GB2440131A

GB2440131A - Securing a wheelchair or other object to a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2440131A
Application number: GB0613970A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Daniel Samuels; Brian Reginald Healy
Original assignee: W H Aspect Ltd
Current assignee: W H Aspect Ltd
Priority date: 2006-07-14
Filing date: 2006-07-14
Publication date: 2008-01-23
Also published as: GB0613970D0

Abstract

A securing device for releasably securing an article 20 to a vehicle comprises two components 14,17, to be mounted on each of a vehicle 16 and article 20 respectively. The two components engage each other magnetically to secure the article. The magnet may be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. The mating surfaces of the two components may be formed into an array 38 of grooves, ribs, pyramids or cubes. In the illustrated embodiment a magnetic member is recessed into a vehicle floor, and the article is a wheelchair.

Description

DESCRIPTION

VEHICLE AND METHOD OF MODIFICATION THEREOF

The present invention relates to a device for releasably securing an article to a vehicle during transportation.

A number of standard cars are often modified after production in order to accommodate people with mobility problems who may be wheelchair bound.

This modification is necessary, as most manufacturers of cars do not take into consideration the possibility of disabled drivers or passengers, the majority of cars being aimed at the general public. More often than not, vehicles are adapted in a number of ways, not least to provide a harness point by means of which a wheel chair can be secured to the floor of the vehicle.

Also, articles requiring transportation may also be secured to the body of the vehicle by means of a harness or other attachment means. As it will be is apparent. the deployment of a harness can often be time consuming and problematic and therefore an improved method of securing articles to a vehicle is needed.

WO 94/38726 discloses a device for securing a load to a surface of a vehicle comprising a housing carrying means for holding the load and containing at least one permanent magnet for fixabi securing the housing in a desired position on the surface of a vehicle. While such a device may be useful for attaching an article to the roof of a vehicle (the device being an element of a roof- -.-rack). the portable device can only secure articles to the vehicle when in close proximity to a ferrous magnetic material (such as a body panel).

It is therefbre an object of the present invention to a!leviate one or more of the above identified problems. it is also an object of the present invention to provide a means for releasably attaching articles to a vehicle, such that they can be held in place or released as and when required. it would be particularly advantageous if such a means where adaptable for a number of applications, such as securing a wheel chair to a vehicle, or securing potentially any article (such as cargo) to a vehicle during transportation.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a securing device for releasably securing an article to a vehicle, the device comprising a first component adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and a second component adapted to be mounted on or attached to the article to be secured, wherein one component is magnetisable and another component is adapted to produce a

magnetic field to attract the other component.

Therefore the present invention provides for a device which can be useful in a number of applications for securing articles to the vehicle for any particular reason, such as during ansportation.

Preferably, the first and second components are relatively disolaceabie towards each other b' magnetic attraction. Alternatively, the first and second components ma be displaceable relati to each other by a mechanical.

h:drciic. or electromagnetic act:ator. ri tc rrdvre the risk of any s!ipage between the first and second ccnponents when displaced towards each other. it is preferred that the first and second components are engageable with each other.

The first and second components may have profiled complernentarily shaped abutting surfaces so as to engage one another. The profiled complementarily shaped abutting surfaces may form an array. It will be apparent to one skilled in s the art that if appropriate, multiple arrays may be located either adjacently to one another or with spaces between them. The profiled complementarily shaped abutting surfaces may be selected from a number of features that would confer an anti-slip surface and may be formed from one or more of the following groups of arrays: grooves, ribs, pyramids, or cubes. A roughened surface may also be employed as the profiled corn plementarily shaped abutting surfaces if appropriate.

The component adapted to produce a magnetic field may comprise an electromagnet. Preferably, the electromagnet has a displaceable core. More preferably, the electromagnet has a moveable soft iron core. The magnetic force may be exerted from the electromagnet by passing an electrical current through a solenoid coil disposed around the periphery magnet. Energising the solenoid coil may also displace the first and second components towards each other.

The first component may be received in a housing. Furthermore, the component adapted to produce a magnetic field may be capable of floating relative to the part of the vehicle so as to allow for slight variations in the plate location on an article and/or surface topographical features if provided.

Preferably, the component adapted to produce a magnetic field is adapted to be attached to the floor pan of a vehicle, such as a car. The component adapted to produce a magnetic field is preferably received in an aperture in the vehicle so that when not in use, it is stowed away and does not pose an obstruction in the interior of the vehicle. In order to assist the operation of the device when the surfaces of the component adapted to produce a magnetic field and the component adapted to produce a magnetic field are displaced towards one another. the surface of the component adapted to produce a magnetic field can be capable of tilting in the range of 0 to 20 from the horizontal axis in order to accommodate for different relative positions of the surfaces. Allowing a certain amount of flexibility will also assist when the vehicle experiences a sudden shock or deceleration/acceleration.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that the magnet may comprise a permanent magnet. Should the first component be a permanent magnet, the first and second component may be disposed towards each other by mechanical, electromagnetic or hydraulic actuators. The magnetic force may be exerted by one or more poles of two or more magnets being brought into alignment with one is another. The poles of two or more magnets may be brought into alignment by means of a mechanical, electromagnetic or hydraulic means.

The component adapted to produce a magnetic field may comprise a plate structure. Such a plate may further comprise an inwardly curved lip disposed around its periphery and such a lip may he integrally formed for the plate or alternatively fitted afler manufacture. For example. the inwardly curved lip may be employed by providing a wire around the periphery which achieves the sante ftmcion as an inwardly curved lip. Correspondingly, the surface of the component adapted to produce a magnetic field may have an outwardly protruding rim capable of being received by the inwardly curved lip of the plate when a shock to the device temporarily displaces the surfaces of the components when held in place by the magnetic force. Therefore. should the vehicle be involved in an accident or have to brake suddenly, the provision of the profiled complementary shaped abutting surfaces and the inwardly curved lip/outwardly protruding rim will assist in maintaining contact between the magnet and the article/attachment member.

Irrespective of whether or not a permanent magnet or a electro magnet is used with the present invention, it is preferable that the magnetic force can be Jo engaged or disengaged remotely from the device. Therefore, the driver who operates the vehicle can simply activate the device depending on whether or not he or she wishes to securely hold an article in place. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second component is located on the underside of a wheelchair and the device is therefore used to releasably secure a wheelchair to the floor pan of a vehicle. It will be apparent that a vehicle and/or wheelchair may be retro fitted with the device or plate.

It will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention could equally be used to secure cargo to a vehicle such as a lorry or a ship and as the second component may be attached to potentially any article, and the device may be used to attach cars to the loading bay of a ship for example. Should the deployment of the magnet be powered by an electrical source, it is preferred that the electrical source is a battery which is independent to that of the battery used h the vehicle. Therefore. should the vehicle be involved in an accident, the magnetic force would still be deployed to hold the article in place. In order to further assist in maintaining the magnetic force during an accident. the battery may be placed in a safe location in the vehicle, such as within the floor pan or secured in a boot. The battery may also be charged from the engine by means of the alternator. Contact of the magnet to the article/attachment member may be assessed due to the conductivity of the two parts and this can be relayed to a central processing unit in order to ascertain whether or not the article/attachment member is correctly being held by the magnet.

When the device is being used to hold a wheelchair in place, it will be evident that should the vehicle be involved in an accident, the magnetic force required to hold the chair to the vehicle floor pan only needs to support the force of movement of the chair itself as in most cases, a seat belt will be worn by the disabled person and the G-force of the person moving forward would be absorbed by the seat belt, rather than the chair.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle incorporating a device as hereinabove described.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying a vehicle so as to allow the releasable holding of a article, the method comprising adapting part of the vehicle to receive a first component adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and a second component adapted to be mounted on or attached to the article to be secured, wherein one component is magnetisable and another component is adapted to produce a magnetic field to attract the other component. Preferably. the method of modification incorporates a device as hereinabove described.

In a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for producing a device for releasably holding an article to a vehicle, the kit comprising: (a) a first component capable of being mounted on the vehicle or article

and adapted to produce a magnetic field; and

(b) a second component capable of being mounted on the article or vehicle and being magnetisable by the magnetic field produced by the first component.

The kit may further comprise a second component manufactured from a material having a moveable soft iron core.

Preferably, the kit of parts is used (and indeed contains the features) of the device as hereinabove described.

By way of example only. a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of securing device in accordance with the present invention, for releasably securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower component of the securing device of Fig. 1: Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the securing device of Fig. 1. illustrated in non-securing condition: and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the securing device of Fig. 1, shown in a securing condition.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4. an embodiment of securing device in accordance with the present invention comprises an upper component 10 which, in use, is secured to a wheelchair 12 or other article and a lower component 14 secured to the floor 16 of the vehicle. As shown in Fig. 1, the upper component comprises a rectangular plate 17 having a clamp 18 secured to its upper face by means of which it may be secured to a frame member 20 of the wheelchair 12 in a generally horizontal orientation at a position a few centimetres above the level of the vehicle floor 16. The undersurface of the upper component 10 is formed into a regular array of identical pyramid-shaped lugs 22, each approximately 5mm in height. The rectangular plate 17. including the undersurface of the plate is formed from a reversibly magnetisable material, such as soft iron, which is magnetised when subject to a magnetic field but which does not retain any significant

permanent magnetism when the field is removed.

The lower component 14 is affixed to the floor 16 of the vehicle in which the wheelchair is to be transported. The lower component 14 comprises a tubular cylindrical housing 18 which is closed off at its lower end by a circular base wall 24. A cylindrical collar 26 of smaller diameter is fitted into the housing, leaving an annular gap 28 which receives a solenoid coil. The upper end of the internal collar 26 is formed into a radially extending securing plate 32 which covers the surface of the vehicle floor 16 adjacent to the lower component 14. The plate 32 is generally square, with rounded corners, and is provided with a securing aperture 34 at each of its four corners.

A cylindrical soft iron core 36 is slidably disposed with respect to the inner collar 26. The upper circular face of the core is formed into a regular array of pyramid-shaped Jugs 38. complementarily to the under surface of the upper component 10. The opposite end of the core 36 is provided with a peripheral rim 39 of greater diameter than the diameter of the internal collar, to allow upward displacement of the core 36, whilst limiting the maximum upward displacement.

In use, the housing of the lower component 14 is set into a recess in the floor 16 of a vehicle and is secured to the vehicle floor by passing bolts through each of the four apertures 34 in the corners of the securing plate into threaded recesses provided in the floor. As mentioned previously, the upper component 10 is secured to a frame member 20 of a wheelchair, with the surface which bears the pyramid-shaped lugs 22 facing downwardly, in a horizontal orientation.

When the solenoid coil 31 is not subjected to an electric current, a magnetic field is not produced and the core 30 therefore rests in a de-energised position shown in Fig. 3. in which the core 30 rests on the lower base wall 24 of the housing. However, when the solenoid coil 31 is subjected to an electric current (and therefore enenzisedL a magnetic field passes through. and extends from, the core 30 and the field is capable of attracting another magnetisabie material. When the core 30 is energised. provided that the upper component 10 is place directly above slov;; 1i Fg. 4;. a mutual magnetic attraction is created between the core 30 aid the upper component, causing the core to be displaced upwardly, into engagement with the profiled undersurface of the upper component 10. The energised core and the upper component are held together in the vertical direction by means of magnetic attraction, whilst the regular array of identical pyramid-shaped lugs 22 fit in a complimentary manner to the under surface of the first component to hold the upper component in place horizontally.

If required, the core can floaf' within the housing of the lower component so as to allow for variations in the height of the upper component and if the complimentary surfaces of the upper and lower components are not aligned accurately. This can be achieved by providing a universal coupling or may simply rely upon the peripheral rim 39 of the core allowing a degree of lateral movement or play within the housing 18. Such movement may allow for the first component to tilt in the range of 0 to 20 from the horizontal axis.

The securing device can also be provided with an additional means to prevent the temporary disruption of contact between the upper and lower IS components. For example, the vehicle may be subjected to a severe shock as a result of road traffic accident. The undersurface of the upper component 10 may therefore be provided with an internally facing rim 40, extending along the rectangular edge. The circular face of the core 36 of the lower component may also he provided with a radially extending lip 42. Should a lateral shock temporarily dislodge the surfaces of the upper and lower components when the core 36 is energised. the radially extending lip 42 of the lower component can be received by the inwardly facing rim 40 and therefore, contact between components is maintained during and/or after temporary dislodgement. -li-

The securing device can be used in many vehicles types and, in particular, can be used in a multi-person vehicle (MPV) to secure a person sat in a wheelchair to floor 16 or the vehicle. The securing device can be manufactured within the vehicle itself or retrofitted to an existing vehicle so as to adapt it for use by a wheelchair-hound person. A central processing unit (not shown) can also he used to control the electric current passing through the solenoid coil 31 and/or remote control device so that the magnet can be activated from a remote location.

Therefore, when a wheelchair 12 is positioned in the correct position with the upper component 10 over the core 36. the solenoid coil 31 can be energised to secure the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicle. In order to release the wheelchair 12 from the floor 16 of the vehicle, the electrical current passing through the solenoid coil is switched off which results in the core simply dropping down into the housing under gravity.

The securing device need not necessarily be limited to the application of securing a wheelchair to a vehicle floor, but may also be implemented for securing a range of articles/containers to the floor of a vehicle, for example by providing a base plate to the underside of a car, the car could be securely held to the loading deck of a ship which is provided with an area having an electromagnet capable of holding the base plate secureh. -12..

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A securing device for releasably securing an article to a vehicle, the device comprising a first component adapted to he mounted on the vehicle and a second component adapted to be mounted on or attached to the article to be secured, wherein one component is magnetisable and another component is adapted to produce a magnetic field to attract the other component.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second components are displaceable towards each other by magnetic attraction.

3. A device as claimed in claims 1, wherein the first and second components are displaced towards each other by a mechanical, hydraulic, or electromagnetic actuator.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3. wherein the first and second components are engageable with each other.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second components have profiled complernentariiv shaped abutting surfaces.

6. A device as claimed in claim. wherein the profiled compiementarilv shaped abutting surfaces form an array. 1-,

-I_) - 7. A device as claimed in claim 6. wherein the array is formed from one or more of the following groups of arrays: grooves, ribs, pyramids, or cubes.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the component adapted to produce a magnetic field comprises an electromagnet.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8. wherein the electromagnet has a displaceable core. I0

10. A device as claimed in either claim 8 or 9. wherein the electromagnet has a movable soft iron core.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10. wherein the magnetic force is exerted from the electromagnet by passing an electrical current through a solenoid coil disposed around the periphery of the magnet.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11. wherein the first and second components are displaced towards each other by energising the solenoid coil.

13. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7. wherein the magnet comprieses a permanent magnet. - 14. A device as claimed in claim 13. wherein the magnetic force is exerted by one or more poles of two or more magnets being brought into alignment with one another.

15. A device as claimed in claim I 0 wherein the component adapted to

produce a magnetic field is received in a housing.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15. wherein the component adapted to produce a magnetic field is capable of floating within its housing so as to allow for variations in the location of the second component relative to the housing.

17. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the component adapted to produce a magnetic field is adapted to be attached to the floor IS pan of the vehicle.

18. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the component adapted to produce a magnetic field is received in an aperture in the vehicle.

I 9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the component adq:ed to produce a magnetic field is rbie cf tilting in the range of O to 20c from the horizontal axis.

-15 - 20. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic force from the component adapted to produce a magnetic field cai be engaged or disengaged remotely from the device.

21. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the magnetisable component is formed as part of the article.

22. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the magnetisable component is formed as a plate located on the underside of a wheelchair.

23. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the magnetisable component is formed from a material having a moveable soft iron core.

IS 24. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is used to releasably hold a wheelchair to the floor pan of a vehicle.

25. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is retro-fitted to a vehicle and"or article.

26. A vehicle incorporating the device of claims 1 to 25. -16-

27. A method of modifying a vehicle so as to allow the releasable holding of a article, the method comprising adapting part of the vehicle to receive a first component adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and a second component adapted to be mounted on or attached to the article to be secure. wherein one component is magnetisable and another component is adapted to produce a magnetic field to attract the other component.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27. wherein the method of modification incorporates a device as claimed in any one of claims I to 25. I0

29. A kit of parts for producing a device for releasably holding an article to a vehicle, the kit comprising: (a) a first component capable of being mounted on the vehicle or article and adapted to produce a magnetic field; and (b) a second component capable of being mounted on the article or vehicle and being magnetisable by the magnetic field produced by the first component.

30. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 29. wherein the kit further comprises a second component manufactured from a material having a movable soft iron core.

31. A kit of parts as claimed in either claim 29 or claim 30. wherein a device is as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25.

32. A device for releasably holding an article to a vehicle as hereinabove described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.