The present invention is concerned with a system for retaining/restraining objects in a vehicle, wherein the system has an energy absorbing mechanism to slow down acceleration of objects in a vehicle, and in particular a retention system for restraining dogs in a vehicle, particularly working dogs.

There is a danger to all passengers (including the driver) in a vehicle involved in a collision if there are loose objects, which may be animals, such as dogs, inside the vehicle, especially the cabin section of the vehicle. This is evidenced from many vehicle collisions whereby loose items such as food containers, luggage and pets can strike passengers and contribute to injuries sustained during the collision, which can even be fatal. When a vehicle stops abruptly, any loose items inside the vehicle will continue at the same velocity until the item collides with something else inside the compartment, such as a passenger.

To decrease the chances of suffering additional injuries or fatalities from loose objects inside the vehicle, people stow away items in the cargo compartment of the vehicle, such as the boot of a car, where the odds are lower that loose objects are then able to fly forward and strike passengers.

Sometimes however it may not be possible or practical to stow objects in a cargo compartment. For example, an animal, such as a pet or dog, may need to travel in the cabin section of the vehicle with the passengers.

Alternatively, objects may be secured using tethers or ropes to prevent movement, however sometimes this may also not be possible or practical, especially for restraining animals, such as pets or dogs, as such a tether or rope would generally be inflexible (rigid/ungiving), which itself could be severely damaging to the object/animal, especially if the vehicle was to come to an abrupt stop.

There is therefore a need for alternative/new means to retain or restrain objects in a vehicle, and especially objects such as animals or pets, and in particular dogs, for which it may not be possible or practical to retain or restrain using other known means, for example a regular seatbelt. Such a means should especially reduce the chances of additional injuries to passengers (or fatalities) if a vehicle was to come to an abrupt stop, for example from objects in the vehicle. The present invention thus generally aims to provide a new/alternative means for retaining or restraining objects in vehicle compartments, especially objects such as animals, particularly dogs.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a system for restraining objects in a vehicle comprising a tether, an energy absorber, attachment means and a harness.

An energy absorber as used herein is an item/feature typically used in fall arrest equipment, a category of climbing equipment. Such an energy absorber progressively absorbs the kinetic energy of the user (a climber) to keep impact forces to under a threshold where injury may occur. There are different mechanisms through which energy absorbers reduce the energy exerted on an object/user and/or decrease the velocity of an object/user. A preferred energy absorber may comprise a feature known as webbing, stitched webbing or tear webbing, which may comprise two parallel strips of webbing stitched together along a common edge so they are capable of peeling apart under pressure/load. Such webbing may be contained inside a pouch, where such a pouch may have an opening at each end. When force is applied to such an energy absorber, the webbing begins to tear, with the progressive tearing of the webbing reducing the deceleration of objects/items. Different stitches can be used and different types of webbing may be used, whereby the fall energy/pressure/velocity may be dissipated through the breaking of stitches. Many examples of such energy absorbers are available, including Absorbica®, which are commonly used in fall arrest for climbers.

An energy absorber may alternatively comprise loomed material, having hook and loop fastenings, which could comprise two strips of material (possibly nylon) woven together, and sewn into a lanyard, whereby under pressure the two strips peel apart, Such an energy absorber may comprise a back-up strap if all of the hook and loop material separates when force is exerted on the energy absorber.

Further alternative energy absorbers may use webbing elasticity to absorb fall energy - sometimes known as partially oriented yarn. Such an energy absorber may comprise webbing that stretched under load, thus providing deceleration. Other alternative energy absorbers may include a feature having a rope pulled through a plastic sheath or whereby a rope is pulled through a metal guide using friction to absorb energy.

The attachment means may be suitable for the system to be attached to a fixed point within a vehicle. Attachment means may be used to attach the energy absorber to the tether, or to the transport harness, or both. Consequently, further embodiments of the system of the first aspect may have multiple attachment means. The tether may further comprise an auto locking length adjuster. The attachment means may be a karabiner, such as a locking karabiner, or a locking metal ring or another suitable means. The tether may be a line, a rope, a cord or other similar means. The transport harness, especially for use with an animal, such as a dog, may be a harness of interwoven natural and/or manmade fibres. The transport harness may comprise hook and loop fastenings, buckles or other similar features. The system is generally intended to be attached to a fixed point in a vehicle to restrain/retain an object in such a way that the object may still be able to move in the vehicle, but if the vehicle were to come to an abrupt stop, the subsequent movement and velocity/acceleration of the object in the vehicle would be restricted/controlled.

In one embodiment, the system may include auto-locking adjustment means, and indeed the system may comprise more than one tether, such as two tethers, wherein one may have auto-locking adjustment means.

Preferably the system is an animal restraint for use within a vehicle. In particular, the animal restraint may be suitable for a medium sized animal such as a dog, although the animal restraint may be suitable for other sizes of animals, for example a horse in a horse box.

The system of the first aspect is capable of restraining objects in a vehicle. The harness may be attached to the object via fastening means such as hook and loop fastening or a buckle. The harness may be attached to the tether, which may be a rope, line or a cord, wherein the tether has the energy absorber at some point along the tether (tether comprises/includes the energy absorber) . When, in use, the system is activated, due to a sharp or sudden change in velocity of the vehicle, a force is applied to the object and the system, wherein the velocity of the restrained object is controlled/restricted/reduced as a result of the action of the energy absorber, for example through use of a tear-webbing mechanism within the energy absorber of the system. Preferably the system comprises an energy absorber capable of withstanding a force of up to 6000 N of force.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of restraining objects, such as a dog, using the system of the first aspect, wherein the harness is attached/fitted to an object. In one embodiment, the harness is connected/linked to the tether comprising the energy absorber. In a further embodiment there may be two tethers, one of which may have an autolocking adjustment mechanism.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a use of climbing equipment (fall arrest equipment) for restraining objects, such as a dog, in a vehicle.

Where used for restraining a dog, such equipment may allow the dog some movement within the vehicle. The present invention will now be discussed with reference to the following non-limiting figures and examples, wherein

Figure 1 is an illustrative representation of the retention system in a non-active state, i.e. where there is no requirement for the energy absorber of the retention system to be engaged.

Figure 2 is an illustrative representation of the retention system in an active state, i.e. where the vehicle has come to an abrupt halt, for example in a collision or an emergency stop and the energy absorber is actively engaged to slow the velocity of the loose object to be restrained.

Figure 3 is a graph showing the relative force exerted on the retention system when in use. As Figure 3 demonstrates, provided that the attachment points of the system can withstand 6000 N force, the dog will remain restrained by the retention system.

Having regard Figure 1, the restrained object in the vehicle is a dog (2). In a non-activated state, the harness (10) attaches to the dog (2), and fastens to the dog (2) by a fastening means, such as buckles, hook and loop fastenings or other means for adjusting straps. The harness (10) connect to an attachment point (4) whereby a tether (6) connects the harness (10) to the energy absorber (8). In turn, there is a separate tether (6) connecting the energy absorber (8) to a fixed point in the vehicle. In a non-activated state, the retention system remains as described, with no additional forces applied to the energy absorber (8).

Having regard to Figure 2, in an activated state, additional forces are applied to the energy absorber (8) of the retention system. Additional forces are applied wherein the moving vehicle comes to an abrupt stop or brakes sharply, yet the objects inside of the vehicle continue to move. In this example, the vehicle comes to a sudden stop, but the dog (2) continues to move at the same velocity. The energy absorber (8) actively engages, spreading the load of additional force across the enclosed webbing within the energy absorber (8). The enclosed webbing is paid out, progressively extending the webbing as the force is applied to the energy absorber (8), which in turn progressively reduces the velocity of the dog (2) and prevents the dog (2) from continuing to move around the passenger cabin and consequently keeping the passengers in the passenger cabin of the vehicle safe from impact of a large loose object such as a dog (2).

Having regard to Figure 3, demonstrates that on each test performed, the force (N) across the retention system remains at a constant 0 N until the retention system is extended by movement of the object it is restraining, in this example, a dog. As the dog begins to move, the retention system remains constant up until 4500 N force is exerted across the restraint system at which point the energy absorber is activated and begins to pay out the internal webbing to decelerate the velocity of the restrained object.