Mobility securement system
A mobility securement system, and method for securing a wheelchair or other mobility device, and its passenger, within a public or private vehicle. In various embodiments, the system includes one or two attachment members, one or two vehicle anchor assemblies and, potentially, at least one fixed or moveable bumper, and may further include a barrier. A tensioning assembly is operably connected to at least one attachment member and vehicle anchor assembly. One or more moveable bumpers may articulate to apply a force against the mobility device, and one attachment member may be hidden behind a stored position of a moveable bumper.
1. A mobility securement system for securing a mobility device having at least one device securement element, within a vehicle having a wall side and an aisle side, the mobility securement system comprising:
at least one vehicle anchor assembly affixed to said vehicle proximate to said mobility device;
at least one attachment member capable of being operably attached between said at least one device securement element and said at least one vehicle anchor assembly, towards restraining the position of said mobility device within said vehicle through the application of a tensile force; and
at least one bumper affixed to said vehicle, said at least one bumper being positioned proximate said mobility device to exert a compressive force thereupon said mobility device,
said at least one attachment member being operably connected to at least one tensioning assembly for imposing said tensile force upon said at least one attachment member;
said mobility securement system being limited to no more than two attachment members, and no more than two bumpers, for securing the mobility device within said vehicle,
said at least one bumper being positioned outside of the region formed between any two attachment members when said at least one attachment member comprises two such attachment members.
2. The mobility securement system of claim 1 , in which:
said at least one attachment member comprises a first attachment member and a second attachment member,
said at least one vehicle anchor assembly comprises a front vehicle anchor assembly and rear vehicle anchor assembly,
said at least one device securement element comprises a first device securement element and a second device securement element,
said at least one tensioning assembly comprises a tensioning mechanism contained within each of said front vehicle anchor assembly and said rear vehicle anchor assembly,
said first attachment member being capable of being operably attached between said first device securement element and said front vehicle anchor assembly, towards restraining the position of said mobility device within said vehicle, and
said second attachment member being capable of being operably attached between said second device securement element and said rear vehicle anchor assembly, towards restraining the position of said mobility device within said vehicle.
3. The mobility securement system of claim 2 , further comprising an attachment member guide, which guides said first attachment member to a location wherein said first attachment member can exert a rearward force on said first device securement element.
4. The mobility securement system of claim 2 , further comprising an attachment member guide, which guides said second attachment member to a location wherein said second attachment member can exert a rearward force on said second device securement element.
5. The mobility securement system of claim 3 , in which said at least one bumper comprises a first bumper positioned proximate the rear side of said mobility device, and wherein said attachment member guide also serves as a second bumper.
6. The mobility securement system of claim 4 , in which said at least one bumper comprises a first bumper positioned proximate the rear side of said mobility device, and wherein said attachment member guide also serves as a second bumper.
7. The mobility securement system of claim 2 , in which said second attachment member emanates from a position substantially proximate the rear wall side of said mobility device.
8. The mobility securement system of claim 2 , in which said second attachment member emanates from a position substantially proximate the rear aisle side of said mobility device.
9. The mobility securement system of claim 1 , in which:
said at least one vehicle anchor assembly comprises a rear vehicle anchor assembly;
said at least one attachment member being capable of operable attachment between said at least one device securement element and said rear vehicle anchor assembly, towards restraining the position of said mobility device within said vehicle.
10. The mobility securement system of claim 9 , in which said at least one bumper comprises a first bumper positioned substantially proximate the wall side of said mobility device.
11. The mobility securement system of claim 10 , in which said at least one bumper further comprises a second bumper affixed to said vehicle and positioned substantially proximate the rear aisle side of said mobility device,
said second bumper being capable of applying said compressive force against said mobility device.
12. The mobility securement system of claim 9 , in which said at least one attachment member emanates from a location that is positioned between said at least one and a second bumper.
13. The mobility securement system of claim 11 , in which said second bumper is moveable from a stored position to an articulated position.
14. The mobility securement system of claim 11 , in which said at least one attachment member comprises a first attachment member, which emanates from said rear vehicle anchor assembly at a position substantially proximate the wall side of said mobility device.
15. The mobility securement system of claim 11 , in which said at least one attachment member comprises a first attachment member, which emanates from said rear vehicle anchor assembly at a position substantially proximate the aisle side of said mobility device.
16. The mobility securement system of claim 13 , in which said at least one attachment member comprises a first attachment member, which emanates from said rear vehicle anchor assembly at a location that is substantially behind the stored position of said second bumper.
17. The mobility securement system of claim 15 , in which said at least one attachment member further comprises a second attachment member, which emanates from said rear vehicle anchor assembly at a position substantially proximate the wall side of said mobility device.
18. The mobility securement system of claim 11 , in which the movement of said second bumper from a stored position to an articulated position comprises a movement in the forward direction and a movement outward in the direction of the aisle.
19. The mobility securement system of claim 11 , in which the movement of said second bumper from a stored position to an articulated position comprises a movement in the forward direction and a movement in the downward direction.
20. The mobility securement system of claim 10 , in which said at least one attachment member comprises:
a first attachment member, which emanates from said rear vehicle anchor assembly at a position substantially proximate the wall side of said mobility device, and
a second attachment member, which emanates from said rear vehicle anchor assembly at a position substantially proximate the aisle side of said mobility device.
21. The mobility securement system of claim 10 , in which at least a portion of said first bumper is moveable and capable of extending to apply an angularly downward force against the mobility device.