| JP10100800 | TAKEUP TYPE CARGO COLLAPSE PREVENTIVE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE |
| WO/2005/025925 | VEHICLE SEAT FEATURING A LOADING POSITION |
| WO/2007/022585 | AN INFLATION DEVICE |
BERNTSSON, Lennart (Östra Liden 10, Mölndal, S-431 66, SE)
HEDEROS, Jesper (Hugo Hammars Gata 1, Göteborg, S-418 71, SE)
BERNTSSON, Lennart (Östra Liden 10, Mölndal, S-431 66, SE)
CLAIMS
1. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) including a net mesh (60) which is operable to assume a non-deployed compact state, and a deployed extended state, said net mesh (60) being operable to form a barrier to hinder movement of objects impacting thereonto when in said extended deployed state,
characterized in that
said net mesh (60) is provided with one or more spring strips (150, 160) therealong, said one or more spring strips being pre-stressed so as to cause said net mesh (60) to assume said non-deployed compact state in rolled-up form; and
said net mesh (60) further including a fastening arrangement at two of its peripheral edges (70, 80) for coupling the net mesh (60) to structures of said vehicle cabin (20) when said safety net assembly (50) is in its deployed extended state.
2. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
(a) a first of its peripheral edges (70) is arranged to remain coupled to its associated structure of said vehicle cabin (20) in both non-deployed and deployed states; and
(b) a second of its peripheral edges (80) is arranged to be fastened to its associated structure of said vehicle cabin (20) when said net assembly (50) is in its deployed state, and is arranged to be rolled up and encircled by said net mesh (60) when said net assembly (50) is in its non-deployed state.
3. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second peripheral edge (80) is provided with an elongate rigid member (120) coupled thereto, said elongate rigid member (120) being adapted to be fastened at its ends to said structure of said vehicle cab (20) associated with said second peripheral edge (80).
4. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first peripheral edge (70) is provided with an elongate rigid member (110) coupled thereto, said elongate rigid member (110) being adapted to be fastened at its ends to said structure of said vehicle cab (20) associated with said first peripheral edge (70).
5. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said safety net assembly (50) includes a plurality of said one or more spring strips (150, 160) disposed substantially along third and fourth peripheral edges of said net mesh (60) substantially from said first peripheral edge (70) to substantially said second peripheral edge (80).
6. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more spring strips (150, 160) are interwoven or intertwined through mesh holes between adjacent threads of said net mesh (60).
7. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said one or more spring strips (150, 160) are bonded to said net mesh (60) by fasteners and/or bonding agent.
8. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more spring strips (150, 160) are encapsulated for protection.
9. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said net mesh (60) is arranged so that its threads are substantially perpendicular to said two peripheral edges (70, 80).
10. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said net mesh (60) is arranged so that its threads are substantially diagonal to said two peripheral edges (70, 80).
11. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said net mesh (60) in its deployed states assumes at least one of the following forms:
(a) a rectangular form; (b) a square form;
(c) a tapered form; and
(d) a trapezoidal form.
12. A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, adapted for being deployed between a driving console and a bed or couch (10) of said vehicle cabin (20) for restraining in operation a person resting or sleeping on said bed or couch during a vehicular impact event, and/or for protecting the person from one or more object projected towards said person.
13. A method of equipping a vehicle cabin with a vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) including a net mesh (60) which is operable to assume a non-deployed compact state, and a deployed extended state, said net mesh (60) being operable to form a barrier to hinder movement of objects impacting thereonto when in said extended deployed state,
characterized in that
said method includes steps of:
(a) providing said net mesh (60) with one or more spring strips (150, 160) therealong, said one or more spring strips being pre-stressed so as to cause said net mesh (60) to assume said non-deployed compact state in rolled-up form; and
(b) providing said net mesh (60) with a fastening arrangement at two of its peripheral edges (70, 80) for coupling the net mesh (60) to structures of said vehicle cabin (20) when said safety net assembly (50) is in its deployed extended state.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said vehicle-cabin safety net assembly (50) includes a plurality of said one or more spring strips (150, 160) disposed substantially along third and fourth peripheral edges of said net mesh (60) substantially from said first peripheral edge (70) to substantially said second peripheral edge (80). |
VEHICLE-CABIN SAFETY NET ASSEMBLY
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to vehicle-cabin safety net assemblies, for example to deployable vehicle-cabin safety net assemblies for use with couches or beds of such vehicle cabins. Moreover, the present invention also relates to methods of equipping vehicle cabins with such safety net assemblies.
Background of the invention
A contemporary practice for ensuring that heavy commercial vehicles remain competitive in operation involves having two drivers for each vehicle. One of the drivers is operable to drive the vehicle whilst another of the drivers concurrently rests on a couch or bed. The couch or bed is often contemporarily disposed further back in the cabin behind a driver's seat of the cabin. It is known, for example as described in a published Swedish patent application no. SE 514 565, to provide a couch or bed of a vehicle cabin with a safety net assembly for hindering, during an impact event, that a person resting on the couch or bed is projected onto a region including a driver of the vehicle, and also for hindering objects from penetrating onto the couch or bed and causing injury. The aforesaid Swedish patent application describes the safety net assembly incorporating a locking arrangement for holding the safety net assembly in position when deployed, guide rails for guiding deployment of the safety net assembly, and a transverse cassette for storing the safety net assembly when in its non-deployed state.
A problem encountered in operating heavy commercial vehicles including such deployable safety net assemblies is that the safety net assemblies are often awkward to deploy. In consequence, the safety net assemblies are often left in their non-deployed state in circumstances when safety considerations would favour deployment of the net assemblies. As a result, injuries and damage occur during impact events are potentially more severe than they need to be.
Summary of the invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-cabin safety net assembly which is easier to deploy and also easier to fold away in a non-deployed state for storage.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle-cabin safety net assembly including a net mesh which is operable to assume a non-deployed compact state, and a deployed extended state, the net mesh being operable to form a barrier to hinder movement of objects impacting thereonto when in the extended deployed state,
characterized in that
the net mesh is provided with one or more spring strips therealong, the one or more spring strips being pre-stressed so as to cause the net mesh to assume the non-deployed compact state in rolled-up form; and
the net mesh further including a fastening arrangement at two of its peripheral edges for coupling the net mesh to structures of the vehicle cabin when the safety net assembly is in its deployed extended state.
The invention is of advantage in that its simple implementation and use renders the vehicle- cabin safety net assembly more attractive to use frequently in operation, thereby potentially increase operating safety of the vehicle.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
(a) a first of its peripheral edges is arranged to remain coupled to its associated structure of the vehicle cabin in both non-deployed and deployed states; and
(b) a second of its peripheral edges is arranged to be fastened to its associated structure of the vehicle cabin when the net assembly is in its deployed state, and is arranged to be rolled up and encircled by the net mesh when the net assembly is in its non- deployed state.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second peripheral edge is provided with an elongate rigid member coupled thereto, the elongate rigid member being adapted to be fastened at its ends to the structure of the vehicle cab associated with the second peripheral edge.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first peripheral edge is provided with an elongate rigid member coupled thereto, the elongate rigid member being adapted to be fastened at its ends to the structure of the vehicle cab associated with the first peripheral edge.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the safety net assembly includes a plurality of the one or more spring strips disposed substantially along third and fourth peripheral edges of the net mesh substantially from the first peripheral edge to substantially the second peripheral edge.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more spring strips are interwoven or intertwined through mesh holes between adjacent threads of the net mesh.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one or more spring strips are bonded to the net mesh by fasteners and/or bonding agent.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more spring strips are encapsulated for protection.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the net mesh is arranged so that its threads are substantially perpendicular to the two peripheral edges.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the net mesh is arranged so that its threads are substantially diagonal to the two peripheral edges.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the net mesh in its deployed states assumes at least one of the following forms:
(a) a rectangular form;
(b) a square form;
(c) a tapered form; and
(d) a trapezoidal form.
A vehicle-cabin safety net assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, adapted for being deployed between a driving console and a bed or couch of the vehicle cabin for
restraining in operation a person resting or sleeping on the bed or couch during a vehicular impact event, and/or for protecting the person from one or more object projected towards the person.
A method of equipping a vehicle cabin with a vehicle-cabin safety net assembly including a net mesh which is operable to assume a non-deployed compact state, and a deployed extended state, the net mesh being operable to form a barrier to hinder movement of objects impacting thereonto when in the extended deployed state,
characterized in that
the method includes steps of:
(a) providing the net mesh with one or more spring strips therealong, the one or more spring strips being pre-stressed so as to cause the net mesh to assume the non-deployed compact state in rolled-up form; and
(b) providing the net mesh with a fastening arrangement at two of its peripheral edges for coupling the net mesh to structures of the vehicle cabin when the safety net assembly is in its deployed extended state.
A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the vehicle-cabin safety net assembly includes a plurality of the one or more spring strips disposed substantially along third and fourth peripheral edges of the net mesh substantially from the first peripheral edge to substantially the second peripheral edge.
Features of the invention are susceptible to being combined in any combination without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Description of the diagrams
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
Figure 1 is an illustration of a vehicle-cabin safety net assembly in substantially a unrolled deployed state adjacent to a bed or couch;
Figure 2 is an illustration of the safety net of Figure 1 in an rolled-up non-deployed state adjacent to the bed or couch;
Figure 3 is an illustration of a spring associated with the safety net of Figures 1 and 2 in its rolled-up state;
Figure 4 is an illustration of the spring of Figure 3 in an unrolled state; and
Figure 5 is a more detailed illustration of the safety net assembly included in Figures 1 and 2 in a rolled-up non-deployed state.
Description of embodiments of the invention
Before describing embodiments of the invention, a principle regarding assessment of inventive step associated an invention will briefly be elucidated. When a major simplification occurs in an implementation of a given example apparatus which unexpectedly provides similar or increased functionally, such a major simplification is often indicative of inventive step. In contradistinction, achieving an enhanced degree of functionality by increasing complexity of given example apparatus often represents a routine potentially non-inventive enhancement. When considering inventive step associated with the present invention, attention is drawn to decision of the EPO Boards of Appeal which warn against an ex post facto when assessing inventive step (Guidelines C-IV, 9.9 - June 2005 version). Such warning applies especially to inventions which at first sight seem obvious, to combination inventions and where a proposed solution is supposedly simple. Correct application of the EPO's "problem and solution" approach avoids ex post facto analysis which draws on knowledge of the present invention. EPO Technical Board of Appeal decisions T24/81 (OJ EPO 1983), T564/89, T645/92 and T795/93 are all relevant when considering inventive step associated with the present invention. Similar considerations also pertain elsewhere, for example with regard to the United States Patents and Trademark Office (US PTO).
The present invention is to be appreciated in the context of known safety nets for vehicle cabins. Known safety nets tend to be implemented in a complex manner with storage cassettes, fasteners, clips and so forth which not only render them expensive to manufacture but awkward to deploy. In consequent, vehicle drivers are often tempted not to employ the
safety nets with a risk that injury and damage is more severe as a consequence of an impact event.
The present invention is distinguished from known contemporary safety nets for vehicles on account of its simplicity which renders it more attractive for vehicle drivers to employ on account of a low degree of effort needing to be expended for safety net deployment.
Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown a couch or bed 10 included towards a rear region of a vehicle cab denoted in outline by 20. Associated with the vehicle cab 20 is a heavy commercial vehicle or similar. A driver's console 30 of the vehicle is positioned in a more forward position within the cab 20 relative to the couch or bed 10. The driver's console 30 includes a steering wheel, instrument panel, gear controls, brake controls and so forth for use when driving and steering the vehicle.
An example safety net assembly pursuant to the present invention is denoted by 50. The safety net assembly 50 in includes a net mesh 60 of generally rectangular form when laid upon a planar surface. The net mesh 60 includes bottom, top, right and left peripheral edges denoted by 70, 80, 90, 100 respectively as shown inset in Figure 1. Moreover, the bottom and top peripheral edges 70, 80 are designed to receive elongate rods 110, 120 respectively. In operation, the bottom peripheral edge 70 via its elongate rod 100 is designed to be permanently firmly attached to a mounting region for the cab 20. Beneficially, the mounting region of the cab 20 includes features such as tabs, holes, hooks, clamps, collars, clips, snap-fit fasteners for receiving at least a portion of the elongate rods 119, 120 and/or of the net mesh 60. As an alternative to employing the elongate rod 110 for attachment of the bottom peripheral edge 70, the bottom peripheral edge 70 is provided with a plurality of fasteners at a plurality of locations therealong for fastening the net mesh 60 directly at the bottom peripheral edge 70 at a plurality of locations. Optionally, the locations are substantially evenly spaced along the bottom peripheral edge 70.
The elongate rods 110, 120 are manufactured from one or more rigid materials so that the rods 110, 120 are operable to withstand stresses applied thereto when the safety net assembly 50 is subject to forces during impact events when one or more heavy objects are flung towards the net mesh 60. The rods 110, 120 are beneficially fabricated from a metal, a metal alloy, a polymer plastics material, a reinforced polymer plastics material to mention a few examples. The net mesh 60 is, for example, beneficially sufficiently strong to withstand a mass of 120 kg, for example a body of a human being, being thrown onto the net mesh 60 and being restrained thereby in an impact event involving a prompt deceleration of the
vehicle from vehicle speeds in the order of 80 km/hour. In order to provide such strength, the net mesh 60 is fabricated from a robust material such as at least one of: Kevlar, Nylon, polyester plastics material or similar. Optionally, the net mesh 60 is reinforced with metal threads or wires therein for achieving additional strength; for example, the metal threads or wires are included in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom and top peripheral edges 70, 80.
As will be elucidated in more detail later, one or more spring strips are included in the safety net assembly orientated in a direction substantially parallel to the right and left peripheral edges 90, 100. Optionally, two such spring strips denoted by 150, 160 are included substantially at the right and left peripheral edges 90, 100 respectively as illustrated in Figure 1. The spring strips 150, 160 are beneficially fabricated from strips of spring steel which are preformed so as to assume a spiral curled-up state when devoid of any unravelling force applied thereto. Optionally, more than two such spring strips are included in the safety mesh apparatus 50, for example an additional spring strip is included along a central region of the net mesh 60 substantially from the bottom peripheral edge 70 to the top peripheral. The spring strips 150,160 are intertwined in voids of the net mesh 60 formed between threads of the net mesh 60 as illustrated in Figure 1.
The spring strips 150, 160 are beneficially cut in manufacture from a rolled metal sheet 170 which is pre-stressed so as to assume a curled-up state when no stresses are applied thereto. Alternatively, the spring strips 150, 160 are manufactured from substantially straight metal strip which is then processed, for example subject to differential tempering, so as to assume a curled-up state when devoid of stresses applied thereto. The one or more spring strips 150, 160 are beneficially encapsulated in a plastics material or provided with a sewn cover. Moreover, the one or more spring strips 150, 160, whether each provided encapsulated or not, are optionally bonded in one or more positions therealong to the net mesh 60 for preventing the one or more spring strips 150, 160 from slipping out of the net mesh 60 in operation. Such bonding can be achieved by one or more of bonding agents or fasteners, or by virtue of a profile of the spring strips 150, 160 and any indents or similar provided therein. Optionally, the net mesh 60 is provided with a diamond thread pattern with holes 180 therein as shown therein; optionally, the holes 180 have a diagonal width in a range of 1 to 3 cm, more preferable substantially 2 cm.
The bottom peripheral edge 70 of the net mesh 60 is secured to a side of the bed or couch 10 and/or to a floor region of the vehicle cab 20. Optionally, such securing of the bottom peripheral edge 70 is achieved at exposed ends of the rod 110.
When the safety net assembly 50 is to be deployed, a user grips the rod 120 and pulls up the rod 120 to fasten ends of the rod 120 to rigid fastening locations above the bed or couch 10; optionally, the fastening locations are mechanically in robust communication with a roof of the vehicle cabin 20. Conversely, when the safety net assembly 50 is to be adjusted to a non-deployed state, the user detaches the rod 120 from the rigid fastening locations so that the spring strips 150, 160 are able to retract to their curled-up state and thereby causing also the net mesh 60 to assume a curled-up state as depicted in Figure 2. The rod 120 is thereby encircles by the spring strips 150, 160 and the net mesh 60 with ends of the rod 120 exposed for gripping by the user.
On account of the safety net assembly 50 naturally assuming a compact curled-up state when not deployed, a need for a storage cassette as employed in known safety net assemblies is avoided, thereby saving manufacturing cost and weight to be transported by the vehicle.
Referring to Figure 3, there is shown an illustration of one of the spring strips 150, 160 before inclusion into the net mesh 60 in a rolled-up state.
Referring to Figure 4, there is shown an illustration of one of the spring strips 150, 160 in an unrolled state. The spring strip illustrated is encapsulated by a cover 180. The cover 180 is sealed or bound together during manufacture at one or more of its peripheral edges 190 after the spring strip has been introduced into the cover 180. Alternatively, the cover 180 can be molded onto the spring strip by way of an injection molding. Yet alternatively, the cover 180 can be a layer deposited on the spring clip by a dipping operation wherein the spring clip is immersed in a liquid comprising polymer material.
Referring to Figure 5, there is shown an implementation of the safety net assembly 50 with one of its spring strips 150, 160 removed and shown in a curled-up state. The net mesh 60 has threads denoted by 200 disposed in a rectangular pattern orthogonal to the peripheral edges 70, 80, 90, 100. The rod 110 is inserted into an elongate fold formed along an edge of the net mesh 60; the fold is formed, for example, by a sewing operation. The net mesh 60 can be woven from fibre, for example Nylon and/or Kevlar fibres. Alternatively, the net mesh 60 can be formed from wire and/or material threads which are then protected in a plastic material coating applied thereto by injection molding and/or dipping operations. As elucidated in the foregoing, although the net mesh 60 in Figure 5 is shown with its threads disposed in rectangular form perpendicular to the peripheral edges 70, 80, 90, 100 as
indicated by 300 in inset, the net mesh 60 can be alternatively implemented with its threads at a diagonal angle to the peripheral edges 70, 80, 90, 100 as indicated by 350 in inset.
The net mesh 60 is beneficially of sufficient size to perform its object or person retained function when deployed. Conveniently, the net mesh 60 has a size in the order of 1 metre x
1 metre, 1.5metre x 1.5 metre to 2 metres x 2 metres and various sized therebetween.
Moreover, the net mesh 60 can be rectangular form wherein the bottom and top peripheral edges 70, 80 are of a different length relative to the right and left peripheral edges 90, 100.
The net mesh 60 is optionally implemented to have other shapes when unfolded, for example a trapezoidal shape, a tapered shape as indicated by 350 in inset to mention a few examples. When the net mesh 60 is implemented in a non-rectangular form, its spring strips
150, 160 beneficially have their elongate axes when deployed in a non-parallel manner.
Although the safety net assembly 50 is described for use in a vehicle cab 20, it will be appreciated that the safety net assembly 50 is susceptible to being modified to render it beneficial for other types of vehicles, for example child safety devices to supplement child safety seats, in aircraft, on boats and oil rigs with cabins where there is a risk of persons being tipped out of their beds in rough seas, and so forth.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the safety net assembly 50 is simple to manufacture and also easy to deploy. It performs a similar function to complex over- designed safety net assemblies presently in use, and yet is easier to deploy and hence susceptible to being more often used for enhancing safety.
In the forgoing, the safety net assembly 50 is described as being rolled up in its non- deployed state at a lower region of the vehicle cab 20, and drawn up in an upwards direction and subsequently fastened for deploying the safety net assembly 50. In an alternative embodiment, the safety net assembly 50 is rolled up in its non-deployed state at an upper region of the vehicle cab 20, and drawn down in a downwards direction and subsequently fastened for deploying the safety net assembly 50. In a yet further alternative embodiment, the safety net assembly 50 is rolled up in its non-deployed state at a side region of the vehicle cab 20, and drawn across in a lateral transverse direction and subsequently fastened for deploying the safety net assembly 50.
The safety net assembly 50 is susceptible to being adapted to other uses, for example for restraining goods stored in a cargo area of a vehicle, as a supplementary child safety device in combination with a child safety seat, as a safety barrier between front seats and rear seats
of a passenger vehicle, as a safety device for beds of sea-going vessels to protect against persons being thrown from their beds in stormy seas, and as a quickly disposable net for luggage racks of vehicles such a passenger vehicles and motorcycles. The overall size of the safety net assembly 50 is susceptible to being changed to address these alternative applications.
It will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention as described in the foregoing are ' susceptible to being modified without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Expressions such as "has", "is", "include", "comprise", "consist of, "incorporates" are to be construed to include additional components or items which are not specifically defined; namely, such terms are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner. Moreover, reference to the singular is also to be construed to also include the plural. Furthermore, numerals and other symbols included within parentheses in the accompanying claims are not to be construed to influence interpreted claim scope but merely assist in understanding the present invention when studying the claims.
Next Patent: A DRIVE UNIT FOR A HEAVY VEHICLE