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US 9,145,179 B1Granted
Method for converting an existing vehicle to a wheelchair-accessible converted vehicle
AssigneeVantage Mobility International, LLC
InventorsMichael J. Schmidt, Phil Gerlings, David Nulph
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for modifying an OEM vehicle into a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. The methods include the steps of removing the OEM rear axle, fabricating a modified rear axle, attaching the modified rear axle, repositioning the secondary catalytic converter, and modifying the floor of an interior compartment of the OEM vehicle. Method steps include installing a body lift kit and lowering the airbox.
Claims16
A method for modifying an OEM van, comprising:
- removing an OEM rear axle from the OEM van, the OEM rear axle being positioned forward of a rear wheel spindle attachment;
- attaching a modified rear axle to a rear section of a rear control arm operatively associated with a rear suspension system of the OEM van;
- repositioning a catalytic converter from a position rearward of a firewall to a position forward of the firewall, wherein the firewall separates an engine compartment from an interior compartment of the OEM van;
- and
- modifying a floor of the interior compartment to remove a hump in the floor.
2 more elements
A method for modifying an OEM van, the OEM van having a rear suspension system, an engine compartment and an interior compartment, comprising:
- removing an OEM rear axle from the OEM van, the OEM rear axle being positioned forward of a rear wheel spindle attachment;
- fabricating a modified rear axle comprising a modified axle beam by:
- creating a top hole in an upper portion of the modified axle beam;
- creating a bottom hole in a lower portion of the modified axle beam;
- and
- connecting the top hole with the bottom hole by inserting a hollow tube between the top hole and bottom hole thereby creating a receptacle for receiving a power kneel chain;
- attaching the modified rear axle to a rear section of a rear control arm operatively associated with the rear suspension system;
- repositioning a catalytic converter from a position rearward of a firewall to a position forward of the firewall, wherein the firewall separates an engine compartment from an interior compartment of the OEM van;
- after the repositioning, modifying a floor of the interior compartment to remove a hump in the floor to make a modified floor;
- and
- reinstalling the modified floor in the interior compartment.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.