Restraining system for a driver of a vehicle

• US 20030136599A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hsm Hans Sauermann GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Hans Sauermann
• Inventors: Sauermann, Hans
• Granted Patent: US 6,752,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0079 Fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/022 mounted on seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0253 mounted on roof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/11 Overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down specially adapted for fork-lift trucks B66F9/07545
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07545 Overhead guards

Abstract

A restraining device for protecting the driver of a vehicle. The restraining system has at least one safety rollover bar laterally mounted next to the seat of the driver. The safety rollover bar can be swiveled from an vertical release position into a horizontal restraining position by a shaft extending transversely in relation to the longitudinal expanse of the vehicle. The shaft is driven by an electric motor via a transmission.

Claims

1. A restraining system for a driver of a vehicle having a driver'"'"'s seat and a frame, the restraining system comprising:

at least one safety rollover bar (4, 5, 6) mounted next to the driver'"'"'s seat;

a shaft (7) attached to the at least one safety rollover bar (4, 5, 6) and being disposed transverse to the longitudinal expanse of the vehicle, wherein the shaft swivels the at least one safety rollover bar (4, 5, 6) from an approximately vertical release position to a horizontal restraining position; and

an electronic motor (56) connected to the shaft by a transmission (52, 53, 54) for providing power to the shaft.

2. The restraining system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cam disk (57) driven by the electric motor (56) and being supported on the shaft (7), wherein said cam disk is rotatable to a limited extent versus the shaft and wherein said cam disk comprises an opening in the form of a divided circle (58); and

an axially displaceable locking pin (59) which engages the opening (58) for locking the shaft (7) in the restraining position.

3. The restraining system according to claim 2, wherein said cam disk (57) comprises at least one support surface (61) for said locking pin (59), wherein said at least one support surface (61) has a gradient for axially displacing said locking pin (59) between a restraining position and an unlocked position.

4. The restraining system according to claim 3, further comprising a cam (65), wherein in the locking position said locking pin (59) cooperating with said cam (65) for locking the shaft (7).

5. The restraining system according to claim 2, further comprising a spring (63) for supplying tension on said locking pin against said cam disk (57).

6. The restraining system according to claim 2, further comprising a manual lever (66) connected to said locking pin (59) for shifting said locking pin into the release position.

7. The restraining system according to claim 2, wherein the shaft (7) comprises an oblong hole (51) engaged by a pin (50) for transmitting power to the shaft (7).

8. The restraining system according to claim 1, wherein the shaft (7) is engaged by a least one spring (9, 40) for applying tension to the shaft in the direction of swivel.

9. The restraining system according to claim 1, wherein the shaft (7) is supported on the seat (3).

10. The restraining system according to claim 1, wherein the shaft (7) is supported on the frame (21, 32) of the vehicle.

11. The restraining system according to claim 1, wherein the position of the shaft (7) is adjustable.

12. The restraining system according to claim 1, wherein the shaft (7) height is adjustable.

13. The restraining system according to claim 1, further comprising end stop means (67) connected to the shaft (7) for preventing swiveling of the shaft (7) beyond the release position and the restraining position.

14. The restraining system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor connected to the shaft (7) for swiveling the shaft into the restraining position when the vehicle (1) is ready to be operated.

15. The restraining system according to claim 1, further comprising an arresting pin (68) connected to the shaft (7) for securing the shaft when a motor hood of the vehicle is open.

16. A restraining system for a driver of a vehicle having a driver'"'"'s seat and a frame, the restraining system comprising:

at least one safety rollover bar (4, 5, 6) mounted next to the seat;

a shaft (7) attached to the at least one safety rollover bar and being disposed horizontally along the longitudinal expanse of the vehicle, wherein the shaft swivels the at least one safety rollover bar from a vertical release position to a horizontal restraining position and wherein the at least one safety rollover bar swivels between a locking position and an unlocking position around a vertical axis; and

at least one stop surface (70) disposed on the shaft for limiting the swivel movement of the at least one safety rollover bar in the restraining position.

17. The restraining system according to claim 16, wherein the shaft (7) comprises at least two support surfaces (70) for the safety rollover bar (4, 5, 6).

18. The restraining system according to claim 16, wherein the safety rollover bar (4, 5, 6) comprises at least one spring (73) for applying tension in the direction of the locking position.

19. The restraining system according to claim 16, wherein when in the unlocking position, the safety rollover bar (4, 5, 6) is swiveled against the seat (3).

20. The restraining system according to claim 16, wherein the shaft (7) comprises at least one spring for applying tension to the shaft in the direction of swivel.

21. The restraining system according to claim 16, wherein the shaft (7) is supported on the seat (3).

22. The restraining system according to claim 16, wherein the shaft (7) is supported on the frame (21, 32) of the vehicle.

23. The restraining system according to claim 16, wherein the position of the shaft (7) is adjustable.

24. The restraining system according to claim 16, wherein the shaft (7) can be extended in a telescoping manner.

25. The restraining system according to claim 16, further comprising a cam (65) and end stop means (67), both being connected to the shaft (7) for preventing the shaft (7) from swiveling beyond the release position and the restraining position.

26. The restraining system according to claim 16, further comprising:

at least one pin (74) mounted on the safety rollover bar (4); and

a stationarily supported Z-shaped holding plate containing a bore (75), wherein said at least one pin (74) engages the bore for locking the shaft (7) in the restraining position.

27. The restraining system according to claim 16, further comprising a locking pin (68) connected to the shaft (7) for securing the shaft when the motor hood is open.