Personal mobility vehicle restraint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9782309-B2
Application number	US-201414571816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A safety restraint adapted for securing a personal mobility vehicle in a transport vehicle, against movement in a direction opposite to the direction of normal motion of the transport vehicle, the safety restraint comprising: a retractor comprising a spool on which an elongate piece of material is wound; the elongate material being configured to be attached at one end to the personal mobility vehicle; a slider bar adapted to be fixed to the transport vehicle; and wherein the retractor is mounted on the slider bar, in a manner which allows the retractor to slide in the direction of normal motion of the transport vehicle, and prevents the retractor moving in the opposite direction on the slider bar.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A safety restraint adapted for securing a personal mobility vehicle ( 1 ) in a transport vehicle ( 3 ), against movement of the personal mobility vehicle in a direction opposite to a direction of normal motion ( 17 ) of the transport vehicle, the safety restraint comprising:
a retractor ( 12 ) on which an elongate piece of material ( 10 ) is wound;
the elongate material comprising means for attachment of one end to the personal mobility vehicle;
a slider bar ( 20 ) adapted to be fixed to the transport vehicle;
wherein the retractor is mounted on the slider bar, in a manner which allows the retractor to slide in the direction of normal motion of the transport vehicle, and prevents the retractor moving in an opposite direction on the slider bar; and
the retractor comprises:
a locking mechanism comprising a web sensor member ( 52 ) for causing the retractor to lock when the elongate piece of material is withdrawn at a velocity above a predetermined velocity, the locking mechanism comprising an inertia member mounted for rotation coaxially with a spool so as to rotate with the spool under normal usage and to lock the spool against rotation when the inertia member lags the spool.

2. A safety restraint according to claim 1 further comprising a mount ( 21 ) by which the retractor ( 12 ) is mounted on the slider bar ( 20 ).

3. A safety restraint according to claim 2 wherein the mount ( 21 ) comprises a U shaped member ( 21 ) adapted to slide on the slider bar ( 20 ).

4. A safety restraint according to claim 2 wherein the slider bar ( 20 ) is formed with notches ( 7 A) shaped to resist movement of the mount in said opposite direction.

5. A safety restraint according to claim 1 further wherein the means for attachment comprises a hook for attachment of the elongate piece of material to the personal mobility vehicle ( 1 ).

6. A safety restraint according to claim 1 further wherein the means for attachment comprises a clip for attachment of the elongate piece of material to the personal mobility vehicle ( 1 ).

7. A safety restraint according to claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a toothed disc ( 52 ) adapted to be engaged by a pawl ( 50 ) to lock the spool against rotation in a crash.

8. A safety restraint according to claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises teeth formed in a housing for the spool, with which the spool engages to lock against rotation.

Assignees

• Key Safety Systems Inc

Inventors

• Bell John
• Byers Robert

Classifications

• A61G3/0808 Primary

  Accommodating or securing wheelchairs · CPC title

• A61G5/1029

  engaging a surface, e.g. floor or wall · CPC title

• B60P3/079

  Tie-down retainers (B60P3/075 takes precedence) · CPC title