Claims
- 1. A wheelchair lockdown device, comprising:
an elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, a substantially flat top portion, a bottom portion and tapered elongated sides extending from the bottom portion to the top portion; a motor connected to said elongated member and having a rotatable drive member; a pulley mounted to said bottom portion of said elongated member substantially near said distal end and substantially covered by said top portion; a slotted guide track formed in said elongated member; a lockdown apparatus slideably mounted in said slotted guide track and adapted to releasably engage a wheelchair; and a flexible drive connector extending from said lockdown apparatus around said pulley and around said rotatable drive member and back to said lockdown apparatus; wherein said flexible drive connector tractionally engages said rotatable drive member; and wherein rotation of said rotatable drive member causes movement of said flexible connector and actuates sliding of said lockdown apparatus in said slotted guide track.
- 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
an ear coupled to said lockdown apparatus; a post connected to said elongated member; wherein said ear is adapted to engage said post to prevent further motion of said lockdown apparatus.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said post is adapted to be placed in one of a plurality of discrete positions on said elongated member.
- 4. An apparatus for securing a wheelchair in a motor vehicle, comprising, in combination:
a raised platform having a top portion, a bottom portion mounted to the floor of the motor vehicle, ramped side portions extending from said bottom portion to said top portion, a proximal end and a distal end; a pulley positioned substantially at said proximal end between said top portion and said bottom portion; a guide track formed in said top portion and linearly extending substantially from said distal end to said proximal end; a motor coupled to said platform and having a rotatable drive member; a lockdown apparatus having a guide track-engaging portion operationally coupled to said guide track and adapted to move in said guide track; a drive train having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is connected to said lockdown apparatus; wherein said drive train extends from said lockdown apparatus to said motor and engages said rotatable drive member and extends around said pulley and back to said lockdown apparatus; and wherein said second end is connected to said lockdown apparatus.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:
an engaging member coupled to said lockdown apparatus; a post connected to said platform; wherein said engaging member is adapted to engage said post to stop the motion of said lockdown apparatus.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of discrete apertures formed in said platform and wherein said post is adapted to be placed in one of said plurality of discrete apertures formed in said platform.
- 7. A wheelchair lockdown device, comprising:
a platform having a proximal end and a distal end; a guide track formed in said platform and substantially extending from said proximal end to said distal end; a lockdown apparatus slideably mounted in said guide track and adapted to releasably engage a wheelchair; and a motor operationally coupled to said platform and to said lockdown apparatus; wherein said motor is adapted to move said lockdown apparatus in said guide track.
- 8. The wheelchair lockdown device of claim 7, wherein said platform further comprises a top portion and a bottom portion and oppositely disposed tapered elongated sides extending from said bottom portion to said top portion.
- 9. A method for securing a wheelchair to a vehicle, comprising:
providing an engaging member extending downwardly from the wheelchair; positioning the wheelchair above a portion of the platform with the engaging member extending downwardly from the wheelchair for engagement; moving a wheelchair restraining apparatus along said platform from a stowed position to a wheelchar engaging position; and coupling the wheelchair to the wheelchair restraining apparatus via the engaging member.
- 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
decoupling the wheelchair engaging member from the wheelchair restraining apparatus; and moving the wheelchair restraining apparatus to the stowed position.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/129,588 filed Apr. 16, 1999.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60129588 |
Apr 1999 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09550481 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
Child |
09871319 |
May 2001 |
US |