GB2344081A

GB2344081A - A clamp for fixing an article to a surface of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2344081A
Application number: GB9826266A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Angelo Callard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-30
Filing date: 1998-11-30
Publication date: 2000-05-31
Also published as: GB9826266D0

Abstract

A clamp for fixing an article such as a wheelchair to a surface 5 of a vehicle 3 such as the floor of a motor vehicle includes means for adjusting the height of the clamping member 15 relative to the vehicle surface 5. The adjustment may be provided by a hand operated ratchet mechanism in engagement with a ribbed rod 21. The clamping member 15 is adjusted towards the surface by upwards movement of a first handle 24 which moves the body of the clamp downwards along the ribbed bar 21. Movement of the bar in the opposite direction is prevented by the engagement of a second handle 45 with the ribbed bar 21. The clamp may be fixed to the vehicle surface 5 by a universal coupling 13. In the preferred embodiment the clamping member 15 comprises a hook 7 for engagement with a wheel of a wheelchair.

Description

APPARATUS FOR FIXING AN ARTICLE TO A SURFACE OF A VEHICLE This invention relates to apparatus for fixing an article to a surface of a vehicle, such as for example the floor of a minibus or a van.

Various mechanisms have previously been proposed for fixing articles to surfaces of vehicles. For example, in aircraft it is known to fix luggage pallets to the floor of the aircraft by means of a number of straps and associated clasps.

All of these previously proposed systems are typically cumbersome to operate, particularly if the user is elderly or has some sort of physical disability.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided apparatus for fixing an article to a surface of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising means for securing the apparatus to the surface, means for engaging the article to be fixed, and means permitting adjustment of the distance between the engaging means and the surface.

This aspect of the invention can alleviate some or all of the problems associated with the prior art. In particular, the apparatus can alleviate the operating difficulties associated with previous systems such that it may be operated by elderly or disabled persons.

In this regard the invention is particularly advantageous when utilised to fasten a wheelchair, for example, to a surface of a vehicle such as the floor.

Preferably the apparatus comprises means for adjusting the distance between the engaging means and the surface.

In one embodiment, the adjusting means comprises a spring that operates to draw the engaging means towards the surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting means comprises a substantially rigid guide, and a body moveable along the guide. Preferably the adjusting means comprises means for moving the body incrementally along the guide.

The incremental moving means may comprise a plate, and a lever acting on the plate to twist the plate into locking engagement with the guide to thereby generate a force to move the body by an amount corresponding to movement of the lever.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a ratchet mechanism to retain the engaging means at a selected height. The ratchet mechanism preferably operates to prevent the distance between the engaging means and the surface from being increased. The ratchet mechanism may be hand-operable. Preferably the ratchet mechanism is releasable.

In the preferred embodiment, the adjusting means comprises a rod and said ratchet mechanism, said rod having a plurality of ribs formed thereon and said ratchet mechanism being movable on said rod.

The securing means may include a universal joint to which said engaging means and said means permitting adjustment are connected. The engaging means may comprise a hook suitable for engaging a wheelchair's wheel.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention,, there is provided a vehicle having an apparatus according to any preceding claim fixed to a surface thereof.

Aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figure, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for fixing an article to a surface of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, this embodiment of the apparatus 1 comprises a fixing 3 by means of which the apparatus may be secured to a surface of a vehicle (not shown), means 7 for engaging with the article (not shown) to be fixed, and means 9 for adjusting the distance between the engaging means 7 and the surface.

In this embodiment, the fixing comprises a plate 11 that is secured to the vehicle floor 5 by way of bolts, screws or other suitable fasteners. The adjusting means 9 is connected to the plate 11, in this embodiment, by way of a universal joint 13 that allows for easy positioning of the adjusting means 9 and engaging means 7.

It will be appreciated, however, that the provision of a universal joint is only preferable as the adjusting means 9 could be rigidly fixed, for example, to the plate 11 or only pivotable in one dimension.

In this embodiment, the engaging means 7 comprises a hook 15 that is hookable over a wheel of a wheelchair (not shown). It will be understood, of course, that the engaging means 7 could have any one of a number of different configurations.

For example, the engaging means 7 could comprise a connector mateable with a complementary connector fixed to the article. Alternatively, the engaging means 7 could comprise a loop of wire or metal that can be fitted around the article to be fixed to secure it in place.

The adjusting means 9 is, in this embodiment, integrally formed with the engaging means 9, and comprises a rod 17 and a ratchet mechanism 19 by means of which the position of the engaging means on the rod may be varied.

The rod 17 has a plurality of ribs 21 formed on its outer surface, and the ratchet mechanism 19 is operable to move the engaging means 7 rib-by-rib down the rod 17.

The ratchet mechanism 19 comprises a body 23 which has the engaging means 7 formed in an end thereof. The other end of the body 23 is formed as a handle 24. A window 25 is formed in the body 23 and bores 27 are formed through either side of the body 23 and the window 25. The rod 17 is insertable through the body 23 by way of the bores 27 and window 25.

A first handle 29 is mounted by way of a pivot 31 on the body 23. One end 33 of the first handle 29 projects into the window 25, and the other end 35 extends away from the body 23 so that it and the handle portion 24 of the body can be simultaneously grasped by a user.

A moveable plate 37 is provided within the window 25. The plate 37 is wider than the body 23 and one end 39 of the plate 37 is formed with a groove so that a portion of the plate projects either side of the body 23. The other end 41 of the plate 37 is urged into abutment with the projecting end 33 of the first handle by a spring 43.

The plate 37 comprises an aperture 38 through which the rod 17 may pass. The action of the spring 43 on the plate 37 urges the one end 33 of the handle downwards and the other end 35 upwards. When the plate is perpendicular to the axis of the rod 17 it is capable of sliding up and down over the ribs 21, and when the plate is angled it acts as a jamb and locks against movement.

A second handle 45 projects at an angle from a lower edge of the body 23 and includes an aperture 47 through which the rod 17 passes. The second handle is moveable up and down against the action of a spring 49 that seeks to drive the second handle downwards. When the second handle 45 is in its normal angled or tilted position, the edge of the aperture 47 closest to the engaging means bears upon a rib 21 to prevent movement of the body 23 away from the surface of the vehicle to which the apparatus is attached. When the second handle 45 is moved to a position where it is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the axis of the rod 17 then the edges of the aperture do not abut against the ribs 21 and the body can be moved away from the surface of the vehicle.

It can be seen therefore that movement of the first handle 29 downwards (i. e. movement towards the surface of the vehicle) causes the body 23 and attached engaging means 7 to be driven downwards towards the surface of the vehicle to which the apparatus is attached. Whilst the first handle 29 is being driven downwards, the second handle 45 acts as a ratchet to prevent upward movement of the body 23. It can also be seen that upward movement (i. e. movement away from the surface of the vehicle) of the second handle 45 releases the ratchet mechanism to allow the body 23 to be moved upwards away from the floor of the vehicle.

To further illustrate the operation of this embodiment, use of the embodiment to lock a wheelchair to a vehicle floor will now be described.

As a first step, the rod 17 is moved to a position (using the universal joint) where the engaging means can be engaged with the article to be fixed. By moving the second handle 45 towards the body 23 the ratchet mechanism is released to allow the engaging means and the body 23 to be moved to a position where the engaging means loosely engages with the article to be fixed, or in this embodiment to a position where the hook 15 hooks over a wheel of the wheelchair.

When the engaging means is roughly in position, the second handle is released and is urged by the spring 49 to a tilted position where the edge of the aperture 47 abuts against a rib 21 on the rod 17 to lock the body 23 and engaging means 7 in place.

The first handle must then be operated to securely fasten the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicle. As the first handle 29 is moved towards the body 23, so the plate 37 is tilted until the plate 37 reaches a position where the edges of the aperture 38 abut against the rod 17. At this point, the plate 37 acts as a jam and locked against movement on the rod. Continued movement of the handle towards the body causes the body 23 to be driven towards the fixing means 3. Releasing the handle 29 allows the spring 43 to drive the other end 35 of the handle to its rest position.

As the body 23 is driven towards the fixing means 3 so the edge of the aperture 47 bears against a rib 21 on the rod 17 to cause the inclination of the second handle 45 to be reduced until a position is reached where the aperture 47 can move over the rib 21, whereupon the spring 49 then drives the handle 45 back to its inclined position where the edges of the aperture 47 abut against a lower rib 21.

It can be seen therefore that operation of the first handle 29 drives the body 23 downwards against the action of the second handle 45 which acts as a ratchet.

It will be understood, of course, that the embodiment of the invention described herein has been provided by way of example only, and that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

For example, whilst the specific embodiment described herein employs means for incrementally moving the body towards the surface of the vehicle, it will be appreciated that alternative mechanisms may be proved instead. For example, the incremental moving means (i. e. the first handle 29 and the tiltable plate 37) could be replaced by a spring attached to the surface of the vehicle and to an end of the body 23 closest to the surface. The spring would seek to draw the body 23 and engaging means 7 into tight engagement with the article to be fixed, and the ratchet (i. e. the second handle 45) would resist movement of the body away from the surface.

As a further alternative, the spring used to replace the incremental moving means could be omitted. In this alternative the user would be able to move the body 23 and engaging means 7 towards the surface simply by pushing the body towards the surface and the ratchet (i. e. the second handle 45) would resist movement of the body away from the surface.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for fixing an article to a surface of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising means for securing the apparatus to the surface, means for engaging the article to be fixed, and means permitting adjustment of the distance between the engaging means and the surface.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, comprising means for adjusting the distance between the engaging means and the surface.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the adjusting means comprises a spring that operates to draw the engaging means towards the surface.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the adjusting means comprises a substantially rigid guide, and a body moveable along the guide.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the adjusting means comprises means for moving the body incrementally along the guide.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the incremental moving means comprises a plate, and a lever acting on the plate to twist the plate into locking engagement with the guide to thereby generate a force to move the body by an amount corresponding to movement of the lever.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, comprising a ratchet mechanism to retain the engaging means at a selected height.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the ratchet mechanism operates to prevent the distance between the engaging means and the surface from being increased.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein said ratchet mechanism is hand-operable.
10. Apparatus according to any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein said ratchet mechanism is releasable.
11. Apparatus according to any of Claims 7 to 10 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein said adjusting means comprises a rod and said ratchet mechanism, said rod having a plurality of ribs formed thereon and said ratchet mechanism being movable on said rod.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said securing means includes a universal joint to which said engaging means and said means permitting adjustment are connected.
13. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said engaging means comprises a hook suitable for engaging a wheelchair's wheel.

14. A vehicle having an apparatus according to any preceding claim fixed to a surface thereof.

15. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.