GB2461565A

GB2461565A - A restraint for a person on a mobile seating area

Info

Publication number: GB2461565A
Application number: GB0812255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michelle Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-04
Filing date: 2008-07-04
Publication date: 2010-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-04
Also published as: GB0812255D0; GB2461565C; GB2461565B

Abstract

A safety enhancement device 10 is adapted for use on a mobile seating area 14, such as a motorcycle 20, fairground ride or animal. The device comprises: an adjustable harness 12, which in use is worn by the user. The device has a releasable attachment provided in a buttock region of the harness which, in use, attaches in a demountable manner to the seating area. In a further embodiment a seat wrap (figure 3) is additionally provided, said seat wrap comprising hook and loop fastening securing said harness to said seating area. The harness may comprise adjustable leg and waist straps 26, 30 provided with quick release buckles 32. The device may be used to prevent a pillion passenger on a motorbike from unduly moving around under acceleration, deceleration etc.

Description

SAFETY ENHANCEMENT DEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a safety enhancement device, particularly for passengers and users of moveable forms of transport. It has particular, but not exclusive, application to passengers travelling on pillion seats on motorcycles and for horse riders whilst seated in saddles.

Background of the Invention

Seating areas, such as pillion seats, are typically of the type which include a secondary pad, cushion or seat located behind a driver's seat or saddle on a horse, motorcycle or moped. In operation of moveable forms of transport, such as motorcycles and horses, the passenger when in motion in the seated position, is not fully secure to the seating area. Because of this the passenger has to rely on support by either holding onto grips or handles, holding the seating area or holding onto the body of the rider. The latter can restrict the driver and impede their ability to shift weight, as is sometimes needed for example when cornering. Also, acceleration tends to force the body of the passenger backwards causing him or her to slip. When braking hard a motorcycle rider is placed in potential danger when the passenger can slide forward erratically, restricting movement of the motorcycle rider's body whilst in motion and hampering the rider's ability to control and safely manoeuvre.

Further discomfort is caused when braking hard because the weight of the passenger on the (pillion) seat is pushed to the front causing additional pressure onto the body of the rider, who has to exert extra strain to maintain a safe stationary position.

Particular problems may be caused by large, overweight, young or less able passengers.

It is an object of the invention to overcome these problems by providing an enhanced safety device which reduces inadvertent movement of a passenger and thereby allows the rider freedom to operate in a safe and comfortable manner whilst still enabling the passenger to be freed in the event of an accident.

Prior Art

Sticky webbing mats designed to place over the area of the seat in order to prevent much movement of the passenger. However no movement is possible once the passenger is seated without attachment and reattachment and therefore this type of mat becomes quickly compromised and is inconvenient.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect there is provided a safety enhancement device adapted for use on a mobile seating area comprising: an adjustable harness, which in use is worn by the user, the device having a releasable attachment means provided in a buttock region of the harness which, in use, attaches in a demountable manner to the seating area.

Ideally the device has a releasable means to secure said harness to said seating area. Optionally the releasable means to secure said harness to said seating area is removable.

Preferably the safety device is attachable to the seating area by means of hook-and-loop fastening means, whereby opposite areas of hook and loop are provided on the harness and seating area.

In an alternative embodiment the releasable means to secure the harness to the seating area is in the form of patches or strips of tape on which are disposed hook portions or loop portions in order to engage with corresponding attachment means provided on the harness.

Optionally a removable seat wrap is provided, which comprises one or more securable connectors such as straps, buckles, elasticated portions, clips, poppers, hook and loop or other attachment means. The seat wrap may, for example, be attached to a motorcycle and removed after use and is therefore less permanent than the attachment means which are stuck onto the seat surface.

In an alternative embodiment the attachment of the harness to the seating area may be by way of at least one buckle releasable under a predetermined force, or frangible. This would release in the event of a crash, where typically a pillion passenger is thrown free of the motorbike.

The seat wrap may be attached by way of a strap with at least one buckle, preferably a frangible one as described above. This strap can be passed under the seat or under the mudflap or other useful portion. There is frequently provided a facility to open the pillion seat up to access the space underneath for storage or alternative for replacement of the seat cover or padding. When this is the case the strap may pass underneath the seat and be secured into place by the closing up of the seat. This prevents the seat wrap from rotating on the seat. Other means may be provided to achieve this such as self-tapping screws into the seat.

Ideally the harness is constructed from flexible material, such as high grade canvas webbing. In this way comfortable passenger settling movement is permitted without altering the safety aspect of the harness.

Preferably the harness is supplied with adjustable waist and leg units and ideally these have quick release means.

The invention will now be described by way of examples and with reference to the following figures in which:

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows an overall diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the safety harness device and illustrates a user, using the device whilst riding a motorcycle; Figure 2 is a 3D view of a motorcycle pillion seat on which hook and loop or other attachment means are adhered; and Figure 3 shows a schematic embodiment of a removable seat wrap; Figure 4 is a front overall of another example of the safety harness; Figure 5 is an overall view of another embodiment and shows buttock pad portion of the safety harness; Figure 6 is a reverse view to that shown in Figure 5 showing a waist strap and leg straps and an adjustable slide fastener; and Figure 7 is an overall view of the adjustable safety harness, shown without a wearer, and mounted on a pillion seat, and shows the adjustable leg and waist units/straps.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring to the Figures in which like parts bear the same reference numerals, there is shown a safety harness device 10 that is used for securing a user to a mobile seating area 14 on a moveable form of transport in particular a motorbike 20. The safety enhancement device 10 comprises: an adjustable harness 12, which in use is worn by the user. The device 10 has a releasable attachment means 18 provided in a buttock region of the harness 12 which, in use, attaches in a demountable manner to the seating area 14.

Safety harness 10 also includes a releasable means 18 for securing the passenger to the seating area or pillion seat. The releasable means attaches a passenger in a seating position. The passenger is secured to the seat by an adjustable safety harness by way of hook and loop attachments, such as are sold under the Trade Mark VELCRO. The use of this fastening means allows the easy use in inclement conditions for example with gloves.

As shown in Figure 2 a seating area/pillion seat has pads 22 located behind a drivers seat or saddle in the areas of pressure. These may be attached or glued to the seat.

The safety harness 10 is fully adjustable by way of adjustable leg straps 26a and 26b, which encircle or encompass the legs of the passenger and fastened around a passenger's waist by way of belt 28. The safety harness is adjusted to fit on the passenger by tightening the straps with the adjusters.

The leg straps and the waist strap encircles or encompasses the waist of the passenger. Leg straps 26a and 26b and waist belt 28 have a length adjustable slide fastener as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The fastener is typically a buckle wherein the strap portions 30 are fed through a clasp of an adjuster 32 so as to allow the length of the leg straps 26a and 26b and waist straps 28 to be adjusted to a variety of lengths. This may be in combination with hook and loop fastening whereby the position of contact may be variable on the opposing section. In Figure 7 extendable or elasticated sections 29 to the straps may be seen at the point of attachment. Leg and waist straps are ideally made from nylon or canvas webbing and may be sewn with nylon/reflective stitching or have reflective material formed thereon thereby said waist strap providing an added safety feature of a large stripe of reflective material on the back of the passenger. The device may in addition be part made of elasticised material with webbing allowing extending.

After a passenger has donned the harness, the passenger sits on the pillion seat, is secured to the mobile seating area in a safe and comfortable position on the motorcycle or other form of transport. This harness may provide a portion providing back support in use or fixed. In this way the waist band may run around the torso. Alternatively portions of flexible material allow the harness to wrap securely around the posterior allowing the waist band to sit comfortably around the waist. Releasable attachment means buttock pad 12 has loop fasteners 23, formed in two circular or oval shapes or other pads sewn on an outside surface.

The hook fastener portion is attached to the seating area of the pillion seat. In use hook and loop fasteners fasten one to another thereby attaching the wearer, in a demountable manner, to the pillion seat.

It will be appreciated that the buttock pad/posterior portion may be supplied in small/medium and large/extra large sizes. Said sizes may be adjustable in situ or prior to attachment. This may be by means of adjustment of the strap lengths or alternatively the buttock pad. There may be provided elasticised portions or extendable clip systems..

As shown in Figure 3 a separate seat wrap is provided for use in conjunction with the safety harness and provides a means for attaching the safety harness to the pillion seat preferably without attaching any material directly to the pillion seating area. In addition it ideally allows interchangeability between bikes as well as the ability.

The seat wrap portion comprises similar hook and loop fastening means as the posterior pad/portion of the safety harness. In use, the seat wrap is fastened around the motorcycle pillion seat or other form of transport using similar straps to that of the said safety harness. Alternative embodiments of the seat wrap or harness may use suckers, poppers or hook and loop or a combination of these and other attachment means.

Use of the safety device ensures that the passenger is now secured to the pillion/mobile seat in a safe and comfortable position, does not slide forward in the event of braking, does not slide backwards or laterally and therefore may be more safely transported.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.