disabled person entering the vehicle from the side.

The ramp may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, a parallelogram or a trapezium and both shapes will facilitate a wheelchair being pushed forward into the vehicle and therefore allow a wheelchair to be placed in either the driving position or the front passenger position and in most cases will not require the removal of any rear seats. The ramps may or may not have a motor attached or a mechanism to facilitate the easy deployment of the ramp onto a floor when the doors have been opened. Preferably, the ramp is movable between a stored position whereby the ramp may lie substantially flush next to the doors when the

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doors are closed and an extended position whereby the ramp may be deployed onto the floor to facilitate loading and unloading of a wheelchair.

The vehicle may be further modified by lowering the internal floor of the vehicle so that improved access is provided. If the lowering of the internal floor may require the removal of strengthening members or parts of the vehicle frame or chassis, it is therefore preferable to strengthen the vehicle chassis and/or the frame so as to ensure that strength is maintained after the internal floor has been lowered.

In order to allow for the transportation of a wheelchair bound person within the modified vehicle, it is preferable to remove at least one or more seats so as to allow a wheelchair to gain access to the vehicle from the side. Furthermore, it is preferable that anchor points are disposed within the interior of the vehicle so that a wheelchair may be secured to the vehicle when in transit. The modification of the vehicle may also allow a wheelchair bound person to either drive the vehicle or to sit along side the driver of the vehicle and therefore. The drivers seat or the front passenger seat may therefore have to be removed. Further modifications may also include accelerator, braking and gear selection apparatus being adapted to an individual's needs so that he or she can drive the vehicle in a satisfactory manner. /

In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle modified by the method as herein described above.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures: Figure 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle with one door open modified in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagram showing the vehicle in Figure I with two doors open and a ramp deployed; Figure 3 is a diagram showing a vehicle modified in accordance with the present invention with two gull wing doors; Figure 4 is a diagram showing a vehicle modified in accordance with the present invention with one suicide door; Figure 5 is a diagram showing a vehicle modified in accordance with the present invention with one sliding door; and Figure 6 is a diagram showing the releasable locking means for the B-pillar and vehicle frame used for a vehicle modified in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is provided a modified vehicle 10, with a front door 12 and a rear door 14. The modified vehicle has had the B-pillar 16 removed from the frame of the vehicle l O and mounted along side the rear door 14. A ramp 18 is attached to a lowered floor 20 by means of a hinge 22. The floor 20 has apertures 28 which can receive locating pins 30 disposed at the distal end of the B-pillar 16. Struts 24 and 26 enable the rear door 14 to be held open when required.

With reference to Figure 3, there is provided a modified vehicle 10 which has been modified in order to provide a front door 40 in addition to the rear door 42 to be in a gull wing configuration. Figure 4 provides a modif ed vehicle 10 which has been modified in order to provide a rear door 50 that is in a suicide door configuration. Figure 5 provides a modified vehicle 10 which has been modified in order to provide a rear door 60 that is in a sliding door configuration.

With reference to Figure 6, there is provided the releasable locking means for the B-pillar and vehicle frame used for modifying a vehicle. Within the frame 80 of the vehicle, there are disposed two apertures 82 which house rubber bushes. A further rectangular aperture 84 is also provided which has a lip 85. The B-pillar 86 has two locating pins 88 disposed at the distal ends of the pillar in addition to a rectangular block 90 which has a notch 92 disposed therein.

The vehicle lO can be modified to have a number of configurations as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, with the front doors 12, 40 and rear doors 14, 42, 50, 60 opening in a number ways. A vehicle 10 will typically be modified by removing a door (either the front or rear) which will usually be the rear door 14, 42 50, 60 in order to provide access to the B-pillar 24, 86. The B-pillar 24, 86 is then removed from the frame 80 of vehicle by cutting or using a high temperature lance. The B-pillar 24, 86 is then strengthened if required and modified by attaching two locating pins 30, 88(although more or less can be attached) to the distal ends of the B-pillar 24, 86 in addition to attaching a rectangular block 90. The frame 80 is also strengthened if required and modified to receive the pins 30, 88 and the block 90 by means of apertures 22, 82 and 84. The B-pillar is then permanently mounted to one of the doors, but preferably in a location that would allow the B-pillar to resume its normal position if the door was remounted in its correct orientation.

A many B-pillars act as a member by which a door is hung. Therefore, the door which has been removed will be remounted onto the vehicle in a manner which does not require the B-pillar to be used as a member for hanging. In the gull wing configuration (Figures I to 3), the doors 14, 40, 42 are held in an open position by means of hydraulic struts 24 and 26. The rear door 50 and 60 may also be mounted on the vehicle in a suicide door manner or a sliding door marmer respectively.

In order to maintain structural strength in the vehicle, the B-pillar 16, 86 is modified with locating pins 30, 88 and a rectangular block 90 to be received into l the frame 80 by means of apertures 22, 82 and 84. Rubber bushes in the apertures 22, 82 help to secure the B-pillar to the frame when the vehicle is in use. Strength is also conferred by means of the rectangular block 90 which floats within the aperture 84. If the vehicle 10 is involved in an accident, then the notch 92 can engage the lip 85 of the aperture 84 so as to provide an anti-burst function to maintain the strength of the frame. Apertures 22, 82 and 84 will be located at positions where the B- pillar had previously joined the upper and lower frame of the vehicles so that the B-pillar can be positively located in both positions In order to facilitate wheelchairs from entering the vehicle, the floor 20 of the vehicle can be lowered and any removed material which affects the strength of the frame can be counteracted by applying strengthening members to the underside of the vehicle. Additionally, a ramp 18 can be deployed from the vehicle when required and this will be operably fixed to the floor 20 by means of a hinge 22.

The ramp may have a number of deployment means and can also be a number of shapes such as a parallelogram or a trapezium so as to assist in wheelchairs from entering and departing the vehicle. The vehicle may be further modified so as to allow a wheelchair to be secured to the floor during transit and the controls of the vehicle may also be modified. l he door or doors could also be used as the ramp itself and they could open onto the ground.

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Claims

1. A method of modifying a vehicle having front and rear doors and at least one B-pillar therebetween to allow improved access to the vehicle comprising the steps: (a) if necessary removing at least one of the doors from the vehicle; (b) removing the B-pillar; (c) mounting the B-pillar to one of the doors; (d) if necessary remounting the removed door, the mounting of the B- pillar on the door being such that the B pillar resumes substantially its original position in the vehicle when the door with the B pillar mounted thereon is closed, means being provided on one or both of the B pillar and the vehicle frame to cause the B-pillar to engage with the frame of the vehicle so as to provide a structural member upon such closure.

2. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, where the modification is to provide improved access to the side of a vehicle for a disabled person.

3. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, wherein the means provided on either/or both of the B pillar and the vehicle frame to cause the B-pillar to engage with the frame comprises a releasable locking means.

4. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the releasable locking means ensures the B-pillar is positively located with the vehicle l, frame at substantially its original position when the doors of the vehicle are closed.

5. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in either claim 3 or 4, wherein the releasable locking means comprises one or more protrusions extending from the B-pillar and/or the frame of the vehicle.

6. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protrusions are received in one or more corresponding apertures disposed on the B-pillar and/or the frame of the vehicle.

7. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in either claim 5 or 6, wherein the protrusions are locating pins.

8. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the releasable locking means further comprises one or more rectangular or cube shaped protrusions which are capable of being received in one or more rectangular or cube shaped apertures.

9. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rectangular or cube shaped protrusions has at least one notch disposed on its surface.

10. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the notch can engage a lip of the rectangular or cube shaped aperture in the event of the vehicle being involved in an accident.

1 1. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in either claim 9 or 10, wherein the notch is facing the direction of travel.

] 2. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the B-pillar and/or vehicle frame is strengthened.

13. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein if a door is removed, it is remounted to the vehicle to provide a gull-wing door, a suicide door or a sliding door.

14. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is further modified so as to attach a ramp to the modified side of the vehicle.

15. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ramp is in the shape of a square, a rectangle, a parallelogram or a trapezium.

16. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in either claim 14 or l5, wherein the ramp lies substantially flush next to the doors when they are closed.

17. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is further modified to lower the internal floor of the vehicle so as to provide better access.

18. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein the vehicle chassis and/or frame is strengthened so as to ensure strength is maintained after lowering the internal floor.

19. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one or more seats are removed from the vehicle so as to allow a wheelchair to gain access from one side of the vehicle.

20. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in claim 19, wherein d anchor points are provided within the interior of the vehicle to allow wheelchairs to be secured therein.

21. A method of modifying a vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a wheelchair bound person can drive the vehicle or sit along side the driver of the vehicle.

22. A vehicle as modified by the method according to any of claims 1 to 21.

23. A method of modifying a vehicle substantially as herein described in claims 1 to 21, with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying figures.