Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
A CLIMBING ASSEMBLY FOR A MULTI WHEELED VEHICLE
APPLICANT: TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, an Indian Company at:
“Chaitanya”, No.12 Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600
006.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner it
is to be performed.
2
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates to a climbing assembly. 5 In a preferred
embodiment, said climbing assembly is for a multi-wheeled vehicle, including but
not limited to passenger and cargo vehicles.
BACKGROUND
10 [0002] Typically, OEMs tend to manufacture variants to cater to needs for
different market segments by changing in form of size, the capacity of the vehicle,
range of usage, cost, ease of manufacturing, etc. The design of chassis is usually
flexible to cater to the variants and the demands and to enable modified versions
with minimum changes in the vehicle layout, assembly time, manufacturing set15
up, etc. and does not require a major revamping of core processes to prepare for
mass production of vehicles. However, using same chassis offers a trade-off of
increased height of a vehicle body. For example vehicle floor in case of a
passenger vehicle or load deck in a cargo type vehicle may increase which leads
to events of uncomfortable boarding and deboarding of passenger and/or cargo
20 from the multi wheeled vehicle.
[0003] It is known to provide a cut out in the body of the vehicle, for example, in
a cargo type vehicle, a cut-out may be provided in a skirt portion of the vehicle
body. However, the cut-out portions, whether in passenger or cargo type vehicle,
can aid in climbing only in low height of the vehicle floor or load deck These
25 conventionally available climbing means are not efficient for vehicles that have
relatively higher floor height or load decks at higher distance from ground. The
height is necessary for vehicles that are made for different terrain and multiple
uses for example, multi utility vehicles or in case of goods or passenger carrier
which require sufficient height to accommodate sufficient suspension travel in
30 loaded condition for bumpy roads. In such cases, cut-out portions in vehicle body
would not be efficient as the increased height of the cut-out portion would be
inconvenient for placing the leg of a user like passenger or worker
loading/unloading goods on the vehicle. Further, if provisions are made to
vertically extend the body of vehicle downwards for example skirt portion, it
3
would require more material for construction and leads 5 due improper load
transfer and weight imbalance in addition to improper proportions. Further, in
case of vehicles with a load deck having side or rear doors, user cannot climb
using the cut out when said load deck door is open as the load dock door will hide
the cut out. Therefore, user need to cross the side wall only when the door is in
10 closed condition to climb over the load deck through cut out.
[0004] Particularly in case of conventionally available commercial cargo vehicles
or multi utility vehicle, the load deck floor is significantly high from the ground
level for an average person to climb over. Further, in case the prime mover/
engine is placed at the rear side of the multi wheeled vehicle, the load deck floor
15 is placed at an even higher height above the ground due to engine projection. In
this condition, the user finds it even more difficult to climb above the load deck
floor in case of arranging / loading the goods above the load deck floor.
[0005] The inventiveness of the various features of the present invention is also
addressing the shortcomings of uncomfortable boarding, deboarding and
20 accessibility to the body of a vehicle or a portion thereof such as a load deck.
Therefore, the improvised climbing assembly in the present inventive concept
specifically addresses the aforesaid issues present in the prior art, thereby
improving the whole configurational design and the operation of the vehicle in an
efficient manner, reducing the hardships of accessibility and maintainability along
25 with increasing durability of the climbing assembly and vehicle thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] The present invention relates to a climbing assembly for a multi wheeled
vehicle which address the prior art problems related to difficulty in boarding and
30 deboarding from the multi wheeled vehicle, weight reduction of overall assembly
and reducing cost of the overall assembly. The detailed description is provided
herein with reference to the accompanying figures, which is related to a climbing
assembly, particularly where the mounting member and step member are being
described as one embodiment of the present invention. However, the present
35 invention is not limited to the depicted embodiment(s). In the figures, the same or
4
similar reference signs are used throughout to represent similar 5 features and
components.
[0007] Figure 1 illustrates left side perspective view of the climbing assembly
along with inner view of the load deck demonstrating an inner surface of the rear
door of a vehicle in closed position, in accordance with an embodiment of the
10 present subject matter.
[0008] Figure 2 illustrates a rear side perspective view of the climbing assembly
when the rear door of the load deck is in open condition while demonstrating the
step member in folded and locked condition in accordance with an embodiment of
the present subject matter.
15 [0009] Figure 3 exemplarily illustrates a rear side perspective view of the
climbing assembly in open condition of the rear door of the load deck
demonstrating the step member in unfolded condition, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present subject matter.
[00010] Figure 4 exemplarily illustrates a side view of the climbing assembly in
20 open condition of the rear door of the load deck while demonstrating the step
member in unfolded position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
subject matter.
[00011] Figure 5 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of the step member of
climbing assembly in closed/folded condition showing mounting member and step
25 member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[00012] Figure 6 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of the step member
of climbing assembly in open/unfolded condition showing mounting member, step
member, and locking means in accordance with an embodiment of the present
subject matter.
30 [00013] Figure 7 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the mounting
member, step member, locking means and connecting member in the climbing
assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
35
5
DETAILED 5 DESCRIPTION
[00014] The present invention relates to a climbing assembly for comfortable and
safe boarding and deboarding a multi wheeled vehicle. The climbing assembly of
the present invention has many advantages over existing devices for boarding and
deboarding a multi wheeled vehicle. For example, in one embodiment, the present
10 climbing assembly is facilitating the climbing on the load deck floor while rear
door of the multi wheeled vehicle is in open condition. This disclosure is not
adversely affecting the load bearing capacity, bodily proportions and load ability
of the vehicle due to its foldable feature and innovative mounting and locking
means.
15 [00015] The present disclosure is addressing the problems related to difficulty in
climbing on the vehicle by disclosing a climbing assembly through which the user
can comfortably climb on the vehicle, for example a load deck, in order to
rearrange the goods or to access service doors of a multi wheeled vehicle. This
becomes even more advantageous in case the height of the vehicle floor or body is
20 higher than conventionally known vehicles.
[00016] In one embodiment, the present disclosure is facilitating the climbing on
the multi wheeled vehicle’s load deck floor while rear door of the multi wheeled
vehicle is in open condition.
[00017] A further advantage of the present invention is that in particular
25 embodiments it includes a foldable design, thereby substantially enhancing the
safety in the storage and access of climbing assembly and safety of the step
member. The present invention also has advantages over conventionally existing
climbing means as the present invention of climbing assembly is more structurally
stable due to its foldable and once in place an upright configuration is provided,
30 which is facilitating an easy access to the rear of the vehicle due to the pivot point.
Further, the invention provides a lockable step member for securely folding the
step member into a mounting member so as to avoid any interference or vibratory
noises when the multi wheeled vehicle is in use.
[00018] In a first illustrative embodiment of the present climbing assembly
35 comprises at least one mounting member which is disposed in such a way that it is
6
fixedly attached to said multi wheeled vehicle. The climbing 5 assembly also
includes at least one step member which is being pivotably attached to said
mounting member. Further, said step member is being configured to pivot
between a folded condition and an unfolded condition.
[00019] In an illustrative embodiment, said step member is being substantially
10 aligned with said mounting member in a folded condition.
[00020] In an aspect of the present invention, one or more locking means are
disclosed, said locking means are configured to secure said step member to the
mounting member in said folded condition. The step member which is being
capable of enabling a user to climb over a body of said multi wheeled vehicle in
15 said unfolded condition.
[00021] In an aspect of the present invention, said climbing assembly for the
multi wheeled vehicle having said step member is disposed pivotably attached to
said mounting member using one or more connecting member.
[00022] In another illustrative embodiment, said climbing assembly for the multi
20 wheeled vehicle is disposed in such a way that said mounting member is attached
to one or more side door of said multi wheeled vehicle.
[00023] In one embodiment of the climbing assembly for the multi wheeled
vehicle, the body of the multi wheeled vehicle includes a load deck and the rear
door which is being installed on said load deck.
25 [00024] In another embodiment of the present invention, the climbing assembly
for the multi-wheeled vehicle wherein said one or more connecting member is
selected from a group consisting of a rivet and hinge.
[00025] In one of the embodiments of the present invention, the one or more side
doors is a vertically collapsible door and said mounting member is fixedly
30 attached to an inner surface of said door.
[00026] In one more aspect of the present climbing assembly the step member is
configured to pivot from said folded condition to said unfolded condition, said
unfolded condition is defined by a stopper portion, said stopper portion is being
provided on said mounting member; wherein said stopper portion is being
35 configured to arrest the pivoting of said step member.
7
[00027] Further in one of the illustrative embodiments of the 5 present invention,
said the step member is configured to be substantially perpendicular to said
mounting member in said unfolded condition.
[00028] In one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the stopper
portion is being integrally formed with said mounting member and said stopper
10 portion is configured to have a substantially U-shaped cross section.
[00029] Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, said locking means
include a locking arm said locking arm is being pivotably attached on said step
member and said locking arm includes a curved portion. The locking means
further include a receiving member, said receiving member is being fixedly
15 attached to said mounting member wherein said the curved portion of the locking
arm is configured to be secured into said receiving member when the step member
is in said folded condition thereby enabling a locking of said step member with
said mounting member.
[00030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking arm is made of
20 an elastomeric material /metal having stock absorbing cushioning support on
locking arm.
[00031] Thus, the objectives of the present subject matter are achieved by a
climbing assembly which provides a solution to the challenge to facilitate
boarding or deboarding efficiently without complicating existing vehicle body and
25 without increasing weight or load dynamics. This solution further solves the
problem by creating a foldable climbing arrangement and further reducing the
difficulty in boarding and deboarding the multi wheeled vehicle.
[00032] The aforesaid and other advantages of the present subject matter would
be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following
30 description.
[00033] Figure 1 illustrates left side perspective view of the climbing assembly
(100) along with inner view of the vehicle body (301LD). In this embodiment, the
vehicle body is the load deck (301LD) demonstrating an inner surface of the rear
door (300R) of a multi wheeled vehicle (200) when said rear door (300R) is in a
35 closed position. For the sake of explanation, the climbing assembly (100)
8
comprises at least one mounting member (101M), said mounting 5 member (101M)
being fixedly attached to said multi wheeled vehicle (200).Further, at least one
step member (102 S) is provided, said at least one step member (102S) being
pivotably attached to said mounting member (101M). The one step member
(102S) is being configured to pivot between a folded condition and an unfolded
10 condition. In this figure the step member (102S) is shown in folded condition
where it is substantially aligned with said mounting member (101M). In this
folded condition, the step member (102S) also remains securely locked with the
mounting member (101M) using locking means (104L, 104S). The locking means
shall be explained in more detail in later figures (Figures 5-7). This foldability
15 feature ensures that when the rear door (300R) is in closed condition, the step
member (102S does not interfere with the interior of the vehicle. In this
embodiment, the rear door (300R) provides access to the body of the vehicle, for
example a load deck (301LD).
[00034] Figure 2 illustrates a rear side perspective view of the climbing assembly
20 (100) when the rear door (300R) of the load deck (301LD) is in open condition.
In this view as well the step member (102S) is in folded and locked condition in
accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In this
embodiment, the rear door (300R) can be seen to be of the type where it is in the
form of a collapsible door from the load deck (301LD).
25 [00035] Figure 3 exemplarily illustrates a rear side perspective view of the
climbing assembly (100) in open condition of the rear door (300R) of the load
deck (301LD) of the multi wheeled vehicle (200). This demonstrates the step
member (102S) in unfolded condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present subject matter. Therefore, when a user or any person wishes to climb over
30 the body (301LD) of the vehicle (200) they can step on the stepper member
(102S) and board the vehicle (200). In this embodiment, the mounting member
(101M) of the climbing assembly (100) is attached to the inner side of the rear
door (300R). In this embodiment, the body of the vehicle to be accessed is the
load deck (301LD) which a user can board after opening the rear door (300R),
35 unfolding the step member (102S) and stepping on the step member (102S). The
9
figures also show that the bottom portion of the mounting 5 member (101 M) is
supported by a bottom surface (201BP) of the rear door (300R) as seen in an open
condition of the rear door (300R). In one embodiment, the bottom surface
(201BP) is preferred to have a boxed shape profile. The box-shaped bottom
surface (201BP) of the rear door (300R) is made of solid metal and extra thickness
10 compared to the overall profile of the door. Therefore, this configuration is
durable and robust in its design because the mounting member (101M), even
though fixedly attached to the rear door (300R), gets additional support from the
bottom portion of (201BP). In another embodiment, the mounting member
(101M) can be supported by a rear bumper (201BP) instead of the lower portion
15 (201BP) of the rear door (300R).
[00036] Figure 4 exemplarily illustrates a side view of the climbing assembly
(100) in open condition of the rear door (300R) of the load deck (301LD). The
step member (102S) is shown in unfolded position, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present subject matter. The climbing assembly (100) includes
20 locking means (104L, 104S) include a locking arm (104L) which can be seen in
open position in this Figure. The locking arm (104L) is pivotably attached on said
step member (102S) and said locking arm (104L) including one or more curved
portions (104LC1 and 104LC2; Shown in Figure 6) and a receiving member
(104S; shown in Figures 5 and 6). The receiving member (104S) is fixedly
25 attached to said mounting member (101M), wherein said at least one the curved
portion (104LC1) is configured to be secured into said receiving member (104S)
when the step member (102S) is in the folded condition. This enables a locking of
said step member (102S) with said mounting member (101M) in this embodiment.
In another embodiment, the locking arm (104L) has another curved portion
30 (104LC2) which provides sufficient curved space for a user while the locking arm
(104L) is in closed position (Figure 5) to conveniently apply force on the locking
arm (104L) and open the same. A skilled person would appreciate that the
inventive concepts of this invention can also be realized by providing the climbing
assembly (100) on the mounting member (101M) or any other part of the rear
35 door (300R) of the vehicle (200). A skilled person would also appreciate that the
10
inventive concepts of the invention can also be realised if the 5 climbing assembly
(100) is enabled on a side door of the vehicle (200) instead of the rear door
(300R).
[00037] Figure 5 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of the step member
(102S) of climbing assembly (100) in closed/folded condition showing mounting
10 member and step member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
subject matter. In this embodiment, the step member (102S) is configured to be
substantially parallel to the mounting member (101M) in said unfolded condition.
In step member (102S) is shown securely locked to the mounting member (101M)
with the help of locking means (104L, 104S). The locking means including the
15 locking arm (104L) which is pivotably attached to the step member (102S). The
receiving member (104S) is fixedly attached to said mounting member (101M),
wherein said the curved portion (104LC1) is configured to be received into said
receiving member (104S) when the step member (102S) is in the folded condition.
In one embodiment, an elastic material is being wrapped around said curved
20 portion to efficiently lock the step to said mounting member. Further, in another
embodiment of the invention, at least a portion or a whole of the locking arm
104L is made of an elastomeric material so that upon locking of the step member
(102S) there is no rattling noise or vibratory disturbances caused while the vehicle
is in motion.
25 [00038] Figure 6 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of the step member
(102S) of climbing assembly (100) in open/unfolded condition showing mounting
member (101M), step member (102S), and locking means (104L, 104S) in
accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The step member
(102 S) is configured to pivot from said folded condition to said unfolded
30 condition, wherein the unfolded condition is defined by a stopper portion (105 P).
The stopper portion (105P) is provided on said mounting member (101M),
wherein said stopper portion (105P) being configured to arrest the pivoting of
said step member (102S). In this embodiment, the stopper portion (105 P) is
integrally formed with said mounting member (101M). The mounting member
35 (101M) being configured to have a substantially U-shaped cross section. The
11
stopper portion (105P) ensures that in a completely unfolded condition, 5 the step
member (102S) remains substantially perpendicular to the mounting member
(101M) so that it is convenient for a user to balance their foot while boarding the
vehicle while stepping on the step member (102S). Further, the stopper portion
(105P) is preferably made of at least the same thickness as that of the mounting
10 member (101M) so that it can withstand the force from stepping on the step
member (102S) in the unfolded/open condition. Therefore, the present disclosure
provides a robust climbing assembly without significantly altering the existing
vehicular design parameters and load dynamics.
[00039] Figure 7 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the mounting
15 member (101M), step member (102S), locking means (104L, 104S) and
connecting members (103CL, 103CR) in the climbing assembly (100) of the multi
wheeled vehicle (200), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject
matter. The step member (102S) and the mounting member (101M) have at least
one opening on either side for pivotable attachment of the step member (102S) to
20 the mounting member (101M). The connecting members are inserted through said
openings in the step member (102S) and the mounting member (101M) for the
said pivotable attachment. The connecting members ((103 CL and 103CR) are
selected from a group consisting of a rivet, bolts, pins and hinge (103 CL and
103CR).
25 [00040] The embodiments of this invention are not limited to particular climbing
means and/or vehicles, which can vary and will be understood by skilled artisans.
It is further to be understood that all terminology used herein is for the purpose of
describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting in any
manner or scope. For example, as used in this specification and the appended
30 claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” can include plural referents unless
the content clearly indicates otherwise. Further, when introducing
elements/components/etc. of the assembly described and/or illustrated herein, the
articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there is one or more
of the element(s)/component(s)/etc. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and
12
“having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there 5 may be additional
element(s)/component(s)/etc. other than the listed element(s)/component(s)/etc.
[00041] This written description uses examples to provide details on the
disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the
art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems
10 and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure
is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those
skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the
claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language
of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial
15 differences from the literal language of the claims.
[00042] It is to be understood that the aspects of the embodiments are not
necessarily limited to the features described herein. Many modifications and
variations of the present subject matter are possible in the light of above
disclosure.
20
25
30
13
List of Reference 5 Numerals:
Climbing assembly: 100,
Multi wheeled vehicle: 200
Mounting member: 101M,
Step member: 102S,
10 Locking Arm: 104L,
Curved Portions: 104LC1 and 104LC2
Receiving member: 104S,
Connecting members: 103CL, 103R
Stopper portions: 105P,
15 Side/Rear Door: 300R,
Vehicle Body/Load Deck: 301LD,
Bottom surface /bumper: 201 BP
Inner Surface: 400, , C , C , C , Claims:We claim:
1. A climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200), said
climbing assembly (100) comprising:
at least one mounting member (101 M), said mounting member
(101M) being fixedly attached to said multi wheeled vehicle (200);
10 at least one step member (102 S),
said at least one step member (102S) being pivotably
attached to said mounting member (101M);
said at least one step member (102S) being configured to
pivot between a folded condition and an unfolded condition;
15 said at least one step member (102S) being substantially
aligned with said mounting member (101M) in a folded condition;
and
one or more locking means (104 L, 104S), said locking means
(104L, 104S) being configured to secure the step member (102S) to the
20 mounting member (101M) in said folded condition; wherein
said step member (102S) being capable of enabling a user to climb
over a body of said multi wheeled vehicle (200) in said unfolded
condition.
25 2. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 1 wherein said step member (102S) is pivotably attached to said
mounting member (101M) using one or more connecting member (103C).
3. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
30 in claim 1 wherein said mounting member (101M) being attached to one
or more door (300 R) of said multi wheeled vehicle.
4. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 3 wherein said body of said multi wheeled vehicle (200) includes
15
a load deck (301LD) and said door (300R) is a rear 5 door (300R) being
installed to access said load deck (301LD).
5. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 2 wherein said one or more connecting member (103C) of said
10 climbing assembly (100) , is selected from a group consisting of a rivet
and hinge (103 CL and 103CR).
6. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 4 wherein one or more rear door (300R) is a vertically collapsible
15 door and said mounting member (101 M) is fixedly attached to an inner
surface (400) of said rear door (300 R).
7. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 1 wherein said step member (102 S) is configured to pivot from
20 said folded condition to said unfolded condition, said unfolded condition is
defined by a stopper portion (105 P), said stopper portion (105P) being
provided on said mounting member (101M); wherein said stopper portion
(105P) being configured to arrest the further pivoting of said step member
(102S) beyond the unfolded condition.
25
8. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 1 wherein said step member (102S) is configured to be
substantially perpendicular to said mounting member (101M) in said
unfolded condition.
30
9. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 7 wherein said stopper portion (105 P) being integrally formed
with said mounting member (101M) and said stopper portion (105P) being
configured to have a substantially U-shaped cross section.
16
10. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle 5 (200) as claimed
in claim 1 wherein said locking means (104L, 104S) include
a locking arm (104L) said locking arm (104L) being pivotably
attached on said step member (102S) and said locking arm (104L)
10 including a curved portion (104LC); and
a receiving member (104S), said receiving member being fixedly
attached to said mounting member (101M), wherein
said the curved portion (104LC) is configured to be secured
into said receving member (104S) when the step member (102S) is
15 in said folded condition thereby enabling a locking of said step
member (102S) with said mounting member (101M).
11. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 11 wherein said locking arm (104L) is made of metal with an
20 elastomeric material provided on a portion of said locking arm (104L).
12. The climbing assembly (100) for a multi wheeled vehicle (200) as claimed
in claim 1 wherein is disposed such that the bottom portion of the
mounting member (101 M) is supported by a surface (201BP) of said multi
25 wheeled vehicle.
Dated this 16th day of November 2022
(Digitally Signed)
Sudarshan Singh Shekhawat
30 Agent for the Applicant (IN/PA-1611)