Wheelchair and wheelchair docking system for human transport in motorized vehicles

A wheelchair docking system comprising a front locking system and a back locking system that locks the wheelchair in place on a solid substrate, such as the floor of a bus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Docking systems for wheelchairs, and the like, in motorized vehicles, are known in the art. These devices are intended to allow the use of wheelchairs and similar devices to be used in transporting individuals that cannot ride in a standard seat in, for example, public transportation, for example, a bus.

Typically, those types of docking systems are designed for standard wheelchairs and normally, the wheelchairs do not have to be modified to be used in such docking systems.

The ultimate goal in these types of docking systems is safety for the wheelchair person in the event of quick stops, crashes, and the like.

The device of the instant invention includes a new design for a wheelchair and a stronger, tougher, docking system in order to provide the safety eluded to just Supra.

THE INVENTION

Thus, what is disclosed and claimed herein is a wheelchair docking system comprising in combination a front locking assembly comprising a first mounting plate for mounting to a stable surface.

The first mounting plate comprises a first flat plate having a top surface and surmounting the first flat plate, a first round bar rot tably mounted in spaced apart first stanchions.

Each stanchion is securely attached to the top surface of the flat plate. The first round bar has mounted on it a first hook element. The first round bar has mounted near the center of it a first foot pedal and a back locking assembly that comprises a second mounting plate for mounting to the stable surface, aligned with, but spaced-apart from the first mounting plate.

The second mounting plate comprises a second flat plate having a top surface and surmounting the second flat plate there is a second round bar rotatably mounted in spaced-apart second stanchions.

Each second stanchion is securely attached to the top surface of the second flat plate. The second round bar has mounted on it two separated second hook elements. The second round bar has mounted near the center a second foot pedal.

There are locking mechanisms mounted on lower members of a wheelchair that interface with said front and back locking assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1is a view in perspective of the combination of a wheelchair1and a locking assembly2of this invention.

FIG. 2is a view in perspective of the wheelchair1without the seat to show in more detail the makeup of the wheelchair. There is shown a support frame3of the wheelchair1, seat brackets4, front wheels5, back wheels6, upper front cross member7, upper back cross member8, front, lower cross member9, and back lower cross member10. A novel seat for the wheelchair1is discussed infra.

Turning now toFIG. 3, which is a top view of a typical layout for the substrate locking assembly2. There is shown a back locking assembly11and a front locking assembly12. Also shown are the wheel stops13and13′. There is also shown a front locking assembly27.FIG. 16is a full top view in perspective showing the release mechanism for the locking mechanisms as set forth inFIG. 3.

Turning now toFIGS. 4, 7, and 9, the back locking assembly11is comprised of a floor plate14with apertures15for fixing the back locking assembly11to a solid substrate, such as a bus floor. One suggested fixing means is shown inFIG. 5, which consists of a bolt16, a nut17for the bolt16, and an arrangement of two washers, a smooth washer18and a lock washer19.

The top surface20of the floor plate14has fixedly mounted on it spaced-apart stanchions21(seeFIGS. 7 and 9). Located in the stanchions21are the latch bar assemblies22. Such latch bar assemblies consist of a round base bar23, that has fixedly attached to it perpendicular round bars24, which perpendicular round bars24and surmounted by a round top bar25(a hook element). Centered in the round base bars23is a pedal26for leveraging the latch bar assemblies22from a resting position on the solid substrate to any position. Stepping on this pedal26, one can activate the locking mechanisms28(described in detail infra).

The locking assemblies11and27are placed on the solid substrate and attached to the solid substrate in accordance with the locking mechanisms28(discussed infra) mounted on the support bars of the wheelchair1. In other words, the locking assemblies11and27have to be particularly mounted on the solid substrate such that the locking mechanisms28of the wheelchair1will align and mesh with the latch bar assemblies22.

FIGS. 6, 10, 11, and 12illustrate the locking mechanisms28whereinFIG. 12is a view in perspective of a locking mechanism28of this invention. There is shown inFIG. 13, a hook mounting arm29. A pair of the arms29are joined by a clevis pin30to form a clevis31. A hook32(FIGS. 10 and 12) is mounted rotatably between the arms using the clevis pin31through opening33(SeeFIG. 13).

One clevis31is mounted to a lower back cross member10of the wheelchair1and two such clevis's31are mounted to a lower front cross member9of the wheelchair1. It should be noted that the hook32has a small opening34in its leading edge35. This opening is used to attach a cord or wire36fox use in the release mechanism for the locking mechanisms28. The clevis's31are mounted to the cross members of the wheelchair by clamps38. Openings37are provided to allow the use of bolts to affix the clamps38.

With reference toFIG. 6, there is shown a portion of the release system for the locks mechanisms. Shown is a cross member10of the wheelchair, two perpendicular round bars from the wheel chair that support the cross member10, two locking mechanisms28that are clamped to the cross member10, and a metal rod39that ties the two locking mechanisms together.

Further, with reference toFIG. 15, there is shown a top view in perspective of the seat support40for the wheel chair1, showing a strap41that has a first end42at the back and a second end43at the front. The strap41at the first end42has attached a cord or wire44(seeFIG. 15) to the end of the strap41. The strap41has another cord or wire44attached near the second end43, but some distance from the second end43, and the first end42of the strap has a loop45or some other similar means to grasp the strap41.

One can pull on the looped end45, and thereby raise the rod39which raises the hooks32from their resting place and also raises the hook at the back of the wheelchair. This movement releases all of the hooks32of the locking mechanisms and allows them to fall to the solid substrate thereby releasing the wheelchair1.