Method of converting a van-type vehicle to a multi-passenger commercial transportation vehicle

Claim 1

A method of converting a van-type vehicle to a multi-passenger commercial transportation vehicle, said vehicle having front and rear wheels, a chassis mounted on said wheels carrying a vehicle body and having two or more longitudinally extending support members, said vehicle body having a driver door, and a passenger door adjacent the front seats of said vehicle, and an auxiliary cargo door and cargo door entrance way on one side of said vehicle behind either of said driver or said passenger door, comprising the steps of: (a) cutting, in a plane substantially transverse of said longitudinal support members, both said chassis and said vehicle body into a forward section and a rear section, said plane lying between the forward and rear wheels of the vehicle; (b) separating longitudinally said forward and rear sections; (c) attaching coaxially a chassis extension support member between the forward and rear sections of each said longitudinal support member; (d) cutting off the roof portion of said vehicle body along the periphery of the upper vehicle body; (e) attaching an upwardly enlarged roof portion to said vehicle body along said periphery; (f) attaching fixed side wall members, flush with the side walls of said forward and rear sections, to said cargo door entrance and to said vehicle body on either side thereof and fitted to extend between said forward and rear sections; (g) removing said passenger's seat and attaching a step well means to said vehicle frame adjacent said passenger door and forming a continuation of the passenger door opening for permitting step up into said vehicle; (h) forming a roof cutout extending partially upward from said periphery in said roof portion in the area above said step well means as a continuation of the passenger door opening to provide uninhibited passenger boarding and unboarding to and from said vehicle; (i) providing door extension means on the upper and lower ends of said passenger door for closing said passenger door opening when said door is closed; and (j) attaching door opening means operable from the driver's seat for opening said passenger door.

Claim 2

A method of converting a van-type vehicle to a multi-passenger commercial transportation vehicle, said vehicle having front and rear wheels, a chassis mounted on said wheels carrying a vehicle body and having two or more longitudinally extending support members, said vehicle body having a driver door, and a passenger door adjacent the front seats of said vehicle, and an auxiliary cargo door and cargo door entrance way on one side of said vehicle behind either of said driver or said passenger door, comprising the steps of: (a) cutting, in a plane substantially transverse of said longitudinal support members, both said chassis and said vehicle body into a forward section and a rear section, said plane lying between the forward and rear wheels of the vehicle; (b) separating longitudinally said forward and rear sections; (c) attaching coaxially a chassis extension support member between the forward and rear sections of each said longitudinal support member; (d) cutting off the roof portion of said vehicle body along the periphery of the upper vehicle body; (e) attaching an upwardly enlarged roof portion to said vehicle body along said periphery; (f) attaching fixed side wall members, flush with the side walls of said forward and rear sections, to said cargo door entrance and to said vehicle body on either side thereof and fitted to extend between said forward and rear sections; (g) removing said passenger's seat and attaching a step well means to said vehicle frame adjacent said passenger door and forming a continuation of the passenger door opening for permitting step up into said vehicle; (h) forming a roof cutout extending partially upward from said periphery in said roof portion in the area above said step well means as a continuation of the passenger door opening to provide uninhibited passenger boarding and unboarding to and from said vehicle; (i) providing door extension means on the upper and lower ends of said passenger door for closing said passenger door opening when said door is closed; and (j) attaching door opening means operable from the driver's seat for opening said passenger door.