Tie down apparatus for wheelchair

Claim 1

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with front posts mounting spaced apart front wheels on front axle means and rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which mounts horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels, (ii) a buckle means mounting a belt means with a front hook means attached to the belt means so as to tension the belt means between the front bar means and the front hook means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar, means which can mount on the rear of the frame means; (ii) a fixed length foldable connection link means formed of rigid members and having opposed ends with a rear hook means secured at one of the ends and attached to the rear bar means at the other end and with a hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means so that the hook means acts as a lever arm to pull the wheelchair towards the floor of the vehicle, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with front posts mounting spaced apart front wheels on front axle means and rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which mounts horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels, (ii) a buckle means mounting a belt means with a front hook means attached to the belt means so as to tension the belt means between the front bar means and the front hook means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar, means which can mount on the rear of the frame means; (ii) a fixed length foldable connection link means formed of rigid members and having opposed ends with a rear hook means secured at one of the ends and attached to the rear bar means at the other end and with a hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means so that the hook means acts as a lever arm to pull the wheelchair towards the floor of the vehicle, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means.

Claim 8

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with two vertically oriented front posts supporting spaced apart relatively small front wheels on front axle means and horizontally oriented rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting relatively large spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which is telescopeable to mount horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels with end tabs secured at opposed ends of the front bar means which engage the front posts, (ii) a buckle means attached to the bar means supporting a belt means with a front hook means attached to the belt means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means such with spaced apart arm means having curved ends which mount around the rear axle means; (ii) a fixed length foldable connection link means formed of rigid members with a rear hook means mounted at one end and attached to the rear bar means at the other end with a hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means so that the hook means acts as a lever arm to pull the wheelchair towards the floor of the vehicle, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means.

Claim 9

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with two vertically oriented front posts supporting spaced apart relatively small front wheels on front axle means and horizontally oriented rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting relatively large spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which is telescopeable to mount horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels with end tabs secured at opposed ends of the front bar means which engage the front posts, (ii) a buckle means attached to the bar means supporting a belt means with a front hook means attached to the belt means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means such with spaced apart arm means having curved ends which mount around the rear axle means; (ii) a fixed length foldable connection link means formed of rigid members with a rear hook means mounted at one end and attached to the rear bar means at the other end with a hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means so that the hook means acts as a lever arm to pull the wheelchair towards the floor of the vehicle, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means.

Claim 22

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with front posts mounting spaced apart front wheels on front axle means and rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means which can mount on the rear of the frame means; (ii) a connection link means having opposed ends with a rear hook means secured at one of the ends and attached to the rear bar means at the other end and with a hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means, wherein a spring means is provided in the rear bar means which telescopes the rear bar means together so that the arm means tend to be compressed together.

Claim 23

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with front posts mounting spaced apart front wheels on front axle means and rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means which can mount on the rear of the frame means; (ii) a connection link means having opposed ends with a rear hook means secured at one of the ends and attached to the rear bar means at the other end and with a hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means, wherein a spring means is provided in the rear bar means which telescopes the rear bar means together so that the arm means tend to be compressed together.

Claim 24

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with front posts mounting spaced apart front wheels on front axle means and rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which mounts horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels, (ii) a buckle means mounting a belt means so as to tension the belt means between the front bar means and the front hook means with a front hook means attached to the belt means and the belt means or the buckle means attached to the front bar means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means which can mount on the rear of the frame means; (ii) a foldable connection link means having opposed ends with a rear hook means secured at one of the ends and attached to the rear bar means at the other end and with a piano type hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means.

Claim 25

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with front posts mounting spaced apart front wheels on front axle means and rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which mounts horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels, (ii) a buckle means mounting a belt means so as to tension the belt means between the front bar means and the front hook means with a front hook means attached to the belt means and the belt means or the buckle means attached to the front bar means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means which can mount on the rear of the frame means; (ii) a foldable connection link means having opposed ends with a rear hook means secured at one of the ends and attached to the rear bar means at the other end and with a piano type hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means.

Claim 26

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with two vertically oriented front posts supporting spaced apart relatively small front wheels on front axle means and horizontally oriented rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting relatively large spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which is telescopeable to mount horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels with end tabs secured at opposed ends of the front bar means which engage the front posts, (ii) a buckle means attached to the bar means supporting a belt means with a front hook means attached to the belt means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means such with spaced apart arm means having curved ends which mount around the rear axle means; (ii) a connection link means with a rear hook means mounted at one end and attached to the rear bar means at the other end with a piano type hinge intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means.

Claim 27

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with two vertically oriented front posts supporting spaced apart relatively small front wheels on front axle means and horizontally oriented rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting relatively large spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which is telescopeable to mount horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels with end tabs secured at opposed ends of the front bar means which engage the front posts, (ii) a buckle means attached to the bar means supporting a belt means with a front hook means attached to the belt means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means such with spaced apart arm means having curved ends which mount around the rear axle means; (ii) a connection link means with a rear hook means mounted at one end and attached to the rear bar means at the other end with a piano type hinge intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means.

Claim 28

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with two vertically oriented front posts supporting spaced apart relatively small front wheels on front axle means and horizontally oriented rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting relatively large spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which is telescopeable to mount horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels with end tabs secured at opposed ends of the front bar means which engage the front posts, (ii) a buckle means attached to the bar means supporting a belt means with a front hook means attached to the belt means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means such with spaced apart arm means having curved ends which mount around the rear axle means; (ii) a connection link means with a rear hook means mounted at one end and attached to the rear bar means at the other end with a hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means, wherein a spring means is provided in the rear bar means which telescopes the rear bar means together so that the arm means tend to be compressed together on the axle means.

Claim 29

An apparatus for securing a wheelchair to the floor of a vehicle wherein the wheelchair has a front and a rear and includes a frame means with two vertically oriented front posts supporting spaced apart relatively small front wheels on front axle means and horizontally oriented rear axle means mounted on the frame means supporting relatively large spaced apart rear wheels behind the front wheels which comprises: (a) a front attachment means for securing the front of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a front bar means which is telescopeable to mount horizontally between the front posts and above the front wheels with end tabs secured at opposed ends of the front bar means which engage the front posts, (ii) a buckle means attached to the bar means supporting a belt means with a front hook means attached to the belt means; and (iii) a front plate means to be mounted on the floor with an opening which engages the front hook means, wherein the belt means, front bar means and hook means allow the wheelchair to be pulled in a forward direction by the belt means to secure the wheelchair to the floor; and (b) a rear attachment means for securing the rear of the wheelchair to the floor including (i) a rear bar means such with spaced apart arm means having curved ends which mount around the rear axle means; (ii) a connection link means with a rear hook means mounted at one end and attached to the rear bar means at the other end with a hinge means intermediate the ends of the link means which folds on a horizontal axis; and (iii) a rear plate means with an opening for engaging the rear hook means, wherein the hook means, link means and rear bar means hold the wheelchair in position when the wheelchair is pulled in the forward direction by the front attachment means, wherein a spring means is provided in the rear bar means which telescopes the rear bar means together so that the arm means tend to be compressed together on the axle means.