GB2300158A

GB2300158A - Load tiedown system for securing a wheelchair

Info

Publication number: GB2300158A
Application number: GB9607762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Marc Girardin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-17
Filing date: 1996-04-15
Publication date: 1996-10-30
Also published as: GB9607762D0

Abstract

A tiedown system for securing a wheelchair during transportation comprises a strap 5 having releasable anchoring means at one end for attachment to the floor or wall of a transport vehicle, and a releasable hook 1 with a spring loaded closure 4 at the other end for attachment to a frame member of the wheelchair. The system is provided with a supplemental belt 6 and ring 8 attached to the strap 5, which can be looped around a frame member of a wheelchair in circumstances where the hook is unsuitable.

Description

Load Tie Down Svstem Field of Invention This invention relations to flexible load restraint systems and more particularly to a belt system for securing wheelchairs and the like into a transport vehicle.

Backaround of Invention Wheelchair tie down systems are well known in the art, and many developments therein have been made in recent years. Most systems now include short straps to secure the front of the wheelchair and combination rear straps which secure the rear of the chair and, independently, the wheelchair occupant to the same rear anchor points. A particularly preferred system is that sold under the trademark "Q'Straint" by Giram Security Inc, Cambridge, Ontario. The Q'Straint system is described in U.S. Patent 4,427,210 and in Canadian Patent 1,152,423, both issued 24 January 1984.

In that system, a bracket means is mounted on the wheelchair to which the passenger lap belt and to which the chair rear restraint belts are secured so that the chair and passenger belts lie in a straight line so that imposed forces are in a single straight line and no torque or turning movement is applied to the chair members. In an alternative embodiment a hook on the rear belt engages the chair and the passenger belt is secured to the hook so that both belts lie in a straight line. Unfortunately, not all wheelchairs are provided with external brackets, and at present, regulations do not require integral brackets in new wheelchair construction. Resort must be made to the hook embodiment. However, the standard hook provided cannot always be secured to an appropriate anchor point on a wheelchair.There is, therefore, a need for a more flexible system for securing the rear straps of a wheelchair tie down system to the wheelchair.

Object of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide an improved system for securing a rear tie down belt to most types of wheelchair.

Brief Statement of Invention By one aspect of this invention there is provided in a load tie down system comprising at least one first flexible longitudinally extending strap having anchor engaging means at a proximal end thereof and releasable load engaging means at a distal end thereof, the improvement comprising: a second flexible strap mounted, at a proximal end thereof, adjacent said distal end of said first strap, and having, at a distal end thereof, means to releasably engage said releasable load engaging means so as to provide a closed loop therewith and thereby increase load engaging capacity of said releasable load engaging means.

Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 is an isometric sketch of a hoop and loop belt system of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sketch showing the hook of Figure 1 in use to secure the rear belt to a wheelchair; and Figure 3 is a sketch showing the loop of Figure 1 in use to secure the rear belt to a wheelchair.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment In Figure 1 there is shown a hook 1 provided with two parallel slots 2 and 4 and a spring loaded closure 4. The end of a rear seat belt 5 is passed through slot 3 and securely sewn to the standing portion of belt 5 so as to mount the hook 1. The proximal end of a short belt 6 is threaded through slot 2 and then through slot 3 and securely sewn to belt 6 so as to mount belt 6 on the hook 1. The distal end of belt 6 is provided with a sewn loop 7 through which a metal ring 8 is mounted. Adjacent loop 7 there is provided a small portion 9 of the male portion of a "Velcro"

fastening. The mating female portion 10 of the Velcro

fastening is secured to belt 5 so as to neatly secure belt 6 and ring 8 when not in use.

As shown in Figure 2, in use spring loaded closure 4 is opened and the hook 1 is hooked around a convenient frame member of wheelchair 11. In the event that there is no convenient frame member of a size to receive hook 1, then as shown in Figure 3, the strap is placed around a frame member 12 and the ring 8 is secured in hook 1 by closure 4.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to wheelchair restraint systems, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it may be equally well applied to other load restraint environments and that many variations from the preferred embodiment fall within the scope of this invention. For example, ring 8 may simply be a loop sewn into belt 6 and hook 1 may be replaced with another loop system or other type of releasable fastening to the frame member of the chair or other load.

Claims

1. In a load tiedown system comprising at least one first flexible longitudinally extending strap having anchor engaging means at a proximal end thereof and releasable load engaging means at a distal end thereof, the improvement comprising: a second flexible strap mounted, at a proximal end thereof, adjacent said distal end of said first strap, and having, at a distal end thereof, means to releasably engage said releasable load engaging means so as to provide a closed loop therewith and thereby increase load engaging capacity of said releasable load engaging means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein load comprises a wheelchair and occupant.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said releasable load engaging means comprises a releasable hook member.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said hook member includes a spring loaded closure element.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said hook member is integrally mounted at said distal end of said first strap.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said second strap is releasably mounted on said first strap and adjacent said distal end thereof.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said second strap is integrally mounted on said first strap adjacent said distal end thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said means to releasably engage said releasable load engaging means comprises a loop member mounted at said distal end of said second strap.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said loop member includes a ring member, and said releasable load engaging means comprises an open hook member engageable therewith.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said ring member is integrally mounted at said distal end of said second strap.

11. The system of claim 10 including releasable retaining means mounted on said first strap adjacent said distal end and adjacent of said second strap so as to secure said second strap in an inoperative position when said ring is not in engagement with said hook member.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said releasable retaining means comprises male and female portions of a err') Velcro fastening respectively.

13. A load restraint system comprising: at least one longitudinally extending flexible first strap member having means to secure the proximal end thereof to an anchor point, and releasable means adjacent the distal end thereof for attachment to a load member; and a longitudinally extending flexible second strap member having a proximal end secured to one of (a) said releasable means and (b) said first strap member adjacent the distal end thereof, and a distal end provided with means to releasably engage with said releasable means to thereby increase the load member encircling capacity of said releasable means.

14. A load restraint system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said load comprises a wheelchair and said load member comprises a frame member thereof.

15. A load restraint system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.