Wheelchair restraint system for a transportation vehicle
First Claim
1. A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle having a longitudinal vehicle axis, said vehicle having a securement area for a wheelchair which includes at least one flip seat, said system comprising:
- a barrier carried at a rear portion of said securement area and disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis;
a rear wheelchair attachment assembly carried by said rear barrier for anchoring said wheelchair to said barrier;
said rear wheelchair attachment assembly having at least two rear attachment elements for attachment at two spaced locations to said wheelchair;
a personal securement belt assembly for securing a seated wheelchair occupant to said wheelchair in said securement area;
a front bulkhead extending generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis at a front portion of said securement area;
a front wheelchair attachment assembly for anchoring said wheelchair to said bulkhead;
said front wheelchair attachment assembly having at least two front attachment elements for attachment to two spaced locations of said wheelchair and said bulkhead; and
said rear wheelchair attachment assembly including at least one retractor mechanism for exerting a force on said wheelchair in a first direction along said vehicle axis, and said front wheel attachment assembly including at least one retractor mechanism for exerting a force on said wheelchair in a second direction opposite to said first direction so that said wheelchair is secured between said barrier and bulkhead by said rear and front wheelchair attachment assemblies.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle having a securement area for a wheelchair is disclosed which includes a barrier carried at a rear portion of the securement area disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis. A rear wheelchair attachment assembly is carried by the rear barrier for anchoring the wheelchair to the barrier. A personal securement belt assembly secures a seated wheelchair occupant to the wheelchair in the securement area. A front bulkhead extends generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis at a front portion of the securement area which includes an extendable anchor member which extends transverse relative to the longitudinal vehicle axis. The anchor member is extendable between a stored position in which the anchor member is stowed within the bulkhead and a deployed position wherein the anchor member is extended from the bulkhead. A front wheel chair attachment assembly includes two attachment belts extending from the wheel chair to a first anchor location on the bulkhead and to a second anchor location on the extendable anchor member when the anchor member is in the deployed position. The first and second front attachment belts diverge outwardly and incline downwardly from the wheelchair toward the respective first and second anchor locations on the bulkhead to effectively anchor the occupant and wheelchair and prevent lateral tipping.
14 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle having a longitudinal vehicle axis, said vehicle having a securement area for a wheelchair which includes at least one flip seat, said system comprising:
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a barrier carried at a rear portion of said securement area and disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis;
a rear wheelchair attachment assembly carried by said rear barrier for anchoring said wheelchair to said barrier;
said rear wheelchair attachment assembly having at least two rear attachment elements for attachment at two spaced locations to said wheelchair;
a personal securement belt assembly for securing a seated wheelchair occupant to said wheelchair in said securement area;
a front bulkhead extending generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis at a front portion of said securement area;
a front wheelchair attachment assembly for anchoring said wheelchair to said bulkhead;
said front wheelchair attachment assembly having at least two front attachment elements for attachment to two spaced locations of said wheelchair and said bulkhead; and
said rear wheelchair attachment assembly including at least one retractor mechanism for exerting a force on said wheelchair in a first direction along said vehicle axis, and said front wheel attachment assembly including at least one retractor mechanism for exerting a force on said wheelchair in a second direction opposite to said first direction so that said wheelchair is secured between said barrier and bulkhead by said rear and front wheelchair attachment assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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17. A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle having a longitudinal vehicle axis, said vehicle having a securement area for a wheelchair which includes at least one flip seat, said system comprising:
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a barrier carried at a rear portion of said securement area and disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis;
a rear wheelchair attachment assembly carried by said rear barrier for attachment to said wheelchair and anchoring said wheelchair to said barrier at a first rear anchor location;
a personal securement belt assembly for securing a seated wheelchair occupant to said wheelchair in said securement area;
a front bulkhead extending generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis at a front portion of said securement area;
a front wheelchair attachment assembly for anchoring said wheelchair to a first and second spaced front anchor location on said bulkhead; and
said rear wheelchair attachment assembly including at least one retractor mechanism for exerting an adjustable force on said wheelchair in a first direction along said vehicle axis; and
said front wheel attachment assembly including at least one retractor mechanism for exerting an adjustable force on said wheelchair in a second direction opposite to said first direction so that said wheelchair is secured by said first rear anchor location and said first and second front anchor locations between said barrier and bulkhead by said rear and front wheelchair attachment assemblies in an effective three anchor point restraint system.
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24. A wheelchair restraint system for a mass transportation vehicle having a longitudinal vehicle axis, said vehicle having a securement area for a wheelchair which includes at least one flip seat, said system comprising:
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a barrier carried at a rear portion of said securement area and disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis;
a rear wheelchair attachment assembly carried by said rear barrier for anchoring said wheelchair to said barrier;
a personal securement belt assembly for securing a seated wheelchair occupant to said wheelchair in said securement area;
a front bulkhead extending generally transverse to the longitudinal vehicle axis at a front portion of said securement area;
a front wheelchair attachment assembly for anchoring said wheelchair to said bulkhead;
said front bulkhead including an extendable anchor member which extends transverse relative to the longitudinal vehicle axis, said anchor member being extendable between a stored position in which said anchor member is stowed in a non-operating position and a deployed position wherein said anchor member is extended from said bulkhead; and
said from wheel chair attachment assembly securing said wheel chair to a first anchor location on said bulkhead and to a second anchor location on said extendable anchor member when said anchor member is in said deployed position.
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Specification