Safety system for a standing passenger in a vehicle and associated vehicle

Abstract

Safety system for a standing passenger in a vehicle and associated vehicle. This safety system for a standing passenger (20) in a vehicle, particularly a railway vehicle, the system (12) comprises: - two straps (24, 26), each strap (24, 26) being adapted to encircle one shoulder of the passenger (20), each strap (24, 26) having a fixed end (32) adapted to be attached to a support (22) of the vehicle (10) within a wall (14) of the vehicle or an element thereof; and - for each strap (24, 26), an adjustment mechanism (30) for said strap (24, 26) such that the straps (24, 26) are adapted to hold the upper body of the passenger (20) against the support (22). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Safety system for a standing passenger in a vehicle and associated vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a safety system for a standing passenger in a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle.

[0002] Due to the jolts associated with the successive accelerations and decelerations of the vehicle, passengers standing in a vehicle may have difficulty maintaining a standing position.

[0003] It is known to install handrails so that passengers can hold on. The handrails are, for example, in the form of horizontal bars mounted on one of the walls of the vehicle or in the form of tripod bars fixed to the floor of the vehicle.

[0004] However, holding onto such a bar requires constant effort from the passenger, which reduces their comfort.

[0005] Furthermore, maintaining such a bar requires manual contact from each passenger, which is unhygienic and can promote the spread of viruses.

[0006] An aim of the invention is to propose a system capable of keeping a passenger standing in complete safety, free from manual contact and comfortable for the passenger.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a security system comprising:

[0008] - two straps, each strap being suitable for surrounding a shoulder of the passenger, each strap having a fixed end suitable for being fixed to a support bracket of the vehicle among a wall of the vehicle or an element of said wall; and

[0009] - for each strap, a mechanism for adjusting said strap so that the shoulder straps are designed to hold the passenger's upper body against the support bracket.

[0010] The shoulder straps keep the passenger upright, just like seat belts do for seated passengers.

[0011] The security system according to the invention comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

[0012] - The fixed end of each strap is suitable for being fixed to the support at an anchoring point different from the anchoring point of the fixed end of the other strap. - The adjustment mechanism of each strap is positioned at the end opposite the fixed end of said strap. - The adjustment mechanism of each strap includes a winder au- automated. - The automatic retractor of the adjustment mechanism of each shoulder strap includes a pretensioner to hold the passenger's upper body in the event of sudden braking or jolts. - The automatic retractor of the adjustment mechanism of each shoulder strap is suitable for being fixed to the support bracket at a fixing point different from the fixing point of the automatic retractor of the adjustment mechanism of the other shoulder strap. - The distance between the automatic reel attachment point and the anchor point of the strap should be approximately the same for both straps. - Each strap includes a rigid bridge to allow the insertion of a passenger's arm.

[0013] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising at least one wall and at least one safety system, the support being said wall of the vehicle or an element of said wall.

[0014] The vehicle according to the invention may also include the following characteristic:

[0015] - The wall comprises at least one horizontal crosspiece, the support being the horizontal crosspiece.

[0016] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0017] - [fig.l] [fig.l] is a top view of the interior of a vehicle comprising examples of three security systems;

[0018] - [fig.2] [fig.2] is a schematic front view of one of the security systems of [fig.l]; and

[0019] - [fig.3] [fig.3] is a schematic side view of one of the security systems of [fig.l].

[0020] [fig.l] illustrates the interior of a vehicle 10 comprising several safety systems 12 for a standing passenger.

[0021] The vehicle 10 is for example a railway vehicle such as a metro, a tram or a train. Alternatively, the vehicle is a bus.

[0022] The vehicle 10 comprises a passenger compartment 13. The passenger compartment 13 comprises a closed passenger space 16 defining at least two walls 14 and a floor 18.

[0023] As illustrated in [fig.l], the space 16 is suitable for accommodating standing passengers.

[0024] In the example illustrated in [fig. 1], a passenger 20 is held upright by one of the safety systems 12. The back of the passenger 20 held in the safety system 12 extends along a support bracket 22.

[0025] The support support 22 is for example a side wall 14 of the vehicle or a element of said side wall 14. The element of the side wall 14 is for example a horizontal crosspiece (not shown). The horizontal crosspiece is for example a bar fixed to the side wall 14 or is a reinforcement part of the side wall 14, in particular if the side wall 14 is glazed.

[0026] The safety system 12 comprises two straps 24, 26.

[0027] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each strap 24, 26 is suitable for surrounding a shoulder of the passenger.

[0028] Each shoulder strap 24, 26 comprises a strap 28, an adjustment mechanism 30 suitable for holding the upper body of the passenger 20 against the support bracket 22. Optionally, each shoulder strap 24, 26 comprises an insertion bridge 27, as in the example illustrated in [fig.3].

[0029] Advantageously, the two straps 24, 26 of the safety system 12 are identical.

[0030] The strap 28 is for example made of polyester or nylon.

[0031] The strap 28 of each shoulder strap 24, 26 has a width of between 3 cm and 8 cm and a useful length in use between 60cm and 150cm.

[0032] Each strap 24, 26 defines a first end 32 and a second end 34. In the example illustrated in [fig.3], the first end 32 is the lower end of the strap 24 and the second end 34 is the upper end of the strap 24.

[0033] In the example illustrated in [fig.3], the first end 32 is fixed and suitable for being fixed to the support support 22 at an anchoring point 36.

[0034] Each strap 24, 26 is for example attached to an eyelet (not shown) fixed to the support support 22, the eyelet defining the anchoring point 36.

[0035] Advantageously, for safety reasons, the first end 32 is capable of being easily detached from the support bracket 22 by the passenger. For example, in an emergency, the passenger presses a button attached to the eyelet in order to detach the first end 32 from each strap 24, 26 and thus free himself more quickly.

[0036] Preferably, the anchoring point 36 of the strap 24 is different from the anchoring point 36 of the first end 32 of the other strap 26.

[0037] The anchoring points 36 of the two straps 24, 26 are advantageously located on the support support 22 at the same distance from the ground 18. This distance is for example between 0.6 m and 1.1 m.

[0038] The distance between the anchoring points 36 of the two straps 24, 26 is for example between 30 cm and 50 cm.

[0039] The adjustment mechanism 30 of each strap 24, 26 is positioned at the second end 34 opposite the first fixed end 32 of the strap 24, 26.

[0040] The adjustment mechanism 30 of each strap 24, 26 is advantageously fixed to the support bracket 22.

[0041] Advantageously, the adjustment mechanism 30 of each strap 24, 26 comprises an automatic winder 38.

[0042] The automatic reel 38 comprises a cylinder 40, around which the strap 28 is wound. The strap 28 is thus broken down into a first part surrounding a shoulder of the passenger and a second part of the strap 28 wrapped around the cylinder 40. The distribution of the length of the strap 28 between the first part and the second part is variable and can be modified by the passenger, for example by pulling on the strap 28 in order to unwind it.

[0043] Advantageously, the automatic reel 38 further comprises a pretensioner 42 capable of retaining the passenger's upper body in the event of violent braking or jolt.

[0044] The pretensioner 42 is for example a spring capable of constraining the automatic reel 38 in such a way that it exerts tension on the seat belt and causes the unwinding of the strap 28 of the shoulder strap 24, 26 to be blocked, in particular in the event of violent braking or jolts.

[0045] In the example illustrated in [fig.3], the automatic reel 38 of the adjustment mechanism 30 of each strap 24, 26 is suitable for being fixed to the support support 22 at a fixing point 44 of the reel, different from the fixing point 44 of the reel 38 of the adjustment mechanism 30 of the other strap 24, 26.

[0046] The distance D between the fixing point 44 of the reel 38 and the anchoring point 36 of the strap is suitable for being substantially identical for the two straps 24, 26.

[0047] The distance D between the fixing point 44 of the reel 38 and the anchoring point 36 of the strap is for example between 40 cm and 80 cm.

[0048] In the example illustrated in [fig.3], the rigid bridge 27 is suitable for allowing the insertion of a passenger's arm, and advantageously without manual contact.

[0049] The rigid bridge 27 is for example a hollow tube in the shape of an arch into which the strap 28 is inserted.

[0050] The operation of such a security system 12 will now be described.

[0051] A safety system 12 comprising two straps 24, 26 is fixed to a support support 22 of vehicle 10.

[0052] A passenger 20 wishing to use the safety system 12 first inserts an arm into the rigid bridge 27 of the first shoulder strap 24 and then puts on the shoulder strap 24, so that it surrounds a shoulder of the passenger. When the shoulder strap 24 does not include a rigid bridge 27, the passenger 20 puts on the shoulder strap 24 directly.

[0053] The adjustment mechanism 30 comprising an automatic reel 38 automatically adjusts the length of the strap 28 of the shoulder strap 24 surrounding the shoulder of the passenger 20, in order to maintain the upper body of the passenger against the support support 22.

[0054] The passenger 20 then puts the second strap 26 around his second shoulder in an identical manner.

[0055] The passenger 20 is thus kept upright by the safety system 12 with his back extending along a support 22.

[0056] In the event of violent braking or jolts, the pretensioner 42 of each of the straps 24, 26 constrains the automatic reel 38, which blocks the unwinding of the strap 28 of each of the straps 24, 26 and holds the passenger's upper body against the support 22.

[0057] Such a safety system 12 allows the passenger 20 to travel standing up in the vehicle in complete safety.

[0058] Indeed, the support of the upper body of the passenger 20 by the shoulder straps 24, 26 allows the passenger not to have to support his own weight, which increases his comfort. The passenger is also less sensitive to jolts, particularly those linked to successive accelerations and decelerations of the vehicle.

[0059] In addition, thanks to the automatic reel 38, the strap 28 adapts its length to the morphology of the passenger.

[0060] Furthermore, the installation of a pretensioner 42 makes it possible to increase the safety of the passenger, by blocking the unwinding of the strap 28 and thus retaining the upper body of the passenger in the event of violent braking or jolt.

[0061] The rigid bridge 27 also offers the advantage of allowing the straps 24, 26 to be put on and taken off without manual contact, which is advantageous, for example, in preventing the spread of viruses.

[0062] As illustrated in [fig. 1], in the same closed passenger reception space 16, several safety systems 12 are installed, allowing several passengers to travel standing up in complete safety.

[0063] Advantageously, the security systems 12 installed in the same space 16 have different dimensions in order to adapt to the different morphologies of the passengers.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described by way of example, but extends to all technically possible combinations of these embodiments.

Claims

Claims

1. Safety system for a passenger (20) standing in a vehicle (10), in particular a railway vehicle, the system (12) comprising: - two shoulder straps (24, 26), each shoulder strap (24, 26) being suitable for surrounding a shoulder of the passenger (20), each shoulder strap (24, 26) having a fixed end (32) suitable for being fixed to a support support (22) of the vehicle (10) among a wall (14) of the vehicle (10) or an element of said wall (14); and - for each shoulder strap (24, 26), an adjustment mechanism (30) of said shoulder strap (24, 26) so that the shoulder straps (24, 26) are suitable for holding the upper body of the passenger (20) against the support support (22).

2. Safety system according to claim 1, in which the fixed end (32) of each strap (24, 26) is suitable for being fixed to the support support (22) at an anchoring point (36) different from the anchoring point (36) of the fixed end (32) of the other strap (24, 26).

3. Safety system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adjustment mechanism (30) of each strap (24, 26) is positioned at the end (34) opposite the fixed end (32) of said strap (24, 26).

4. A safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjustment mechanism (30) of each shoulder strap (24, 26) comprises an automatic retractor (38).

5. Safety system according to claim 4, in which the automatic reel (38) of the adjustment mechanism (30) of each shoulder strap (24, 26) comprises a pretensioner (42) capable of retaining the upper body of the passenger (20) in the event of violent braking or jolt.

6. Safety system according to claim 4 or 5, in which the automatic reel (38) of the adjustment mechanism (30) of each strap (24, 26) is suitable for being fixed to the support support (22) at a fixing point (44), different from the fixing point (44) of the automatic reel (38) of the adjustment mechanism (30) of the other strap (24, 26).

7. Safety system according to claim 2 and claim 6, in which the distance between the fixing point (44) of the automatic reel (38) and the anchoring point (36) of the strap (24, 26) is capable of being substantially identical for the two straps (24, 26).

8. Safety system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each shoulder strap (24, 26) comprises a rigid bridge (27) suitable for allowing the insertion of an arm of the passenger.

9. Vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising at least one wall (14) and at least one safety system (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, the support support (22) being said wall (14) of the vehicle (10) or an element of said wall (14).

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the wall (14) comprises at least one horizontal cross member, the support support (22) being the horizontal cross member.

Images