Methods for ensuring the safety of a wheelchair passenger in a transport vehicle

• US 9,061,655 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gebroeders Verachtert BV
• Original Assignee: Verbu B.V.B.A.
• Inventors: Verachtert, Ton
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/619,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/32 for force
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2220/12 Trains
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2220/16 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/08 Accommodating or securing wheelchairs or stretchers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0808 Accommodating or securing wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/30 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

A method for ensuring the safety of a wheelchair passenger in a transport vehicle is disclosed. The method ensures that the wheelchair is blocked from moving by fixating the wheelchair to the vehicle floor and ensures that the wheelchair passenger is secured in his wheelchair by a safety-belt system. Prior to transport the method includes sensing if the wheelchair is correctly fixed to the vehicle floor and sensing if the safety-belt system is applied correctly. In a second aspect, a method for ensuring the safety of a wheelchair passenger in a transport vehicle is provided, by instructing the operator of the securing procedure to be followed. The safety of a wheelchair passenger in a vehicle is ensured by allowing the wheelchair user to indicate his status of safety.

Claims

1. A method for ensuring the safety of a wheelchair passenger in a transport vehicle, by:

ensuring that the wheelchair is blocked from moving by fixating said wheelchair to the vehicle floor by fixation means and;

ensuring that the wheelchair passenger is secured in his wheelchair by a safety-belt system;

wherein prior to transport said method comprises the steps of;

sensing if said fixation means are applied correctly;

sensing if said safety-belt system is applied correctly,

wherein said sensing if fixation means and safety-belt system is applied correctly occurs by one or more sensors, wherein after transport, said method comprises the steps of sensing if a wheelchair passenger remains behind in said vehicle, wherein a time delay occurs between said sensing if a wheelchair passenger remains behind in said vehicle and a moment which signals the end of the transport, wherein the end of transport is signaled b an or an combination of;

removal of an ignition key or card from an ignition of said vehicle, a sensed pre-determined distance between an ignition key or card and said vehicle, a locking of one or more doors, wherein the time delay is less than 30 minutes and larger than 5 minutes.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

registering and/or recording data about said transport, said data comprising any or any combination of;

number of passengers in the vehicle during transport;

number of wheelchairs in the vehicle during transport;

duration of transport;

time of occupancy of one or more seats during transport;

occupancy degree of seats and wheelchair-accommodating places in said vehicle during transport.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a sensor is sending a signal to an alarm unit if said fixation means are not applied correctly and/or wherein a sensor is sending a signal to an alarm unit if said safety-belt system is not applied correctly, wherein said alarm unit sends out an auditory, visual and/or audio-visual alarm when receiving a signal from said sensor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transport vehicle will be prevented from driving when said alarm unit receives a signal from at least one of said sensors.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more sensors is sending a signal to a signalization unit if said fixations means and safety-belt system are correctly applied, wherein said signalization unit is located on the dashboard of said vehicle.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein means are provided to indicate that a wheelchair place is occupied, wherein said means can comprise a sensor, a manual button or manual switch.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein securing means are presented to the operator upon occupancy of said wheelchair place.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sensors comprise a CO2-detection sensor and/or a weight sensor.

9. A method for ensuring the safety of a wheelchair passenger in a transport vehicle, wherein after transport, said method comprises the steps of:

sensing if a wheelchair passenger remains behind in said vehicle,

wherein said sensing if fixation means and safety-belt system is applied correctly occurs by one or more sensors,

wherein a time delay occurs between said sensing if a wheelchair passenger remains behind in said vehicle and a moment which signals the end of the transport, wherein the end of transport is signaled b an or an combination of;

removal of an ignition key or card from an ignition of said vehicle, a sensed pre-determined distance between an ignition key or card and said vehicle, a locking of one or more doors, wherein the time delay is less than 30 minutes and larger than 5 minutes.

10. A method for ensuring safety of a wheelchair passenger in a transport vehicle, by:

ensuring that the wheelchair is blocked from moving by fixating said wheelchair to the vehicle floor by fixation means; and

ensuring that the wheelchair passenger is secured in his wheelchair b a safety-belt system,

wherein prior to transport said method comprises the steps of;

sensing if said fixation means are applied correctly;

sensing if said safety-belt system is applied correctly;

wherein said sensing if fixation means and safety-belt system is applied correctly occurs b one or more sensors, wherein a sensor is sending a signal to an alarm unit, wherein said alarm unit sends out an alarm to an exterior alarm central, wherein said alarm central contacts a driver of said vehicle or an accompanying person of a wheelchair passenger of said vehicle upon receiving said alarm.

11. A method for ensuring the safety of a wheelchair passenger in a transport vehicle, wherein after transport, said method comprises the steps of:

sensing if a wheelchair passenger remains behind in said vehicle,

wherein said sensing if fixation means and safety-belt system is applied correctly occurs by one or more sensors, wherein a sensor is sending a signal to an alarm unit, wherein said alarm unit sends out an alarm to an exterior alarm central, wherein said alarm central contacts a driver of said vehicle or an accompanying person of a wheelchair passenger of said vehicle upon receiving said alarm.