GB2411429A - Double plunger track fitting - Google Patents
Double plunger track fitting Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2411429A GB2411429A GB0404220A GB0404220A GB2411429A GB 2411429 A GB2411429 A GB 2411429A GB 0404220 A GB0404220 A GB 0404220A GB 0404220 A GB0404220 A GB 0404220A GB 2411429 A GB2411429 A GB 2411429A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- track
- plungers
- fitting
- double plunger
- body member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
- B64D11/06—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
- B64D11/0696—Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
- A61G3/08—Accommodating or securing wheelchairs or stretchers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
- A61G3/08—Accommodating or securing wheelchairs or stretchers
- A61G3/0808—Accommodating or securing wheelchairs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P7/00—Securing or covering of load on vehicles
- B60P7/06—Securing of load
- B60P7/08—Securing to the vehicle floor or sides
- B60P7/0807—Attachment points
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P7/00—Securing or covering of load on vehicles
- B60P7/06—Securing of load
- B60P7/08—Securing to the vehicle floor or sides
- B60P7/0807—Attachment points
- B60P7/0815—Attachment rails or trellis
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64D9/00—Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like
- B64D9/003—Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers
Abstract
A double plunger track fitting 7 for use in securing a wheelchair or the like to a floor track mounted in a vehicle. The track fitting includes at least four track-engaging lugs 5 on each side thereof, and a pair of spring loaded plungers 8 between adjacent pairs of lugs to lock into the floor track when the fitting slides therealong. Finger grips 13 are provided on the spring loaded plungers 8. A visual indicator is provided to indicate when the plungers 8 are in the locked position. The visual indicator may comprise a multi-coloured pin 18. Alternatively, the visual indication may be provided by the difference between the surface of the cover 23 and the surface of a finger 21.
Description
241 1429 Double Plunner Track Fitting
Field of Invention
This invention relates to wheelchair restraint systems and more particularly to an improved spring-loaded track fitting for adjustably securing a wheelchair tie down strap to a floor track mounted in a vehicular conveyance.
Background of Invention
Conventionally, buses and vans equipped to carry wheelchairs and the like are provided with a pair of parallel slotted floor tracks into which one or more strap anchor fittings can be inserted and secured at any selected position therealong. Usually such anchors are provided with a springloaded plunger, the lower end of which can be passed through an opening in the track and, upon release of the spring, the sides of the plunger releasably engage with the track at any selected position therealong. While such fittings are generally effective they are not without their disadvantages. The fact that they are secured to the track at substantially one end of the anchor fitting implies that there is a considerable moment of force applied to the fitting when a heavy load, as in a sudden deceleration or crash situation, is applied thereto and this can cause bending or twisting of the fitting or of the track itself so that the fitting jams in the track and no longer slides freely therealong. There is a need, therefore, for an improved track fitting that spreads the applied load along a longer length of the fitting and track so as to prevent or at least minimize such bending or twisting of the fitting and/or the track.
Obiect of Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a track plunger fitting that engages two adjacent holes in a conventional floor track so as to eliminate or reduce any twisting action on the fitting. In order to accommodate two plungers without increasing the overall height of the device, a split plunger with overlapping heads in employed.
Brief Description of Invention
By one aspect of this invention there is provided a double plunger track fitting comprising: a body member including means to secure a restraining strap thereto, and at least four track engaging lugs on each side of said body and extending laterally therefrom when in operative position; spring loaded means on each side of said body member, each having a pair of plungers longitudinally from each other and adapted to slide, when in operative position, between two adjacent pairs of said track engaging lugs between a raised unlocked position and a lowered locked position; finger grip means on each said spring loaded means arranged in overlying relationship to each other; and characterized by visual means to indicate when said plungers are in said lowered locked position.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig 1 is an isometric view of a plunger type track fitting according to the prior art and provided with a single plunger; Fig 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the track fitting and double plunger of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an isometric enlarged view of the plunger of the embodiment of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the plunger of Fig. 2 as inserted into a floor track; Fig 5 is an isometric view of the embodiment of Fig. 2 incorporating one type of locking indicator; Fig. 6 is an isometric view, similar to Fig. 5, showing an alternative type of locking indicator; Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the embodiment of Fig. 2, in the unlocked position, incorporating a slide mechanism to lock said plungers into locked position; Fig. 8 is an internal view of Fig. 7 illustrating the slide mechanism; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the slide of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the plunger of Fig. 8.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
In Fig. 1 there is shown a conventional floor track 1, generally formed from extruded aluminum and provided with a C-shaped track 2 and a plurality of slots 3, uniformly spaced along the length thereof. A die cast or forged metal track fitting 4 having a pair of outwardly extending lugs 5, which can be inserted in any adjacent pair of slots 3, and so that the tops of the lugs 5 engage the underside of the C-shaped section of track 2, is locked into any selected position along the length thereof by means of a spring loaded plunger 6 which engages a selected slot 3. It will be appreciated that the fitting is relatively short and only two lugs on each side engage with the track so that there is some tendency to twist when a load is applied upwardly, which can occur in an emergency crash or stop situation.
In Fig.2 there is shown a track fitting 7 according to one embodiment of the present invention which is designed so that four lugs 5 can be inserted into four adjacent slots 3 in a conventional floor track 2, and slid therealong until two spring loaded plungers 8 drop into a pair of adjacent slots 3 on each side of the track 2, as seen most clearly in Fig. 4. It will be appreciated that, as lugs 5 are inserted into slots 3, the lower surfaces of plungers 8 engage the top surface of the track 1, the internal compression springs (not shown) therein are compressed when the lugs 5 are fully inserted in the slots 3, the fitting 7 can then slide along the track 2 until the plungers 8 are exactly located over an adjacent pair of slots 3, whereupon the compressed springs force the plungers 8 downwardly into the slots 3, thereby locking the fitting 4 securely in a selected position along the track 1. Usually, but not essentially, the plungers 8 are fabricated in any conventional thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material, such as glass filled nylon or similar abrasion resistant material. For ease of manufacture, it has been found preferable to make the plungers 8 in two parts 9, 10, each having a pair of plungers 8 in spaced longitudinal alignment to each other, and interconnected by a side body member 11, 12 respectively. Each part 9, 10 is provided with a substantially oval shaped planar finger grip 13, 14, in overlying relationship to each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In order to release the fitting 4 from track 1, upward finger pressure is applied to grips 13, 14 to raise the plungers 8 out of their respective slots 3 so that fitting 4 can slide along track 1 until the lugs 5 are aligned with an adjacent pair of slots 3 and can be removed therefrom. Because the track fitting of the present invention is considerably longer than that of the prior art, as exemplified in Fig. 1, there is far less tendency for the fitting 4 to twist and bind in the track 1.
It will, of course, be appreciated that a strap engaging lug 15 may be secured by a bolt 16 (as seen in Fig.1) insertable in threaded bore 17 (Fig.2) in conventional manner.
It has also been found that, in the event dirt enters the track or a track bolt is loose, the plungers 8 may appear to be locked in place but are in fact not securely locked and it is possible that, in the event of a sudden stop or accident, the track fitting will separate from the track thereby releasing the restraint system to the danger of the wheelchair passenger. It is advisable, therefore, that the the double plunger system should also incorporate a visual indicator to show that the plungers 8 are in the fully locked position. One such indicator 18 is shown in Fig. and comprises a multi-coloured pin which extends through a cover 19 on plungers 8. The top of the pin 18 may be coloured, say red on the top and along part of the sides 20 thereof, but green along the lower sides 21 thereof. The green lower portions are, of course, only visible when the plungers 8 are fully engaged and locked in place on the track.
In Fig. 6 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the visual indicator described with reference to Fig. 5. Track fitting 7 is provided with finger grips 13, 14, plungers 8 and lugs 5 as in other embodiments, and the rear of fitting 7 is provided with a finger 21, forming part of the housing 22 of fitting 7, and extending longitudinally into a cover 23 forming part of finger grips 13, 14, such that when the plungers 8 are in the fully depressed and locked position, the top surface of finger 21 is flush with the top surface of cover 23. It will be appreciated that if plungers 8 are not fully locked, then the surface of cover 23 will be above the surface of finger 21 and the difference therebetween will provide a clear visual indication that the fingers are not locked.
In some circumstances it may also be desirable to provide a visual indication of locking and to secure the plungers in the locked position by a positive locking mechanism. One such lock is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the pin 18 and finger 21 of Figs. 5 and 6 are replaced by a slide 24, projecting rearwardly from the cover 23 and movable from an extended unlocked position, shown in Fig 7, to a closed locked position (not shown) in which the slide engages plungers 8 so as to hold them in the locked position and prevent lifting of finger grips 13, 14 until the lock slide 24 is extended rearwardly. As seen more clearly in Fig.9, slide 24 is provided with a narrow slot 26 which engages in slot in the plungers 8 and a wider slot 29 which disengages from slot 25 when the slide 24 is pulled outwardly to the unlocked position.
Claims (7)
1. A double plunger track fitting comprising: a body member including means to secure a restraining strap thereto, and at least four track engaging lugs on each side of said body and extending laterally therefrom when in operative position; spring loaded means on each side of said body member, each having a pair of plungers longitudinally from each other and adapted to slide, when in operative position, between two adjacent pairs of said track engaging lugs between a raised unlocked position and a lowered locked position; finger grip means on each said spring loaded means arranged in overlying relationship to each other; and characterized by visual means to indicate when said plungers are in said lowered locked position.
2. A double plunger track fitting as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said body member is a die cast metal member.
3. A double plunger track fitting as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that said spring loaded means comprise a pair of plungers each having a pair of longitudinally spaced track engaging members and a pair of finger grips in overlying relationship to each other
4. A double plunger track fitting as claimed in claim 3 characterized by strap engaging lug means mounted on said body member.
5. A double plunger track fitting as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said visual means comprises multi-coloured pin means extending through said body member.
6. A double plunger track fitting as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said visual means comprises finger means extending longitudinally into said body member and having an upper surface aligned with an upper surface of said body member when in a selected one of said locked and unlocked positions.
7. A double plunger track fitting as claimed in claim 1 characterized by slide means to positively lock said plungers in said locked position.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0404220A GB2411429B (en) | 2004-02-25 | 2004-02-25 | Double plunger track fitting |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0404220A GB2411429B (en) | 2004-02-25 | 2004-02-25 | Double plunger track fitting |
Publications (4)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB0404220D0 GB0404220D0 (en) | 2004-03-31 |
GB2411429A true GB2411429A (en) | 2005-08-31 |
GB2411429A8 GB2411429A8 (en) | 2005-09-23 |
GB2411429B GB2411429B (en) | 2006-08-23 |
Family
ID=32050874
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB0404220A Expired - Fee Related GB2411429B (en) | 2004-02-25 | 2004-02-25 | Double plunger track fitting |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2411429B (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2430466A (en) * | 2005-09-27 | 2007-03-28 | Valeda Company Llc | Track fitting with visual indicia of engagement |
WO2010149178A1 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2010-12-29 | Telair International Gmbh | Functional element, method for producing a functional element |
FR3120835A1 (en) | 2021-03-17 | 2022-09-23 | Renault S.A.S | ANCHOR STRUCTURE |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4796837A (en) * | 1987-07-27 | 1989-01-10 | Dowd Eugene G | Leg seat track fitting with improved bearing member |
US5449132A (en) * | 1992-02-03 | 1995-09-12 | Weber Aircraft, Inc. | Passenger seat rear track fitting |
US5609452A (en) * | 1993-12-09 | 1997-03-11 | Satron, Inc. | Cargo track fitting |
EP0900727A2 (en) * | 1997-09-04 | 1999-03-10 | VS Guss AG | Sliding element with safety plate |
DE29901216U1 (en) * | 1999-01-25 | 1999-06-02 | Jungfalk Ancra Gmbh | Device for temporarily connecting a movable object to a holding rail |
-
2004
- 2004-02-25 GB GB0404220A patent/GB2411429B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4796837A (en) * | 1987-07-27 | 1989-01-10 | Dowd Eugene G | Leg seat track fitting with improved bearing member |
US5449132A (en) * | 1992-02-03 | 1995-09-12 | Weber Aircraft, Inc. | Passenger seat rear track fitting |
US5609452A (en) * | 1993-12-09 | 1997-03-11 | Satron, Inc. | Cargo track fitting |
EP0900727A2 (en) * | 1997-09-04 | 1999-03-10 | VS Guss AG | Sliding element with safety plate |
DE29901216U1 (en) * | 1999-01-25 | 1999-06-02 | Jungfalk Ancra Gmbh | Device for temporarily connecting a movable object to a holding rail |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7637705B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2009-12-29 | Valeda Company | Track fitting with visual indicia of engagement |
GB2430466A (en) * | 2005-09-27 | 2007-03-28 | Valeda Company Llc | Track fitting with visual indicia of engagement |
WO2010149178A1 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2010-12-29 | Telair International Gmbh | Functional element, method for producing a functional element |
US8979450B2 (en) | 2009-06-22 | 2015-03-17 | Telair International Gmbh | Function element, method for producing a function element |
FR3120835A1 (en) | 2021-03-17 | 2022-09-23 | Renault S.A.S | ANCHOR STRUCTURE |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0404220D0 (en) | 2004-03-31 |
GB2411429B (en) | 2006-08-23 |
GB2411429A8 (en) | 2005-09-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7637705B2 (en) | Track fitting with visual indicia of engagement | |
US6918722B1 (en) | Double plunger track fitting | |
US4509888A (en) | Track fastener | |
US5902015A (en) | Seat belt gripping tool, and method of use | |
US20040084939A1 (en) | Retractable coupling apparatus | |
US4676555A (en) | Seat belt anchor mechanism | |
EP0499856B1 (en) | Belt fastener arrangement for a safety belt system | |
US7533932B2 (en) | Slide adjuster for an automobile seat | |
US4729602A (en) | Seat belt anchor mechanism | |
AU2018248792B2 (en) | Height adjustable wheelchair docking system | |
US8336663B2 (en) | Adaptive seatbelt apparatus | |
GB2411429A (en) | Double plunger track fitting | |
US3897963A (en) | Passive safety device for a vehicle | |
US4944531A (en) | Device for coupling a bracket which is provided with a buckle of a seat belt, to a retaining member, which is fixed in a vehicle | |
CN204472750U (en) | A kind of belt buckle of automobile | |
US20180056934A1 (en) | Resettable Load-Limiting Adaptive Seatbelt Apparatus | |
CN209795410U (en) | Anti-sliding mechanism of safety belt | |
US3927902A (en) | Safety belt arrangement for individuals | |
CN209191884U (en) | An a kind of key tripper | |
WO2022090915A1 (en) | Car seat belt release device | |
DE2739914C2 (en) | ||
WO2003042011A1 (en) | Locking arrangement for safety belt | |
US5004268A (en) | Mechanism for positional adjustment of anchor for webbing in passive seat belt system for vehicle | |
CN218228922U (en) | Portable station safety belt | |
CN218245981U (en) | Safety buckle with locking key |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
COOA | Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application |
Owner name: GIRAM UK LTD Free format text: FORMER APPLICANT(S): GIRARDIN, JEAN-MARC |
|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20100225 |