Wheelchair docking system and method thereof
A wheelchair docking system including a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being movable relative to the lower portion between a lowered position and a raised position. A coupler mechanism engages a wheelchair during a docking operation. The system also includes a first latching mechanism being movable between a retracted position and a latching position such that the first latching mechanism is spaced from the coupler mechanism. A second latching mechanism moves the upper portion of the frame between its lowered position and raised position. The first latching mechanism is partially retracted by a wheelchair during the docking operation, and the first latching mechanism is biased to its latching position when the coupler mechanism engages the wheelchair.
1. A wheelchair docking system comprising:
a wheelchair docking station having a coupler mechanism; and,
a multi-directional coupling device configured for a wheelchair and having a first end and a second end, wherein:
the multi-directional coupling device couples with the wheelchair docking station in a first direction, wherein the second end couples with the coupler mechanism of the wheelchair docking station and the first end is uncoupled; and,
the multi-directional coupling device couples with the wheelchair docking station in a second direction, wherein the first end couples with the coupler mechanism of the wheelchair docking station and the second end is uncoupled.
2. The wheelchair docking system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the multi-directional coupling device is oriented in a direction opposite the second end of the multi-directional coupling device.
3. The wheelchair docking system of claim 1 , wherein the first end comprises a first leg and a second leg that define a first opening configured to receive the coupler mechanism and the second end comprises a third leg and a fourth leg that define a second opening configured to receive the coupler mechanism.
4. The wheelchair docking system of claim 3 wherein the first opening is oriented in a direction opposite the second opening.
5. The wheelchair docking system of claim 1 , wherein the wheelchair docking station further comprises a locking pin, the multi-directional coupling device further comprises a common aperture, and the locking pin is received by the common aperture when the multi-directional coupling device couples with the wheelchair docking station in both the first direction and the second direction.
6. The wheelchair docking system of claim 5 wherein the first end and the second end of the multi-directional coupling device are substantially symmetric about the common aperture.
7. The wheelchair docking system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-directional coupling device comprises a first portion disposed above a second portion and a width of the second portion is greater than a width of the first portion whereby the coupler mechanism contacts a top surface of the second portion when coupled to the multi-directional coupling device.
8. The wheelchair docking system of claim 7 further comprising the wheelchair, wherein the wheelchair comprises a frame and at least one wheel coupled to the frame, wherein the multi-directional coupling device is coupled to a bottom surface of the frame.
9. The wheelchair docking system of claim 8 , wherein the first portion is coupled directly to the bottom surface.
10. The wheelchair docking system of claim 9 , wherein the first portion is disposed between the bottom surface and the second portion.
11. The wheelchair docking system of claim 10 , wherein the first portion comprises a first body and the second portion comprises a second body, and wherein the first body is coupled to the second body.
12. The wheelchair docking system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first body comprises a first leg, a second leg, a third leg, and a fourth leg; and
the second body comprises a first leg, a second leg, a third leg, and a fourth leg, the second body being removably coupled to the first body;
when coupled, the first leg of the first body is coupled to the first leg of the second body to form a first leg assembly, the second leg of the first body is coupled to the second leg of the second body to form a second leg assembly, the third leg of the first body is coupled to the third leg of the second body to form a third leg assembly, and the fourth leg of the first body is coupled to the fourth leg of the second body to form a fourth leg assembly;
the first leg assembly and second leg assembly define a first opening, and the third leg assembly and fourth leg assembly define a second opening.
13. The wheelchair docking system of claim 12 , wherein the first opening is oriented in a direction opposite the second opening.
14. The wheelchair docking system of claim 12 , wherein at least one leg of the second body comprises a tapered end.
15. The wheelchair docking system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-directional coupling device defines a generally H-shaped device.
16. A vehicle, comprising:
an interior cabin;
a vehicle floor located in the cabin;
a wheelchair docking system coupled to the vehicle floor, the wheelchair docking system comprising a coupler mechanism; and,
a wheelchair adapted to be coupled to the wheelchair docking system in the interior of the vehicle, the wheelchair comprising a frame, at least one wheel coupled to the frame, and a multi-directional coupling device configured to being removably coupled to the wheelchair docking system, the multi-directional coupling device having a first end and a second end, wherein:
the multi-directional coupling device couples with the wheelchair docking system in a first direction, wherein the second end couples with the coupler mechanism of the wheelchair docking system and the first end is uncoupled; and,
the multi-directional coupling device couples with the wheelchair docking system in a second direction, wherein the first end couples with the coupler mechanism of the wheelchair docking system and the second end is uncoupled.
17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the wheelchair is positioned to face in a forward travel direction when the second end couples with the coupler mechanism, and the wheelchair is positioned to face in a rearward travel direction when the first end couples with the coupler mechanism.
18. A wheelchair comprising:
a frame;
at least one wheel coupled to the frame; and,
a multi-directional coupling device configured to being removably coupled to a wheelchair docking station, the multi-directional coupling device having a first end and a second end, wherein:
the multi-directional coupling device couples with the wheelchair docking station in a first direction, wherein the second end couples with a coupler mechanism of the wheelchair docking station and the first end is uncoupled; and,
the multi-directional coupling device couples with the wheelchair docking station in a second direction, wherein the first end couples with the coupler mechanism of the wheelchair docking station and the second end is uncoupled.
19. The wheelchair of claim 18 , wherein the multi-directional coupling device is coupled to a bottom surface of the frame.
20. The wheelchair of claim 19 , wherein the multi-directional coupling device comprises a first portion disposed above a second portion and a width of the second portion is greater than a width of the first portion whereby the coupler mechanism contacts a top surface of the second portion when coupled to the multi-directional coupling device.