Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02906020 2015-09-30
VEHICLE ENTRY/EGRESS ASSISTANCE DEVICE
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of aides for helping the
elderly, disabled or infirmed and, in particular, to a new and useful
assistance device for
aiding a user to enter and leave a vehicle which has a door latch striker or
striker pin
with an opening, the latch striker or striker pin extending from a side of the
door frame
and within the plane of the door frame.
Devices for helping persons, in particular elderly, disabled or infirmed
persons, such as those suffering from back, knee or hip pain or those
recovering from
surgery or an injury, to get into and out of a vehicle, in particular an
automobile, are
known.
British Patent Application GB 2 347 457 A to Davis for Aids for Use in
Motor Vehicles, discloses an aid for use in facilitating exit from a motor
vehicle that
includes a first part which is shaped so that it can be fitted in a U-shaped
door latch
striker of a vehicle when the door is open, and a second part in the form of a
handle
which engages into the first part to project outwardly of the vehicle and be
grasped
manually to support a person getting out of the vehicle.
US Patent 6,340,189 to Pordy for a Universal Device for Facilitating
Movement Into and Out of a Seat, discloses a device that facilitates egress
and/or
ingress of a passenger from a vehicle having a door opening with a post or
pillar to one
side of an individual's seat in the vehicle. This patent teaches extending an
elongate
handle of the device outwardly of the door opening so that it can be gripped
by the
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'
passenger. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the person, especially
an elderly
or infirmed person, must hold the outwardly extending handle in an awkward
position
as he or she turns to either sit in the seat when entering the vehicle, or
when turning
and rising to leave the vehicle.
US Patent 6,799,353 to Stewart teaches the same outward placement for
a support handle for assisting individuals in exiting and entering motor
vehicles.
A need remains for an improved device for aiding a user to enter and
leave a vehicle in an ergonomic manner, especially since such devices are
meant to be
used by the elderly and/or the disabled and/or persons with joint pain or
these
recovering from surgery or an injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an assistance device for
entering and leaving a vehicle that comprises a handle member for supporting
at least
part of the weight of a user grasping the handle or a handle member and
pushing
downwardly on it, a latch striker or striker pin insertion post for extending
into and
hooking the opening of a door latch striker or striker pin of a door frame of
the vehicle,
the door frame having a plane and an outrigger having a pair of side portions
extending
transversely outwardly of the insertion post, on respective opposite sides of
the handle
member and insertion post.
An object of the outrigger side portions is to impede insertion of the
insertion post into the U-shaped opening of the latch striker or striker pin
if the handle
member is outside the plane of the door frame.
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This establishes a more ergonomic position for the device and an
improvement in the stability of the device as it is being grasped and downward
pressure
is being exerted to help the user rise from the vehicle seat and leave the
vehicle, and
conversely, as the user enters the vehicle door and sits in the vehicle seat.
Accordingly, a further object of the invention is to provide an improved
assistance device for aiding a user to enter and leave a vehicle through a
door frame of
the vehicle, the door frame having a striker pin extending from a side of the
door frame
and being within a plane of the door frame at a location spaced from an
exterior of the
door frame, the striker pin having an opening, the device comprising a handle
member
of a size, shape and strength adapted to be grasped by the hand of a user, for
supporting at least part of the weight of the user, a striker pin insertion
post connected
to an end or side of the handle member, the insertion post being of a size,
shape and
strength adapted to extend into the opening of the striker pin for supporting
at least part
of the weight of the user grasping the handle member, and an outrigger
connected to
the handle member and the insertion post and having opposite side portions
extending
transversely outwardly of the insertion post on respective opposite sides of
the handle
member and insertion post, each side portion having a transverse width that is
greater
than a transverse width of the insertion post, for impeding or hampering entry
of the
insertion post into the opening of the striker pin when the handle member is
outside the
plane of the door frame by more than a selected angle, and for restricting
side-ways
pivotal movement of the handle member to the selected angle when the insertion
post
extends into the opening of the striker pin.
The outriggers of the device prevent, impede or hamper rotation of the
device out of the plane of the door to prevents impede or hamper insertion of
the device
from the wrong direction, due to the length of the outrigger. The outrigger
extends on
both sides of the device to be functional regardless of the side of the
vehicle being
accessed. Each wing or side of the outrigger has a length longer than the
width of the
insertion post, without extending begin the door frame. The outrigger rests on
the top
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surfaces of the striker pin during proper use of the device and is pushed down
to bear
the weight force extended by the user. The insertion post preferably has a
surface
which is designed to prevent scratches of the door frame. For example the
post, that is
preferably make of aluminum or other metal or hard polymer, may have a
rubberized or
plastic outer surface treatment, e.g. by being spray coated, dipped or painted
with
elastomeric material.
The invention can be embodied has a straight or a round design, but each
may be gripped with two hands, e.g. along the length of the straight
embodiment, or on
the upper and lower parts of the round design.
LEDs on the device helps the user find the vehicle key hole to unlock the
vehicle, and/or to help locate the striker pin in the dark and/or as a general
purpose
flashlight.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of
this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and
specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings
and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are
illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a front, top, left perspective view of an assistance device
according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the assistance device;
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= .
Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the assistance device;
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the assistance device with parts of a vehicle
door frame to show an interaction of the invention with the door frame;
Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the assistance device;
Fig. 6 is a front, top, left perspective view of another embodiment of the
assistance device according to the invention;
Fig. 7 is a front, top, left perspective view of a still further embodiment of
the assistance device according to the invention;
Fig. 8 is a side view of the assistance device of Fig. 1, engaged to the
striker pin on the door frame of a vehicle as it is to be used according to
the invention;
Fig. 9A is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the assistance
device according to the invention;
Fig. 9B is a front elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 9A;
Fig. 10A is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of the
assistance device according to the invention;
Fig. 10B is a front elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 10A;
Fig. 11 is a front, top, left perspective view of another embodiment of the
assistance device according to the invention; and
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Fig. 12 is a front, top, left perspective view of a still other embodiment of
the assistance device according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used
to refer to the same or similar elements, Figs. 1 to 4 and 8 show an
assistance device
for aiding a user such as an elderly person and/or the disabled and/or persons
with
joint (e.g. knee, back or hip) pain or these recovering from surgery or an
injury, or who
are otherwise infirmed, to enter or leave a motor vehicle such as an
automobile, through
a door frame 12 of the vehicle, the door frame having a door latch striker or
striker pin
14, usually a U-shaped design, with an opening therein. The striker pin or
latch striker
14 extends from a side of the door frame and is within the plane of the door
frame 12,
at a location spaced by a distance D from an exterior of the door frame as
shown in Fig.
4.
The assistance device 10, includes a handle member 16 with a soft
elastomeric grip area cover 116, the handle being of a size, shape and
strength adapted
to be grasped by one or both hands of a user, for supporting the weight of the
user, as
he or she pushes down on the device to enter or leave the vehicle. A striker
pin
insertion post 18 is connected to an end of the handle member 16, and is of a
size,
shape and strength adapted to extend into the opening of the striker pin 14
and hook
onto the striker pin, so that the device rests on the striker pin 14, for
supporting the
weight of a user grasping the handle member, to lean down on the striker pin,
as he or
she enters of leaves the vehicle through the door frame 12. The grip area
cover 116,
that is proved at an intermediate location along the handle member 16, acts as
the
handle of the device, in insure that user grasps the device in an optimum
manner. The
handle member is long enough to allow the user to also use his or her other
hand also
grasp the device if they wish, to further aide them to exert downward pressure
on the
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striker latch 14, to help them rise from the vehicle seat to leave the
vehicle, or to gently
sit in the seat while entering the vehicle.
In accordance with at least one advantageous feature of the invention, an
outrigger 20 is connected to the handle member 16 and the insertion post 18.
As best
shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the outrigger 20 has opposite side portions 20a and
20b that
extend transversely outwardly of the handle member and the insertion post on
respective opposite sides of the handle member and insertion post. The
outrigger 20
also extends upwardly of the handle member and post as best shown in Fig. 2.
As best shown in Fig. 3, each side portion 20a and 20b, has a transverse
width W2 beyond the post 18, that is greater than a transverse width W1 of the
insertion
post itself. As shown in Fig. 4, this prevents or impedes entry of the
insertion post 18
into the opening of the striker pin 14 when the handle member approaches the
striker
pin from outside the vehicle, because one of the side portions 20a or 20b
(depending on
which side of the vehicle is approached) will contact the side of the vehicle,
outside the
door frame, before the insertion post 18 reaches the striker pin 14, due to
its spacing D
from the outside of the vehicle.
This insures that the user will use the assistance device 10 of the
invention to insert the insertion post 18 into the striker pin 14 only when
the handle
member 16 extends generally and mostly in the plane of the door frame as shown
in
Figs. 4 and 8. As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the outrigger 20 impedes entry of
the
insertion post 18 into the opening of the striker pin 14, when the handle
member is
outside the plane of the door frame.
The outrigger 20 also restricts the amount of side way pivotal movement
the handle member 16 can make when the insertion post 18 extends into the
opening of
the striker pin 14. In this way, the elderly, disabled or infirmed user feels
more secure
grasping and pressing down of the device of the invention to assist in rising
from the
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vehicle seat and leaving the vehicle and while entering the door frame to sit
in the
vehicle seat.
The outrigger 20 has a front surface opposite the handle member 16 that
extends across the front of each side portion 20a, 20b, and is generally co-
planar with
the flat front surface of the generally quadrangular insertion pin 18 as shown
in Figs. 1,
2 and 4. The outrigger 20 also has a rear surface 20d facing the handle member
16
that extends across the rear of each side portion 20a, 20b. Each side portion
has a
downwardly facing lower surface 20c next to an adjacent side of the insertion
post 18.
The rear surface 20d extends upwardly and to the sides of the handle member 16
to
define a recess 16c in the handle member and to form a hand guard for the
user,
against the user's hand accidently sliding too far forward on the handle and
toward the
side of the door frame where it may get caught or pinched between the device
and the
door frame. This hand guard is further delineated by the upper recess 16c at
the upper
front end of the handle member 16, and a lower recess 16b at the lower front
end of the
handle member 16 as shown in Fig. 2.
To further resist sliding of the user's hand toward the insertion post end of
the device, the handle member also has a lower enlargement 16a near the
insertion
post for increasing security of a user's grip on the handle member.
To further enhance the utility of the assistance device of the invention and
as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the device includes at least one but preferably two
LEDs on
the front surface of the outrigger 20, for illuminating the striker pin 14 and
the
corresponding side of the door frame 12. To even further enhance the
usefulness of the
device and as shown in the exploded view of Fig. 5, the device also includes
at least
one LED in each lower surface 20c of outrigger 20, for casting light
downwardly.
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To still further enhance the utility of the assistance device, handle member
16 includes a slit or slot 16d spaced away from the insertion post 18 and a
cutting blade
50 in the slot for cutting a vehicle safety belt during an emergency.
Fig. 5 illustrates the internal arrangement of the assistance device 10.
The insertion post 18 is an integral part of an L-shaped metal core piece 118
that is
made of aluminum, steel or another hardened material, and that includes a
cylindrical
piece encased between plastic housing halves 112 and 114 that form the handle
member and outrigger. Plastic housing halves 112 and 114 contain reinforcing
ribs and
voids for securely immobilizing the core 118 therein when the halves are mated
to each
other and connected to each other by screws or other means. Cutting blade 50
is also
immobilized between the housing halves 112 and 114, e.g. by one of the screws,
and
with its cutting edge in the handle member slot 16d as shown in Fig. 2.
A forward part of each of housing halves 112, 114, is enlarged to form the
respective opposite side portions 20a and 20b of the outrigger. Side portion
20b
includes and opening that is closed by a battery compartment cover door 130
held over
a battery compartment in portion 20b, by a screw. The interior of side portion
20b is
shaped to form a battery compartment for a button battery 106 that is inserted
before
door 130 is closed over the compartment. Battery 106 is held between
electrical
contacts of an LED circuit board 120 that also carries a pair of forward
facing LEDs 102.
One of the two additional down-facing LEDs 108 is connected by wires to the
circuit
board 120. A push button switch 104 is also connected by wires to the circuit
board 120
for turning the LEDs on and off.
Appropriate internal voids and structures are also formed in housing
halves 112, 114 to securely support and position the LEDs, switch and circuit
board,
when the halves are mated and connected to each other.
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A curved grip area foundation piece 110 of plastic is also provided for
being attached, e.g. by adhesive, to the top gripping area of the handle
member portion
of the mated together halves 112, 114. Foundation piece 110 includes shallow
transverse ribs for improving a grip on the handle member, and an opening for
access
to the button actuator of switch 104. A rubber or other soft elastomeric grip
area cover
116 including a push button area 122 is adhered over the foundation piece 110.
Cover
116 includes spaced, flexible, transverse ribs to further enhance the user's
grip on the
device. Push button area 122 is an integral part of the rest of the cover 116,
and is
separated from the rest of the cover by a thin ring to allow easier pushing of
the area
122 to activate the switch 104 below, while at the same time maintaining a
water tight
seal over the mated housing halves 112 and 114.
Cover 116 forms the handle area of the device to encourage proper use
do the device on the strong hand of the user. The user may also use his or her
other
hand to also grasps the handle member 16 for added security.
In all embodiments of the invention, the insertion post 18 may be coated,
dipped or painted with softer material like latex rubber or the like, to
prevent scratching
any part of the vehicle while being used. Although the invention operates
without
softening the outer surface of the insertion post, the purpose of using a
plastic insertion
post or rubberizing or coating the post, is to avoid scratching the paint of a
car or other
vehicle door frame in case the post is not properly inserted into the striker
pin or if the
user misses the striker pin.
In the embodiments of Figs. 6 and 7, assistance device 11 of the invention
has a handle member 17 in the shape of a hoop or closed loop used in a
generally
vertical plane and having a gripping area, for example, an upper gripping
surface. As
with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, the assistance device 11 includes handle
member
17 for supporting at least part of the weight of the user grasping the handle
member, a
striker pin insertion post 19 for extending into the opening of a striker pin
in the door
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frame, also for supporting at least part of the weight of a user grasping the
handle
defined at the cover 116 of the handle member 16, and an outrigger 21 with a
pair of
side portions extending transversely outwardly of the handle member and the
insertion
post, on respective opposite sides of the handle member and insertion post,
each
having a transverse width greater than a transverse width of the insertion
post for
hampering or impeding entry of the insertion post into the opening of the
striker pin
when the handle member is outside the plane of the door frame by more than a
selected angle and for restricting side-ways pivotal movement of the handle
member to
the selected angle.
Forward and downward LEDs are also provided, as well as a safety belt
cutter opposite the insertion post, and either near the top of the hoop shaped
handle 17
as in Fig. 7, or near the bottom as in Fig. 6.
Since extra space is available in the bottom portion of the handle member
17, a larger and greater capacity AAA or AA battery can be used to power LEDs
of the
embodiments of Figs. 6 and 7, the battery being behind a battery compartment
door
131 in the lower portion of the hoop shaped handle in Fig. 6. In the
embodiment of Fig.
7 a battery compartment door may be in the same location as in Fig. 6, or it
may be on
one of the outrigger side portions as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5.
As with the embodiment of Figs. 1-5, two hands can be used by the user
to grasp the handle member in the embodiment of Fig. 6 and 7, by holding the
upper
part of the ring shaped or round handle member with one hand, and by slipping
the
other hand into the opening of the handle member and grasping the lower part
of the
handle member with the other hand.
In two further embodiments of Figs. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B, assistance
devices 310 and 311 of the invention have handle members either in the shape
of a
hoop, ring or round shape in Figs. 9A and 9B or being straight in Figs. 10A
and 10B and
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having a gripping area spaced from a striker pin insertion post 318 in the
case of Figs.
10A and 10B or 319 in the case of Figs. 9A and 9B. In both embodiments the
insertion
posts 318 and 319, which are not tapered, extend into the opening of a striker
pin or
latch striker in a vehicle door frame. The insertion posts opposite flat
smooth surfaces
that terminate in a rounded conical or bullet shaped lower end. The smooth
surfaces
extend to the top of their exposed lengths at the respective outrigger 320 and
321. A
portion of the latch striker or striker pin will extend into the recess 316 or
317 of these
embodiments.
Each post 318 and 318 has a blunt rounded end 322 and 323 that can be
used to break a vehicle window in an emergency, but is otherwise not sharp.
The smooth, featureless and flat surfaces of each post 318 and 319,
allow easy insertion, use and then removal of the insertion posts 318 and 319
into and
out of a vehicle striker pin, with no locking, engagement or securement of the
device to
the striker pin, that may cause the infirmed or elderly user difficulty
extracting the
insertion pin. Despite this lack of locking, engagement or securement of the
insertion
pin, once inserted, the user can push firmly down on the handle without fear
that it will
be dislodged from the striker pin.
In the embodiments of Figs. 11 and 12, assistance devices 210 and 211 of
the invention have handle members 216 and 217 in the shape of a hoop or closed
loop
used in a generally horizontal plane and having either one gripping area 230
spaced
from a striker pin insertion post 218 in the case of Fig. 11, or two gripping
areas 231 on
opposite sides of a striker pin insertion post 219 in Fig. 12. In both
embodiments the
insertion posts 218 and 219 are for extending into the opening of a striker
pin in a
vehicle door frame.
As with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, the assistance devices 210 and
211, the handle members are for supporting at least part of the weight of the
user
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grasping the handle or the handle member, the striker pin insertion post 218
and 219 for
extending into the opening of a striker pin in the door frame, also for
supporting at least
part of the weight of a user grasping the handle of the handle member. In
these
embodiments as well, an outrigger is provided, this time made up of outrigger
side
portions 220a and 220b in Fig, 11, extending transversely outwardly of the
insertion
post 218, on respective opposite sides of the insertion post, but being formed
as part of
the handle member 216. As with the other embodiments of the invention each
side
portion has a transverse width greater than a transverse width of the
insertion post for
hampering or impeding entry of the insertion post into the opening of the
striker pin
when the handle member is outside the plane of the door frame by more than a
selected angle and for restricting side-ways pivotal movement of the handle
member to
the selected angle.
In the embodiment of Fig. 12, an outrigger is also provided as in Fig. 11,
made up of outrigger side portions 221a and 221b in Fig, 12, extending
transversely
outwardly of the insertion post 219, on respective opposite sides of the
insertion post,
and being formed as part of the handle member 217.
Forward and downward LEDs are also provided in the side portions of
Figs. 11 and 12.
As with the embodiments of Figs. 6 and 7, extra space is available in the
bottom portion of the handle members 216 and 217 for a larger and greater
capacity
AAA or AA battery can be used to power the LEDs of these embodiments.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the
invention, it will be
understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from
such
principles.
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