WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS

Description

[0001] This invention relates to wheelchair restraints and is concerned with holding a wheelchair secure in a vehicle so that the user can remain in it rather than transfer to an ordinary seat with a seat belt.

[0002] Various wheelchair restraints are known, and some are described in GB-B-2176154, GB-B-2197628 and GB-B-2206529. There are others, and a common feature with them is that they hold the wheelchair front and back, and at both sides. This often means four separate attaching operations, and fiddling around near the floor and the user's legs. This is awkward, lengthy, and possibly embarrassing. From US-A-4 093 303 is known a wheelchair restraint according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] It is the aim of this invention to reduce and simplify the attachment operations, but still secure the wheelchair rigidly to the vehicle.

[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a wheelchair restraint according to claim 1.

[0005] Thus, the operation is carried out from entirely behind the wheelchair. The abutment should engage the framework of the chair substantially above the axis of the main wheels, while the belting can be entrained around the framework below that axis. When tensioned, there is a moment applied to the wheelchair by the belting and the abutment forcing the small front wheels hard against the floor. Experiments have shown that this is an extremely strong and secure arrangement.

[0006] The abutment, at least when raised, may be further adjustable in the fore and aft direction, there being means for urging it towards and holding it in a forwards position to augment the belt tensioning. In other words, the tensioning is completed by adjustment of the abutment, forcing the wheelchair forwards against the belting.

[0007] The urging means conveniently includes a cam to act on the base of the abutment and a handle or pedal to operate the cam.

[0008] The abutment may also be adjustable when lowered in the fore and aft direction. It can then be arranged that at one extreme it is raisable while at the other it co-operates with stop means to prevent it being raised. This enables the restraint, if portable, to be carried with all parts securely and compactly stowed.

[0009] Preferably, the anchorage means includes two anchorage points at rear corners of the base. Each may have an associated adjustable belt that can be formed into a loop and secured back at a fastening at the anchorage point. Conveniently, the abutment is hinged to the base near the rear thereof, and in the raised position inclines upwardly and forwardly. An extensible strut may link the upper part of the abutment with the base to support the abutment in the raised position, or a flexible tie may link the upper part of the abutment with the base to limit the upward hinging of the abutment.The abutment may simply be pulled up directly by hand, but it may prove easier to have a handle or pedal at the rear of the base linked to and operable to raise the abutment.

[0010] For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a wheelchair anchorage in its out-of-use position,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the restraint from the rear, showing it in use, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view from the front and the side of the restraint, showing its relationship to a wheelchair.

[0011] A rectangular base 1 can be secured to floor tracks 2 by devices 3, such as described in GB-B-2219493, at the middle of two sides of the base 1. At the rear corners there are anchorage points 4 for belts 5 each of which can be formed into a loop with a free end clipped back into a socket 6 linked to the associated anchorage point 4. These sockets 6 can be rapid release devices such as are used with ordinary car seat belts. Tension can be applied to each loop by pulling on a portion 7 free of a jamming cleat 8.

[0012] An abutment 9 is hinged to the base 1 about an axis near and parallel to its rear edge. It can assume a lowered position as shown in Figure 1, where it is substantially flush with the base 1, or a raised position as shown in the other figures. In this example, it resembles the Greek letter π and the arms 10, which may be telescopic within limits, have pads 11 for engagement by framework 12 of a wheelchair. The two legs 13 of the abutment are spanned near their upper ends by a bar 14 to which is coupled one end of a telescopic strut 15, the other end of which is pivoted to the base 1. The strut has a spring loaded plunger which engages when the strut is fully extended to hold it in that position, and it can be released by pulling a knob 16. The legs 13 house in recesses 17 in the base 1 on either side of a shorter recess 18 for the strut 15.

[0013] Central of the rear of the base 1 there is a handle 19 by which the final tensioning is carried out. The abutment 9 is hinged to a shaft within the base which is capable of limited fore and aft movement, and the handle 19 is the operating member by which this is achieved. When the handle 19 is flat and partially housed within a recess 20, the abutment shaft is at a forward position, urged there by a cam on the lower end of the handle 19. However, when the handle 19 is raised to the vertical or thereabouts, the shaft is released and can assume a rearwards position. If desired, there may be means for locking the handle in the lowered position. Also, it can be arranged that with everything flat as in Figure 1, and with the abutment 9 consequently urged forwards by the cammed handle 19, the abutment will be trapped in that position and not able to swing free if the base 1 is picked up and carried. This may be accomplished by, for example, the bar 14 engaging a C-section member 20 at the front centre of the base 1, concave to the rear and supported not to interfere with the legs 13. When the handle 19 is raised, the abutment 9 can be drawn back for the bar 14 to clear the hook formed by the member 20 and then to be swung upwards.

[0014] Before use, the abutment 9, strut 15 and handle 19 are all lowered as shown in Figure 1. A wheelchair can be moved to straddle the base 1 either from the front or the rear. When it is approximately in position, the handle 19 is pulled up, allowing the abutment 9 to be raised and held by the strut 15. Then the belts 5 are looped round parts of the wheelchair, secured and lightly tensioned so that the wheelchair frame 12 engages the pads 11. Finally, the handle 19 is lowered, pushing the abutment 9 and thus the wheelchair slightly forwards and straining the belts 5 to increased tension. This finally secures the wheelchair.

[0015] The action of the handle 19 could be reversed; that is it would be lowered while the belts 5 were being fitted and then pulled up to a retained upright position to shift the abutment 9 forwards and finally tension the belts.

[0016] For release, the handle 19 is simply lifted (or lowered), the belts 5 are released from the sockets 6, and the abutment 9 is lowered.

[0017] It will be understood that there are various alternatives. For example, instead of a telescopic strut there could be a jointed one which acts like a toggle mechanism. Alternatively, there could simply be a strap or other flexible tie, the abutment being held up by hand or by a friction hinge until the wheelchair is backed up against it to hold it there with the strap tensioned. Instead of a manually operated handle 19, there could be a pedal. Also, rather than pulling the abutment 9 up by hand, there could be a mechanism, handle or pedal operated, for raising it, and if this was self-locking there would be less or no need for the strut 15. In a further variation, instead of two separate belt restraints there could be one looped from one anchorage point 4 around the wheelchair frame to the other point 4, and that single belt could be on a retracting reel.

[0018] In a further development, instead of having a removable base 1, the anchorage could be built into the floor of a vehicle as a permanent feature.

[0019] It will be understood that the base 1 could be reversed so that the wheelchair would then face rearwardly. All references herein to front and rear can therefore be interchanged.

Claims

1. A wheelchair restraint comprising a base (1) fixed or fixable to a floor, or being formed by part of a floor, anchorage means (4,5) for engaging the wheelchair and exerting a rearward pull thereon, and an abutment (9) against which the rear of the wheelchair bears when anchored, characterised in that the anchorage means (4,5) includes tensionable belting (5) secured at the rear of the base (1), and in that the abutment (9) is adjustable between a lowered position substantially flush with the base (1) and a raised position in which it bears against a wheelchair straddling the base (1) at a height substantially above that of the anchorage means (4,5).

2. A wheelchair restraint as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that abutment (9), at least when raised, is further adjustable in the fore and aft direction, there being means (19) for urging it towards and holding it in a forwards position to augment the belt tensioning.

3. A wheelchair restraint as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that said urging means includes a cam to act on the base of the abutment and a handle (19) or pedal to operate the cam.

4. A wheelchair restraint as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the abutment (9) is adjustable when lowered in the fore and aft direction, and in that at one extreme it is raisable and at the other it co-operates with stop means (20) to prevent it being raised.

5. A wheelchair restraint as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that said anchorage means (4,5) includes two anchorage points (4) at rear corners of the base (1), each having an associated adjustable belt (5) that can be formed into a loop and secured back at a fastening at the anchorage point.

6. A wheelchair restraint as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that said abutment (9) is hinged to the base (1) near the rear thereof, and in the raised position inclines upwardly and forwardly.

7. A wheelchair restraint as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that an extensible strut (15) links the upper part (14) of the abutment (9) with the base (1) to support the abutment in the raised position.

8. A wheelchair restraint as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that a flexible tie links the upper part of the abutment (9) with the base (1) to limit the upward hinging of the abutments.

9. A wheelchair restraint as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that there is a handle or pedal at the rear of the base linked to and operable to raise the abutment.

Ansprüche

1. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung mit einer Basis (1), die am Boden befestigt oder befestigbar ist oder durch Teile eines Bodens gebildet wird, Verankerungseinrichtungen (4, 5) zum Angreifen am Rollstuhl und zum Ausüben einer rückwärtsgerichteten Zugkraft auf diesen, und einer Abstützvorrichtung (9), an der die Rückseite des Rollstuhls anliegt, wenn er verankert ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verankerungseinrichtungen (4, 5) eine spannbare Gurteinrichtung (5) umfassen, die am hinteren Teil der Basis (1) befestigt ist, und daß die Abstützvorrichtung (9) zwischen einer abgesenkten Position, in der sie im wesentlichen in der gleichen Ebene wie die Basis (1) liegt, und einer angehobenen Position, in der sie an einem über der Basis (1) stehenden Rollstuhl in einer Höhe anliegt, die wesentlich über der der Verankerungseinrichtungen (4, 5) liegt, verstellbar ist.

2. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abstützvorrichtung (9) zumindest in ihrem angehobenen Zustand weiterhin in der Richtung nach vorne und nach hinten verstellbar ist und daß eine Einrichtung (19) vorhanden ist, die sie zur Erhöhung der Gurtspannung in eine vorgeschobene Position drückt und darin hält.

3. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die die Abstützvorrichtung vorwärtsdrückende Einrichtung einen Nocken zum Einwirken auf die Basis der Abstützvorrichtung und einen Handgriff (19) oder ein Pedal zum Betätigen des Nockens umfaßt.

4. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abstützvorrichtung (9) in ihrer abgesenkten Stellung in der Richtung nach vorne und nach hinten verstellbar ist und daß sie in der einen Extremstellung anhebbar ist und in der anderen mit einer Sperre (20) zusammenwirkt, die sie am Aufrichten hindert.

5. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verankerungseinrichtungen (4, 5) zwei Verankerungspunkte (4) an den hinteren Ecken der Basis (1) umfassen, von denen jedem ein einstellbarer Gurt (5) zugeordnet ist, der zu einer Schleife gebildet und zurück an einer Schließstelle am Verankerungspunkt befestigt werden kann.

6. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abstützvorrichtung (9) mit der Basis (1) nahe deren hinterem Rand scharniermäßig verbunden ist und sich in ihrer angehobenen Stellung nach oben und vorne neigt.

7. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der obere Teil (14) der Abstützvorrichtung (9) zu deren Abstützung in der angehobenen Stellung mit der Basis (1) über eine ausdehnbare Strebe (15) verbunden ist.

8. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der obere Teil der Abstützvorrichtung (9) zum Begrenzen von deren Aufwärts-Verschwenkung mit der Basis (1) über eine flexible Verbindung verbunden ist.

9. Rollstuhl-Einspannvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich an der Hinterseite der Basis ein Handgriff oder ein Pedal befindet, der bzw. das mit der Abstützvorrichtung verbunden und dazu betätigbar ist, diese anzuheben.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants, comprenant une base (1) fixée ou pouvant être fixée sur un plancher, ou étant formée par une partie d'un plancher, un moyen d'ancrage (4, 5) pour engager le fauteuil roulant et exercer une traction vers l'arrière sur celui-ci, et une butée (9) à l'encontre de laquelle l'arrière du fauteuil roulant porte lorsqu'il est ancré, caractérisé par le fait que le moyen d'ancrage (4, 5) comprend un système de courroie (5) pouvant être tendu, fixé à l'arrière de la base (1), et par le fait que la butée (9) est ajustable entre une position abaissée, sensiblement au niveau de la base (1), et une position relevée, dans laquelle elle porte contre un fauteuil roulant à cheval sur la base (1) à une hauteur sensiblement au-dessus de celle du moyen d'ancrage (4, 5).

2. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que la butée (9), au moins lorsqu'elle est relevée, est encore ajustable dans la direction d'avant en arrière, un moyen (19) étant prévu pour la solliciter vers et la maintenir dans une position avant pour augmenter la tension des courroies.

3. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants selon la revendication 2, caractérisé par le fait que ledit moyen de sollicitation comprend une came pour agir sur le base de la butée et une manette (19) ou une pédale pour actionner la came.

4. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants selon l'une des revendications 2 ou 3, caractérisé par le fait que la butée (9) est ajustable lorsqu'elle est abaissée dans la direction d'avant en arrière, et par le fait qu'à un extrême, elle peut être relevée, et, à l'autre, elle coopère avec un moyen d'arrêt (20) pour l'empêcher d'être relevée.

5. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ledit moyen d'ancrage (4, 5) comprend deux points d'ancrage (4) aux coins arrière de la base (1), chacun ayant une courroie ajustable associée (5), qui peut être formée suivant une boucle et refixée à une attache au niveau du point d'ancrage.

6. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ladite butée (9) est articulée sur la base (1) au voisinage de l'arrière de celle-ci, et, dans la position relevée, s'incline vers le haut et vers l'avant.

7. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants selon la revendication 6, caractérisé par le fait qu'une entretoise extensible (15) relie la partie supérieure (14) de la butée (9) avec la base (1), pour supporter la butée dans la position relevée.

8. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants selon la revendication 6, caractérisé par le fait qu'un lien flexible relie la partie supérieure de la butée (9) à la base (1), pour limiter le basculement vers le haut de la butée.

9. Dispositif de retenue pour fauteuils roulants selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait qu'il y a une manette ou une pédale à l'arrière de la base reliée à, et actionnable pour relever la, butée.

Drawing