Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Wheeled vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-07
2001-01-09
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Particular article accommodation
Wheeled vehicle
C410S003000, C410S004000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171035
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system for securing mobile aids, such as wheelchairs, to prevent forward movement from occurring during abrupt movement, such as a crash.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The present invention relates to securement systems for rollable mobility aids, and more particularly to a system designed for securing a rollable mobility aid within a vehicle.
Various devices are known which allow physically disabled people to travel independently. Such devices, known generically as rollable mobility aids (or mobility aids), include wheelchairs, three-wheeled scooters, power bases, etc.
There are instances where an occupant of such a mobility aid must, for safety or other reasons, secure it to a surrounding structure, such as when the occupant boards a transit vehicle such as a van, bus or train. Safety laws require that the transit vehicle be equipped with a device for securing the mobility aid within the vehicle.
The problem for designers of mobility aid securement systems is to design such securement devices with superior, fail-safe securement capabilities while at the same time being easy and quick to operate by both the mobility aid occupant and the transit driver. Several conventional systems have been proposed in the form of wheelchair restraint devices, but none have been completely satisfactory. For example, some conventional devices are strap/belt based which makes them difficult to use, as well as being time-consuming for transit vehicle drivers. Other proposals include mechanisms for clamping the wheels of a wheelchair in place but such mechanisms can damage the wheels and their corresponding rims if the bus swerves, is involved in an accident, or otherwise moves in such a way that causes the wheelchair to move with respect to the mechanism.
Still other conventional restraining devices include a post which extends downwardly from the wheelchair and is engaged by a vehicle-floor-mounted locking assembly such as is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,754,946 and 4,690,364, both issued to Constantin, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,022 issued to Mayland. Like the wheel clamp restraining devices, such floor-mounted restraining devices may be easily damaged in accident conditions because tilting of the wheelchair could cause the post to bend. Even worse, if the bus rides over a large bump, the wheelchair might be forced upward and become dislodged from the device. Such a result is obviously unacceptable. Further, the post, because it must be close to the ground, reduces wheelchair ground clearance.
Another conventional proposal is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,478 to Korsgaard which discloses a thin latch plate mounted to tall, fixed, free-standing pillar stands that is latchable to a release bar mounted on a wheelchair. The restraining system in Korsgaard is unwieldy and its thin latch plate does not provide a latch mechanism that can withstand the rough treatment commonly encountered on transit vehicles. Such a latch mechanism will also be lacking in ability to resist tilting of the wheelchair.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,265 a securement device is disclosed which locks the wheelchair to a box which contains dual locking devices.
The present invention provides a system which promotes securement of mobility aids to the interior structure of transit vehicles, and which overcomes the drawbacks and limitations of prior art devices. The disclosed device provides a system which achieves sustained securement in normal and accident conditions on the transit vehicle, and ensures that the mobility aid can be released from securement under all conditions. The system is easy to use by both mobility aid occupants and transit vehicle operators, requires a minimum of training and can be easily retrofitted to existing transit vehicles and to existing mobility aids.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A securement device for securing a mobility aid to a support structure is disclosed. The device has a docking pedestal capable of being secured to the support structure. The hollow pedestal comprises an outer casing having a partially open first end, brackets at a second end, and an open port. A receiving area, such as will accomodate a tongue, is proximate the first end. A mid-brace is secured to the hollow interior of the casing between the first and second ends. A release bar is pivotally affixed to the hollow interior at its first end with the second end extending through the open port. A vertical sleeve is secured at one end to the mid-brace and at the other end to the partially open first end. A receiving area and an open channel are placed along its length proximate the partially open first end. A spring is placed within the vertical sleeve with a first end being proximate the mid-brace. A capture rod is retained within the sleeve one end proximate the spring and the other end proximate the partially open end. A locking member receiving area is placed along the length of the capture rod. A draw rod is permanently secured to the capture rod at the first end and slideably connected to the release bar at the second end. A spring connects the release bar to the mid-brace, the pressure maintaining the release bar in an upward position when at rest.
A locking member comprises a locking rod which is pivotally connected to the mid-brace and a locking bar at right angles and affixed to the locking bar. A release rod is affixed to the locking bar and extending into the partially open first end. A spring bar is secured to the hollow interior at a first end and in tension contact with the locking rod.
A mobility aid connector has an attachment bar which is provided with releasable attachment locks. A tongue unit has a capture bar receiving area at one end and a hinge attachment area at the other end. A hinge is affixed to the attachment bar at its first end and has a tongue attachment area its a second end. The hinge provides horizontal movement between the tongue and the attachment bar. The attachment bar is provided with stops which limit the swing of the hinge.
A mobility aid brace is secured to a portion of the mobility aid frame and has releasable attachment lock receiving areas which are positioned to receive the releasable attachment locks.
To use the device, the mobility aid releasable attachment locks are placed into the releasable attachment lock receiving areas. The mobility aid is positioned to align the tongue of the connector with the tongue receiving area within the pedestal. As the tongue is moved to come into contact with the release rod, the locking bar is moved to release contact with the capture rod locking means receiving area. The movement of the locking bar further compresses the spring bar. Once released, the capture rod is, through the action of the spring, pushed through said partially open area and the capture bar receiving area in the tongue. The tongue is then locked within the tongue receiving area.
To release the mobility aid, the release bar handle is pushed downward, pulling the draw rod and said capture rod downward. The locking bar, due to the pressure applied by compression of said spring bar, enters the capture rod locking area, preventing movement of the capture rod. The pressure of the spring rod maintains the locking bar within said capture rod locking area until released as noted above.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4265478 (1981-05-01), Korsgaard
patent: 4588340 (1986-05-01), Howard
patent: 4623289 (1986-11-01), Apostolos
patent: 4671713 (1987-06-01), Lenkman
patent: 4690364 (1987-09-01), Constantin
patent: 4754946 (1988-07-01), Constantin
patent: 4973022 (1990-11-01), Mayland
patent: 5186585 (1993-02-01), Sousa et al.
patent: 5344265 (1994-09-01), Ullman
patent: 5391030 (1995-02-01), Lee
patent: 5489170 (1996-02-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5567095 (1996-10-01), James et al.
patent: 5888038 (1999-03-01), Ditch et al.
McLaurin Colin
Shaw Greg
Gordon Stephen T.
Rosenthal & Putterman
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