US 9,056,038 B1Granted

Wheelchair-accessible converted vehicle and method for converting an existing vehicle

AssigneeVantage Mobility International, LLC

InventorsMichael J. Schmidt, Phil Gerlings, David Nulph

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A modified OEM vehicle including a modified rear axle with an axle beam moved rearward, a modified exhaust system with the secondary catalytic converter relocated forward of a firewall, and a modified floor. The modified OEM vehicle also includes a body lift kit, a modified rear seat moved rearward in the vehicle, and a lowered air box aligned with an OEM air intake system. The modified rear axle may also include a receptacle enabling a power kneel chain to pass through the axle. Methods for modifying an OEM vehicle include the steps of removing the OEM rear axle, attaching a modified rear axle, repositioning the secondary catalytic converter, and modifying the floor of an interior compartment of the OEM vehicle. Method steps include fabricating a modified rear axle, installing a body lift kit, and lowering the airbox.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A modified OEM van, the modified OEM van being modified from an OEM van, comprising:

a modified rear axle, the modified rear axle being attached to a rear section of a rear control arm of a rear suspension system and comprising a modified axle beam located rearward of a rear wheel spindle attachment, the modified axle beam comprising at least one hole inserted in the modified axle beam for allowing a power kneel chain to pass through the modified axle beam, the at least one hole containing a hollow tube, the hollow tube being positioned substantially perpendicular to the length of the modified axle beam;
a modified exhaust system, the modified exhaust system comprising a catalytic converter repositioned forward of a firewall separating an engine compartment from an interior compartment;
and
a modified vehicle floor of the interior compartment, the modified vehicle floor having no hump in the interior compartment.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/546,968Filed 11 Jul 2012 · us provisional application
Priority: 12 Jul 2011
Granted: 16 Jun 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

B62D 65/14
Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components: the…
A61G 3/066
Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like: using a lowering device for a part of the floor of the vehicle
A61G 3/0808
Accommodating or securing wheelchairs or stretchers: accommodating or securing wheelchairs
B60G 21/051
Between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected: trailing…

Family

Application61/507,065Us provisional application · filed 12 Jul 2011
US 9,056,038 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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