Abstract:
A vehicle driver security screen and in particular a screen that seeks to minimise access to the driver&#39;s area of a vehicle such as a taxi cab or bus from side or rear attempts by passengers to access the driver area in an assault or robbery situation. The security screen is removably attached to the driver&#39;s seat in a way that does not restrict the movement of the driver&#39;s seat, nor restrict the driver&#39;s access or escape from the vehicle. The present invention is useful for drivers of public transport who are regularly exposed to aggressive behaviour from passengers. The security screen provides protection to the head and torso regions of the driver whilst allowing contact with the passengers, such as when money is exchanged. Furthermore, the security screen provides protection to the driver from rear knife attack.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to a vehicle driver security screen and in particular to a screen that seeks to minimise access to the driver&#39;s area of a vehicle such as a taxi cab or bus from side or rear attempts by passengers to access the driver area in an assault or robbery situation.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Unfortunately, it is often the case that drivers of public transport vehicles such as taxi cabs and buses are prone to assault by side or rear passengers of the vehicle in an attempt to steal from the driver or obtain a free fare, amongst other reasons.  
         [0003]     Various remedies to this known problem have been proposed. The use of security cameras mounted within vehicles is now commonplace and these provide some assurance to the driver that activities within the vehicle are being monitored. However, security cameras of this type can be quite sophisticated and therefore their cost quite substantial. Furthermore, the use of security cameras although known to be relatively effective in obtaining the identity of perpetrators, does not provide instant protection for the driver in an assault situation.  
         [0004]     Protection barriers have also been proposed. However, these are often quite cumbersome units and are not easily retrofitted into existing vehicles. In addition, existing barriers often cause discomfort to the driver of the vehicle and do not allow for sufficient contact and communication between the driver and passengers. Various known barriers also do not provide specific protection to the vital areas of the driver such as the head and torso regions.  
         [0005]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems or to provide the public with a useful alternative.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a security screen adapted to be attached to a front seat of a vehicle of the type including a base, backrest and headrest, said security screen including: 
    at least one rear barrier extending behind said backrest and having an inner edge extending inwardly beyond said backrest;     at least one side barrier extending forwardly from said rear barrier; and     at least one attachment means adapted to attach said screen to said seat.    
 
         [0010]     Preferably said side barrier is located on the inner side of said seat adjacent to the centre of the vehicle, said side barrier extends substantially forward relative to the occupant of said seat.  
         [0011]     Preferably said security screen is attached to the rear of said seat in a way that said rear panel makes contact with a rear surface of said seat.  
         [0012]     Preferably said security screen when attached to said seat does not restrict the movement of said seat.  
         [0013]     Preferably said rear panel extends to just below the ceiling of said vehicle.  
         [0014]     Preferably said rear panel extends to Just above the floor of said vehicle.  
         [0015]     Preferably said side panel extends to the height of said rear panel.  
         [0016]     Preferably said security screen includes a first connection means consisting of a C-section member adapted to engage said headrest.  
         [0017]     Preferably said C-section member includes a tether adapted to secure said C-section member to said headrest.  
         [0018]     Preferably said security screen includes a second connection means adapted to engage a first frame of said seat said first frame connecting said base and rear portions of said seat.  
         [0019]     Preferably said security screen includes a third connection means adapted to engage a second frame of said seat said second frame located below said seat.  
         [0020]     Preferably said connection means includes a hook and tape connection.  
         [0021]     Preferably said connection means includes a snap-fit connection.  
         [0022]     Preferably said security screen is made of a rigid, slightly flexible material such as Polycarbonate plastic.  
         [0023]     Preferably said security screen is transparent.  
         [0024]     Preferably said side barrier includes a first and a second side barrier.  
         [0025]     Preferably said first side barrier extends forward relative to said driver to a greater distance than said second side barrier.  
         [0026]     Preferably said first side barrier includes a first panel positioned lower than a second panel that slightly overlaps said first panel.  
         [0027]     Preferably said first and second panels are connected at said overlap.  
         [0028]     Preferably said second side barrier is located on a driver-door side of said driver, said second side barrier extends substantially forward relative to said driver.  
         [0029]     Preferably said second side barrier includes a third panel positioned lower than a fourth panel that slightly overlaps said third panel.  
         [0030]     Preferably said third and fourth panels are connected at said overlap.  
         [0031]     Preferably said rear barrier includes a fifth panel that is angled slightly forward relative to a lower sixth panel.  
         [0032]     Preferably said fifth panel connects said second and fourth panels.  
         [0033]     Preferably said sixth panel connects said first and third panels.  
         [0034]     In a further form of the invention there is proposed a security screen adapted to be attached to a front seat of a vehicle of the type including a base, backrest and headrest, said security screen including: a rear panel having a first and a second side, said rear panel adapted to extend behind the backrest and beyond the height of the headrest, said first side is located at closer proximity to the centre of said vehicle than said second side; a second panel attached to said first side that extends forwardly from said rear panel relative to said seat; and at least one connection means adapted to attach said screen to said seat. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0035]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,  
         [0036]      FIG. 1   a  is a schematic front perspective view illustrating a vehicle driver security screen in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 1   b  is a schematic rear perspective view of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 1   a;    
         [0038]      FIG. 2   a  is a front plan view of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 1   a - b;    
         [0039]      FIG. 2   b  is a side plan view of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 1   a i b;  
         [0040]      FIG. 2   c  is a top plan view of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 1   a - b;    
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of the rear of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 1   a - b  as attached to a driver seat;  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the side of the vehicle driver security screen as attached to a driver seat as shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of the vehicle driver security screen as shown in  FIG. 4  and including a driver;  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the upper connection means between the vehicle driver security screen and the driver seat;  
         [0045]      FIG. 7   a  is a schematic perspective view of the front of the vehicle driver security screen including alternate connection means;  
         [0046]      FIG. 7   b  is a schematic perspective view of the rear of the vehicle driver security screen including alternate connection means;  
         [0047]      FIG. 8   a  is a schematic front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a vehicle driver security screen;  
         [0048]      FIG. 8   b  is a schematic rear perspective view illustrating the rear of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 8   a;    
         [0049]      FIG. 9   a  is a side plan view of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 8   a - b;    
         [0050]      FIG. 9   b  is a front plan view of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 8   a - b; and    
         [0051]      FIG. 9   c  is a side plan view of the vehicle driver security screen of  FIG. 8   a - b  illustrating the substantially planar side panel. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0052]     The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.  
         [0053]     The present invention discloses a vehicle driver security screen  10  that seeks to minimise side and rear access to a driver  12  of a vehicle (not shown). An example in which the screen  10  may prove necessary is where a passenger or passengers (not shown) wish to access the driver area in order to assault the driver  12 . In one form of the invention the screen  10  includes six major panels  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1   a  the security screen  10  can be constructed from a single sheet  26  of material which includes creases  28  that define at least one edge of panels  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 . The material can be constructed from any transparent material that does not restrict the vision of the driver  12 . Panels  14  and  16  protect the driver  12  from side access while panels  18 ,  20 , and  22  prevent rear access to the driver  12 . The screen  10  is designed like so because the most serious and often fatal attacks to drivers of public transport vehicles occur to the head and torso regions of the driver  12 . The screen  10  can be retrofitted onto existing vehicle seats  30  and attached via simple connection means  32  in such a way that the screen  10  does not restrict the movement of the seat  30 .  
         [0054]      FIGS. 1-2  illustrate the vehicle driver security screen  10  of the present invention whilst  FIGS. 3-5  illustrate the screen  10  as attached to the driver seat  30  of a vehicle (not shown). The security screen  10  is a single rigid structure and consists of six panels  14 ,  16 , 18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24 . It is to be understood that panels  16  and  20  are extensions of panel  22  that have been bent substantially laterally relative to panel  22  whilst panels  14  and  18  are extensions of panel  24  that have been bent at an angle slightly less than that of panels  16  and  20 . Panel  22  bends forward relative to the driver  12  and it is this bend that causes panels  16  and  20  to overlap with panels  14  and  18  respectively. It is to be understood that there exists space  34  between panels  14  and  16 , and space  36  between panels  18  and  20  to allow for this overlap.  
         [0055]     Panel  22  is defined by adjacent edges  38 ,  40  and  42  and a circular edge  44  whereby panel  16  extends from  38  and panel  20  extends from  42 . The overlap of panels  14  and  16 , and  18  and  20  are connected by a stud or screw connection  46 , or any other suitable connection means. The edges  48  as defined by overlapping panels  14  and  16 , and  50  as defined by overlapping panels  18  and  20  are both flush. Panels  18  and  20  together form a curved perimeter that extends outwards from the top of edge  42  and downward toward edge  52 . Alternatively, panels  14  and  16  together form a shape with relatively straight edges. As is illustrated clearly in  FIG. 5 , the driver  12  of the vehicle is still able to maintain sufficient contact with both side and rear passengers in that panel  14  does not block movement of the driver&#39;s hands. Therefore, exchange of money and various other activities may still take place. For example, if a taxi-driver  12  was required to give change to a customer seated at their side or at their rear, there is sufficient clearance beneath panel  14  for this to be achieved.  
         [0056]     It should now be apparent that when the security screen  10  is attached to a vehicle driver seat  12 , that panels  14  and  16  will protect from a side passenger (not shown), panel  22  will protect from any rear passengers and panels  18  and  20  will protect from rear passengers who may wish to assault the driver from the driver door side of the vehicle. Furthermore, the extension of each panel allows for particular protection of the vital regions of the driver  12 , namely the head and torso regions.  
         [0057]     The vehicle driver security screen  10  as illustrated is intended for vehicles with right hand side steering, however, it is to be understood that the present invention may well be manufactured in an opposite configuration to allow for application in vehicles with left hand side steering.  
         [0058]     Panel  24  lies substantially flat across the rear surface  54  of the seat  30  and is adapted to extend to just above the vehicle floor (not shown) while panel  22  is adapted to almost abut the vehicle ceiling liner (not shown). The panel  24  also contains four connection means  56 ,  58 ,  60 , and  62 , in this example being well-known hook and tape connections. The connection means  56  and  58  that extend through apertures  64  and  66  respectively, are adapted to be fastened to the seat frame  68  that connects the base  70  of the seat  12  to the body  72  of the seat  12 . The connection means  60  and  62  that extend through apertures  74  and  76  respectively, are adapted to be fastened to a base frame  78  of the seat  30 .  
         [0059]     There exists another connection means  80  on panel  22  that is clearly illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The connection means  80  is adapted to be attached to the lower portion  82  of a vehicle head-rest  84 . The connection means  80  comprises a C-section that is connected to panel  22  through its elongate section  82 . Once again, this connection may be achieved using screws  86  and  88  as illustrated, however, this is by way of example only and the present invention should not be limited to this. C-section  80  is adapted to hug portion  82  while straps  90  and  92  allow for this connection to be strengthened. The illustrated straps include a well known snap-fit connection  94 , however, other means to connect the straps may well be employed.  FIG. 7  illustrates the vehicle driver security screen  10  including its connection means  96  and  98  also incorporating a snap-fit connection.  
         [0060]     The connection of the security screen  10  with the vehicle seat  30 , as specified above, allows for the driver  12  of the vehicle to adjust his or her seat  30  and coincidently move the security screen  10  with the seat  30 . This provides obvious advantages in that drivers of public transport vehicles often compromise safety for comfort, whereas the present invention offers the availability of both. Furthermore, the narrowness of panel  20  and the clearance below panel  14  provides space for a seatbelt to extend there through, which is a requirement by law in most countries. The seatbelt would therefore extend over panel  20 , across the driver&#39;s torso and below panel  14  to the seatbelt buckle (not shown). This means that no matter which position the seat  30  is adjusted to, the driver is still able to strap on the seatbelt.  
         [0061]     The screen  10  in its manoeuvrability can also be easily retrofitted into existing public transport vehicles with minimal requirements thus offering the added advantage of low cost.  
         [0062]     It should be understood that the method of manufacture of the security screen  10  should not be limited to the abovementioned process of bending the panels as each panel may well be welded together to produce the same or similar result. Similarly, the overlapping sides do not necessarily have to be employed as single side members will suffice. Typically, the security screen  10  is made of a strong and transparent Polycarbonate plastic, however, once again any material capable of offering adequate protection to the driver may be used. As an indication: 
        the angle of panels  14  and  16 , and panels  18  and  20  relative to panel  24  should be bent to approximately 109°; and     the larger side of the screen  10 , namely panels  14  and  16  should extend to approximately ¾ of the length between the dashboard (not shown) and panel  24 .        
 
         [0065]     In a further form of the invention and as illustrated in  FIGS. 8-9  the security screen  10  can be constructed from two separate sections  100  and  102  of material. As illustrated in  FIG. 8   a,  the larger of the sections  100  is moulded to include a curved rear panel  104  and two sides  106  and  108 . Side  108  is attached to section  102  by way of studs or screw connection  110 , or any other suitable connection means. Section  102  consists of a substantially planar panel. The panel  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 8   a  includes three sides  112 ,  114  and  116  that form a scalene triangle. It should however be understood by the skilled addressee that the panel  102  can be of any configuration providing that it protects the driver  12  from assault from the side. The two section construction may be preferred for ease of manufacture or repair.  
         [0066]     As illustrated in  FIG. 8   b  a connection means  80  is attached to panel  104  and is adapted to be connected to the lower portion  82  of a vehicle head-rest  84 . Panel  104  further includes two straps  118  and  120  which are adapted to connect to seat  30 . In this way the security screen  10  is attached to the rear surface of the seat  30 .  
         [0067]     As further illustrated in  FIG. 9   a - 9   c  panel  102  extends forwardly to a greater extent than panel  106 . This is to ensure that the driver  12  is adequately protected from persons within the vehicle whist not restricting the driver&#39;s ability to access and escape the vehicle.  
         [0068]     It should therefore now be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention offers protection for a driver of a public transport vehicle from assault. The screen includes side and rear panels that prevent passengers seated beside or behind the driver from accessing the vital regions of the driver such as the head and torso regions, whilst maintaining sufficient contact and communication between driver and passenger. The screen offers various other advantages in that it is able to be retrofitted into existing public transport vehicles and is movable with the driver seat thereby offering the driver both comfort and protection.  
         [0069]     The skilled addressee should now appreciate the advantages of the present invention whereby a driver security screen offering protection for the driver can be easily installed into the vehicles and attached to the driver&#39;s seat. This results in the panel moving with the seat ensuring that the screen always fits snugly around the driver.  
         [0070]     It is to be understood that the embodiment is by way of example only and that other variations may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Thus, there may very well only be a rear panel and one passenger side panel, the panels being of a straight configuration. Further the screen may only be attached to the headrest and not to any other locations on the seat.  
         [0071]     Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.