Patent US4847972A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4847972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Van apparatus for handicapped people and method of making same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-12-01
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Granted: 1989-07-18
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Expires: 2007-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A van apparatus (20, 20') for the transportation of handicapped people having a bi-level floor surface supported by a frame rail (34, 34'), wherein the lower portion of said bi-level floor extends in a substantially level plane from an intermediate area to a forward area of said van apparatus, such that a handicapped person may drive or ride as the front passenger in said van apparatus. The lower portion of said bi-level floor may be lowered to a customized depth in the construction of each individual van apparatus. Methods for construction of such a van apparatus are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald G. Anderson
- 👤 Jeffrey S. Anderson
- 👤 Charles R. Anderson
- 👤 Todd A. Anderson
- 👤 Darren G. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G3/00; A61G3/02; A61G3/06; A61G3/066; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/134; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A van apparatus, comprising (a) a common rail support frame; (b) wheels supporting the support frame above a surface of the ground; (c) an engine driving the front wheels; (d) a body resting on the support frame having a ceiling, bi-level floor, doors and windows; (e) the bi-level floor including a lower floor portion and an upper floor portion supported by the common frame rail support frame disposed below both floor portions; (f) at least one side door adapted to provide access to the lower floor portion by a wheelchair-bound person; and (g) the lower floor portion of the bi-level floor extending in substantially the same plane from an intermediate rear passenger area to forward driver and front passenger areas of the van apparatus, such that a wheelchair-bound person has access to the driver area and front and rear passenger areas of the van and thus is able to drive or ride as a front or rear passenger while seated on the lower floor portion of the van apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A van apparatus, comprising (a) a common rail support frame; (b) wheels supporting the support frame above a surface of the ground; (c) an engine driving the front wheels; (d) a body resting on the support frame having a ceiling, bi-level floor, doors and windows; (e) the bi-level floor including a lower floor portion and an upper floor portion supported by the common frame rail support frame disposed below both floor portions; (f) at least one side door adapted to provide access to the lower floor portion by a wheelchair-bound person; and (g) the lower floor portion of the bi-level floor extending in substantially the same plane from an intermediate rear passenger area to forward driver and front passenger areas of the van apparatus, such that a wheelchair-bound person has access to the driver area and front and rear passenger areas of the van and thus is able to drive or ride as a front or rear passenger while seated on the lower floor portion of the van apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A van apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower floor portion has a floor to ceiling height such that a person sitting upright in a wheelchair has an unobstructed line of sight through the windows of the van in both the driver area and in the front and rear passenger areas.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of constructing a van apparatus for the transportation of handicapped people, comprising the steps of: (a) modifying frame rails of a chassis by raising rear end portions of the chassis frame rails, such that the chassis has a midportion of lesser height than its front and rear end portions and by further adding an insert to increase the length of the midportion; (b) mounting a van body to the two spaced apart, parallel frame rails of said chassis; (c) cutting away a portion of a floor from said van apparatus; (d) lowering said floor portion to a desired depth such that the floor portion is supported by the frame rail; and (e) placing a metal skirt substantially about a gap between said lowered floor portion and the remaining floor surface of said van apparatus.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of constructing a van apparatus for the transportation of handicapped people, comprising the steps of: (a) modifying frame rails of a chassis by raising rear end portions of the chassis frame rails, such that the chassis has a midportion of lesser height than its front and rear end portions and by further adding an insert to increase the length of the midportion; (b) mounting a van body to the two spaced apart, parallel frame rails of said chassis; (c) cutting away a portion of a floor from said van apparatus; (d) lowering said floor portion to a desired depth such that the floor portion is supported by the frame rail; and (e) placing a metal skirt substantially about a gap between said lowered floor portion and the remaining floor surface of said van apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 including the step of installing body mounts on the frame rails, the cut away floor portion resting on the body mounts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the chassis is selected from one of a General Motor® El Dorado Cadillac or Toronado Oldsmobile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 4, further including the step of extending the length of the side doors.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of constructing a van apparatus for the transportation of handicapped people comprising the steps of: (a) cutting a portion of floor from said van apparatus; (b) attaching a second frame rail structure to said van apparatus beneath an original frame rail; (c) removing a portion of said original frame rail structure of said van apparatus disposed over said second frame rail structure; (d) lowering said floor portion a desired depth through an opening created by removal of said original frame rail portion, such that said floor portion is supported by said second frame rail structure; and (e) placing a metal skirt substantially about a gap between said lowered floor portion and the remaining floor surface of said van apparatus.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of constructing a van apparatus for the transportation of handicapped people comprising the steps of: (a) cutting a portion of floor from said van apparatus; (b) attaching a second frame rail structure to said van apparatus beneath an original frame rail; (c) removing a portion of said original frame rail structure of said van apparatus disposed over said second frame rail structure; (d) lowering said floor portion a desired depth through an opening created by removal of said original frame rail portion, such that said floor portion is supported by said second frame rail structure; and (e) placing a metal skirt substantially about a gap between said lowered floor portion and the remaining floor surface of said van apparatus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-17 | 1993-01-16 | 1993-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-17 | 1997-01-16 | 1997-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-01-16 | 2001-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |