Automatic locking scba mounting bracket assembly

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention relates to an auto-locking holder apparatus, and relates more specifically to an automatic locking mounting bracket assembly for use in a vehicle for releasably restraining objects such as self-contained breathing apparatus equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002It is generally known to provide holders for storage of objects such as tanks (e.g. cylinders, containers, etc.) for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in vehicles such as rescue vehicles, fire trucks and the like. SCBA holders can be integrated into an opening or cavity in a seat back portion of a seat within the vehicle. Storage of the SCBA in the seat back is intended to permit a user occupying the seat to rapidly don the SCBA in response to an event. However, applicable regulations typically require SCBAs to be restrained in a manner that ensures that the SCBA remains secure during certain scenarios such as collisions, abrupt vehicle maneuvers, etc.

0003The known holders for SCBAs typically have a restraint that secures the SCBA until release by a user. For example, one type of holder secures a tank in an elongated cavity in a seat with belts. Another example of a holder provides a restraint having a pivotable halo to hold the top of the tank in place. However, the known SCBA holders tend to require manual intervention in securing the tanks to the holders

0004<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="GB2205733A"><text>GB 2205733</text></patcit> discloses a bracket for pressurised bottles comprising an elongate back member. The bottle is supported by a fixed bottom bracket and a top element pivots upwards on the back member under spring biasing to an upper bottle releasing position.

0005Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a releasable holder or mounting bracket assembly for an object such as an SCBA or like with an automatic locking feature that allows that SCBA to be freely installed for use in a vehicle in a manner which is fast, convenient and efficient. It is also desirable to provide a releasable mounting bracket assembly which is variously adjustable to accommodate different sizes and types of SCBAs. It is further desirable to provide a mounting bracket assembly which is releasable from different locations relative to an occupant of the vehicle seat. Moreover; it is desirable to provide a spring-loaded back pad which can be used with or without an SCBA in the mounting bracket assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0006According to the present invention, there is provided a mounting bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1. The dependent claims define optional features hereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0007The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. In the drawings: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a perspective view of an emergency vehicle seat equipped with an SCBA mounting bracket assembly embodying the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> is a perspective view of the SCBA mounting bracket assembly showing an oxygen tank (in phantom lines) as installed thereon;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref> is a front view of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figures 4</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">4A</figref> are longitudinal sectional views of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> showing the mounting bracket assembly in respective unlatched and latched positions;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 5</figref> is an exploded view of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Figure 6</figref> is a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Figure 7</figref> is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0009">Fig. 8</figref> is a reverse perspective view of an assembled, spring loaded back pad assembly;</li><li><figref idref="f0010">Fig. 9</figref> is an exploded view of <figref idref="f0009">Fig. 8</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0011">Fig. 10</figref> is a view similar to <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> showing the spring-loaded back pad assembly of <figref idref="f0009">Fig. 8</figref> installed in the vehicle seat;</li><li><figref idref="f0012">Fig. 11</figref> is a view similar to <figref idref="f0011">Fig. 10</figref> showing the spring-loaded back pad assembly removed from the vehicle seat;</li><li><figref idref="f0013">Fig. 12</figref> is an elevational view of the spring-loaded back pad assembly attached to the seat frame and shown in a folded down position; and</li><li><figref idref="f0014">Fig. 13</figref> is a view like <figref idref="f0013">Fig. 12</figref> showing the spring-loaded back pad assembly in a folded up position.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0008Referring to the drawings, <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> illustrates an emergency vehicle seat 10 which has particular utility in fire and rescue vehicles. The seat 10 has a rear cavity that is equipped with a mounting bracket assembly 12 used to releasably hold a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) generally in the form of a cylindrical pressurized oxygen tank 14. Typically, the tank 14 is connected to a harness worn by a firefighter or the like positioned in the seat 10, and is held by the mounting bracket assembly 12 in an inverted position such that a regulator portion 15 is supported at the bottom of the mounting bracket assembly 12.

0009The seat 10 includes a frame for supporting a seat cushion 18 and a removable back engaging side cushion arrangement 20. The frame 16 supports a shroud 22 to which the mounting bracket assembly 12 is attached, and a pair of seatbelt cages 24, one of which is engaged with a seatbelt structure 26 integrated into the seat 10. A head pad 28 is pivotally biased to a head supporting position between the seatbelt cages 24.

0010Referring to <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006">Figures 2-5</figref>, the SCBA mounting bracket assembly 12 is generally comprised of a mounting plate 30, a clamping arrangement 32, a guide 34 and a support structure 36.

0011The mounting plate 30 functions to anchor the mounting bracket assembly 12 to a support surface such as the rear portion of seat 10. The mounting bracket 30 is a rigid, extruded metallic construction having a flat, rectangular base 38 integrally formed with a pair of elongated side channels 40 for slidably receiving the clamping arrangement 32, the guide 34 and the support structure 36. The mounting plate 30 normally has a length commensurate with the seat 10 in which it is installed. However, the length may vary depending upon the particular application. The base 38 is formed with a first set of holes 42 which receive fasteners for securing the base 38 to the seat shroud 26. Alternatively, the base 38 could be secured to a different support structure, such as for example, a wall. The base 38 is also formed with a second set of holes 43 for enabling adjustable attachment of guide 34. The base 38 is further formed with a third set of holes 44 to facilitate adjustable attachment of support structure 36. The channels 40 are provided with a pair of aligned apertures (one being seen at 46) which are used in the adjustable securement of clamping arrangement 32.

0012The clamping arrangement 32 serves to automatically and lockingly engage and disengage with the inverted, domed bottom end of the tank 14. The clamping arrangement 32 includes a slide carriage 48, a pivot arm 50 and a clamp 52.

0013The slide carriage 48 has a backing plate 54 with an upper edge 56, a lower edge 58 and a pair of side edges 60, 61. A coil spring 62 is attached to the circled area 63 on backing plate 54. The upper edge 56 carries a pair of aligned tubular receivers 64 which are spaced apart by a recess 66. The side edges 60, 61 have a pair of upper stops 68 and a pair of lower stops 70 projecting forwardly therefrom. An elongated latch support strip 72 having a mounting ear 74 is attached by fastener 76 on a lower right-hand corner of the backing plate 54. The support strip 72 depends downwardly beneath the backing plate 54 and is provided on its lower end with a guide opening 78. A latching mechanism 80 is secured by fasteners 82 to the mounting ear 74.

0014The latching mechanism 80 is a single stage mini rotary lock commercially available from The Eastern Company of Cleveland, Ohio, and described in detail in <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5884948A"><text>U.S. Patent Nos. 5,884,948</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US6471260A"><text>6,471,260</text></patcit> which are herein incorporated by reference. As is well known, the latching mechanism 80 includes a rotary jaw biased by a torsion spring away from a latched position towards an unlatched position, and a rotary pawl that is biased by the same or a separate torsion coil spring away from a jaw releasing position to a jaw retaining position. The latching mechanism 80 further includes an operating arm 84 coupled to the rotary pawl, and a U-shaped notch 86 which receives a cylindrical pin 88 on pivot arm 50. An upper end of a cable 89 passes through guide opening 78 and is fixed to operating arm 84 on latch mechanism 80.

0015The pivot arm 50 has a vertical portion 90, an angled portion 92 and a horizontal portion 94 and is formed with a pair of horizontally aligned holes 96 and a set of vertically extending holes 98 on opposite sides of the horizontal portion 94. The pivot arm 50 is designed such that its vertical portion 90 is positioned against the spring 62 in the recess 66 of backing plate 54 with the holes 96 in registration with the passageways 100 formed in the receivers 64 and the upper stops 68. A pivot pin 102 is passed through the holes 96, and passageways 100 and fixed in position so that the pivot arm 50 is pivotally mounted at the top of slide carriage 48. As will be appreciated hereafter, pivot arm 50 is pivoted between a latched position and an unlatched position wherein cylindrical pin 88 is engageable and disengageable with latching mechanism 80.

0016The clamp 52 has a semi-rounded or curved cap 104 having a flat top end 106 provided with a pair of openings 108 which are aligned with any pair of holes 98 on pivot arm 50. The underside of cap 104 is configured to help center the domed end of tank 14, and may be padded, if desired, to protect the tank 14. The clamp 52 further has a rear end 110 that slidably receives the horizontal portion 94 of pivot arm 50. The clamp 52 is secured to the pivot arm 50 by using fasteners 112 which pass through the aligned openings 108 and holes 98. The clamp 52 is adjustably positioned fore and aft on the horizontal portion 94 of pivot arm 50 by sliding the clamp 52 to the desired position on the horizontal portion 94 of the pivot arm 50 and inserting the fasteners 112 in the aligned holes 98 and openings 108. This adjustment feature provides for clamping tanks 14 of differing diameters.

0017The clamping arrangement 32 is installed relative to the mounting plate 30 by sliding the side edges 60, 61 of the backing plate 54 into the top of the channels 40. The holes 46 in channels 40 are aligned between the upper and lower stops 68, 70 on the backing plate 54. A pair of screws 114 is passed through the washers 116 and the holes 46, and then secured in a pair of adjustment nuts 118 positioned on the inside of the channels 40. By means of the screws 114 and the adjustment nuts 118, the clamping arrangement 32 can be adjustably mounted upwardly and downwardly on the mounting plate 30 over a range of vertical travel defined by the length between the upper and lower stops 68, 70 on the backing plate 54. The mounting bracket 10 is therefore able to accommodate tanks 14 of varying lengths.

0018The guide 34 functions in an adjustable manner to center and hold an intermediate portion of the tank 14 during ingress and egress relative to the mounting bracket assembly 12. The guide 34 is a bifurcated or forked construction provided with an elongated center section 120 integral with a pair of spaced apart tank retaining arms 122 having lateral extensions 124. The center section 120 is formed with a vertically extending slot 126 that is aligned with the pair of holes 43 provided in the base 38. The guide 34 is installed by sliding the extensions 124 into the channels 40, such as from the bottom thereof, until the slot 126 is aligned with the holes 43. Then, a pair of screws 130 is passed through the slot 126 and screwed into tapped walls of the holes 43. By loosening and tightening the screws 130, the guide 34 can be vertically adjusted on the base 38 so as to clear any tank hardware while providing an additional support for the tank 14.

0019The support structure 36 acts to fully and adjustably support the inverted top or regulator portion 15 of the tank 14. The support structure 36 includes a foot 132, a foot support 134 and an adjustable cradle 136.

0020The foot 132 is typically comprised of a plastic material and has an upper section 138 and a lower section 140. The upper section 138 has side edges 142 and is formed with a pair of holes 144 which are designed to be aligned with either an upper or lower set of holes 44 in the base 38. The lower section 140 has side edges 146 and is formed with several openings 148. The foot 132 is reinforced by the foot support 134 which conforms along the rear and bottom edges of the foot 132. The foot support 134 has a pair of openings 150 at its top end and a single aperture 152 on a bottom surface. The cradle 136 has an angled wall 154 and has a hole 156 in its bottom surface. A screw 158 is passed through the hole 156, one of the several holes 148 and aperture 152 to partially join the foot 132, the foot support 134 and the cradle 136 together. <figref idref="f0006">Figure 5</figref> illustrates that the cradle 136 can be reversibly mounted on the foot 132 to suit the particular regulator portion 15 on a tank 14. It should also be understood that the fore and aft positions of the cradle 136 can be adjusted for the particular tank 14 by using the appropriate openings 148 on the lower section 140 of the foot 132.

0021The side edges 142 of the foot 132 are slidably received from the bottom of the channels 40 until either pair of holes 44 are aligned with the openings 150 on foot support 134 and holes 144 on foot 132. Then, a pair of screws 160 is passed through the holes 144 and openings 150 and screwed into the holes 44 in base 38 to hold the support structure 36 at a high or low setting to accommodate the height of the tank 14. The screws 160 can be loosened to change the setting of the support structure 36 as desired.

0022With the mounting bracket assembly 12 assembled as described above and installed in the seat 10 as shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, the pivot arm 50 has its pin 88 disengaged from the latching mechanism 80, and the clamping arrangement 32 assumes the unlatched position shown in <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref>. In this position, the coil spring 62 forces the pivot arm 50 to pivot about pin 102 so that the lower portion 90 extends forwardly of backing plate 54, the angled portion 92 extends vertically and the clamp 52 is swung upwardly above the mounting plate 30.

0023The lower portion 90 of pivot arm 50 defines an actuator plate adapted to abut a tank 14 as it is moved rearwardly towards the base 38. As the tank 14 first contacts actuator plate 90, it will cause the pivot arm 50 to swing downwardly in the direction of arrow A in <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref>. At the same time, the intermediate portion of tank 14 is engaged between the retaining arms 122 of the guide 34 and the regulator portion 15 of the tank 14 is moved into the cradle 136 on the support structure 36.

0024Continued rearward movement of tank 14 will cause the actuator plate 90 to compress spring 62 until the pin 88 enters the notch 86 and becomes locked in the latching mechanism 80 in a latching position shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figures 2</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">4A</figref>. In the latching position, the clamp 52 tightly locks against the inverted domed end of the tank 14 to positively secure the tank 14 in the mounting bracket assembly 12.

0025The present invention thus provides an automatic tank locking function achievable exclusively by the rearward movement of the tank 14 against the actuator plate 90 of the clamping arrangement 32. The pivot arm 50 and the clamp 52 are pivoted about a horizontal axis defined by the pivot pin 102 as the clamping arrangement 32 moves between the unlatched and latched positions. There is no need to use any hands to secure the tank 14 which makes securement fast, efficient and convenient.

0026When it is desired to release the tank 14 from the mounting bracket assembly 12, the cable 89 can be pulled to unlock the latching mechanism 80, enabling the spring 62 to force the pivot arm 50 and clamp 52 to swing upwardly to the unlatched position. In <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, the outer end of the cable 89 opposite the latching mechanism 80 is attached to a release handle 162 at the front of the seat cushion 18 as shown at <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>. The cable 89 can be routed through grooves 164 formed in the rear portions of guide 34 and foot 132. Movement of the handle 162 will cause the cable 89 to release the latch mechanism 80. It should be understood, however, that the outer end of the cable 89 may be affixed to a release mechanism elsewhere on the seat cushion 18 or seat 10 or may be directed over the shoulder of an occupant of seat 10. The latching mechanism 80 may also be released remotely in other ways. Multiple cables 89 may extend from the latching mechanism 80 to enable a seat occupant to release the tank 14 from multiple locations. For example, <figref idref="f0011">Fig. 10</figref> shows the combination of the release handle 162 on seat 10 and a second release handle 166 adjacent the head pad 28 so that the seat occupant can release the latching mechanism 80 from the lower portion of seat 10 or from over the shoulder of the seat occupant.

0027Operation of the mounting bracket assembly 12 is further facilitated by the adjustability of the clamping arrangement 32, the guide 34 and the support structure 36 in the channels 40 of the mounting plate assembly. In addition, the clamp 32 is adjustable on pivot arm 50 and the cradle 136 is reversibly mounted to suit the particular tank structure.

0028The mounting bracket assembly 12 contemplates alternative embodiments for accommodating different tank structures. <figref idref="f0007">Figure 6</figref> illustrates an alternative two-piece support structure 36a used to support European-style tanks 14. <figref idref="f0008">Figure 7</figref> shows a further alternative support structure 36b used to support a twin pack or two side-by-side tanks.

0029The present invention also includes a spring-loaded back pad assembly 168 (<figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012 f0013 f0014">Figs. 8-13</figref>) that is placed into the rear cavity of the emergency vehicle seat 10, and can be used to support the back of the seat occupant. The back pad assembly 168 is particularly versatile because it can be used with or without the tank 14 in the mounting bracket assembly 10. Prior art back pads are known to be used only without the tank 14 in place.

0030The back pad assembly 168 is comprised of a mounting bracket 170, a lower pivot bracket 172, an upper pivot bracket 174, a pad support plate 176 and a covered, cushioned back pad 178.

0031The mounting bracket 170 has a flat horizontal base 180 integrally joined to a substantially vertical wall 182. The base 180 is provided with a pair of spaced apart holes 184 and the wall 182 is also provided with a pair of spaced openings 186. The wall 182 is also formed with a vertical slot 185. The mounting bracket 170 is affixed to the seat 10 by passing threaded bolts 187 (<figref idref="f0013">Fig. 12</figref>) through washers 188, the holes 184 and holes in the seat frame 16, and then attaching nuts 189 on the bolts 187.

0032The lower pivot bracket 172 has a main wall 190 formed with a pair of spaced apart openings 192 and a projecting portion 194 having a recess 196 and a small retaining opening 198. A pair of side walls 200 extend integrally from main wall 190 with each side wall 200 having a pivot aperture 202 formed in the upper end thereof. The side walls 200 are formed with inwardly extending stop portions 204.

0033The upper pivot bracket 174 has a main plate 206 configured with a set of holes 208, a retaining aperture 210, and a recess 212. The main plate 206 has a pair of depending side arms 214 formed with pivot apertures 216. Side arms 214 are positioned inside side walls 200 of lower pivot bracket 172 so that pivot apertures 202 and 216 are aligned. Upper pivot bracket 174 is pivotally attached to lower pivot bracket 172 by passing threaded screws 218 through the aligned apertures 202 and 216 and threading nuts 220 on the screws 218. A coil extension spring 222 has one end 224 held in retaining opening 198 on lower pivot bracket 172, and an opposite end 226 maintained in retaining aperture 210 on upper pivot bracket 174. End portions of the spring 222 lie in the recesses 196 and 212 formed on the respective pivot brackets 172, 174.

0034The pad support plate 176 includes a base plate 228 and an angled support wall 230 extending rigidly at a generally obtuse angle therefrom. The base plate 228 is formed with upstanding side edges 232 and a set of holes 234. The support wall 230 has an upwardly and outwardly extending portion 236 and a vertical portion 238 to which the covered, cushioned back pad 178 is secured for supportive engagement with a seat occupant's lower back. The pad support plate 176 with the attached back pad 178 is positioned so that the base plate 228 lies on top of main plate 206 and holes 208 and 234 are aligned. Pad support plate 176 and back pad 178 are fixed to upper pivot bracket 174 by passing threaded screws 240 through aligned holes 208, 234 and attaching nuts 242 on the screws 240.

0035Upper pivot bracket 174, pad support plate 176 and back pad 178 are pivotally connected to lower support bracket 172, and form a subassembly that can be removably secured to the mounting bracket 170. This is accomplished by inserting main wall 190 in slot 185 of wall 182, aligning openings 192 on lower support bracket 172 with the openings 186 on mounting bracket 170 and passing a pair of removable pull pins 244 through the aligned openings 186, 192 as shown in <figref idref="f0009">Figs. 8</figref>, <figref idref="f0013">12</figref> and <figref idref="f0014">13</figref>. Preferably, the pull pins 244 have finger rings 246 and well-known spring detent constructions which will normally hold the components 172, 174, 176, 178 on mounting bracket 170, but will facilitate a relatively simple removal of the components 172, 174, 176, 178, if desired, while the mounting bracket 170 remains attached to the seat frame 16.

0036In use, the spring-loaded back pad assembly 168 is positioned on the seat frame 16 between the mounting bracket assembly 12 and the lower back of a seat occupant. The back pad assembly 168 features an over the center spring arrangement formed by the components 170, 172, 174, 176, 178 and spring 222 so that the back pad assembly 168 is manually moved and retained in a folded down position (<figref idref="f0011">Figs. 10</figref> and <figref idref="f0013">12</figref>) or a folded up position (<figref idref="f0014">Fig. 13</figref>). Spring 222 biases the pivoting components 174, 176 and 178 downwardly or upwardly relative to components 170 and 172 depending upon the relative location of the components 174, 176 and 178. In the folded down position shown in <figref idref="f0011">Figs. 10</figref> and <figref idref="f0013">12</figref>, the lower end 246 of pad 178 is biased downwardly and held by the spring 222 against the seat cushion 18. When the pad 178 is pivoted upwardly to a certain critical point, the over the center spring arrangement will forcefully flip the pad 178 to the folded upper position shown in <figref idref="f0014">Fig. 13</figref>, which final position is defined by the engagement of the side arms 214 against the stop portions 204.

0037If there is no tank 14 in the mounting bracket assembly 12, the back pad assembly 168 acts as a seat back in the folded up position to support the lower back of the seat occupant for comfort and safety. If there is a tank 14 in the mounting bracket assembly 12, the back pad assembly 168 still acts on the seat occupant's back to offer additional support. When the tank 14 is removed from the mounting bracket assembly 12, the back pad assembly 168 is easily swung downwardly and folds against the seat cushion 18 to allow egress of the tank 14. The back pad assembly 168 remains spring biased against the seat cushion 18 until moved to the folded up position.

0038The back pad assembly 168 is particularly novel and versatile because it can be used with or without the tank 10 installed on the mounting bracket assembly 12 unlike prior art back pad designs.

0039While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.