INTEGRATED SAFETY NET FOR VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An integrated safety net system for a recreational vehicle having a chassis with a step-through door opening, the system comprising:
- a door having a forward end and a rearward end;
a hinge coupling the door to the chassis of the vehicle;
a safety net coupled to the door and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle; and
a release mechanism coupled to the door or the chassis for cooperatively opening or closing the door and the safety net, wherein the safety net is coupled to the door at an intermediate point between the hinge and the release mechanism.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated safety net system for a recreational vehicle having a chassis with a step-through door opening. They safety net system includes a door having a forward end and a rearward end, and a hinge coupled between the rearward end of the door and the chassis of the vehicle. Upper and lower safety nets are coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening. The safety net and the door are collectively and cooperatively movable as the rear-hinged door moves to the open position or closed position. The door includes a latch at the forward end of the door to provide one operational step to release or secure the door and the integrated safety nets to the chassis upon ingress or egress of the vehicle.
9 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An integrated safety net system for a recreational vehicle having a chassis with a step-through door opening, the system comprising:
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a door having a forward end and a rearward end; a hinge coupling the door to the chassis of the vehicle; a safety net coupled to the door and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle; and a release mechanism coupled to the door or the chassis for cooperatively opening or closing the door and the safety net, wherein the safety net is coupled to the door at an intermediate point between the hinge and the release mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 10, 11)
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3. An integrated safety net system for a recreational vehicle having a chassis with a step-through door opening, the system comprising:
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a door having a forward end and a rearward end; a hinge coupling the door to the chassis of the vehicle; a safety net coupled to the door and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle; and a release mechanism coupled to the door or the chassis for cooperatively opening or closing the door and the safety net, wherein the safety net is an upper safety net, and wherein a lower safety net is coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening, the upper safety net being disposed in an upper position of the door to protect upper body parts from potential injury, and the lower safety net being positioned in a lower position of the door to protect lower body parts from potential injury. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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12. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis, the chassis having a door opening with a rearward side and a forward side; a door having a forward end and a rearward end, the door having a hinge coupled between the rearward end of the door and the rearward side of the door opening; upper and lower safety nets coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening; and a release mechanism coupled to the forward end of the door for cooperatively opening or closing the door and the safety nets in one operational step; and wherein the upper safety net has a first rotational axis, the lower safety net has a second rotational axis, and the door has a third rotational axis, wherein said rotational axes being substantially fixed relative to each other as the door and the safety nets rotate from the open position to the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for improving safety regarding potential for bodily injury to riders of a recreational vehicle, the improvement including a safety net system integrated to a rear-hinged door and to a chassis of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing at least one door having a forward end and a rearward end, the door having a hinge coupled between the rearward end of the door and the chassis of the vehicle; providing a safety net coupled to the door forward of the hinge at an intermediate point between the rearward end and the forward end and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening; providing a release mechanism coupled to the forward end of the door; releasing the release mechanism; opening the door and the safety net collectively in the open position and in a rearward manner relative to the front of the vehicle; entering the vehicle through the door opening; and securing the release mechanism by closing the door and the safety net collectively to the closed position and in a forward manner relative to the front of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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22. A method for improving safety regarding potential for bodily injury to riders of a recreational vehicle, the improvement including a safety net system integrated to a rear-hinged door and to a chassis of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing at least one door having a forward end and a rearward end, the door having a hinge coupled between the rearward end of the door and the chassis of the vehicle; providing a safety net coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening; providing a release mechanism coupled to the forward end of the door; releasing the release mechanism; opening the door and the safety net collectively in the open position and in a rearward manner relative to the front of the vehicle; entering the vehicle through the door opening; and securing the release mechanism by closing the door and the safety net collectively to the closed position and in a forward manner relative to the front of the vehicle, wherein the safety net is an upper safety net, and wherein a lower safety net is coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening, the upper safety net being disposed in an upper position of the door to protect upper body parts from potential injury, and the lower safety net being positioned in a lower position of the door to protect lower body parts from potential injury. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30)
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31. A safety net for a recreational vehicle having a chassis with a step-through door opening and a door having a longitudinally extending structure with a forward end and a rearward end, the door structure being hingably coupled between its rearward end and a rearward side of the door opening, the door having a latch coupled at the forward end of the door for cooperatively opening or closing the door and the safety net, the safety net comprising:
an upper net having a forward strap coupled to the door structure between the forward and rearward ends of the door structure and coupled to the chassis at or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening, the upper net being positioned above the longitudinally extending structure of the door and extending downwardly beyond a lower extent of the door. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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32. A safety net for a recreational vehicle having a chassis with a step-through door opening and a door having a longitudinally extending structure with a forward end and a rearward end, the door structure being hingably coupled between its rearward end and a rearward side of the door opening, the door having a latch coupled at the forward end of the door for cooperatively opening or closing the door and the safety net, the safety net comprising:
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an upper net having a forward strap coupled to the door structure between the forward and rearward ends of the door structure and coupled to the chassis at or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening, the upper net being positioned above the longitudinally extending structure of the door; and a lower net having a forward strap coupled to the door structure between the forward and rearward ends of the door structure and coupled to the chassis at or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening, the lower net being positioned below the longitudinally extending structure of the door. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification