Wheelchair occupant restraint system

Abstract

A wheelchair occupant restraint system may include a wheelchair having a frame supporting a number of wheels, a seat mounted to the frame, and a first web securing the frame to the seat. Alternatively or additionally, a second tether may secure a shoulder belt support to a support surface remote from the wheelchair, wherein the shoulder belt support is mounted to a seat back of the wheelchair. Alternatively or additionally, an occupant restraint system, which may have some components mounted to or integral with the wheelchair and others not mounted to or integral with the wheelchair, may include one or more restraint webs that have at least one indicator identifying respective portions of the one or more restraint webs that connect together.

1 . A wheelchair occupant restraint system comprising: 
 a wheelchair having a frame supporting a number of wheels,    a seat mounted to the frame, and    a first web securing the frame to the seat.    
   
   
       2 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 1  further including: 
 a lap web having one end secured a lap web anchorage mechanism that is attached to the seat and an opposite free end secured to a first lap web connector configured for releasable engagement with a second lap web connector, and    a frame anchorage mechanism secured to the frame,    wherein the first web is secured between the lap web anchorage mechanism and the frame anchorage mechanism.    
   
   
       3 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 2  further including releasable connectors attached to opposite ends of the first web and configured for releasable connection with each other.  
   
   
       4 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 3  further including a web length adjusting device for removing slack from, and introducing slack to, the first web.  
   
   
       5 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 3  wherein the first web is looped around the lab web anchorage mechanism and the frame anchorage mechanism, the releasable connectors thereafter connected to each other to secure the lap web anchorage mechanism to the frame anchorage mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 5  further including a web length adjusting device for removing slack from, and introducing slack to, the first web.  
   
   
       7 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 1  further including: 
 a lap web having one end secured a lap web anchorage mechanism that is attached to the seat and an opposite free end secured to a first lap web connector configured for releasable engagement with a second lap web connector, and    a web retractor secured to the frame and having one end of the first web attached thereto,    wherein a second end of the first web is secured to the lap web anchorage mechanism.    
   
   
       8 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 7  further including releasable connectors interposed on the first web between the retractor and the lap web anchorage mechanism, the releasable connectors configured for releasable engagement with each other.  
   
   
       9 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 1  further including a second web securing the frame to the seat.  
   
   
       10 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 2  wherein the frame anchorage mechanism is a docking structure configured for engagement with a receiving structure mounted to a support surface.  
   
   
       11 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 2  wherein the frame anchorage mechanism includes: 
 a frame anchorage connector mounted to the wheelchair frame, and    a second tether having one end connected to the frame anchorage connector and an opposite end anchored to a support surface.    
   
   
       12 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 2  wherein a support surface includes a first support surface anchor point secured to the frame anchorage mechanism and a second support surface anchorage point, 
 and wherein the first tether is secured between the lap belt anchorage point and the second support surface anchorage point.    
   
   
       13 . A wheelchair occupant restraint system comprising: 
 a wheelchair having a frame supporting a number of wheels,    a seat mounted to the frame,    a back mounted to the frame, the seat and back configured to cooperatively support an occupant of the wheelchair,    a shoulder belt support mounted to the back, and    a web securing the shoulder belt support to a support surface remote from the wheelchair.    
   
   
       14 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 13  further including: 
 a first web connector mounted to the shoulder belt support, and    a second connector mounted to the support surface,    wherein one end of the web is configured for releasable engagement with the first web connector, and an opposite end of the web is configured for engagement with the second tether connector.    
   
   
       15 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 13  wherein the second web connector includes a retractor mounted to the support surface, 
 and wherein the opposite end of the web is connected to the retractor, the one end of the web extending from the retractor.    
   
   
       16 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 13  wherein the first web connector is mounted to a rearwardly facing surface of the shoulder belt support mechanism so that the web restrains motion of the wheelchair back in a forward direction.  
   
   
       17 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 13  wherein the first web connector is mounted to a forwardly facing surface of the shoulder belt support mechanism so that the web restrains motion of the wheelchair back in a rearward direction.  
   
   
       18 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 13  wherein the support surface is a wall of a motor vehicle.  
   
   
       19 . A wheelchair occupant restraint system, comprising: 
 a wheelchair having a frame supporting a number of wheels,    a seat mounted to the frame,    a back mounted to the frame, the seat and back configured to cooperatively support a wheelchair occupant, and    a restraint assembly including a shoulder web having one end extendable downwardly across the back toward the seat, a first connecting web having one end configured to be attached to the seat and another end configured for releasable engagement with the one end of the shoulder web, a lap web having one end extendable over the seat and a second connecting web having one end configured to be attached to the seat and another end configured for releasable engagement with the one end of the lab web, at least one of the should web and first connecting web and the lap web and second connecting web including at least one indicator identifying that the shoulder web connects to the first connecting web and the lap web connects to the second connecting web.    
   
   
       20 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 19  wherein the at least one indicator includes portions of the shoulder web and first connecting web or the lap web and second connecting web having web widths that are sized to indicate connection therebetween.  
   
   
       21 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 19  wherein the at least one indicator includes labels attached to portions of the shoulder web and first connecting web or the lap web and second connecting web, the labels configured to indicate connection between the corresponding webs.  
   
   
       22 . The wheelchair occupant restraint system of  claim 19  wherein the at least one indicator includes providing the shoulder web and first connecting web or the lap web and second connecting web with matching colors.