Restraint system

• US 6,530,448 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linde Material Handling GmbH (Superlift Holding SARL)
• Original Assignee: Linde AG (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Will, Harald, Abels, Theodor
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/784,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20010017462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 180/281, 180/89.12, 280/748, 280/749, 280/753, 280/751, 296/190.01, 296/190.03, 296/190.11
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/06 Drivers' cabs overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13

Abstract

A restraint system for drivers of fork lift trucks with a driver'"'"'s seat located in an open driver'"'"'s cab includes a protective grate fastened to a protective roof of the driver'"'"'s cab, which protective grate is pivotable around an axis of rotation that is located in the vicinity of the rear end of the driver'"'"'s seat out of a closed position, which is approximately parallel to the driver'"'"'s seat, outward into an open position. The protective grate can be fixed in the closed position. The protective grate may be retrofitted onto existing fork lift trucks, and can be operated very easily.

Claims

1. A restraint system for a driver of a forklift truck having a driver'"'"'s seat located in an open driver′

cab and having a protective roof including an outer frame with a substantially horizontal member extending longitudinally along a side of the truck, comprising on at least one side of the driver'"'"'s seat a protective grate fastened to the substantially horizontal member of the protective roof of the driver'"'"'s cab, which protective grate is pivotable around an axis of rotation located in the vicinity of the rear end of the driver'"'"'s seat, and which protective grate is pivotable out of a closed position approximately parallel to the driver'"'"'s seat outwardly to an open position, and wherein the protective grate can be fixed in the closed position.

2. The restraint system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for the automatic closing of the protective grate.

3. The restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for automatic closing of the protective grate includes at least one spring configured to push the protective grate toward the closed position.

4. The restraint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the axis of rotation is inclined toward a front end of the driver'"'"'s cab.

5. The restraint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protective grate includes a frame with a plurality of transverse struts.

6. The restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axis of rotation is inclined toward a front end of the driver'"'"'s cab.

7. The restraint system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protective grate includes a frame with a plurality of transverse struts.

8. The restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protective grate includes a frame with a plurality of transverse struts.

9. The restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protective grate is configured to be automatically locked in the closed position as a function of the occupation of the driver'"'"'s seat and the activation of a key switch.

10. The restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protective grate includes damping means located in the vicinity of the driver'"'"'s shoulders when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

11. The restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective grate includes a frame with a plurality of transverse struts.

12. the restraint system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the frame and the transfer struts are located and oriented such that when the protective grate is closed the driver is restrained from sliding sideways out of the driver'"'"'s cab, in such a way that the driver is prevented from extending his head outward from the driver'"'"'s cab.

13. The restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective grate includes damping means located in the vicinity of the driver'"'"'s shoulders when the driver is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

14. A restraint system for a driver of a forklift truck having a driver'"'"'s seat located in an open driver'"'"'s cab, wherein the driver'"'"'s seat is located on a hood located within a driver'"'"'s cab, and having a protective roof, comprising on at least one side of the driver'"'"'s seat a protective grate fastened to the protective roof of the driver'"'"'s cab, which protective grate is pivotable around an axis of rotation located in the vicinity of the rear end of the driver'"'"'s seat, and wherein the protective grate is pivotable out of a closed position approximately parallel to the driver'"'"'s seat outwardly into an open position, and wherein the protective grate can be fixed in the closed position, and wherein the protective grate includes a support element which is operatively connected with the hood such that in the closed position of the protective grate opening of the hood is prevented.

15. The restraint system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the support element is adjustable.

16. The restraint system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the support element is operatively connected with the hood such that in the closed position of the protective grate the distance the hood can be opened is limited.

17. the restraint system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support element is flexible.

18. A restraint system for a driver of a forklift truck having a driver'"'"'s seat located in an open driver'"'"'s cab and having a protective roof, comprising on at least one side of the driver'"'"'s seat a protective grate fastened to the protective roof of the driver'"'"'s cab, which protective grate is pivotable around an axis of rotation located in the vicinity of the rear end of the driver'"'"'s seat, in which a protective grate is pivotable out of a closed position approximately parallel to the driver'"'"'s seat outward into an open position, wherein the protective grate is configured to be automatically locked in the closed position as a function of the occupation of the driver'"'"'s seat and the activation of a key switch, and wherein the protective grate can be fixed in the closed position.

19. The restraint system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the automatically locked protective grate is configured to be unlocked by an additional switch element.