GM has filed a patent application for seatbelt system in a vehicle designed for use by individuals using a wheelchair. The patent application was assigned patent number US 12.054117 B1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on August 6th, 2024. The patent application was originally filed on April 20th, 2023, and lists U.S.-based engineering Kenneth V. Hollewa (Washington Township, Michigan) as the inventor.
The patent application describes a seatbelt system for vehicles specifically designed to accommodate individuals using a wheelchair. The system includes a unique stanchion (a sturdy vertical post) and a linear actuator (a motor-driven mechanism) that can move a shuttle (a small carriage or platform) up and down the stanchion. This system supports the seatbelt, which consists of a buckle, a lap portion, and a shoulder portion, similar to a traditional seatbelt system.
The stanchion is fixed inside the vehicle, while the shuttle can move between the top and the bottom of the stanchion. This movement is controlled by the linear actuator, which is operated by a controller.
The lap portion of the seatbelt is attached to the shuttle. When a person using a wheelchair enters the vehicle, the shuttle can be moved up or down to adjust the lap belt to the correct height. This adjustment helps the person secure the seatbelt without having to struggle with the belt’s positioning. The system also includes a belt guide and a fixed anchor to ensure that the seatbelt is properly aligned and securely fastened. A lift ring connected to the shuttle can help adjust the belt further, if needed.
As the patent points out, traditional seatbelts can be challenging for individuals with limited mobility, as traditional seatbelts often require two hands and significant dexterity to position and buckle. This system simplifies the process by adjusting the seatbelt’s position to the correct height, making it easier and safer for the user to secure themselves in the vehicle, thus providing greater mobility and independence as a result.
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Comment
About time.
Anyone who’s had to own an accessible vehicle knows how ghastly expensive they are: the conversion can add 50% to 100% to the price of the vehicle. Plus for that kind of money you run into sketchy reliability, AND winter salt/chemicals destroy everything. The more of it that’s OEM engineered and built once at the factory, the better.
Leaving the question: will GM’s patent become a real RPO option, or will it still be something installed by aftermarket outfitters?