This invention pertains to method for enhancing the safety of a mobile occupant carrier, such as an occupied wheelchair or other small-sized wheeled carrier, within a motor vehicle.
There is a continuing need for improved methods to further the safety of occupants of mobile occupant carriers, while those carriers are being transported in motor vehicles. Various mobile occupant carrying devices are known in the art for enhancing the mobility of physically disabled people, for example wheelchairs, three-wheeled scooters, power base wheelchairs, and the like. There are many instances when such a device, for safety or other reasons, should be secured to a surrounding structure, for example, when the occupant boards a vehicle such as a van, bus, or train. Safety laws usually require that the vehicle be equipped with a device for securing the mobile occupant carrier within the vehicle. The problem for designers of mobile occupant carrier systems is to design occupant carrying devices that have superior securing capability, and that at the same time are easy and quick to operate by either the occupant of the mobile occupant carrier, or by the vehicle's driver or another person.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,685,403 and 6,474,916 describe a mobile occupant carrier restraint system that is resistant to both front and side impacts, that reduces or eliminates the need for assistance when docking, and that restrains the carrier quickly and securely into a transport vehicle, e.g., the bed of a truck or trailer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,389,537 and 6,198,388 describe voice warning systems for automobiles, to notify a car's driver of the conditions of the car.
Previous restraint systems have used buzzers or beeps to warn users when a wheelchair (or other carrier) is not properly secured, or otherwise to indicate that the system has malfunctioned. Different buzzes, tones, or combinations have been used to alert users to different states of the system, some of which can indicate that it is currently unsafe to operate the system in a moving vehicle. However, users can sometimes find it difficult to understand or remember the meaning of the various buzzes and tones, especially given the multitude of sounds that modern automobiles and other devices currently emit. Users sometimes seem not to hear the buzzes and beeps at all. Users have even been known to ignore or disable what is perceived as an “annoying buzzer” rather than service the equipment properly. If the system is deactivated, the wheelchair user may not be safe until the system is properly repaired. Unfortunately, serious injury and even death have occurred when these warning sounds have been disregarded and an accident ensued, and because the warning was disregarded a wheelchair was improperly restrained at the time of the accident.
Wheelchair restraint systems for use in motor vehicles have been commercially available for ˜30 years. Despite this long period of use, there remains an unfilled need for an improved method to encourage proper use of the restraint systems. Despite the occurrence of occasional unfortunate and even serious accidents, to the inventor's knowledge there have been no previous methods for improving user compliance with the proper use of the restraint system, and for correcting potentially dangerous conditions before an accident occurs. Existing warning systems can be ignored or misunderstood.
I have discovered an improved system to alert users to improperly secured mobile occupant carriers in motor vehicles, and for correcting potentially dangerous situations. The notification system provides specific, easily-understood voice messages to notify users of improperly secured carriers, or other potentially dangerous situations. Implementation of voice-based notifications dramatically improves users' understanding of the meaning of warning messages, substantially improves compliance with proper procedures, and significantly enhances safety. The system determines the state of the mobile occupant carrier docking system and the state of the vehicle ignition, and provides verbal messages to users as appropriate, in real-time.
The novel voice notification system increases compliance with the correct use of vehicle restraint systems for mobile occupant carriers such as wheelchairs. Increased compliance should result in fewer injuries and saved lives. Users need no longer try to remember the meaning of various buzzing tones—possibly long after the original installation of a system, and after memory has faded. Warning messages are more likely to be heard and heeded. An additional benefit of voice notification is that people who struggle to discern between different tones (e.g. those who are tone deaf) can use a system that provides clear verbal warnings.
One embodiment of the novel system is implemented with sensors, software, and speakers that can be incorporated into new restraint systems, as well as being retrofitted onto existed systems. Verbal messages alert users about the state of the restraint system, using inputs from sources such as the restraint system's electronic control unit, the vehicle ignition, the restraint release, and its locking mechanism. The novel voice notification system enhances safety, both for the occupant of the mobile occupant carrier and for other passengers in the vehicle.
Voice-based notifications alert users when certain states are detected. For example: The notification circuit detects the state of the locking mechanism, whether it is locked or unlocked. The circuit detects whether the universal restraint system is activated or deactivated. It detects the voltage of a solenoid connection to determine whether there is a solenoid malfunction. It detects the state of the vehicle ignition: on, off, or transitioning from off to on.
One embodiment uses an mp3 semiconductor chip to play one or more message sound files on a speaker. The voice notification circuit notifies users when a problem is detected—using a recording of spoken words—and the circuit also advises what corrective action should be taken—again, in spoken words. For example, the ignition should not be turned on before the wheelchair is locked into the base. User understanding and compliance is greatly enhanced, as compared to prior systems using buzzers and beeps, and as a result safety is significantly improved.
Preferably the latch remains open whenever there is no wheelchair in the vehicle, so the latch is always ready to receive a chair. When no wheelchair is present in the vehicle, the system will indicate that the chair is not locked; however, there is a manual “deactivate” option that allows the user to choose to bypass the warnings. Following any deactivation, however, as soon as the ignition is toggled the system will once again revert to its normal mode, for example warning the user that the chair is not locked. The bypass feature provides a “one-time” deactivation, and it must be manually chosen each time when applicable. The user is required to hold the release button for 3 to 5 seconds to bypass the warnings; more is required than just a casual swipe. As soon as any change is detected for the ignition status, each time the system reverts to its normal working mode.
The voice notification circuit works with most existing wheelchair docking systems' electronic control units. In the prototype device there were electrical connections added to the solenoid, to the lever switch in the locking mechanism, to custom firmware, to an mp3 chip, and to an external speaker.
The speaker may be a special-purpose speaker, or an existing speaker in the vehicle. Connection to the speaker may be wired or wireless (e.g. Bluetooth). However, wired connections are preferred as providing greater reliability, a particularly important consideration where safety is an issue.
Following are non-limiting examples of the types of messages that can be played by the voice notification circuit in response to various vehicle and wheelchair states:
When the ignition transitions from off to on and the latching mechanism is closed (locked), meaning the wheelchair is secure, play message: “Ready <optional 1 sec pause> Chair locked.”
When the ignition transitions from off to on and the latching mechanism is open (unlocked), meaning the wheelchair is not secure, loop message: “Stop <optional 1 sec pause> Chair not locked.”
When the universal restraint system is deactivated, loop message: “Warning <optional 1 sec pause> Lock deactivated.”
When the universal restraint system is reactivated, play message: “Lock reactivated.”
When the electronic control unit does not see the proper solenoid connection voltage, loop message: “Solenoid malfunction <optional 1 sec pause> Service required.”
When the ignition is on and the release button is pressed, play message: “Please turn off ignition to unlock chair.”
When the ignition is off and the release button is pressed, play message: “Chair unlocked <optional 1 sec pause> Please roll back.”
Other messages of a similar nature can also be used, for the status conditions described above, or other conditions that may be of interest. Messages can be provided in a language of the user's choice, for better understandability. The volume of the audio messages can be adjusted, and in general it should be loud; and in particular should be sufficiently loud that users will not readily be able to ignore the safety warnings.
Following is an example of a state table for the vehicle ignition, restraint release switch, latching mechanism, and notification messages:
It is preferred to include additional warning outputs, in addition to the voice messages described here, to provide a measure of redundancy. For example, LED indicators can be used, with red=stop, green=good/go, yellow=warning. A buzzer is still used to provide an initial prompt when there is a warning. For example, in one embodiment if a faulty solenoid is detected, or if an unlocked chair is detected, a three-beep warning signal precedes the voice message as otherwise described above. Lights, Buzzer/Beep & Voice. A combination of two or even all three of these outputs—lights, buzzer/beeper, and voice—provides redundancy and increases the likelihood that a user will not overlook a problem.
The present invention may be used with restraint docking systems generally. A preferred restraint system for use with the present invention is the universal restraint system for wheelchairs and other mobile carriers otherwise described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,403. See the U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,403 for further details; the entire disclosure of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,403 is incorporated by reference. A summary is provided below:
The mobile occupant carrier restraint device allows the occupant to perform self-securement in a vehicle, or another person can secure the mobile occupant carrier. The device is a universal, mobile occupant carrying restraint that may be used with almost any commercially-available mobile occupant carrier. The device comprises at least one mounted universal adaptor attached to the frame of an occupant carrier, a bracket assembly having a single horizontally-displaced latch interface, and a docking station assembly with a single latching mechanism. The universal adaptor(s) may be vertically mounted to the frame to provide vertical adjustment, to provide easy mounting and dismounting of the bracket assembly, and to provide resistance in collisions. The docking station assembly is mounted to the floor of a transport vehicle in a receiving position and receives the horizontal latch interface. Upon loading a mobile occupant carrier into the transport vehicle, the carrier is moved towards the docking station assembly to a position that allows the single horizontal latch interface to engage the single latching mechanism, thus securing the carrier. The single latch interface allows an occupant to secure a carrier with a greater amount of ease when compared to a dual latch interface because there is only one securing point instead of two. Additionally, the horizontal latch interface assists in resisting any horizontal movement that would be caused by a side impact. Moreover, the wide displacement of the latch interface has a greater resistance to horizontal bending as compared to a vertically displaced latch. The restraint system can also be used to secure other small-size wheeled carriers into a transport vehicle. The device not only secures small-size carriers during transportation, but also serves as a theft deterrent.
The restraint device provides for fast, self-securement of mobile occupant carriers, particularly wheelchair passengers in transport vehicles, by using a universal docking station and a bracket assembly that can be adjusted to fit almost any carrier frame. Because the interface between the wheelchair and the docking station is horizontally positioned, it is capable of resisting the forces that would be created by either a front or a side collision. The universal adaptor(s) that bolt to the wheelchair frame can optionally function as an anchor for tie-downs in vehicles without docking stations. The bracket assembly size can be adjusted to fit almost any wheelchair frame. The docking station height can also be adjusted to accommodate wheelchairs of various heights. The system can be adapted to secure other small-sized wheeled carriers during transport, including scooters, all-terrain vehicles, small tractors, riding lawn mowers, and a wide variety of other similar carriers.
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Features of the preferred docking system include: (1) the restraint system withstands side impacts well; (2) the bracket assembly 4 is easily attached to the universal adaptors 2, allowing the bracket assembly 4 to be detached from the mobile occupant carrier and kept in the transit vehicle; (3) the docking system guides the latch interface 6 into the latch 10, which simplifies backing a mobile occupant carrier into the latching assembly 10; (4) the bracket assembly 4 prevents a foldable wheelchair from folding when the vehicle is involved in a collision; (5) the universal adaptors 2 can be designed to be used as part of a four-point tie-down system; and (6) the universal adaptors 2 can serve as an anchor point for another latch design so long as the device fits snugly into the vertical openings 12.
The universal restraint system can also be used in securing a small-sized, wheeled carrier into a transport vehicle, e.g., a scooter or four-wheeler in the bed of a truck. An alternative embodiment would be the use of a single universal adapter mounted to the frame of the carrier. Additionally, the horizontal latch interface could be adapted to be directly mounted to the frame without the use of an additional adapter or bracket system. Advantages of the universal restraint system in transporting these small-sized carriers are that the carrier can be driven into the vehicle such that the horizontal latch interface is secured in the latching mechanism; that the height of the docking station can be adjusted to accommodate carriers of different heights; and that the docking station can be removed from the vehicle and stored when not in use.
The complete disclosures of all references cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, as is the complete disclosure of priority application Ser. No. 62/461,797. In the event of an otherwise irresolvable conflict, however, the disclosure of the present specification shall control.
The benefit of the Feb. 22, 2017 filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/461,797 is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). The complete disclosure of the priority application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62461797 | Feb 2017 | US |