GB2364028A

GB2364028A - Wheelchair restraint with occupant safety belt

Info

Publication number: GB2364028A
Application number: GB0115840A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nissim Alfassa; Michael Sawdy
Original assignee: NMI Safety Systems Ltd
Current assignee: NMI Safety Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-29
Filing date: 2001-06-28
Publication date: 2002-01-16
Also published as: GB0115840D0; GB0016043D0; GB0118380D0

Abstract

A wheelchair restraint unit 3 is provided with anchor members 6,7 for attaching the unit to the floor of a vehicle, possibly by means of tracks 1,2, a securing mechanism 50 for attaching the wheelchair to the unit, and a safety belt arrangement 70,71,80 for restraining an occupant of the wheelchair. The securing mechanism may comprise a ratchet winder 50 which acts so draw in webbing 52,54,55 at the end of which are hooks or karabiners 56. The unit may be provided with pivotal arms (35 in figures 4 and 5) for locating the rear of the wheelchair, and may also comprise of two upstanding supports 4,5 which are telescopically adjustable in a horizontal direction by means of a connecting member (20 in figure 5). As the unit has its own safety belt arrangement it needs only to be connected to the vehicle at tracks 1,2.

Description

2364028 1 A DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A

WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINT SYSTEM" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a wheelchair restraint system, and more particularly relates to a wheelchair restraint system for use in a motor vehicle.

It is often necessary to transport wheelchair patients in motor vehicles within their wheelchairs It is desirable to provide a restraint system for use with a wheelchair in a motor vehicle, in case the motor vehicle is involved in an accident.

Previously proposed wheelchair restraint systems have involved the use of anchoring points provided at various locations on the chassis or framework of the vehicle, for example in the roof of the vehicle This, in many cases, has necessitated a reinforcing of the vehicle, and thus such systems are relatively expensive.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved wheelchair restraint unit that may be used as a wheelchair restraint system.

According to this invention there is provided a wheelchair restraint unit having means to secure the unit to in the floor of a vehicle, means to secure a wheelchair to the unit, and a safety-belt arrangement carried by the unit to engage and restrain an occupant of the wheelchair.

The unit may be directly secured to the floor of the vehicle, but preferably the unit has two side assemblies, each assembly having means to secure the assembly to a respective track provided in the floor of a vehicle.

Since the unit itself carries a seat-belt arrangement which is to engage and restrain an occupant of the wheelchair, the seat-belt does not need to pass through any guide-loop or to be connected to any anchorage that is mounted on the vehicle Thus, in using the restraint unit of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is only necessary to use a vehicle which has appropriate tracks mounted in the floor of the vehicle The unit itself is anchored to the tracks and all the safety-belt arrangement is carried by the unit Thus the unit may be positioned at any convenient position within a vehicle where tracking is provided.

Conveniently the assemblies are interconnected by telescopic means.

Advantageously each assembly includes an upstanding beam carrying a location arm having means to engage a wheelchair.

Preferably the means to engage a wheelchair is a laterally adjustable engagement bar.

3 Conveniently each location arm is pivotally mounted on the beam and is movable between a substantially horizontal forwardly extending position and a lowered position.

Preferably a laterally adjustable engagement bar is provided at each end of each location arm.

Advantageously the means to secure a wheelchair to the unit comprises a strap arrangement having hooks or karabiners to engage the wheelchair and a mechanism to draw in part of the strap arrangement.

Conveniently the mechanism is a ratchet binder.

Advantageously the strap arrangement incorporates a spring or resilient element.

Conveniently the safety-belt arrangement is in the form of a harness comprising a lap strap and two shoulder belts.

Preferably two retractors are mounted on the unit each receiving one end of a respective shoulder belt, there being two separate buckles mounted on the unit, each adapted to receive a tongue provided at the end of a respective should belt, the lap strap being formed of two strap portions, each having one end secured to the unit.

Conveniently the lap strap has one end thereof received in a retractor mounted on the unit, and the other end provided with a tongue receivable in a buckle which is also mounted on the unit.

4 In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear perspective view illustrating a wheelchair restraint in accordance with the invention and an associated wheelchair, FIGURE 2 is a front perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a side view of the wheelchair restraint of Figures 1 and 2 in a first condition, FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 illustrating the restraint in a second condition, FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the restraint in the position shown in Figure 2, and FIGURE 6 is a rear view of the restraint.

The wheelchair restraint system that forms the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a unit which is adapted to be connected to tracking 1, 2, provided in the floor of a vehicle The tracking may be conventional tracking and, as is conventional, the tracking may be positioned in the floor a predetermined distance apart so that the tracking is parallel The tracking may be in the form of a open-top channel with inwardly directed lips, or some other convenient and conventional design The tracking is adapted to accommodate locking units as will be described hereinafter.

It is to be appreciated that since the restraint unit that is to be described is connected solely to tracking 1, 2, provided in the floor of a vehicle, the unit does not require the use of roof-mounted or wall-mounted anchoring points,

which are required by many prior proposed wheelchair restraint systems Thus the restraint system that is about to be described may be located at any convenient point within a vehicle, and may even be located at a substantially central point in the vehicle.

The principal unit 3 of the presently described embodiment of the invention comprises two substantially identical, but mirror-image, assemblies 4, Each assembly 4, 5, is provided with a respective anchoring arrangement 6,

7 Each anchoring arrangement is adapted to engage a respective track Each anchoring arrangement 6, 7 may be of the type shown in GB-A-2,315,013, which is specifically designed to engage a track provided with two inwardly directed lips at the top of an elongate channel Such track is conventional, and the tracks 1, 2 are preferably of this type and may also have a plurality of evenly spaced-apart regions where the lips of the track are cut or milled away to form circular openings Each anchoring assembly 6, 7, may incorporate a spigot adapted to engage an opening of this type so that the assemblies 3, 5, may be correctly located on the tracks.

Each anchoring means of the illustrated embodiment includes two parallel spaced-apart plates 10, 11, (shown most clearly in Figure 6) each with a lower edge which is outwardly cranked 12, 13, to engage inwardly directed opposed lips provided on a channel An actuating lever 14 is provided adapted to move a separator element 15 from an elevated position, in which the lower 6 edges of the resilient elements 10, 11 are biased inwardly to enable them to be inserted into the channel to a spaced-apart position, as shown in Figure 6, where the lower edges of the resilient elements 10 and 11 firmly engage under the lips of a channel A safety-catch 16 is provided to prevent the actuating handle 14 being inadvertently moved to the release position.

The distance between the tracks in different vehicles may differ slightly and thus the two side assemblies 4, 5, are inter-connected by at least one telescopic adjuster tube 20 (see Figure 5) The telescopic adjuster tube 20 comprises a tubular portion 21 of greater diameter, which is mounted on the side assembly 4, which receives a rod or tube 22 of lesser diameter which is secured to the side assembly 5 In the illustrated embodiment only one telescopic tube is shown, but it is to be understood that a plurality of telescopic tubes may be utilised Although not shown in the presently described embodiment, clamping means may be provided to clamp the, or each, telescopic adjuster tube 20 in an appropriate position with the anchoring means 6, 7, accurately aligned with the tracks 1, 2.

It is, therefore, to be understood that by selecting the distance between the side assemblies 4, 5, by adjusting the length of the or each telescopic tube 20, and by engaging the anchoring arrangements 6, 7, with the tracks 1, 2, the described unit may be firmly mounted in position within a motor vehicle.

Each side assembly incorporates a substantially vertical support plate 30.

The support plate 30 of the side assembly 5 will be described, but it is to be appreciated that the support plate 30 of the side assembly 4 is of an equivalent, but mirror image, design The support plate 30 has a lower end region 31 which is securely connected to the anchoring arrangement 7 by means of bolts 32 Immediately above the lower-most region 31 of the support plate 30 7 is a region 33 of enlarged width which engages the end of one component of the telescopic tube 20, in this case the end 24 of the inner element 22.

Mounted on the inner face of the support plate 30, at a position above the telescopic rod 20, is a retractor reel 34.

The upper end of the support plate 30 carries a pivotally mounted location arm 35 The location arm is pivoted to pivot about an axis 36 between the substantially horizontal, or forwardly extending position, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6, or a lowered position as shown in Figure 4.

It is to be appreciated that the pivotal connection 36 between the location arm 35 and the upper end of the support plate 30 is located adjacent one end of the location arm which can be considered to be the rearward or upper end 37 of the location arm Provided at the rearward or upper end of the location arm is a contact element 38 in the form of an elongate horizontal engagement bar which is slidably mounted in an aperture 39 formed within the location arm 35 The contact element may slide axially through the aperture 39 between an inner position as shown in the accompanying drawings, or an outer position Thus the engagement bar 38 may move in the direction shown by the arrow 40 in Figure 5.

The lower, or forward end 41 of the location arm 35, carries an equivalent contact element in the form of an engagement bar 42, which passes through an aperture 43 formed in the lower or forward end of the location arm 35.

8 Each of the engagement bars 38, 42 has enlarged ends so that each engagement bar is captive It is to be understood that each engagement bar may be adjusted laterally.

A locking pin 44 is provided which may lock the location arm 33 in either the horizontal, forwardly extending position, or in the lowered position.

The location arm 35 and the engagement bars 38, 42, may be adjusted so that at least one engagement bar of each side assembly 4,5, is, when the described system is in use, in fimn contact with part of the frame of a wheelchair, regardless of the width of the frame of the wheelchair, and regardless of the spacing between the two tracks, and thus the spacing between the two assemblies Also, contact may be established with a wheelchair even if the wheelchair is an electric wheelchair having a rearwardly extending housing which accommodates a drive motor.

A ratchet winder 50 is provided which is mounted on the outer tubular element 21 of the telescopic tube 20 so as to be located substantially centrally between the two side assemblies 4, 5, when the restraint system is in use The ratchet winder comprises a spool 51 which receives one end of a webbing strap 52 An operating handle 53 is provided which can be actuated initially to draw in the strap 52 on to the spool 51, and to maintain tension in the strap, and which can be subsequently actuated to release the strap The strap 52 is connected, at the end 54, to the centre part of a relatively short heavy- duty webbing strap 55 which is provided with a respective hook or karabiner 56, at each end, to engage parts of the frame of the wheelchair Thus one hook or karabiner 56 can be connected to each side of the frame of the wheelchair, for example adjacent the rear wheels The rachet winder 50 may then be operated to draw the single strap, and thus the back part of the wheelchair, towards the 9 described unit Part of the frame of the wheelchair will engage the contact elements that are positioned appropriately In the arrangement as shown in Figure 1, the location arms 35 are shown in the elevated position, and the contact elements 42 at the forward ends 41 of the location arms 35 engage the back-rest of a wheelchair 60.

In one embodiment of the invention a spring or other resilient element is provided between the single strap 54 and the heavy duty webbing 55 An equivalent spring arrangement could be provided at any position between the means supporting the ratchet winder 50 and the element or elements engaging the wheelchair The spring provides some resilience in the strap arrangement.

If the spring is provided the ratchet winder may be operated until the spring begins to stretch If subsequently the wheelchair tends to move forwardly, it may move slightly against the resistance provided by the spring, and will then be drawn back to the initial position.

Extending from the retractor reels 34 are respective safety-belts 70, 71, which extend over the back-rest to form shoulder straps for an occupant of the wheelchair Each shoulder-belt terminates with a tongue 72 The tongue 72 is adapted to be received within a buckle 73 connected, by means of a connecting wire 74, to the anchoring assembly 7 Thus, it is to be appreciated that the straps 71 will pass over the shoulder of an occupant of the wheelchair, and then pass under the arm of that occupant so that the tongue 72 carried at the end of the strap may be received within the buckle 73 Thus the straps 70, 71 thus both form shoulder straps.

A lap strap 80 is also provided for use by the occupant of the wheelchair One end of the lap strap 80 is wound on a spool in a retractor 81 which is mounted adjacent the retractor for the shoulder strap on the side assembly 4 The lap strap 80 is designed to pass across the hips of the occupant of the wheelchair 60 and terminates in a tongue 82 to be received in a buckle 83 mounted on a stalk 84 which is secured to a lower part of the support plate 30 of the side assembly 5.

It is to be appreciated, therefore, that in use of the restraint system described above, initially the principal unit 3 is mounted in position on the tracks and a wheelchair, together with the occupant of the wheelchair, is located in position immediately in front of the unit The hooks or karabiners 56 mounted on the strap 55 which is connected to the strap 52 wound on the ratchet binder, are connected to the frame of the wheelchair The location arms and the contact elements are located in appropriate positions depending upon the precise design of the wheelchair The ratchet binder is then operated to draw the wheelchair rearwardly until the wheelchair engages the appropriate contact elements The wheelchair is thus held firmly in position against the main unit The shoulder straps 70, 71 are then located in position, with the straps being withdrawn from the appropriate retractors being passed over the shoulders of the occupant, and with the tongues at the ends of the straps being received in the buckles Finally, the lap strap 80 is located in position, with the tongue 82 received in the buckle 83.

In the event that an accident should occur, the occupant of the wheelchair will be restrained by the shoulder straps 70, 71 and the lap strap 80.

It is to be appreciated that the unit, as described above, may be located at any position within a vehicle where appropriate tracks are provided, since the described arrangement is not reliant on any belt-guide which is mounted on the side wall of the vehicle.

11 While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment in which the described unit is mounted on tracks in the vehicle floor, in other embodiments the unit may be secured to the floor in other ways, such as by bolts.

In the present Specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of" and "comprising" means "including or consisting of'.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

Claims

Claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. 12 CLAIMS:

1 A wheelchair restraint unit having means to secure the unit to the floor of a vehicle, means to secure a wheelchair to the unit, and a safety-belt arrangement carried by the unit to engage and restrain an occupant of the wheelchair.

2 A unit according to Claim 1 wherein the unit has two side assemblies, each assembly having means to secure the assembly to a respective track provided in the floor of the vehicle.

3 A unit according to Claim 2 wherein the assemblies are interconnected by telescopic means.

4 A unit according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein each assembly includes an upstanding support element carrying a location arm having means to engage a wheelchair.

A unit according to Claim 4 wherein the means to engage a wheelchair is a laterally adjustable engagement bar.

6 A unit according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein each location arm is pivotally mounted on the support element and is movable between a substantially horizontal forwardly extending position and a lowered position.

7 A unit according to Claim 6 wherein a laterally adjustable engagement bar is provided at each end of each location arm.

8 A unit according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the means to secure a wheelchair to the unit comprises a strap arrangement having hooks or karabiners to engage the wheelchair and a mechanism to draw in part of the strap arrangement.

9 A unit according to Claim 7 wherein the mechanism is a ratchet winder.

A unit according to any one of Claims 8 or 9 wherein the strap arrangement incorporates a spring or resilient element.

11 A unit according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the safety-

belt arrangement is in the form of a harness comprising a lap strap and two shoulder belts.

12 A unit according to Claim 11 wherein two retractors are mounted on the unit each receiving one end of a respective shoulder belt, there being two separate buckles mounted on the unit, each adapted to receive a tongue provided at the end of a respective shoulder belt, the lap strap being formed of two strap portions, each having one end secured to the unit.

13 A wheelchair restraint unit substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.