U.S. patent application number 16/253986 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-16 for passenger transport vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG. Invention is credited to Manuel ERLACHER, Maximilian LANGER, Harald ZACHNEGGER.
Application Number | 20200017051 16/253986 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63012813 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-16 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200017051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ERLACHER; Manuel ; et
al. |
January 16, 2020 |
PASSENGER TRANSPORT VEHICLE
Abstract
A passenger transport vehicle includes a vehicle body having at
least one left passenger compartment arranged in a travel direction
on a left side of the vehicle, and at least one right passenger
compartment arranged in a travel direction on a right side of the
vehicle. Each passenger compartment has at least one passenger
space and an access door to permit ingress into and egress from the
at least one passenger space. A partition wall is arranged between
the at least one left passenger compartment and the at least one
right passenger compartment to restrict entry of passengers between
the left passenger compartment and the right passenger
compartment.
Inventors: |
ERLACHER; Manuel;
(Radenthein, AT) ; LANGER; Maximilian; (Graz,
AT) ; ZACHNEGGER; Harald; (Graz, AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG |
Graz |
|
AT |
|
|
Family ID: |
63012813 |
Appl. No.: |
16/253986 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Y 2200/143 20130101;
B62D 47/02 20130101; B60R 21/026 20130101; B60N 2/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/02 20060101
B60R021/02; B60N 2/01 20060101 B60N002/01 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 16, 2018 |
EP |
18183670.1 |
Dec 6, 2018 |
EP |
18210747.4 |
Claims
1. A passenger transport vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body
having: at least one left passenger compartment arranged in a
travel direction on a left side of the vehicle, and at least one
right passenger compartment arranged in a travel direction on a
right side of the vehicle, the at least one left passenger
compartment and the at least one right passenger compartment having
at least one passenger space and an access door to permit ingress
into and egress from the at least one passenger space; and a
partition wall arranged between the at least one left passenger
compartment and the at least one right passenger compartment, and
which extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle to
restrict entry of passengers between the left passenger compartment
and the right passenger compartment.
2. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 1, wherein the
passenger transport vehicle has no central aisle for longitudinal
ingress and egress through the vehicle.
3. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 1, wherein each
passenger compartment comprises one seat.
4. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 1, wherein each
passenger compartment comprises two seats.
5. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a
second partition wall arranged between adjacent passengers in the
left passenger compartment, and which extends in a transverse
direction of the vehicle to restrict entry of passengers in the
left passenger compartment.
6. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 5, wherein a position
of the second partition wall is displaceable in the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle.
7. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 5, wherein the second
partition wall comprises a fixed partition wall portion and a
retractable partition wall portion.
8. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 7, wherein the
retractable partition wall portion is retractable into the fixed
partition wall portion.
9. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 7, wherein the
retractable partition wall portion is selectively moveable by a
passenger at least partially into a half-open position.
10. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 1, wherein the
partition wall is selectively moveable between an opaque operating
state, a partial transparent operating state, and a fully
transparent operating state.
11. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 1, wherein a position
of the partition wall is displaceable in the transverse direction
of the vehicle.
12. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 1, wherein the
partition wall comprises a fixed partition wall portion and a
retractable partition wall portion.
13. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 12, wherein the
retractable partition wall portion is retractable into the fixed
partition wall portion.
14. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 12, wherein the
retractable partition wall portion is selectively moveable by a
passenger at least partially into a half-open position.
15. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 1, wherein the
partition wall is selectively moveable between an opaque operating
state, a partial transparent operating state, and a fully
transparent operating state.
16. A passenger transport vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body
having: a plurality of first passenger compartments arranged in a
longitudinal direction on a left side of the vehicle, and a
plurality of second passenger compartments arranged in a
longitudinal direction on a right side of the vehicle, each first
passenger compartment and second passenger compartment respectively
having at least one passenger space and an access door to permit
ingress into and egress from the at least one passenger space; a
partition wall arranged between the first passenger compartments
and the second passenger compartments, and which extends in a
longitudinal direction of the vehicle to restrict entry of
passengers between the left passenger compartment and the right
passenger compartment; and a third passenger compartment having at
least one passenger space and a third access door to permit ingress
into and egress from the at least one passenger space.
17. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 16, wherein the third
passenger compartment comprises a luggage compartment.
18. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 16, wherein the third
passenger compartment comprises a wheelchair user compartment.
19. The passenger transport vehicle of claim 16, wherein the third
passenger compartment comprises a driver's cab.
20. A passenger transport vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body
having: a plurality of first passenger compartments arranged in a
longitudinal direction on a left side of the vehicle, and a
plurality of second passenger compartments arranged in a
longitudinal direction on a right side of the vehicle, each first
passenger compartment and second passenger compartment respectively
having at least one passenger space and an access door to permit
ingress into and egress from the at least one passenger space; a
first partition wall arranged between the first passenger
compartments and the second passenger compartments, and which
extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle to restrict
entry of passengers between the left passenger compartment and the
right passenger compartment; and a plurality of second partition
walls which extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle to
restrict entry between passengers in the first passenger
compartments and also restrict entry between passengers in the
second passenger compartment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 to European Patent Publication Nos. EP 18183670.1 (filed
on Jul. 16, 2018) and EP18210747.4 (filed on Dec. 6, 2018), which
are each hereby incorporated by reference in their complete,
respective entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments relates to a passenger transport vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Passenger transport vehicles, such as, for example, buses,
are known per se. They generally have an arrangement of seats for
passengers which group the passengers in relatively small or large
groups. For example, the seats may comprise double seats which are
located one behind the other or in the form of four or six seats
facing each other. Generally, along the longitudinal axis of a
passenger transport vehicle, in the centre of the vehicle a central
aisle from which the individual seats and seat groups may be
reached is formed.
SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments relate to a passenger transport vehicle which
enables enhanced privacy for the passengers transported in the
passenger transport vehicle.
[0005] In accordance with embodiments, a passenger transport
vehicle may comprise: at least one left passenger compartment
having at least one passenger space which is arranged in the travel
direction on the left side of the vehicle, and at least one right
passenger compartment having at least one passenger space which is
arranged in the travel direction on the right side of the vehicle;
a partition wall between the left passenger compartment and the
right passenger compartment which extends in the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle so that, at least in a normal operating
state of the partition wall, entry is not possible from the left
passenger compartment into the right passenger compartment and vice
versa; a first access door, at the left passenger compartment, to
the outer side of the passenger transport vehicle on the left side
of the passenger transport vehicle; and a second access door, at
the right passenger compartment, to the outer side of the passenger
transport vehicle on the right side of the passenger transport
vehicle.
[0006] In accordance with embodiments, a passenger transport
vehicle has passenger compartments which each have at least one
passenger space, in particular, a seat for a passenger, and which
are separated from each other via a partition wall. The partition
wall is constructed to prevent access to a passenger compartment,
for example, the right passenger compartment, via another passenger
compartment, for example, the left passenger compartment. Each
passenger compartment, therefore, has its own outer access door,
via which entry into and exit from the individual passenger
compartment is facilitated. For passengers in a passenger
compartment, the separation via partition walls and autonomous
entry/exit possibilities results in enhanced travel comfort, and in
particular, enhanced privacy. If several passengers are located
inside a passenger compartment, communication between these
passengers in a passenger compartment is facilitated. Visibility
and overhearing the communication of passengers from other
passenger compartments may be reduced by the separated passenger
compartments.
[0007] As a result of the partition wall(s), at least in a normal
operating state of the respective partition wall, entry from the
left passenger compartment into the right passenger compartment and
vice versa is not possible. The partition walls may not have access
doors.
[0008] In accordance with embodiments, the passenger transport
vehicle may have no central aisle. Instead, the partition wall
extends between the left passenger compartment and right passenger
compartment, for example, along the longitudinal centre axis of the
passenger transport vehicle.
[0009] In accordance with embodiments, each passenger compartment
may have precisely one seat. Alternatively, all or some of the
passenger compartments may have precisely two seats. In this case,
a seat may be provided for precisely one passenger or for two
passengers.
[0010] In accordance with embodiments, the passenger transport
vehicle preferably has at least two left passenger compartments
and/or at least two right passenger compartments, wherein each
passenger compartment has its own access door to the outer side of
the passenger transport vehicle, wherein between the left passenger
compartments and/or between the right passenger compartments a
partition wall extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle,
so that, at least in a normal operating state of the passenger
transport vehicle, entry from one left passenger compartment into
the other left passenger compartment and/or from one right
passenger compartment into the other right passenger compartment is
not possible.
[0011] In accordance with embodiments, the passenger transport
vehicle may have a plurality of passenger compartments, such as for
example, two passenger compartments, four passenger compartments,
six passenger compartments, eight passenger compartments, or ten
passenger compartments.
[0012] In accordance with embodiments, at least six passenger
compartments may have their own access door, i.e., an outer door to
facilitate entry into and exit from the passenger compartment.
[0013] In accordance with embodiments, partition walls may be
arranged both in the longitudinal vehicle direction and in the
transverse vehicle direction.
[0014] In accordance with embodiments, there may be precisely two
passenger compartments, one beside the other in the transverse
vehicle direction.
[0015] In accordance with embodiments, the partition walls, both in
the longitudinal vehicle direction and where applicable in the
transverse vehicle direction, may be opaque in the normal operating
state, and/or substantially soundproof, and/or extend substantially
over the entire vertical face in the inner space, i.e., extend from
a floor of the passenger transport vehicle as far as a ceiling of
the passenger transport vehicle. The partition walls may stand
vertically in the vehicle.
[0016] In accordance with embodiments, the position of at least one
partition wall which is orientated in the transverse direction of
the vehicle may be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of
the vehicle and/or the position of at least one partition wall
which is orientated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle
may be displaced in the transverse direction of the vehicle. As a
result of the displacement of the partition walls, the size of the
individual compartments may be modified in accordance with
requirements.
[0017] In accordance with embodiments, when a partition wall is
displaced, at least one passenger compartment becomes larger in
size, but at least one other passenger compartment becomes smaller
in size.
[0018] In accordance with embodiments, the seat or seats may be
displaceable in a passenger compartment. The displaceability of the
seats is in this instance greater than the general displaceability
of seats in the context of a conventional seat adjustment.
Particularly, when the partition walls are displaceable, the seats
may thereby be adapted in terms of their respective position to a
changed size or geometry of the passenger compartment.
[0019] In accordance with embodiments, at least one partition wall
may be moved by a passenger at least partially between a normal
operating position into a half-open position. The half-open
position, in this instance, is a state of the partition wall in
which the partition wall is at least partially still present so
that the access from one passenger compartment into another
passenger compartment (separated by the half-open partition wall)
is at least made more difficult or is further not possible. In the
half-open position, at least a portion of the partition wall is
open so that there is, in particular, visual contact and enhanced
acoustic contact between the passenger compartments. The term
"half-open" is, in accordance with embodiments, not limited to an
opening halfway, that is to say, by 50%, but instead reflects that
a portion of the partition wall remains, whilst another portion of
the partition wall is open. For example, a retractable, upper
portion of the partition wall may be retracted into a fixed, lower
portion of the partition wall.
[0020] In accordance with embodiments, alternatively or
additionally, at least one partition wall may be able to be
switched by a passenger at least partially into a transparent
state.
[0021] In accordance with embodiments, the half-opening and/or the
transparent switching of a partition wall may be carried out by a
control circuit. The control circuit may be configured in such a
manner that a request for half-opening and/or transparent switching
of a partition wall is possible from each of the two passenger
compartments separated by the partition wall. The control circuit
may be configured in such a manner that the half-opening and/or
transparent switching of a partition wall is carried out only when
a request or confirmation of the half-opening and/or transparent
switching of the partition wall has been carried out from both
passenger compartments which are separated by the partition
wall.
[0022] In accordance with embodiments, the passenger transport
vehicle comprises at least one additional passenger compartment
which also has its own access door to the outer side of the
passenger transport vehicle, in the same manner as the other
passenger compartments, and which is constructed as a luggage
compartment or as a wheelchair user compartment or as a driver's
cab or as a multi-person compartment. For example, a passenger
compartment may comprise a seat which in a folded-up state provides
space for receiving a wheelchair user.
[0023] In accordance with embodiments, a luggage compartment may be
arranged directly beside a driver's seat in a common passenger
compartment so that the driver can observe or check the removal.
Such a luggage compartment may additionally or alternatively be
monitored via a camera so that, for example, each passenger may
visually watch on a screen in his/her passenger compartment when
objects are removed by other persons.
[0024] In accordance with embodiments, the access doors may, for
example, be constructed as individual doors, foldable doors,
sliding doors, or single-action doors.
DRAWINGS
[0025] Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the
drawings and explained in the description below.
[0026] FIGS. 1 to 4 respectively illustrate a sectional schematic
view of a passenger transport vehicle, in accordance with
embodiments.
[0027] FIGS. 5 to 6 respectively illustrate a sectional schematic
view of a passenger transport vehicle, in accordance with
embodiments.
[0028] FIGS. 7 to 12 respectively illustrate a sectional schematic
view of a passenger transport vehicle, in accordance with
embodiments.
[0029] FIGS. 13 to 20 respectively illustrate a sectional schematic
view of different operating states of a partition wall between
passenger compartments of a passenger transport vehicle, in
accordance with embodiments.
[0030] FIG. 21 illustrates a flow chart for placing a partition
wall in a transparent operating state, in accordance with
embodiments.
[0031] FIG. 22 illustrates a flow chart for opening a partition
wall, in accordance with embodiments.
DESCRIPTION
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a passenger transport vehicle such as,
for example, a bus, in accordance with embodiments. Such a
passenger transport vehicle may be configured, for example, to be
occupied by a total of ten passengers and one driver. The passenger
transport vehicle comprises a vehicle body having four left
passenger compartments 30 and four right passenger compartments 31.
Each passenger compartment 30, 31 is to have one passenger space,
i.e., in each case a seat 1, which are arranged in the travel
direction on the left side (and right side) of the vehicle.
Meaning, each left or right passenger compartment 30, 31 has
precisely one seat 1.
[0033] In accordance with embodiments, a longitudinal partition
wall 2, 3 is arranged to extend in the longitudinal direction of
the vehicle between each left passenger compartment 30 and an
adjacent right passenger compartment 31 so that, at least in a
normal operating state of the partition wall 2, 3, entry from the
left passenger compartment 30 into the right passenger compartment
31 (and vice versa) is restricted.
[0034] In accordance with embodiments, a transverse partition wall
2, 3 is arranged in each case between the left passenger
compartments 30 and between the right passenger compartments 31 so
as to extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle so that, at
least in a normal operating state of the partition wall 2, 3, entry
from a left passenger compartment 30 into another left passenger
compartment 30 and from a right passenger compartment 31 into
another right passenger compartment 31 is restricted.
[0035] In accordance with embodiments, each left passenger
compartment 30 has an access door in the form of a swing door 17 to
the outer side of the passenger transport vehicle on the left side
of the passenger transport vehicle. Each right passenger
compartment 31 has an additional access door in the form of a swing
door 17 to the outer side of the passenger transport vehicle on the
right of the passenger transport vehicle. Accordingly, each
passenger compartment 30, 31 has its own access door.
[0036] In accordance with embodiments, the passenger transport
vehicle has no central aisle. Instead, in the longitudinal centre
axis of the vehicle there is arranged a continuous partition wall
2, 3 to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which
separates the left passenger compartments 30 from the right
passenger compartments 31.
[0037] In accordance with embodiments, at the rearmost region of
the passenger transport vehicle, a multi-person compartment 32
comprising two foldable passenger seats 7 is provided. The
multi-person compartment 32 has a double door 18 with leaves which
at the rear of the vehicle may be opened to the left or to the
right.
[0038] In accordance with embodiments, at the front region of the
passenger transport vehicle, a driver's cab 34 is provided having
two access doors in the form of swing doors 17. The driver's cab 34
also forms a luggage compartment 14 since there is a space
available inside for items of luggage.
[0039] In the seat arrangement shown, consequently, 8 out of the 10
seats 1 are accessible to the left side and the right side of the
passenger transport vehicle via a separate swing door or
single-action door 17. Two foldable seats 7 are accessible via a
double door 18 at the rear region of the vehicle. This seat
arrangement, therefore, has individual doors 17 and the partition
walls 2, 3 between the seats 1, whereby a separate compartment is
produced for each passenger. This provides the best possible
privacy for the passengers.
[0040] Possible embodiments of the partition walls 2, 3 are
illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 13 to 20.
[0041] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates, as a result of
individually/selectively retractable partition walls 3 which may
each be retracted into fixed partition wall portions 2 and which
are used longitudinally and transversely in the vehicle, a common
space 21 may be provided temporarily (circled in FIG. 2) which
allows passengers from different passenger compartments 30, 31 to
interact/communicate with each other. To this end, the retractable
portions of the partition walls 3 are retracted between the
relevant passenger compartments 30, 31.
[0042] In accordance with embodiments, for example, a booking
operation for a passenger transport vehicle could be carried out as
follows if several passengers wish to travel together. A passenger
books a seat 1 for three persons. These three persons may
automatically be allocated 3 seats 1 which are located adjacent
(besides and/or behind) to each other via a booking system. Before
a boarding sequence for the passengers, the retractable partition
walls 3 between the booked seats 1 may be lowered. When the
passengers board, they already find a common passenger space 21.
Each of the passengers may, if desired, close the retractable
partition walls 3 to his/her passenger compartment by pressing a
button 20 (see, for example, FIG. 13). Alternatively, in a booking
operation, a database indication of specific passenger
arrangements/requirements is also possible. For example, if it is
already known from data stored in the database that persons
travelling at the same time already know each other, these persons
may be allocated adjacent passenger compartments and the
retractable partition walls 3 may be automatically lowered.
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates another feature which may be implemented
in a passenger transport vehicle in accordance with embodiments.
The partition walls 2, 3 and seats 1 displaceable in the
longitudinal direction by a small distance 10 in order, for
example, to increase the comfort for individual passengers.
Consequently, the position of some partition walls 2, 3 which are
orientated in the transverse direction of the vehicle may be
displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the
position of at least one or also several partition walls 2, 3 which
are orientated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle may be
displaceable in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and the
position of seats 1 may similarly be displaceable in the
longitudinal and/or transverse direction.
[0044] In accordance with embodiments, when booking a seat, one or
more passengers may indicate the desired personal comfort, or when
they have already boarded may change the free space. The costs of
the journey may change with the level of comfort.
[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates a seat arrangement for a driver and ten
passengers of a public transport vehicle, such as, for example, a
bus. In accordance with embodiments, the public transport vehicle
has a surveillance camera 19 in a luggage compartment 14 arranged
to receive luggage 12 of one or more passengers. The passenger(s)
may place the luggage 12 in the luggage compartment 14 before being
seated at a seat 1 in a passenger compartment 30, 31. The passenger
may then obtain access to the surveillance camera 19 in the luggage
compartment 14. Consequently, the passenger may verify whether
his/her luggage 12 has been removed/stolen when items of luggage 12
are removed by other passengers.
[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates a bus which is shorter in length than
those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. The bus is configured for nine
passengers and a driver. The passenger transport vehicle again has
at the rear region a multi-person compartment 32 with a double door
18 and two seats 7 that may be foldable seats. A front end of the
passenger transport vehicle has a driver's cab 34 with two access
doors 17 in the form of swing doors. A seat 1 for a passenger is
also arranged in the driver's cab 34.
[0047] FIG. 6 illustrates a seat arrangement for a passenger
transport vehicle that is constructed to have space for a driver
and eight passengers, including a wheelchair user. The passenger
transport vehicle has a wheelchair space 8 which is produced or
released by foldable up the foldable seat 7. Via a wheelchair ramp
9, a wheelchair user may drive into the cab, to the wheelchair
space 8. The wheelchair user also has, as a result of the partition
wall 2, 3, a separate cab which provides personal privacy. The
wheelchair user may interact with the passengers in front by
lowering the retractable partition walls 3.
[0048] FIG. 7 illustrates a seat arrangement for a passenger
transport vehicle that is constructed to have space for a driver
and nine passengers. This passenger transport vehicle comprises
double cabs each with two seats 1 or foldable seats 7 as right
passenger compartments 31. Such double cabs are, for example,
suitable for persons travelling in pairs. A double cab again
provides the best possible privacy for two passengers in each case
as a result of the partition walls 2, 3.
[0049] FIG. 8 illustrates a seat arrangement for a passenger
transport vehicle that is constructed to have space for a driver
and seven passengers, including a wheelchair user, and a large item
of luggage 12. The left seat of a double cab is constructed as a
foldable seat 7. By folding up the seat 7, space is provided for a
large item of luggage 12 of the passenger travelling in this cab. A
particular feature is that the passenger at all times has his/her
luggage with him/her and may monitor it. Such a double cab or seat
with space for luggage may be booked or provided in the following
manner. If a passenger travelling with a large item of luggage 12
books a seat, a passenger transport vehicle with the seat
arrangement described may be provided therefor. In this instance, a
double cab is reserved and automatically two seats 1, 7 are marked
as occupied.
[0050] FIG. 9 illustrates a seat arrangement for a passenger
transport vehicle that is constructed to have space for a driver
and ten passengers. The vehicle has a private cab for four
passengers as a multi-person compartment 32 which forms a right
passenger compartment 31 and which may be accessed through a
sliding door 16. Two of the seats 11 in this cab are arranged
counter to the travel direction. For example, persons travelling in
groups or with luggage may input this arrangement into booking
software and may automatically be allocated a suitable cab, such as
this multi-person compartment 32.
[0051] FIG. 10 illustrates a seat arrangement for a passenger
transport vehicle that is constructed to have space for a driver
and ten passengers, with the cab for four passengers being
accessible via two single-action doors 17.
[0052] FIG. 11 illustrates a seat arrangement for a passenger
transport vehicle that is constructed to have space for a driver
and ten passengers, with the cab for four passengers being
accessible via two single-action doors 17, and also includes a
wheelchair user space 8.
[0053] FIG. 12 illustrates a driverless seat arrangement for a
passenger transport vehicle that is constructed to have space for
ten passengers, with the cab for four passengers being accessible
via two single-action doors 17, and also includes a wheelchair user
space 8. Accordingly, the passenger transport vehicle is suitable
for driverless operation in which the vehicle has only passenger
compartments but no driver's cab.
[0054] FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the partition walls 2,
3 both for the arrangement in the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle and in the transverse direction of the vehicle in a closed
state or normal operating state. There is depicted an arrangement
having a partition wall 2, 3 between two seats 1 which are arranged
one behind the other. The partition wall 2, 3 has a retractable
portion 3 and a fixed portion 2. When the partition wall 2, 3 is
closed, each passenger 4 has a closed passenger cab or passenger
compartment which may be accessed via an external door (see FIGS. 1
to 12). Each passenger 4 thereby has the greatest possible personal
privacy.
[0055] FIG. 14 illustrates the half-open state of the partition
wall 2, 3 of FIG. 13. In the illustrated example, by selectively
lowering the retractable portion 3 of the partition wall 2, 3 into
the fixed portion 2 of the partition wall 2, 3, adjacent passengers
4 may directly interact with each other. Any of the adjacent
passengers 4 may selectively close the partition wall 2, 3 at any
time by pressing a button 20 to raise the retractable portion 3 of
the partition wall. The half-opening of the partition wall 2, 3 may
also be enabled via the button 20 by a passenger, wherein a method
may be used for this purpose as described in greater detail below
in relation to FIG. 22.
[0056] FIG. 15 illustrates an arrangement having a partition wall
2, 3 between two adjacent seats 1, that is to say, a partition wall
2, 3 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The partition
wall 2, 3 again has a retractable portion 3. When the partition
wall 3 is in a closed operating state, each passenger has a closed
passenger cab which may be accessed via an external door.
[0057] FIG. 16 illustrates the selective lowering of the
retractable portion 3 of the partition wall 2, 3 of FIG. 15 so that
the passengers may interact directly with each other.
[0058] FIG. 17 illustrates another possible variant of the
partition wall 2, 3 between two adjacent seats 1 which are arranged
one behind the other. In this instance, the partition wall 2, 3 is
inclined. Meaning, both the fixed portion 2 and the retractable
portion 3 of the partition wall 2, 3 is arranged in an oblique
manner in order to provide more foot room for the rear
passenger.
[0059] FIG. 18 illustrates the selective lowering of the
retractable portion 3 of the partition wall 2, 3 of FIG. 17 in an
open or half-open operating state so that the passengers may
interact directly with each other.
[0060] FIG. 19 illustrates another possible variant of the
partition wall 2, 3 between adjacent seats 1 which are arranged one
behind the other in a closed and half-open position. In this
instance, the fixed portion 2 of the partition wall is inclined,
that is to say, oblique, in order to provide more foot room for the
rear passenger 4. The retractable portion 3 of the partition wall
2, 3 has a curvature so that more free space is obtained when
standing in the passenger cab.
[0061] FIG. 20 illustrates the selective lowering of the
retractable portion 3 of the partition wall 2, 3 of FIG. 19 in an
open or half-open operating state so that the passengers may
interact directly with each other.
[0062] FIG. 21 illustrates a method for selectively making the
retractable portion 3 of a partition wall 2, 3 transparent. For
example, a passenger 4 may selectively press a button 20 to enable
the ability to see an adjacent passenger 4 in front. The adjacent
passenger 4 may then decide to agree or disagree to making the
retractable portion 3 of a partition wall 2, 3 transparent. As a
result of a transparent pane, a sense of space is enhanced. A
similar method can also be used to open or half-open a partition
wall 2, 3, i.e., to raise the retractable portion 3 of the
partition wall 2, 3. In accordance with embodiments, the method may
be implemented in a control unit.
[0063] Illustrated method block A provides for engaging of a button
by Passenger 1 (P1) to request changing the partition wall from
opaque to transparent.
[0064] Illustrated method block B provides for notifying Passenger
2 (P2) the request of Passenger 1 (P1) to make the partition wall
transparent.
[0065] Illustrated method block C provides for engaging of a button
by Passenger 2 (P2) agreeing to make the partition wall
transparent.
[0066] Illustrated method block D provides for the partition wall
becoming transparent.
[0067] Illustrated method block E provides for Passenger 2 (P2) not
engaging the button to make the partition wall transparent.
[0068] Illustrated method block F provides for the partition wall
remaining opaque.
[0069] FIG. 22 illustrates a method for selectively lowering and
closing the retractable portion 3 of a partition wall 2, 3. If a
passenger 4 would like to interact with an adjacent passenger 4,
he/she may selectively engage a button 20. The adjacent passenger 4
may then decide to agree or not agree to lowering and/or closing
the retractable portion 3 of a partition wall 2, 3. In accordance
with embodiments, the method may be implemented in a control
unit.
[0070] Illustrated method block G provides for Passenger 1 (P1)
engaging a button to request opening of the partition wall.
[0071] Illustrated method block H provides for notifying Passenger
2 (P2) the request of Passenger 1 (P1) to open the partition
wall.
[0072] Illustrated method block I provides for engaging of a button
by Passenger 2 (P2) agreeing to open the partition wall.
[0073] Illustrated method block J provides for opening of the
partition wall.
[0074] Illustrated method block K provides for Passenger 2 (P2)
engaging a button to make the partition wall transparent.
[0075] Illustrated method block L provides for the partition wall
becoming transparent.
[0076] Illustrated method block M provides for Passenger 2 (P2)
engaging the button to open the partition wall.
[0077] Illustrated method block N provides for the partition wall
opening.
[0078] Illustrated method block O provides for Passenger 2 (P2) not
engaging the button to make the partition wall transparent.
[0079] Illustrated method block P provides for the partition wall
remaining opaque.
[0080] Illustrated method block Q provides for Passenger 1 (P1)
engaging a button to request closing of the partition wall.
[0081] Illustrated method block R provides for Passenger 2 (P2)
engaging the button agreeing to close the partition wall.
[0082] Illustrated method block S provides for the partition wall
closing.
[0083] The terms "coupled," "attached," or "connected" may be used
herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect,
between the components in question, and may apply to electrical,
mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or
other connections. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc.
are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no
particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise
indicated.
[0084] Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing
description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be
implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments
have been described in connection with particular examples thereof,
the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since
other modifications will become apparent to the skilled
practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and
following claims.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0085] 1 Seat [0086] 2 Partition wall, fixed portion [0087] 3
Partition wall, retractable portion [0088] 4 Passenger [0089] 7
Foldable seat [0090] 8 Wheelchair space [0091] 9 Wheelchair ramp
[0092] 10 Displacement path [0093] 11 Seat orientated counter to
the travel direction [0094] 12 Item of luggage [0095] 13 Parcel
[0096] 14 Luggage compartment [0097] 16 Sliding door [0098] 17
Swing door [0099] 18 Double door [0100] 19 Surveillance camera
[0101] 20 Button [0102] 21 Common space [0103] 30 Left passenger
compartment [0104] 31 Right passenger compartment [0105] 32
Multi-person compartment [0106] 33 Wheelchair compartment [0107] 34
Driver's cab
* * * * *