Electro mechanical webbed pre-tensioning wheelchair securement system

• US 7,040,847 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sure-Lok International LLC
• Original Assignee: Kinedyne Corporation
• Inventors: Cardona, Edgardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutman, H.
• Application Number:
  US10/146,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 410 2- 4, 410 7- 12, 410/19, 410/22, 410/23, 410/51, 296/65.04
• US Class Current: 410/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0808 Accommodating or securing wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/079 Tie-down retainers B60P3/075 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention is a device for securing a wheelchair to a vehicle. The invention incorporates a pair of belts disposed near a wheelchair station in a vehicle, the belts being remotely operable between tension and release positions. When not in use, the belts are stowed in compartments beside and underneath the floor of the vehicle to eliminate potential obstacles. The rear of the wheelchair is secured to the vehicle using remotely lockable anchor elements which are also retractable when the wheelchair station is not in use.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a vehicle, comprising:

anchoring means for securing said wheelchair to said vehicle;

means for providing variable tension between said wheelchair and said anchoring means through the use of an electrical motor; and

a micro controller for regulating said means for providing variable tension between said wheelchair and said anchoring means.

2. An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a surface comprising:

front anchoring means adapted to engage a first section of said wheelchair;

rear anchoring means adapted to engage a second section of said wheelchair;

means for selectively locking and releasing said rear anchoring means;

at least one electrical motor for selectively applying and releasing variable tension between said front anchoring means and said first section of said wheelchair;

means for providing electrical current to said at least one electrical motor; and

means for measuring the amount of electrical current being drawn by said at least one electrical motor to determine the level of tension being applied to said wheelchair.

3. An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a surface comprising:

a first pair of retractable webbed belts each having a distal end;

hooks affixed to said distal ends of each of said first pair of belts;

a low profile compartment secured to said surface for containment of at least one of said first pair of belts;

a retractable cover for said compartment;

a second pair of retractable webbed belts each having a distal end;

hooks affixed to said distal ends of each of said second pair of retractable webbed belts;

means for selectively locking and releasing said second pair of retractable webbed belts;

means for providing an operating signal;

means for automatically extending and retracting said first pair of belts in response to said operating signal through the use of an electrical motor;

means for powering said means for automatically extending and retracting said first pair of belts; and

means for indicating the condition of said operating signal.

4. An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a surface comprising:

a first pair of retractable webbed belts each having a distal end;

means for selectively extending and retracting said first pair of retractable webbed belts;

hooks affixed to said distal ends of each of said first pair of belts;

a low profile compartment secured to said surface for containment of at least one of said first pair of belts;

a retractable cover for said compartment;

a second pair of retractable webbed belts each having a distal end;

hooks affixed to the distal ends of each of said second pair of retractable webbed belts;

means for supplying positively biased tension to said second pair of retractable webbed belts;

means for selectively locking and releasing said second pair of retractable webbed belts;

means for driving said means for extending and retracting said first pair of belts between an extended position and a retracted position;

means for measuring the tension in said first pair of belts at regular intervals;

means for providing an electrical operating signal to said means for selectively locking and releasing and to said means for driving said means for extending and retracting said first pair of belts; and

means for visually displaying the condition of said electrical operating signal to a user of the apparatus.

5. In an apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a station within a motor vehicle, said apparatus having a plurality of retractors having retractable webbed belts provided with hooks to engage a front portion of said wheelchair, said apparatus further having an anchoring means for engaging a rear portion of said wheelchair, said apparatus further having means for applying selective tension to said wheelchair, said webbed belts, and said anchoring means, the improvement comprising:

at least one electrical motor as said means for applying said selective tension to said wheelchair;

means for electronically varying the amount of said selective tension applied to said wheelchair; and

means for measuring the amount of electrical current being drawn by said at least one electrical motor.

6. The invention of claim 5, further comprising means for remotely powering said anchoring means.

7. The invention of claim 5 or 6, which further comprises means for calculating the amount of said tension and increasing or decreasing said tension in response to said calculated tension.

8. The invention of claim 5 or 6, which further comprises remotely selectable engagement and release conditions for said anchoring means.

9. The invention of claim 7, which further comprises remotely selectable engagement and release conditions for said anchoring means.

10. In an apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a station within a motor vehicle, said apparatus having a plurality of retractors having retractable webbed belts provided with hooks to engage a front portion of said wheelchair, said apparatus further having an anchoring means for engaging a rear portion of said wheelchair, said apparatus further having means for applying selective tension to said wheelchair, said webbed belts, and said anchoring means, the improvement comprising:

means for remotely powering said means for applying said tension, means for periodically measuring the amount of said tension, means for determining if said tension is higher or lower than a desired tension, means for electronically varying said desired tension, and means for adjusting the operation of said power means to increase or decrease said tension in response to said measured tension.

11. In an apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a station within a motor vehicle, said apparatus having a plurality of retractors having retractable webbed belts provided with hooks to engage a front portion of said wheelchair, said apparatus further having an anchoring means for engaging a rear portion of said wheelchair, said apparatus further having means for applying selective tension to said wheelchair, said webbed belts, and said anchoring means, the improvement comprising:

means for remotely powering said means for applying said tension;

means for remotely powering said anchoring means;

means for calculating the amount of said tension as a function of the amount of electrical current provided to said means for applying said tension;

means for applying tension in response to said calculated tension; and

means for releasing tension in response to said calculated tension.

12. An apparatus for applying tension to a wheelchair supported by a surface of a vehicle comprising:

an enclosure disposed at least partially below said surface;

a floor plate above said enclosure with an opening formed therein and said floor plate having an inboard end and an outboard end, and said floor plate supported by said surface;

a cover plate received in said opening, and said cover plate slidable between a closed position wherein said opening is blocked by said cover plate, and an open position wherein said opening is not blocked by said cover plate;

at least one pivot assembly having a belt guide operatively connected thereto and said belt guide pivotable between a storage position and a use position, said storage position characterized by said belt guide being disposed within said enclosure and said use position characterized by said belt guide being above said floor plate;

a belt having a first end and a second end and said belt passing through said belt guide at an intermediate point along said belt, and said belt being connected to said tensioning means at said first end and having a hook affixed to said second end; and

means for applying tension to said first belt operatively connected to said first end of said first belt.

13. The apparatus for applying tension to a wheelchair supported by a surface of a vehicle of claim 12 further comprising:

said means for applying tension located adjacent to said outboard end of said floor plate;

said pivot assembly located adjacent to said inboard end of said floor plate; and

said belt at least partially disposed below said floor plate.

14. In an apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a station within a motor vehicle, said apparatus having a plurality of retractable webbed belts provided with hooks to apply tension to a front portion of said wheelchair, said apparatus further having an anchoring means for engaging a rear portion of said wheelchair, the improvement comprising:

at least one electrical motor for increasing and decreasing the amount of said tension applied to said wheelchair in response to an operating signal; and

a micro controller for periodically measuring the electrical current supplied to said electrical motor, calculating the torque applied by said electrical motor based upon the electrical current supplied to said electrical motor, calculating the amount of said tension applied to said wheelchair based on the torque applied by said electrical motor, determining whether the amount of said tension is above or below a desired tension, and sending an appropriate operating signal to said at least one electrical motor.

15. An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a vehicle, comprising:

a first pair of webbed belts for securing said wheelchair to said vehicle;

at least one electrical motor for providing tension between said first pair of webbed belts and said vehicle;

a sensing circuit for measuring the amount of current drawn by said at least one motor; and

a micro controller for operating said at least one electrical motor in either tension or release mode in response to said measured current.

16. The apparatus for securing a wheelchair to a vehicle of claim 15 further comprising:

said micro controller including a drive circuit for determining whether said measured current corresponds to a tension in said first pair of webbed belts that is greater or less than a desired tension, and said drive circuit allowing electronical adjustability of said desired tension.