Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Wheeled vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-20
2001-09-11
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Particular article accommodation
Wheeled vehicle
C410S004000, C410S011000, C410S012000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287060
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to wheelchair restraint systems, and more particularly to a device to mount a seat belt retractor to a floor track.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
Wheelchair restraint systems are, of course, well known and many patents have been granted thereon. Attention is directed to the systems marketed by Giram LLC of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and to U.S. Design Pat. No. D3413,080 issued Aug. 24, 1999 which shows a seat belt retractor of the type contemplated by the present invention, and to the Universal Seat Restraint System shown in U.S. patent application 09/387,841 filed Sep. 1, 1999. Such retractors are generally removably mounted on a floor track or fitting, which is permanently mounted on the floor of the bus or van used to convey the wheelchair and occupant, by way of an appropriate connector. Preferably, but not essentially, the retractor is flexibly mounted to the connector so as to allow some pivotal movement of the retractor relative to the track. Typically, in the prior art, this flexibility has been provided by an unsupported ring structure so that the retractor can move in both a vertical and horizontal plane. When not in use the reteractor normally lies on the floor of the vehicle where it may collect dust and dirt and may move in a horizontal plane around the tether point, and thus out of reach of the wheelchair occupant. This is a considerable disadvantage which the present invention, in part, aims to address. Also in the prior art systems, the lap belt anchor point has been provided separately from the seat belt retractor, and it is seen as an advantage to provide a lap belt anchor point integrally with the seat belt retractor.
OBJECT OF INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a wheelchair seat belt retractor system which provides pivotal movement of the retractor in a single plane, preferably at about 45° to the horizontal, so as to keep the retactor away from the floor of the vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a seat belt retractor with an integral lap belt mounting point.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION.
By one aspect of this invention there is provided in a wheelchair restraint system for use in a passenger carrying vehicle, which comprises a longitudinal floor mounting track having a plurality of parallel transverse slots therethrough, anchor means releasably and lockably mountable in a selected said slot in said mounting track, a seat belt retractor means and pivoting means for mounting said retractor means to said anchor means, the improvement wherein said pivoting means comprises first bracket means swivelly mounted at one end thereof to said anchor means so as to hold said retractor means at a selected angle, greater than zero, relative to said floor mounting track.
By another aspect of this invention there is provided in a wheelchair restraint system for use in a passenger carrying vehicle, which comprises a floor mounting track, anchor means slidably mountable in said mounting track, a seat belt retractor means and pivoting means for mounting said retractor means to said anchor means, the improvement wherein said pivoting means comprises first bracket means swivelly mounted at one end thereof to said anchor means so as to hold said retractor means at a selected angle, greater than zero, relative to said floor mounting track, and including a lap belt attachment bracket mounted on said first bracket means at a second end thereof so as to overlie said retractor means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4492403 (1985-01-01), Blomgren et al.
patent: 4688843 (1987-08-01), Hall
patent: 4886403 (1989-12-01), Gresham
patent: 4995775 (1991-02-01), Gresham
patent: 5026225 (1991-06-01), McIntyre
patent: 5391030 (1995-02-01), Lee
Dickson Paul N.
Fleming Faye M.
HIcks Richards J.
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