U.S. patent application number 09/742634 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-10 for wheelchair restraint system for a transportation vehicle.
Invention is credited to Craft, Richard D..
Application Number | 20010001031 09/742634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25472639 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010001031 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Craft, Richard D. |
May 10, 2001 |
Wheelchair restraint system for a transportation vehicle
Abstract
A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle
having a securement area for a wheelchair is disclosed which
includes a barrier carried at a rear portion of the securement area
disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis. A
rear wheelchair attachment assembly is carried by the rear barrier
for anchoring the wheelchair to the barrier. A personal securement
belt assembly secures a seated wheelchair occupant to the
wheelchair in the securement area. A front bulkhead extends
generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis at a front
portion of the securement area which includes an extendable anchor
member which extends transverse relative to the longitudinal
vehicle axis. The anchor member is extendable between a stored
position in which the anchor member is stowed within the bulkhead
and a deployed position wherein the anchor member is extended from
the bulkhead. A front wheel chair attachment assembly includes two
attachment belts extending from the wheel chair to a first anchor
location on the bulkhead and to a second anchor location on the
extendable anchor member when the anchor member is in the deployed
position. The first and second front attachment belts diverge
outwardly and incline downwardly from the wheelchair toward the
respective first and second anchor locations on the bulkhead to
effectively anchor the occupant and wheelchair and prevent lateral
tipping.
Inventors: |
Craft, Richard D.;
(Marshallville, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Henry S. Jaudon
FLINT & KIM, P.A.
P.O. Box 10827
Greenville
SC
29603
US
|
Family ID: |
25472639 |
Appl. No.: |
09/742634 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09742634 |
Dec 21, 2000 |
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09390569 |
Sep 3, 1999 |
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09742634 |
Dec 21, 2000 |
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08939155 |
Sep 29, 1997 |
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6113325 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
410/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 3/0808
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
410/7 |
International
Class: |
B60P 007/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle
having a longitudinal vehicle axis, said vehicle having a
securement area for a wheelchair which includes at least one flip
seat, said system comprising: a barrier carried at a rear portion
of said securement area and disposed generally transverse to the
longitudinal vehicle axis; a rear wheelchair attachment assembly
carried by said rear barrier for anchoring said wheelchair to said
barrier; said rear wheelchair attachment assembly having at least
two rear attachment elements for attachment at two spaced locations
to said wheelchair; a personal securement belt assembly for
securing a seated wheelchair occupant to said wheelchair in said
securement area; a front bulkhead extending generally transverse to
the longitudinal vehicle axis at a front portion of said securement
area; a front wheelchair attachment assembly for anchoring said
wheelchair to said bulkhead; said front wheelchair attachment
assembly having at least two front attachment elements for
attachment to two spaced locations of said wheelchair and said
bulkhead; and said rear wheelchair attachment assembly including at
least one retractor mechanism for exerting a force on said
wheelchair in a first direction along said vehicle axis, and said
front wheel attachment assembly including at least one retractor
mechanism for exerting a force on said wheelchair in a second
direction opposite to said first direction so that said wheelchair
is secured between said barrier and bulkhead by said rear and front
wheelchair attachment assemblies.
2. The system of claim 1 including a coupling having a rear
connector, said first and second attachment elements of said rear
wheelchair attachment assembly being affixed to said coupling, and
said retracting mechanism of said rear wheelchair attachment
assembly being connected to said rear connector of said
coupling.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said rear wheelchair retractor
mechanism includes a rear retractable belt having a retracted and
withdrawn configuration; a release for releasing said belt from
said retracted and withdrawn configurations; and a crank for
manually tightening said belt when tensioned in said withdrawn
configuration.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said attachment elements of said
rear wheelchair attachment assembly include a first rear attachment
belt for attachment to a first rear location of said wheelchair and
a second rear belt for attachment to a second rear location of said
wheelchair spaced from said first location, and a coupling for
coupling said first and second belts to said rear retractable
belt.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said coupling comprises a plate
having a center attachment for attachment to said rear retracting
belt, and said first and second rear attachment belts being affixed
to said plate at locations spaced equal distances from said center
attachment.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said front wheel attachment
assembly comprising a first front attachment belt for attachment to
a first front location of said wheelchair, a second front
attachment belt for attachment to a second front location of said
wheelchair spaced from said first front location, a first and a
second retractor mechanisms for retracting said respective first
and second belts in a direction to place a tensioning force on said
first and second front belts, and said retractor mechanisms
including a manual crank for tightening tensioned first and second
belts.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein at least one of said first and
second rear attachment belts defines an anchor line extending from
a respective one of said first and second wheelchair locations
toward a respective one of said anchor locations on said bulkhead
at a horizontal angle with respect to the vehicle axis to
effectively prevent lateral tipping.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said first and second front
attachment belts are inclined downward from said wheelchair to said
front bulkhead.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein said anchor line of said first
attachment belt extends at an angle in a range of 0 to .+-.15
degrees and said anchor line of said second attachment diverges
toward said bulkhead at an angle in a range of about 0 to 15
degrees.
10. The system of claim 7 wherein said anchor line of said first
attachment belt diverges outwardly at an angle of about 5 degrees
with respect to the vehicle longitudinal axis, and said anchor line
of said second attachment belt diverges at an angle of about 5
degrees.
11. The system of claim 6 wherein said front anchor bulkhead
includes an extendable anchor member which extends transverse
relative to the longitudinal vehicle axis, said anchor member being
extendable between a stored position in which said anchor member is
stowed with said bulkhead and a deployed position wherein said
anchor member is extended from said bulkhead, said first retractor
mechanism carried by said extendable anchor member, and said second
retractor mechanism carried by said bulkhead.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein said bulkhead comprises a
bulkhead housing, and said anchor member being placed within said
bulkhead housing in said stored position.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein said bulkhead housing includes
an opening, said extendable anchor member being movable through
said opening when moving between said stored and extended
positions.
14. The system of claim 13 including a movable closure for closing
said opening of said bulkhead, said closure having an open and
closed position, and said closure forming a track for guiding
movement of said anchor member between said stored and extended
positions.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein said personal securement strap
assembly comprises a lap belt affixed near said rear barrier, and a
shoulder belt attachable to said lap belt.
16. The system of claim 15 including an adjustable ring tether for
supporting said shoulder belt, said ring tether being adjustable to
adjust an upper position of said shoulder belt in a vertical
direction to accommodate wheelchair occupants of different
heights.
17. A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle
having a longitudinal vehicle axis, said vehicle having a
securement area for a wheelchair which includes at least one flip
seat, said system comprising: a barrier carried at a rear portion
of said securement area and disposed generally transverse to the
longitudinal vehicle axis; a rear wheelchair attachment assembly
carried by said rear barrier for attachment to said wheelchair and
anchoring said wheelchair to said barrier at a first rear anchor
location; a personal securement belt assembly for securing a seated
wheelchair occupant to said wheelchair in said securement area; a
front bulkhead extending generally transverse to the longitudinal
vehicle axis at a front portion of said securement area; a front
wheelchair attachment assembly for anchoring said wheelchair to a
first and second spaced front anchor location on said bulkhead; and
said rear wheelchair attachment assembly including at least one
retractor mechanism for exerting an adjustable force on said
wheelchair in a first direction along said vehicle axis; and said
front wheel attachment assembly including at least one retractor
mechanism for exerting an adjustable force on said wheelchair in a
second direction opposite to said first direction so that said
wheelchair is secured by said first rear anchor location and said
first and second front anchor locations between said barrier and
bulkhead by said rear and front wheelchair attachment assemblies in
an effective three anchor point restraint system.
18. The system of claim 17 including a coupling having a rear
connector, said rear wheelchair assembly including first and second
attachment elements affixed to said coupling for attachment to said
wheelchair, and said retracting mechanism of said rear wheelchair
attachment assembly being connected to said rear connector of said
coupling.
19. The system of claim 17 wherein said front wheel attachment
assembly comprises a first front attachment belt for attachment to
said first anchor location, a second front attachment belt for
attachment to said second anchor location of said wheelchair spaced
from said first anchor location, wherein at least one of said first
and second rear attachment belts diverge outwardly from said
respective first and second wheelchair locations toward said anchor
locations on said bulkhead to effectively prevent lateral
tipping.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein said first and second front
attachment belts are inclined downward from said wheelchair to said
front bulkhead.
21. The system of claim 19 wherein said first attachment belt
extends at an angle in a range of 0 to .+-.15 degrees and said
second attachment belt diverges toward said bulkhead at an angle in
a range of about 0 to 15 degrees.
22. The system of claim 19 wherein said first attachment belt
diverges outwardly at an angle of about 5 degrees with respect to
the vehicle longitudinal axis, and said second attachment belt
diverges at an angle of about 5 degrees.
23. The system of claim 19 wherein said front bulkhead includes an
extendable anchor member which extends transverse relative to the
longitudinal vehicle axis, said anchor member being extendable
between a stored position in which said anchor member is stowed
with said bulkhead and a deployed position wherein said anchor
member is extended from said bulkhead, and a first retractor
mechanism carried by said extendable anchor member, and a second
retractor mechanism carried by said bulkhead.
24. A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle
having a longitudinal vehicle axis, said vehicle having a
securement area for a wheelchair which includes at least one flip
seat, said system comprising: a barrier carried at a rear portion
of said securement area and disposed generally transverse to the
longitudinal vehicle axis; a rear wheelchair attachment assembly
carried by said rear barrier for anchoring said wheelchair to said
barrier; a personal securement belt assembly for securing a seated
wheelchair occupant to said wheelchair in said securement area; a
front bulkhead extending generally transverse to the longitudinal
vehicle axis at a front portion of said securement area; a front
wheelchair attachment assembly for anchoring said wheelchair to
said bulkhead; said front bulkhead including an extendable anchor
member which extends transverse relative to the longitudinal
vehicle axis, said anchor member being extendable between a stored
position in which said anchor member is stowed in a non-operating
position and a deployed position wherein said anchor member is
extended from said bulkhead; and said from wheel chair attachment
assembly securing said wheel chair to a first anchor location on
said bulkhead and to a second anchor location on said extendable
anchor member when said anchor member is in said deployed
position.
25. The system of claim 24 wherein said bulkhead comprises a
bulkhead housing, and said anchor member being placed within said
bulkhead housing in said stored position.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein said bulkhead housing includes
an opening, said extendable anchor member being movable through
said opening when moving between said stored and extended
positions.
27. The system of claim 26 including a movable closure for closing
said opening of said bulkhead, said closure having an open and
closed position, and said closure forming a track for guiding
movement of said anchor member between said stored and extended
positions.
28. The system of claim 24 wherein said front wheelchair attachment
assembly includes a first and second front attachment belts which
diverge outwardly from said wheelchair to said respective first and
second anchor locations on said bulkhead to effectively prevent
lateral tipping.
29. The system of claim 28 wherein said first and second front
attachment belts are inclined downward from said wheelchair to said
front bulkhead.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. This invention relates to a wheelchair restraint system for
securing a wheelchair and occupant in a mass transportation vehicle
such as a bus, train, and the like, and more particularly to a
three-point wheelchair restraint system in which the wheelchair is
effectively restrained which may be easily stored out of the way
when not in use.
2. Heretofore, wheelchair restraint systems have been utilized on
transportation vehicles using various forms of bars, belts,
anchors, and clips, and clamps. However, the problem arises that
implementation of these systems is often laborious and time
consuming. Typically the bus driver must fold a flip seat, remove
belts from an underneath storage, anchor the belts in floor slots,
and attach the belts to the wheelchair. After the wheelchair
occupant is transported, the bus driver must then stop and remove
the belts, anchors, and store the belts. Often, the belts are left
out and form a hazard for tripping over. Typically the anchor slots
and floor wells used to anchor the belt also present trip and fall
hazards.
3. Other securement systems for wheelchairs have been proposed in
the prior art such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,394
wherein a rear barrier is provided to which a lap belt may be
fastened for a wheelchair occupant and a pivotal restraint arm is
pivotally attached to the underneath portion of a flip seat which
may be pivoted to a cantilevered position in front of the
wheelchair occupant to restrain the wheelchair. Other various forms
of wheelchair securement systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,344,265; 4,455,046; and 4,093,303 using various forms of levers,
clamps, bars, straps and the like. However, these systems leave
much to be desired in providing a simple restraint system for
effectively securing a wheelchair and its occupant wherein the
securement system may be readily deployed for use and stored to
prevent a hazard to the regular passenger when not in use.
4. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
wheelchair restraint system for a transportation vehicle which is
easy to deploy yet provides a highly effective securement of the
wheelchair.
5. Another object of the present invention is to provide a
wheelchair restraint system which may be rapidly deployed and does
not require the presence of structures, intrusive abutments and
other hazards in the securement area when the system is not
deployed.
6. Another object of the present invention is to provide a
wheelchair restraint system which is restrained by a three-point
anchoring system to effectively prevent tipping of a wheelchair and
its occupant yet provide rapidly deployable system whose elements
may be readily stored when not in use for a nonhazardous securement
area.
7. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simple
wheelchair restraint system using a system of retractable belt
assemblies to secure the wheelchair in a quick and easy manner.
8. Still another important object of the present invention is to
provide a three-point wheelchair restraint system wherein the
anchor point structures may be stored out of sight when not in use
to provide a safe and easy to use environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
9. The above objectives are accomplished according to the present
invention by providing a wheelchair restraint system for a mass
transportation vehicle having a securement area for a wheelchair
which includes at least one flip seat. The system comprises a
barrier carried at a rear portion of the securement area disposed
generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis. A rear
wheelchair attachment assembly is carried by the rear barrier for
anchoring the wheelchair to the barrier. The rear wheelchair
attachment assembly has at least two rear attachment elements for
attachment at two spaced locations to the wheelchair. A personal
securement belt assembly secures a seated wheelchair occupant to
the wheelchair in the securement area. A front bulkhead extends
generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis at a front
portion of the securement area; and a front wheelchair attachment
assembly anchors the wheelchair to the bulkhead. The front
wheelchair attachment assembly has at least two front attachment
elements for attachment to two spaced locations of the wheelchair
and the bulkhead. The rear wheelchair attachment assembly includes
at least one retractor mechanism for exerting an adjustable force
on the wheelchair in a first direction along the vehicle axis, and
the front wheel attachment assembly includes at least one retractor
mechanism for exerting an adjustable force on the wheelchair in a
second direction opposite to the first direction so that the
wheelchair is secured between the barrier and bulkhead by the rear
and front wheelchair attachment assemblies.
10. Advantageously, the system includes a coupling having a rear
connector, and the first and second attachment elements of the rear
wheelchair attachment assembly are affixed to the coupling. The
retracting mechanism of the rear wheelchair attachment assembly is
connected to the rear connector of the coupling. Preferably, the
rear wheelchair retractor mechanism includes a rear retractable
belt having a retracted and withdrawn configuration, a release for
releasing the belt from the retracted and withdrawn configurations,
and a crank for manually tightening the belt when tensioned in the
withdrawn configuration. The attachment elements of the rear
wheelchair attachment assembly include a first rear attachment belt
for attachment to a first rear location of the wheelchair and a
second rear belt for attachment to a second rear location of the
wheelchair spaced from the first location, and the coupling couples
the first and second belts to the rear retractable belt.
Preferably, the coupling comprises a plate having a center
attachment for attachment to the rear retracting belt, and the
first and second rear attachment belts being affixed to the plate
at locations spaced equal distances from the center attachment.
11. Advantageously, the front wheel attachment assembly comprising
a first front attachment belt for attachment to a first front
location of the wheelchair, a second front attachment belt for
attachment to a second front location of the wheelchair spaced from
the first front location. A first and a second retractor mechanism
is provided for retracting the respective first and second belts in
a direction to place a tensioning force on the first and second
front belts, and the retractor mechanisms include a manual crank
for tightening the tensioned first and second belts. The first and
second rear attachment belts diverge outwardly from the respective
first and second wheelchair locations toward the anchor locations
on the bulkhead to effectively prevent lateral tipping. Preferably,
the first and second front attachment belts are also inclined
downward from the wheelchair to the front bulkhead. The attachment
belts diverge outwardly at an angle in a range of about 0 to 15
degrees with respect to the vehicle longitudinal axis, the
preferred value being an angle of about 5 degrees with respect to
the vehicle longitudinal axis for a standard wheelchair having a
20" wheel spacing.
12. In an advantageous aspect of the invention, the front bulkhead
includes an extendable anchor member which extends transverse
relative to the longitudinal vehicle axis, the anchor member is
extendable between a stored position in which the anchor member is
stowed with the bulkhead and a deployed position wherein the anchor
member is extended from the bulkhead. A first retractor mechanism
is carried by the extendable anchor member, and a second retractor
mechanism carried by the bulkhead. Preferably, the bulkhead
comprises a bulkhead housing, and the anchor member is placed
entirely within the bulkhead housing in the stored position. The
bulkhead housing includes an opening, and the extendable anchor
member moves through the opening when moving between the stored and
extended positions. A movable closure is provided for closing the
opening of the bulkhead, and the closure forms a track for guiding
movement of the anchor member between the stored and extended
positions when the closure is open.
13. The personal securement strap assembly comprises a lap belt
affixed near the rear barrier, and a shoulder belt attachable to
the lap belt. An adjustable ring tether supports the shoulder belt
wherein the ring tether is adjustable to adjust an upper position
of the shoulder belt in a vertical direction to accommodate
wheelchair occupants of different heights.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
14. The construction designed to carry out the invention will
hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.
15. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of
the following specification and by reference to the accompanying
drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the
invention is shown and wherein:
16. FIG. 1 is a prospective view illustrating a three-point
wheelchair restraint system in accordance with the present
invention securing a wheelchair and occupant;
17. FIG. 2 is a prospective view of FIG. 1 with the wheelchair and
occupant removed;
18. FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a three-point wheelchair restraint
system securing a wheelchair in accordance with the present
invention;
19. FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a three-point wheelchair
restraint system according to the present invention;
20. FIG. 5 is a rear view of a three-point wheelchair restraint
system according to the present invention;
21. FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a front bulkhead with a slidable
anchor member shown in a deployed position;
22. FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the front bulkhead of FIG. 6 with
the slidable anchor in a stored position; and
23. FIG. 7A is a front view with part cut away of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
24. Referring now to the drawings, the invention will be described
in more detail.
25. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, a securement area of a mass
transportation vehicle is illustrated, generally at 10, which
includes an area for seating of regular passengers or a wheelchair
passenger. For this purpose, at least one flip seat 12 is provided
which may be positioned between a horizontal seating and a flipped
position as shown in FIG. 2. A wheelchair 14 may be secured in the
securement area with seat 12 in the flipped position as can best be
seen in FIG. 1. The securement area includes a rear barrier,
designated generally as B, which includes a housing 18 supported on
legs 20 bolted to the floor 11a of vehicle 11. A retractable belt
22 is housed within the barrier housing 18 and extends through a
slot 18a terminating in an end to which a hook 24 is secured. A
belt/crank retracting mechanism 26 applies a retracting force to
belt 22 and a manual crank 28 is provided for tightening a
retracted belt, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. A
release button 26a allows belt 22 to assume a retracted or
withdrawn configuration in a conventional manner.
26. The personal securement belt assembly, designated generally as
30, is provided by a first retractable lap belt 32 and a second
retractable lap belt 34 which may be pulled under tension and
fastened about the wheelchair occupant. The personal belt assembly
is completed by a shoulder belt 36 having a retracting mechanism
38, and an adjustable tether strap 41 having a ring 41a fastened to
the shoulder belt. The shoulder belt includes a female fastener 36a
which fastens into a male fastener 45 carried on lap belt 32. A
female fastener 32a is carried on seat belt 32 which locks with a
male fastener 34a on seat belt 34. Thus with the lap belt fastened
about the wheelchair occupant, the shoulder belt 36 may be fastened
to the lap belt for personal securement. When not in use, shoulder
belt 36 may be secured by suitable means to a wall 16a of the
vehicle. In use, lap belt 34 may be temporarily affixed at 12a to
the underside of flip seat 12 by suitable means such as velcro as a
wheelchair is being secured.
27. A rear wheelchair attachment assembly, designated generally as
C, is provided for attaching the rear of wheelchair 14 to barrier
B, as can best be seen in FIG. 3. Front wheelchair attachment
assembly D includes a first rear attachment belt 40 attached to a
first rear location 42 of the wheelchair and a second attachment
belt 44 attached to a second spaced location 46 of the wheelchair.
Locations 42 and 46 are illustrated as vertical frame legs of the
wheelchair but may be any other suitable portion. A coupling 48 is
provided in the form of a single-tree connector for affixing belts
44 and 42 to retractable belt 22 for tensioning to complete the
rear wheelchair attachment assembly. Belt 40 includes a first strap
40a affixed to the single-tree coupling at 48b which carries a
female buckle 40b; and a second strap 40c affixed at 40d to strap
40 which wraps around frame 42 and has a male buckle 40e mating
with female buckle member 40b. Likewise, strap 44 includes a first
belt 44a affixed to single-tree coupling 48 at 48b having a female
buckle member 44b; and a second strap 44c affixed at 44d to strap
44a which wraps around frame 46 and includes a male buckle 44e
which fastens with female buckle member 44b. Retractable belt 22
may be withdrawn by actuating release button 26a of the retracting
mechanism 26 and fastened to the single-tree coupling. Once the
single-tree coupling is fastened to the wheelchair, the button may
be depressed again whereupon belt 22 is retracted under the spring
force of retracting mechanism 26. The entire rear wheelchair
attachment assembly may then be tightened by manually turning hand
crank 28 and tensioning belts 22, 40, and 44.
28. A front anchor bulkhead, designated generally as D, is carried
near a front portion of the securement area for securing the front
of the wheelchair. There is a front wheelchair attachment assembly,
designated generally as E, for attaching the wheelchair to the
front bulkhead. It will be noted at this point, that barrier B and
front anchor bulkhead D extend away from side wall 16a of the
vehicle transversely to a longitudinal axis 50 of vehicle 11. As
can best be seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6-7A, front anchor bulkhead D
includes a housing 52 with suitable reinforcement in which a
slidable anchor 54 is enclosed and stored. Slidable anchor 54 has a
deployed position (FIG. 6) and a stored position (FIG. 7). In the
stored position, a retractable crank/belt assembly, designated
generally as 56, is stowed away. In the deployed position of FIG.
6, the belt/crank assembly 56 includes a retractable attachment
belt 58 which is anchored to the wheelchair, as can best be seen in
FIG. 1. When the belt/crank assembly is stowed, it can be seen that
the anchor 54 and belt/crank assembly 56 are stored away clearly
out of a position in which a regular passenger may trip over the
structure. A closure door 60 is provided for housing 52 which may
be closed when the slide anchor and belt mechanism are stowed
(FIGS. 2 and 7). Coupling plate 48 and associated belts, and the
front belts may also be stored and readily deployed from bulkhead
housing 52. The door also provides a track for the slide anchor
when being deployed (FIGS. 1 and 6). There is a second crank/belt
mechanism 62 carried by bulwark housing 52 wherein the crank/belt
mechanism includes a retractable attachment belt 64 for securing to
a second front location of the wheelchair. Again, as can best be
seen in FIG. 3, front belt 58 includes a first strap 58a having a
female buckle 58b and a second strap 58c secured as one piece to
strap 58a at a stitching point 58d. Second strap 58c encircles a
frame portion 66 of the wheelchair and includes a male buckle
element 58e which fastens with female buckle 58b. Likewise, front
belt 64 includes a first strap 64a having a female buckle 64b and a
second strap 64c stitched to first strap 64a at 64d. Second strap
64c includes a male buckle element 64e which fastens into female
buckle 64b after being wrapped around wheelchair frame 68. It will
be emphasized in relation to FIG. 3 that belts 58 and 64 diverge
outwardly from their attachment location at the front of wheelchair
14 toward the respective crank/belt mechanisms 56 and 62. It has
been found according to the invention, that the divergences of
these belts effectively prevents tipping of the wheelchair with an
occupant when the wheelchair is secured between the rear barrier
and front anchor. Likewise, it will be noted that front belts 58
and 64 are inclined downwardly from wheelchair 14 to anchor
locations at 56 and 62. This has also been found advantageous to
securing the wheelchair and occupant. The angle between the
attachment belts and the vehicle axis may vary depending upon the
wheelchair's width and size. For example, it has been found that
the anchor line of belt 58 will vary from 0 to 15 degrees with
respect to the vehicle axis as will the anchor line of belt 64.
However, in a limited number of wide wheelchair applications, the
anchor line of belt 58 may converge with respect to anchor location
56 so that the range for belt 58 may be from -0 to -15 degrees in
the case of wide wheelchair applications. However, since it is
desired that the wheelchair be kept as close as possible to the
underside of flip seat 12, belt 64 next to the flip seat will
normally not undergo a negative angle but will always vary between
0 and 15 degrees with respect to the vehicle axis. While
wheelchairs vary greatly in their sizes and configuration, for a
standard manual wheelchair having a 20" lateral wheel spacing the
preferred angle has been found to be approximately 5 degrees for
belt 64 and 5 degrees for belt 58.
29. Any suitable retracting mechanisms or operator devices may be
utilized at 26, 56 and 62. Suitable retractors and belt assemblies
are available from Indiana Mills Corporation of Indianapolis, Ind.
Belt 22 and retractor 26 may be a suitable crank/belt mechanism
assembly available as no.55080089. The front retractors 56 and 62
may each be a crank/ belt assembly no.55080091. The personal
securement belt assembly may be a suitable three-point seat belt,
lap belt and retractor, available as no. 55080048. While rear
wheelchair attachment assembly C is illustrated as including a
single retractable belt, two retractable belts may be used
connected directly to the side frames of the wheelchair without a
coupling plate. Also, manual retractor cranks, but with automatic
retractors, may not be needed at both the front and rear
assemblies, but be needed only at one to secure the wheel-chair
there between.
30. In use, when a wheelchair passenger is to be carried on the
vehicle, the driver/operator will raise flip seat 12 and lock it in
the up position. The driver/operator will then withdraw the wall
side lap belt 34, and pull out the belt and attach it to the
underside of flip seat 12 by means of velcro 12a. The
driver/operator will then position the wheelchair in the securement
area and attach the rear wheelchair attachment assembly C to the
wheelchair. The driver/operator then presses release button 26a on
the rear wheelchair crank/belt mechanism 26 and pull enough webbing
22 out to attach to the coupling plate 48. The driver/operator will
then move the wheelchair as close as possible to the rear barrier
and press the release button once again to eliminate any loose
belting from rear belt 22. The driver/operator will then attach the
front wheelchair attachment assembly E to the wheelchair by
withdrawing the attachment belt 64 closest to the wall, press the
release button and pull out enough belting to attach to the front
member of the wheelchair. The release button will then be pressed
again to eliminate any loose webbing and the tension of the belt
may be tightened by turning the crank 62a of retracting mechanism
62. Next the slide anchor 54 is extended from the bulkhead and
attachment belt 58 is withdrawn and attached to the wheelchair
whereupon the release button is pressed to pull out any loose
webbing and the belt tightened by manual crank 56a. Final tension
can then be applied to the system by turning the crank 28 at the
rear barrier. The passenger lap belt is then fastened by removing
the wall side belt from the velcro attachment and unreeling both
lap belts and locking at the waist. Shoulder belt 36 is then
removed from the wall and attached to the lap belt. This belt is an
inertia belt that allows body movement. The lap belt does not
tighten to an uncomfortable position because the wheelchair
attachment belts have already been installed in place first.
31. Thus, it can be seen that a highly effective three-point
restraint system for a wheelchair and occupant can be had according
to the invention wherein a three-point anchoring of the wheelchair
is achieved by anchor belts 22, 58, and 64. This three-point
restraint system provides effective securement of the wheelchair to
restrain the wheelchair against tipping laterally or turning over
rearwardly and forwardly during vehicle movement. The system
minimizes the amount of belts needed to secure a wheelchair
occupant, and eliminates floor tracks and floor pockets.
32. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
described using specific terms, such description is for
illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes
and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or
scope of the following claims.
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