ES2359539T3 - FASTENERS FOR WHEELCHAIRS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheelchair restraint for use in a vehicle, comprising: first and second spools 15 arranged to be fixed rotatably to the vehicle, for each spool, a member 1 being capable of being wound onto the spool, connected at a captive end to the spool and being provided at the other, free end, with attachment means 16 for attaching the windable member to a wheelchair, in which there is provided a common drive means 2 spaced from each spool 15 and arranged to apply, in use, a force to the spools 15 so as to act to wind the members 1 onto the spools 15. The restraint can further comprise a further motor (55, figure 6) arranged so as to be able to retract the windable members 1, the further motor being capable of exerting sufficient force on the members 1 so as to be able to load a wheelchair carrying a person into the vehicle. Also, the common drive means 2 can be arranged such that, in use, the force applied by the members 1 on the wheelchair is sufficient to coil the members on the spools 15 as the wheelchair is moved into the vehicle but is not sufficient to pull the wheelchair into the vehicle.

Description

This invention relates to wheelchair fasteners.

The problem of safely transporting passengers confined to a wheelchair sitting in their wheelchairs is widely known. A number of manufacturers produce fastening systems with straps for this purpose, in which sets of straps of the type of four seat belts are fixed to the wheelchair, usually by hooks or a buckle and tongue arrangement of belt type of security. A fastener of this type is well known in the art and will be referred to herein as "wheelchair fastening with four-point straps."

In such a system, two belts are fastened to the front of the wheelchair and two to the rear. The belt lengths are adjusted to fit the wheelchair and the front belts are locked. The rear belts are normally equipped with a tensioning device, which prevents the wheelchair from moving during travel.

There are many different types of wheelchair fasteners with four-point webbing; In a common type, the front fasteners comprise a pair of reels containing seat belt straps that have a hook or carabiner or buckle and tongue arrangement, placed at one end for attachment to the wheelchair. The coils are placed in structures and are spring loaded, causing the straps to wind over the reel.

A ratchet mechanism prevents the webbing from unraveling until a solenoid valve is operated that disengages the ratchet and allows the belts to extend and be placed in the wheelchair outside the vehicle. Once the solenoid is deactivated, the ratchet is reengaged and the wheelchair can be loaded inside the vehicle. The springs wind the belts back over the coils when this occurs. Now, the ratchet mechanism prevents the belts from unrolling from the coils, preventing the wheelchair from rolling backwards.

Spring loaded, ratchet-operated coils are known from the safety belt systems of heavy-duty car cabins, in which the solenoid-controlled ratchet is used to prevent unwinding of the driver's safety belt and therefore , to hold the driver in the event of a collision, based on the result of a deceleration sensor placed in the cabin of the vehicle. As coils of this type are generally used in prior art wheelchair restraint systems, they are manufactured in large quantities for the heavy vehicle market and are available relatively inexpensively.

A problem with this type of support is that the capacity of the webbing is too small to allow its placement in the wheelchair outside a large vehicle. It is not considered practical to simply provide higher capacity coils, since it is not considered economical in the specific market related to wheelchair fasteners to configure machining, etc. required to combine the coil and retraction mechanism. Another problem is that the solenoid valve cannot be manually overridden, a failure that makes the belts useless.

US Patent No. 7 040 847 is indicated, which discloses a wheelchair fastener that has a common motor that drives two coils to tension a pair of belts that support the front of a wheelchair in a vehicle . As such, this document forms the pre-characterizing part of claims 1 and 2.

According to the present invention, a wheelchair support is provided for use in a vehicle, comprising:

first and second coils arranged to be rotatably fixed to the vehicle,

for each coil, an element that can be wound on the coil, connected at one end of retention to the coil and provided at the other free end with fixing means for fixing the roller element to a wheelchair,

in which a common drive means is provided separated from each coil and arranged to apply, in use, a force to the coils so that they act to wind the elements onto the coils.

Therefore, this invention eliminates the need for a complicated spring return mechanism within each coil; The coils can be operated relatively easily by the common drive means. This means that the coils can have any desired size, since the manufacture of the coils of different sizes without the need to generate return mechanisms of correspondingly different size within the coil would be simpler than the prior art manufacturing situation described above. .

The coils can be joined together by an axis. The coils can be joined by the shaft so that they rotate together. The use of such an axis is convenient, because it means that the coils will rotate at the same speed, thereby retracting their respective elements at the same speed. This will probably prevent the two elements from retracting at different speeds from each other, which could lead to the wheelchair being held in a non-uniform manner. The common drive means can be operatively coupled to, and can be positioned on, the shaft.

The common drive means may be arranged so that, in use, the force applied by the elements on the wheelchair is sufficient to wind the elements on the coils as the wheelchair moves into the vehicle but is not enough to pull the wheelchair into the vehicle. In one embodiment, the maximum force applied on each of the elements by the action of the common drive means in use is less than 50 N, and preferably is less than 30 N. The torque applied by the common drive means on the Coils can be substantially constant as the elements are wound on the coils, and can generate a force of 25 N on each of the elements when the elements are fully wound.

The common drive means may comprise a rope motor, usually a constant force rope motor. Alternatively, the common drive means may comprise an electric or hydraulic motor; in such a case, the electric or hydraulic motor may be provided with a clutch that can selectively disengage the motor from the coils. This can be advantageous, because it means that the motor does not necessarily have to go back when it releases the roller elements from the coils.

The fastener can also be equipped with a common ratchet that has two states; a first state in which it acts to prevent the elements from unwinding from the coils preventing the rotation of the coils in a first direction, but which allows the rotation of the coils in a second opposite direction, and a second state in which it allows The rotation of the coils in any direction. Therefore, a ratchet does not have to be provided in each coil. The ratchet can be provided in the same housing as the common drive means.

The ratchet may comprise a solenoid, which is arranged to switch the ratchet between the first and second states. Additionally or alternatively, the ratchet may be provided with a release handle, arranged to switch the ratchet between the first and second states. The ratchet may comprise a gear wheel mounted on the shaft and at least one catch placed in contact with the gear wheel in the first state; As is common with ratchet mechanisms, the shape of the gearwheel can be such that in the first state the fastener passes over the teeth of the gearwheel as the axle rotates in the first direction but locks against the teeth as the axis rotates in the second direction. At least one of any solenoid and any release handle may be operatively coupled to the fastener to force the fastener to disengage from the sprocket in the second state. It is convenient to have a solenoid operation and manual handle, because the manual handle provides support in case of solenoid failure.

Each of the elements may comprise a webbing band, usually of the type commonly used in vehicle seat belts. The fixing means may comprise a hook, buckle or carabiner or other such fixing piece.

When the common drive means comprises a rope motor, the fastener may further comprise an additional motor arranged so that it can retract the roller elements, the additional motor being able to exert sufficient force on the elements so that a wheelchair can load that takes a person inside the vehicle. Therefore, the motor can be arranged so that it can exert a force of at least 2500 N on the elements. Normally, the engine would be arranged to drive the shaft.

The additional motor may be provided with a clutch, so that the motor is allowed to selectively engage to drive the coils. This can allow the motor to disengage from the coils when the elements are unrolling, thus preventing the motor from turning back.

In such a case, if the additional motor fails, due to an internal failure, a failure of its power supply, etc., the rope motor (and, if provided, the common ratchet) will continue to operate to provide a restraint against movement. of the wheelchair.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a vehicle equipped with the wheelchair support of the first aspect of the invention is provided.

The elements may be of sufficient length to reach a wheelchair outside the vehicle when they are completely unwound from the coils.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a combination of the vehicle of the second aspect of the invention and a wheelchair is provided, the fixing means of the wheelchair fastener being fixed to the wheelchair.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for loading a wheelchair into a vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention, which comprises fixing the fixing means to the wheelchair and moving the wheelchair to a desired position, allowing the common drive means to rotate the coils so that the elements are wound on the coils. Consequently, the wheelchair can be placed correctly in the vehicle and then the elements used can be loosened.

The method may comprise the step of extending the elements to reach the wheelchair in the second position of the ratchet, normally unwinding them from the coils. Once the elements are fixed to the wheelchair, the method may comprise placing the ratchet in the first position while the wheelchair moves to the desired position. This means that the wheelchair will be prevented from moving in the opposite direction to the coils, usually backwards, while moving to the desired position.

The wheelchair can be placed outside the vehicle when the elements are fixed; The desired position can be inside the vehicle, usually a travel position in front of the vehicle controls.

The description of an embodiment of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a wheelchair fastener according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the wheelchair fastener of Figure 1 from the opposite side;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the manual ratchet release mechanism of the wheelchair fastener of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view from below of the wheelchair fastener of Figure 1; Y

Figure 5 shows a wheelchair that is loaded into a vehicle using the wheelchair support of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a wheelchair restraint system according to a second embodiment of the invention; Y

Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the rope motor and solenoid of the system of Figure 6.

A wheelchair fastener according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the attached figures. This fastener comprises two coils 15 with a strap 1 of the type commonly used for seat belts of vehicles wound around them. One retaining end (not shown) of each web section 1 is held in the respective reel 15. The other free end of each web section is equipped with a "carabiner" 16; that is, a hook that has a spring loaded opening element. This can be used to fix the free end of each section of webbing 1 to a suitable point in a wheelchair; The hook is passed through a bar or similar part of the wheelchair, and the spring-loaded opening element 17 prevents the bar from being accidentally released from the hook.

The two coils 15 are joined by a shaft 8 that rotates in a housing 18 screwed to the floor of the vehicle in front of the desired position of the wheelchair. This axis 8 is fed by a constant force rope motor 2. The axis acts to rotate the coils 15 in a first direction shown by the arrow 20 to cause the webbing 1 to wind over the coils 15. The motor 2 exerts a traction equivalent to the weight of a mass of approximately 2.5 kg (that is, approximately 25 N) on each of the sections of the webbing 1. A ratchet 6 prevents rotation of the shaft and therefore the coils in the opposite direction to that of arrow 20; therefore, the webbing is prevented from unwinding.

In order to be able to unwind the webbing 1 of the coils 15, a release mechanism is provided. In this example, ratchet fasteners 5 (Figure 4) are mounted on a shaft 21 in the housing 18. A pair of sprockets 7 are fixed to the shaft 8 and thus rotate therewith. The ratchet latch shaft 21 has a lever at each end; a first of these 9 is fixed through a pin to a solenoid 3. The other lever 10 is placed in a tension spring 11, which holds the ratchet fasteners 5 engaged with the sprockets 7. When the solenoid is energized, the spring force is exceeded and the ratchet latches disengage from the sprocket, allowing the coils to rotate in the opposite direction to arrow 20 and thus allowing the webbing 1 to unwind.

In case of solenoid failure, manual lever 4 can be used to disengage ratchet latches. In this example, the lever 4 rotates around the ratchet latch shaft 21 and is mounted between two cylindrical rubber separators 12, which hold the lever against a slot cam 13. The rotation of the lever causes the release of the latches of ratchet. The lever 4 is held apart by a notch 23 in the slot cam 13.

The operation of the fastener can be seen in Figure 5 of the attached drawings. This schematically illustrates a car 30 equipped with the wheelchair fastener 31 of Figures 1 to 4. In the situation of Figure 5, the ratchet 6 has been released by the solenoid 3 or the manual release lever 4. The strap 1 It is substantially unwound from the coils 15 so that it reaches the wheelchair 33 to be loaded in the vehicle 30. The carabiners 16 are used to secure the webbing 1 to the wheelchair 33.

The ratchet is then reengaged allowing the latches 5 to come back into contact with the sprockets 7. Therefore, the webbing can no longer be extended, and the constant force rope motor 2 will apply its force to retract the webbing 1 on the coils 15. Next, the wheelchair 33 is loaded into the vehicle 30 through the ramp 34 to the desired location 32. As it is loaded in this way, the webbing retracts on the coils by means of the motor action 2; The ratchet prevents the wheelchair from rolling backwards. Once the wheelchair is in the desired position, the ratchet prevents any backward movement. Forward movements can be limited using any available tensioning and rear mooring device.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, two coils containing a safety belt webbing ending at a free end with a "carabiner" 51 are joined by a shaft 58 that rotates in a frame bolted to the floor of the vehicle in front of the wheelchair. This shaft 58 is fed by a constant force rope motor 52 which, when engaged and as with the first embodiment, causes the belts to completely wind up on the coils. The engine has been relocated with respect to the first embodiment of the invention, and is now located at one end of the shaft 58 adjacent to one of the coils. The rope motor 52 is designed to exert a traction of approximately 25 N (equivalent to 2.5 kg) on the belts; a ratchet prevents the belts from unrolling until they are disengaged by a solenoid valve 53 or manual control lever 54. These release mechanisms allow the belts of their coils to be completely unwound and fixed to a wheelchair outside the vehicle.

Once the ratchet has been reengaged, the belts are retracted using the rope motor 51 and now cannot be unwound, which prevents the wheelchair from rolling backwards. This functionality corresponds to the method shown above with respect to Figure 5 of the attached drawings, and is particularly applicable to motorized wheelchairs; The force of the rope motor 52 is insufficient in itself to pull a wheelchair into the vehicle. This "front clamp" can be used with any available tension and rear mooring device.

The ratchet mechanism is shown in more detail in Figure 7 of the attached drawings. In this embodiment, the ratchet fasteners 59 are mounted on a shaft that crosses the reel housing 60. The coil is fixed to a pair of sprockets 61. The ratchet fastener shaft 59 has a lever 54 at one end, which it is fixed through a pin to solenoid 53. This lever 54 has an extension, which acts as a manual control in the event of a solenoid failure and is placed in a tension spring 62 that holds the ratchet latches engaged with the sprockets. When the solenoid is energized, the spring force is exceeded and the ratchet fasteners are disengaged from the sprocket, allowing the safety belts 51 to unwind.

In case of solenoid failure, the extension to the lever 54 can be used to disengage the ratchet latches.

In addition to the function of the first embodiment of the invention, in this second embodiment the belts can be tensioned using an electric motor 55, equipped with a gearbox 56 and a magnetic clutch 57. This electric motor 55 rotates the shaft 58 that joins the Cinch coils, tightening the belts and preventing unwanted movement of the wheelchair. A clutch slip prevents excessive belt tension and damage to the wheelchair. Once deactivated, the motor is disengaged and the clamp works as described above.

Furthermore, this engine assembly 55 and clutch 57 can be used as a device for raising non-motorized wheelchairs into the vehicle. This system has several advantages over conventional lifting and clamping systems. With the clutch 57 disengaged, the belts can be removed from the vehicle without the engine having to go back, and separate support belts do not have to be placed.

Claims (15)

1. Support for wheelchairs for use in a vehicle, comprising: first and second coils (15) arranged to be rotatably fixed to the vehicle, for each coil, an element (1) that can be wound on the coil, connected at one end of retention to the coil and provided, at the other end free of fixing means (16) to fix the roller element to a wheelchair , in which a common drive means (2) is provided separated from each coil and arranged to apply, in use, a force to the coils (15) so that they act to wind the elements (1) onto the coils (15) , characterized in that it comprises an additional motor (55) arranged so that it can retract the roller elements (1), the additional motor (55) being able to exert sufficient force on the elements (1) so that it can load a wheelchair leading to One person inside the vehicle. 2. Wheelchair attachment for use in a vehicle, comprising: first and second coils (15) arranged to be rotatably fixed to the vehicle, for each coil, an element (1) that can be wound on the coil (15), connected at one end of retention to the coil and provided, at the other end free of fixing means (16) to fix the roller element (1 ) to a wheelchair, in which a common drive means (2) is provided separated from each coil and arranged to apply, in use, a force to the coils (15) so that they act to wind the elements (1) onto the coils (15) , characterized in that the common drive means (2) is arranged so that, in use, the force applied by the elements (1) on the wheelchair is sufficient to wind the elements (1) onto the coils (15) as that the wheelchair moves inside the vehicle but it is not enough to pull the wheelchair into the vehicle; and in which the maximum force applied on each of the elements (1) by the action of the common drive means (2) in use is less than 50 N.

3.

A fastener according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the coils (15) are joined together by an axis (8), so that they rotate together.

Four.

Fastener according to claim 3, wherein the common drive means (2) is operatively coupled to the shaft (8).

5.

A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the common drive means (2) is arranged such that, in use, the force applied by the elements (1) on the wheelchair is sufficient to wind the elements (1) onto the coils (15) as the wheelchair moves inside the vehicle but is not sufficient to pull the wheelchair into the vehicle.

6.

A fastener according to claim 2 or claim 5, wherein the maximum force applied on each of the elements (1) by the action of the common operating means (2) in use is less than 30 N.

7.

Fastening according to any preceding claim, wherein the torque applied by the common drive means (2) on the coils is substantially constant as the elements (1) are wound on the coils (15).

8.

A fastener according to claim 7, wherein the common drive means (2) comprises a rope motor.

9.

Clamping according to claim 7 or claim 8, except when it depends on claim 1, wherein the clamp further comprises an additional motor (55) arranged so that it can retract the rolling elements (1), the additional motor (55) being able to exert. ) sufficient force on the elements (1) so that you can load a wheelchair that takes a person inside the vehicle.

10.

A fastener according to claim 1 or claim 9, wherein the additional motor (55) is arranged so that it can exert a force of at least 2500 N on the elements.

eleven.

A fastener according to any one of claims 1, 9 and 10, wherein the additional motor (55) is provided with a clutch (57), so that it allows the motor (55) to selectively engage to drive the coils (15).

12.

Fastener according to any preceding claim, further comprising a common ratchet (6) having two states; a first state in which it acts to prevent the elements from unwinding from the coils

(15) avoiding the rotation of the coils (15) in a first direction, but which allows the rotation of the coils (15) in a second opposite direction, and a second state in which it allows the rotation of the 5 coils (15) in any direction. 13. A fastener according to claim 12, wherein the ratchet (6) comprises a solenoid (3), which is arranged to switch the ratchet (6) between the first and second states and in which the ratchet (6) is provided of a release handle (4), arranged to switch the ratchet (6) between the first and second states. 10 14. Vehicle equipped with wheelchair support according to any preceding claim.

fifteen.

Combination of the vehicle according to claim 14 and a wheelchair, the fixing means of the wheelchair fastening being fixed to the wheelchair.

16.

Method for loading a wheelchair into a vehicle according to claim 14, comprising

fix the fixing means (16) to the wheelchair and move the wheelchair to a desired position, 15 allowing the common actuation means (2) to rotate the coils so that the elements are wound (1) on the coils (15).