Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-27
2001-05-22
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S749000, C297S487000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234525
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a driver restraint device for an industrial truck and, more particularly, to a driver restraint device having a pivoting bar.
Driver restraint devices of this type are available in models in which a restraint bar is automatically placed around the driver's torso. Restraining bars of this type are not readily accepted by the drivers of industrial trucks because they severely restrict the driver's freedom of movement when the driver is seated in the driver's seat, and in certain models, such devices even interfere with the driver's entry into and exit from the industrial truck.
Alternatives proposed in the prior art include safety belts, but these belts must be connected by the driver on his own initiative. This connection process is time-consuming and also requires the driver to perform some ergonomically uncomfortable movements. Consequently, the safety belts which are installed on vehicles are frequently not used by the drivers.
An object of this invention is to make available a driver restraint device which, in the event of an accident, and in particular in the event the industrial truck tips over, can keep the driver in the driver's seat. It is a further an object of the invention to provide a restraint device which does not adversely affect the driver's comfort during normal operation of the industrial truck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention teaches that these objects can be accomplished by a device in which the bar can be moved by an operator as desired between an inoperative position and a restraint position, and can be locked in the restraint position and released from the restraint position. A bar which can be moved by the operator as desired interferes with the driver only to a very limited extent, because the bar is in an inoperative position when the driver enters and exits the vehicle. If, under certain operating conditions, the driver requires a particularly high degree of freedom of movement, he himself can move the bar into the inoperative position. On the other hand, only one single, manual operation is necessary to move the bar into its restraining position and to lock it in this position. For these reasons, the driver restraint device of the invention is readily accepted by drivers.
In one advantageous embodiment, the driver restraint device has a single pivoting bar. Therefore the driver need only move a single component to actuate the driver restraint device, for which only one single, manual operation is necessary.
One particular advantage of the invention is that the bar can be pivoted around an axis of rotation which is substantially vertical or inclined slightly from the vertical axis.
The axis of rotation is advantageously located laterally, substantially adjacent to the driver's seat. In the inoperative position, the bar is therefore located laterally next to the driver's seat. The bar is pivoted around the axis of rotation into its restraining position, whereby it is then located in the vicinity of the driver's torso or lap.
In one particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the bar provides a means to hold the driver in the driver's seat. The bar is thereby designed so that the bar, when it is locked in the restraining position, keeps the driver in the driver's seat if the industrial truck tips over, in which case the driver's body is supported directly on the bar.
In an additional advantageous embodiment of the invention, a belt is connected to the bar and provides a means to keep the driver in the driver's seat. The belt is thereby realized, for example, in the form of a lap belt which is automatically connected when the restraint bar is pivoted into the restraining position. If the industrial truck tips over, the driver is held in the driver's seat by the belt, whereby the driver's body is supported primarily on the belt.
In one advantageous refinement of the invention, an air bag is connected to the bar.
In an additional advantageous refinement of the invention, at least one control element and/or at least one indicator or display element is located on the bar. The control elements may control movement of the industrial truck or a lifting device carried on the industrial truck and the indicator or display elements may show the status of various aspects of the truck or the lifting device, such as speed, fluid pressure, etc. When the bar is in the restraining position, the control elements are optimally accessible for the driver sitting in the driver's seat, and the indicator or display elements are optimally visible. The installation of these elements on the bar provides the driver with a particular incentive to move the bar into the restraining position before starting the industrial truck.
It is also appropriate if the parking brake of the industrial truck can be released as a function of the position of the bar. When the bar is in the inoperative position, the parking brake is always activated. To release the parking brake, the driver must move the bar into the restraining position. This requirement guarantees that the driver restraint device will always be active when the industrial truck is being driven.
Additional advantages and configurations of the invention are explained in greater detail below, with reference to the exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. A complete understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures wherein like reference characters identify like parts throughout.
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patent: 5062662 (1991-11-01), Cameron
patent: 5286091 (1994-02-01), Busch
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patent: 07002055 (1995-01-01), None
Schroder Werner-Georg
Tügel Caspar
McClellan James S.
Still GmbH
Swann J. J.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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