Wheel Chair Docking System

Abstract

A docking system for securing a wheelchair into a vehicle in which docking fixtures are firmly attached to the frame of the wheelchair and the floor of the vehicle, either directly or by attachment to a support which is attached to either the frame of the wheelchair or the floor of the vehicle. A male docking fixture is mounted on a support to the underside of the wheelchair, which is positioned in the vehicle so that the male docking fixture and the female docking fixture are aligned and the male docking fixture can be slideably and releasably locked with the female docking fixture. Preferably, the female docking fixture includes an electrically operated, spring loaded, release mechanism, and may also include a slide mechanism to allow limited forward and rearward movement of the wheelchair while under restraint.

1 . A wheelchair docking system for releasably securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicular conveyance, comprising:
 a male and a female docking fixture, which when coupled connect the wheelchair to the floor;   the male docking fixture adapted for secure attachment to one of either the wheelchair or the floor, and further adapted for releasable locking engagement with a female docking fixture;   a female docking fixture adapted for secure attachment to the other of either the support or the floor;   the female docking fixture further adapted for locking engagement with the male docking fixture, whereby the female docking fixture and male docking fixture are the only structures securing the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicular conveyance,   the female and male docking fixtures generally restricting the rotational movement of the wheelchair.   
   
   
       2 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the male docking fixture is carried by a support attached to the underside of a wheelchair, and the female docking fixture is affixed to the floor of a vehicle. 
   
   
       3 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the male docking fixture comprises an elongated foot with an engagement part comprising lateral surfaces merging to form a front edge of the male docking fixture, the male docking fixture having an opening extending through the engagement part, the opening adapted for releasable locking engagement with a releasable latching bolt carried by the female docking fixture. 
   
   
       4 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the female docking fixture includes a docking port with an entry way adapted to slideably receive the male docking fixture and wherein a position indicator light is adjacent to the docking port; 
   
   
       5 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 4  comprising a mechanical actuator adapted to move the releasable latching bolt comprising an actuating lever and cable. 
   
   
       6 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the system comprises a support with an internally threaded collar, the male docking fixture being adapted for secure and adjustable rotational attachment to the collar. 
   
   
       7 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the male docking fixture comprises a threaded shaft adapted for secure and adjustable rotational attachment with the collar. 
   
   
       8 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 7 , including a removable pin adapted to lock the male docking fixture with the collar in a desired axial position. 
   
   
       9 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the latching bolt is spring loaded and comprises a beveled end adapted for releasable locking engagement with the opening extending through the engagement part of the male docking fixture. 
   
   
       10 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 9  including a pivotally mounted lever operatively connected to the spring loaded latching bolt and adapted to move the latching bolt from a locked position to an unlocked position so as to allow disengagement of the male docking fixture from the female docking fixture. 
   
   
       11 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the latching bolt is alternatively moveable by a manually operable lever and an electrically operated solenoid switch. 
   
   
       12 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 2  in which the male and female docking fixtures are adapted to engage in a generally horizontal relative sliding motion. 
   
   
       13 . A wheelchair docking system for releasably securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicular conveyance, comprising:
 a male docking fixture adapted for secure attachment to one of the wheelchair or the floor, and further. adapted for releasable locking engagement with a female docking fixture;   a male and a female docking fixture, which when coupled connect the wheelchair to the floor and the floor;   a male docking fixture being height-adjustable and comprised of an elongated foot with an engagement part having lateral surfaces disposed at an acute angle and merging to form a front edge and further adapted for releasable locking engagement with a female docking fixture in a generally lateral relative sliding motion;   a female docking fixture, adapted for secure attachment to the other of either the support or the floor, and comprising a docking port with an entry way adapted for releasable locking engagement with the male docking fixture, whereby the female docking fixture and male docking fixture are the only structures securing the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicular conveyance;   the engagement of the male and female docking fixtures forming a connection that generally restricts the rotational movement of the wheelchair.   
   
   
       14 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the system comprises a support with an internally threaded collar, the male docking fixture being adapted for secure and adjustable rotational attachment to the collar. 
   
   
       15 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the male docking fixture includes a threaded shaft adapted for secure and adjustable rotational attachment with the collar. 
   
   
       17 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 13  including a removable pin adapted to lock the male docking fixture with the collar in a desired axial position. 
   
   
       18 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the female docking fixture is securely attached to the floor of the vehicular conveyance and wherein a position indicator light is adjacent to the docking port;. 
   
   
       19 . A wheelchair docking system as claimed in  claim 13  where in the releasable latching bolt is moveable into and out of engagement with the male docking fixture, the latching bolt being moveable by both a manual actuating lever and a solenoid operated cable. 
   
   
       20 . A wheelchair docking system for releasably securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicular conveyance, comprising:
 a male docking fixture extending from a support, the male docking fixture comprising a threaded shaft adapted for height adjustment relative to the support and a collar carried by the support, the male docking fixture comprising an elongated foot with an engagement part and having a central opening and lateral surfaces disposed at an acute angle which merging to form a front edge, the support and male docking fixture being adapted for secure attachment to the underside of a wheelchair;   a female docking fixture adapted for secure attachment to the floor of the vehicular conveyance, comprising a docking port with a tapered entry way and a spring loaded latching bolt disposed transverse to the entry way and adapted for releasable locking engagement with the opening in the male docking fixture;   the male docking fixture adapted for releasable locking engagement with a female docking fixture in a generally lateral relative sliding motion;   whereby the female docking fixture and male docking fixture are the only structures securing the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicular conveyance, and sides of the tapered entry way form an acute angle that generally matches with the acute angle of the sides of the male docking fixture to achieve a connection that generally restricts the rotational movement of the wheelchair.