Restraining apparatus
View Patent ↗Apparatus is provided for restraining an individual in the cargo area of a vehicle. Such restraints can be utilized to protect medical technicians in ambulances, fire rescue trucks and other emergency vehicles. The apparatus is constructed so that the user can control the amount of restraint on his various body movements while he medically treats a patient.
1. An apparatus for controllably restraining an individual against movement, comprising:
a body frame having straps extendable about a respective head and torso of an individual;
a telescopically moveable arm having first and second end portions, said first end portion connectable to the body frame and said second end portion having a swivel;
a rail system connectable and extendable along an interior of a cargo area of a vehicle;
a carriage system having a braking system and being moveably connected to the rail system for movement therealong, said carriage system being connectable to the swivel of the moveable arm, said braking system being a hydraulic braking system and the braking system being connected to a sensor-signaling apparatus adapted to sense sudden G forces and apply braking forces to the carriage system in response to sensing G forces greater than a preselected magnitude.
2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the rail system is connected to a roof for the vehicle cargo area and extends along a longitudinal axis of the cargo area.
3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the rail system includes first and second spaced apart rails.
4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the carriage system has wheels rollably connected to the rail system and said rail system is of a construction to moveably maintain the carriage system with the rail system.
5. An apparatus, as set forth claim 1 , wherein the preselected magnitude at which braking forces are applied to the carriage system is adjustable by a user of the apparatus.
6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the telescopically moveable arm is connected to the body frame via a sub-arm, said sub-arm being rotatable about an axis of the telescopically moveable arm.
7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the sub-arm is pivotally connected to the body frame for pivotal movement of the body frame in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the moveable arm.
8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the braking system is a hydraulic system actuateable through hydraulic cylinders and adapted to controllably restrain movement of the carriage system along the associated rail system.
9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the braking system is adapted to controllably restrain rotatable movement of the telescopically moveable arm relative to the carriage system.
10. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the braking system for restraining the rotatable movement of the telescopically moveable arm is connected to a sensor-signaling apparatus adapted to sense sudden G forces and apply braking forces to the rotatable movement of the moveable arm in response to sensed G forces being greater than a preselected magnitude.
11. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the braking system for restraining the rotatable movement of the telescopically moveable arm is connected to a sensor-signaling apparatus adapted to sense sudden G forces and apply braking forces to the rotatable movement of the moveable arm in response to sensed G forces being greater than a chosen magnitude, said chosen magnitude at which braking forces are applied to the rotatable movement of the moveable arm is adjustable by a user of the apparatus.
12. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the braking system is adapted to controllably restrain telescopic movement of the moveable arm.
13. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the braking system for restraining the telescopic movement for the telescopically moveable arm is connected to a sensor-signaling apparatus adapted to sense sudden G forces and apply braking forces to the telescopic movement of the moveable arm in response to sensed G forces being greater than a preselected magnitude.
14. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the braking system for restraining the telescopic movement for the telescopically moveable arm is connected to a sensor-signaling apparatus adapted to sense sudden G forces and apply braking forces to the telescopic movement of the moveable arm in response to sensed G forces being greater than a chosen magnitude, said chosen magnitude at which braking forces are applied to the telescopic movement of the moveable arm is adjustable by a user of the apparatus.
15. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the body frame is substantially rigid and the braking system is adapted to controllably restrain pivotal movement of the body frame along a longitudinal axis of the moveable arm.
16. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the braking system for restraining the pivotal movement of the body frame relative to and along the longitudinal axis of the moveable arm is connected to a sensor-signaling apparatus adapted to sense sudden G forces and apply braking forces to the pivotal movement of the body frame in response to sensed G forces being greater than a preselected magnitude.
17. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the braking system for restraining the pivotal movement of the body frame relative to and along the longitudinal axis of the moveable arm is connected to a sensor-signaling apparatus adapted to sense sudden G forces and apply braking forces to the pivotal movement of the body frame in response to sensed G forces being greater than a chosen magnitude, said chosen magnitude at which braking forces are applied to the pivotal movement of the body frame is adjustable by a user of the apparatus.