Guardrail device fixed to the rear loading platform of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a guardrail device (200) fixed to the loading platform (110) of a motorized or non-motorized vehicle (100), said device comprising two lateral safety bars (210, 220) arranged to protect at least one passenger, said device (200) being characterized in that said lateral safety bars (210, 220) are retractable between a first deployed position forming a guardrail and a second lowered position along said loading platform (110). Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: Guardrail device fixed to the rear loading platform of a vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of two- or three-wheeled vehicles, motorized or not, and more particularly to the safety of the passengers of such a vehicle.

[0002] On the market for bicycles, or cargo bikes with a front cargo box, there are "longtail" type bicycles, also known as "extended" bicycles, with or without electric assist. These "longtail" bicycles include a rear loading platform, typically located behind the rider's seat and above the rear wheel. This platform is longer than a standard bicycle rack and allows for the transport of cargo or passengers behind the rider. This type of "longtail" bicycle is widely used, particularly for transporting children. The loading platform is generally equipped with a bench seat and can accommodate up to three or even four children, or one adult and one or two children, for example. When children are seated on this platform, it is important to ensure their safety in case the bicycle falls to one side or the other.Therefore, this rear platform is generally equipped with a structure including side safety bars that children can hold onto while riding and providing a protective guardrail in case the bike falls to one side.

[0003] This guardrail structure is generally fixed and bolted to the vehicle's loading platform, so it cannot be quickly removed. Children must be carried by an adult to get on it because the structure is relatively high, typically about 60 to 70 cm from the ground.

[0004] To facilitate the installation of children on the loading platform of such a vehicle, an improvement has been made and is the subject of patent application EP4 306 396. This patent application describes a passenger protection structure arranged to pivot between an open passenger installation position and a closed driving position. Thus, when the structure is open, it allows children to pass through so that they can sit on the vehicle's loading platform, and when the structure is closed in the driving position, it protects the children in the event of the vehicle tipping over to one side or the other.

[0005] Whether the guardrail structure is fixedly mounted on the vehicle's loading platform or pivotally mounted between a stationary position and a driving position, existing solutions do not allow an adult to sit on the vehicle's loading platform without having to dismantle the entire structure. guardrails. However, such dismantling is too long and discouraging, so in general, adults do not sit on the vehicle's loading platform.

[0006] The invention therefore aims to remedy at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, the invention aims to design a guardrail device fixed to the loading platform of a motorized or non-motorized vehicle, with two or three wheels, said device making it possible, on the one hand, to protect at least one child sitting on said loading platform and, on the other hand, to allow an adult to sit on said loading platform without having to dismantle the guardrail device.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a guardrail device fixed on the loading platform of a motorized or non-motorized vehicle, said device comprising two lateral safety bars arranged to protect at least one passenger, said device being characterized in that said lateral safety bars are mounted retractably between a first deployed position forming a guardrail and a second lowered position along said loading platform.

[0008] Thus, the guardrail device according to the invention offers the possibility of placing the side safety bars in two different positions for two different uses, allowing the transport of child or adult passengers on the vehicle's loading platform without having to dismantle or reassemble the guardrail structure depending on whether the passenger is an adult or a child, respectively. In the retracted position, the device allows an adult to sit on the loading platform. The deployed position allows it to surround and protect at least one child seated on said loading platform, thus forming a guardrail in the event of the vehicle tipping over.

[0009] According to other optional features of the guardrail device:

[0010] - each side safety bar has a "U" shape, of which at least one the first end is mounted on a first vertical support, pivoting around respectively a first and a second axis of rotation, said first and second axes of rotation being perpendicular to said first vertical support;

[0011] - said first and second axes of rotation are coaxial;

[0012] - said first and second axes of rotation are perpendicular to a second vertical support located opposite said first vertical support and a second end of each side bar, opposite said first end, is mounted on said second vertical support, pivoting around said first and said second axis of rotation respectively;

[0013] - said first vertical support is arranged to accommodate a padding material forming a file;

[0014] - said first vertical support constitutes a rear end of the device, surmounting a rear end of said loading platform and said second vertical support constitutes a front end of the device, surmounting a front end of said loading platform;

[0015] - it includes a third vertical support fixed to the loading platform of so that it separates two seating areas, each seating area comprising two retractable side safety bars mounted between a first deployed position forming a guardrail and a second lowered position along said rear platform;

[0016] - it includes at least one retaining means designed to retain said bars side safety devices in the deployed position;

[0017] - said retaining means is in the form of an indexing finger designed to fit into a high positioning socket provided in said first vertical support;

[0018] -said indexing finger is designed to fit into at least one low positioning socket provided in said first vertical support in order to stabilize said side bar in the lowered position;

[0019] - the indexing finger includes a thread designed to screw into a tapped hole housed in a plate attached to said side safety bar;

[0020] -it further includes a geared means arranged to synchronize the movement of the two side safety bars, so that the actuation of one side bar causes the other side bar to move.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures which represent:

[0022] [Fig.1], a perspective diagram of the guardrail device according to the invention in the deployed position, fixed to the loading platform of a "longtail" type cargo bike,

[0023] [Fig.2], a perspective diagram of the guardrail device according to the invention in deployed position,

[0024] [Fig.3], a diagram seen from the rear of the device of [Fig.2] in the deployed position,

[0025] [Fig.4], a perspective diagram of the guardrail device according to the invention in lowered position,

[0026] [Fig. 5], a cross-sectional view of a retaining means for holding a bar lateral safety in the deployed position or to stabilize it in the lowered position.

[0027] The term “vertical” means a plane or axis oriented perpendicular to the ground when the vehicle is in driving position.

[0028] The term “horizontal” means a plane or axis oriented parallel to the ground when the vehicle is in driving position.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a type 100 cargo bike frame "Longtail", equipped with a guardrail device 200 according to the invention. The bicycle 100 includes a loading platform 110, located behind the driver's seat and above the rear wheel of the vehicle 100. The guardrail device 200 according to the invention is fixed to the loading platform 110, preferably at both the front and rear ends of said platform 110. In [Fig. 1], the device 200 is shown in the deployed position, with the side safety bars 210, 220 forming guardrails and protecting a child passenger in the event of the vehicle 100 falling to one side.

[0030] Figure [Fig. 2] shows a perspective view of the guardrail device 200 in deployed position and [Fig.3] represents a view of the rear of this same device in the deployed position.

[0031] The device 200 includes a first fastening element 230, for example in the form of a plate. This first fastening element 230 is intended to be fixed to a supplementary plate located on the loading platform 110 of the vehicle. It can be fixed by any known means, such as bolting or clipping, for example. Holes 231 are provided, for example, in this first fastening element 230 to allow its fixing, for example by bolting, to the loading platform. Preferably, this first fastening element 230 is located at the rear of the guardrail device 200, and the supplementary plate to which it is fixed is located at the rear end of the vehicle's loading platform 110.

[0032] A second fastening element 270 is further provided at the front of the device and intended to be fixed by any known means, such as bolting or clipping, for example, to an additional plate located on the bicycle frame 100 and at the front of said loading platform 110. For example, holes 271 are provided in this second fastening element 270 to allow its attachment. This second fastening element 270 is shown in the figures as a U-shaped profile, but this shape is only illustrative and in no way limiting; other shapes may be considered.

[0033] The side safety bars 210, 220 preferably have a length substantially equal to the length of the vehicle's loading platform 110 and two ends curved at approximately 90° to form a "U". The side safety bars 210, 220 are mounted retractably between a deployed position and a lowered position along the loading platform 110.

[0034] For this purpose, at least one end 261, 262 of each side bar 210, 220 is mounted on a first vertical support 240, pivoting about a first A1 and a second axis of rotation A2 perpendicular to the surface of said first vertical support 240. Preferably, the first A1 and second A2 axes of rotation of each side bar 210, 220 are located in an upper part of the first vertical support 240 so that, when the side bars 210, 220 are When deployed, they are positioned at approximately the height of a child when sitting on the loading platform 110.

[0035] In such an embodiment, where only one end 261, 262 of each side bar 210, 220 is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation Al, A2, the second end 263, 264 of each side safety bar 210, 220, opposite the first end 261, 262, can then be inserted into a housing provided at the upper end of a vertical post located opposite the first vertical support 240.

[0036] In order to improve the rigidity of the guardrail device, a preferred embodiment consists of mounting the second end 263, 264 of each side safety bar 210, 220, opposite said first end 261, 262, on a second vertical support 280 located opposite said first vertical support, and pivoting about said first Al and second A2 axis of rotation respectively, said first Al and second A2 axes of rotation being perpendicular to the surface of said second vertical support 280.

[0037] According to another embodiment, the first Al and second A2 axes of rotation can be coaxial.

[0038] The first vertical support 240 may consist of a solid surface surmounting, for example, the first fastening element 230 fixed to the rear end of the loading platform. However, to minimize the weight of the device, a preferred solution is to make this vertical fastening support 240 in the form of a plate disposed between two side posts 242, 243 of a hoop 241 surmounting said first fastening element 230. The vertical support 240 is connected to the side posts 242, 243 of the hoop 241 by means of at least two tabs 247, preferably four tabs 247. The tabs 247 may be fixed to the side posts 242, 243 by any known means, such as welding, riveting, or screwing, for example.According to one embodiment, the first vertical support 240 and the arch 241 can be made in one piece, which avoids the appearance of areas of weakness related to the fixing of the legs 247 on the lateral uprights 242, 243. .

[0039] Advantageously, the first vertical support 240 is arranged to accommodate, on its front surface, directed towards the interior of the guardrail device 200, a padding material forming a backrest.

[0040] The second vertical support 280 is fixed to the upper end of an upright 272 that overhangs the second fastening element 270 located at the front end of the device. The upright 272 is preferably inclined towards the rear of the guardrail device 200, at an angle between 30 and 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane of the loading platform 110, so as to avoid any obstruction to the vehicle driver.

[0041] According to one embodiment, a third vertical support can be fixed to the loading platform 110 of the bicycle so that it separates the loading platform 110 into two distinct seating areas, each area comprising two pivoting side safety bars that can be positioned between a deployed and a retracted position. In this case, for example, a first seating area can be provided over the first third of the length of the loading platform and a second seating area over the remaining two-thirds of the length of the loading platform 110. Thus, it is possible to secure a child passenger in the first seating area by deploying the side bars to form a guardrail and to allow an adult to sit in the second seating area in which the side bars are lowered into a retracted position.

[0042] Advantageously, the device 200 further includes at least one retaining means 250, allowing the side safety bars 210, 220 to be kept in the deployed position.

[0043] This retaining means 250 can take various forms, including, for example: a knurled screw cooperating with a threaded hole in the first vertical support 240, or a pin designed to index itself with a hole in the first vertical support 240, or a clamping toggle designed so that, in the lowered position, it indexes itself in a positioning sleeve in said first vertical support 240, or an indexing finger fitting into a positioning sleeve 244, 245 in said first vertical support 240. The retaining means can further consist of a clamping bar designed to firmly hold the right and left side bars together when deployed and form a rigid assembly eliminating any possibility of rotation of the bars around their respective axis of rotation.

[0044] Preferably, the retaining means 250 is in the form of an indexing finger. In this case, two high positioning sleeves 245 are positioned on the lateral edges of the vertical support 240, in its upper part and substantially below the first A1 and second A2 axes of rotation of the first ends 261, 262 of the side bars 210, 220. Thus, when the two indexing fingers 250 are inserted into the high positioning sleeves 245, they each hold a side bar 210, 220 in the deployed position by preventing its rotation about its A1, A2 axis.

[0045] Optionally, two additional lower positioning bushings 244 can be positioned in the lower part of the vertical support 240, towards the middle of said support and on either side of vertical axes perpendicular to the axes of rotation A1, A2. Thus, when the two indexing fingers 250 are inserted into low positioning sockets 244, they allow each of a side safety bar 210, 220 to be stabilized in its lowered position.

[0046] Preferably, the indexing pin 250 comprises a thread that screws into a tapped hole 256 provided in a plate 251 attached to the side safety bar 210, 220. The plate 251 can have any geometric shape. In the example shown in Figures 2 to 4, it is substantially triangular. It is attached to the side safety bar 210, 220 by any known means such as welding, screwing, riveting, or any other equivalent means. Preferably, it is attached by welding. Thus, the side safety bar 210, 220 is held securely in its extended position when the indexing pin 250 is inserted into the upper positioning sleeve 245, or in its lowered position when the indexing pin 250 is inserted into the lower positioning sleeve 244.

[0047] Fig. 5 represents a cross-sectional view of an indexing finger 250 for maintaining a lateral bar 210 in the deployed position. A high positioning sleeve 245 is inserted into the thickness of the vertical support 240. Typically, an indexing pin 250 includes a protruding tab 254 that fits into the positioning sleeve 245. To remove the indexing pin 250 from the positioning sleeve 245, a lever 252 pulls on a spring to retract the tab 254 and release it from the positioning sleeve 245. A plate 251, attached to the lateral safety bar 210, includes a tapped hole 256 into which the threaded rod of the indexing pin 250 is screwed until it abuts against a nut 253. The indexing pin 250 is thus secured to the lateral safety bar 210 and is inserted into the high positioning sleeve 245.Thus, the side safety bar 210 is held fixedly in the deployed position by the indexing finger 250 inserted into the upper positioning sleeve 245, preventing any rotation around its axis Al. To remove the indexing finger 250 from the upper positioning sleeve 245, simply pull the lever 252 of the indexing finger, which then acts on a spring, retracting the stop 254 and removing it from its housing.

[0048] To position the side bars 210, 220 in the lowered position, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], along the loading platform 110, each indexing finger 250 is removed from each upper positioning sleeve 245, and the side bar it held is gently lowered along the platform. To stabilize the side bars 210, 220 in this lowered position during rolling, the indexing fingers 250 can be inserted into lower positioning sleeves 244.

[0049] According to another embodiment, it is possible to provide a geared means arranged to synchronize the movement of the two lateral safety bars 210, 220, so that actuation of a bar 210 sets in motion the other bar 220. In this case, it is possible to provide only one upper positioning sleeve 245, and possibly only one lower positioning sleeve 244, and only one indexing finger 250 which inserts into the upper positioning sleeve 245 to hold the two bars in the deployed position and possibly into the lower positioning sleeve 244 to stabilize the two bars in the lowered position along the loading platform 110.

[0050] When the guardrail device is in the deployed position, small passengers seated on the loading platform 110 of the vehicle 100 can hold onto the side bars 210, 220 while the vehicle is in motion. Advantageously, the side safety bars 210, 220 are each reinforced with an outer bar 211, 221 to protect the hands of small passengers should the vehicle tip to one side or the other. When the guardrail device is in the retracted position, i.e., when the side bars 210, 220 are lowered along the loading platform 110 of the vehicle 100, the outer bars 211, 221 can serve as a grab handle for an adult passenger. The outer bars 211, 221 also allow the attachment of transport bags when the side safety bars 210, 220 are in the lowered position.

[0051] According to another embodiment, it is also possible to attach a weatherproof canopy structure to the side safety bars 210, 220 when they are in the deployed position. In this case, the canopy structure comprises uprights that are removably attached to the side bars and can preferably be removed without tools. For this purpose, a clamp fastening system or any other equivalent means may be used. The uprights support, at their upper end, a closed curve forming a canopy headliner support. At least two forward-facing uprights may be rigid, for example made of aluminum, while two rearward-facing uprights may be made of a more flexible material, such as fiberglass strips, for example, so as to withstand deformations due to wind, in particular.

[0052] According to yet another embodiment, it is also possible to provide a housing in each of the side safety bars 210, 220 for integrating an airbag device in order to further protect small passengers in the event of the vehicle falling onto its side. The airbag device can then be activated in the deployed position and deactivated in the lowered position.

[0053] The guardrail device just described has the advantage of offering two different positions for two different uses and allows children or adults to be transported without having to dismantle the device.

Claims

Demands

1. Guardrail device (200) fixed to the loading platform (110) of a motorized or non-motorized vehicle (100), said device (200) comprising two lateral safety bars (210, 220) arranged to protect at least one passenger, said device (200) being characterized in that said lateral safety bars (210, 220) are mounted retractably between a first deployed position forming a guardrail and a second lowered position along said loading platform (110).

2. Guardrail device (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that each side safety bar (210, 220) has a "U" shape of which at least one first end (261, 262) is mounted on a first vertical support (240), pivoting about respectively a first (Al) and a second (A2) axis of rotation, said first (Al) and second (A2) axes of rotation being perpendicular to said first vertical support (240).

3. Guardrail device (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that said first (A1) and second (A2) axes of rotation are coaxial.

4. Guardrail device (200) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said first (Al) and second (A2) axes of rotation are perpendicular to a second vertical support (280) located opposite said first vertical support (240) and in that a second end (263, 264) of each side bar, opposite said first end (261, 262), is mounted on said second vertical support (280), pivoting about said first (Al) and said second (A2) axis of rotation respectively.

5. Guardrail device (200) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said first vertical support (240) is arranged to accommodate a padding material forming a backrest.

6. Device (200) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said first vertical support (240) constitutes a rear end of the device (200), surmounting a rear end of said loading platform (110) and in that said second vertical support (280) constitutes a front end of the device (200), surmounting a front end of said loading platform (110).

7. Guardrail device (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third vertical support fixed to the loading platform (110) so that it separates two seating areas, each seating area comprising two side safety bars mounted retractable between a first deployed position forming a guardrail and a second lowered position along said rear platform.

8. Guardrail device (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one retaining means (250) designed to hold said side safety bars (210, 220) in the deployed position.

9. Guardrail device (200) according to claim 8, characterized in that said retaining means is in the form of an indexing finger (250) designed to fit into a high positioning socket (245) provided in said first vertical support (240).

10. Guardrail device (200) according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that said indexing finger (250) is designed to fit into at least one low positioning socket (244) provided in said first vertical support (240) in order to stabilize said side bars (210, 220) in the lowered position.

11. Device (200) according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the indexing finger (250) comprises a thread designed to screw into a tapped hole (256) provided in a plate (251) integral with said side safety bar (210, 220).

12. Guardrail device (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a geared means arranged to synchronize the movement of the two lateral safety bars (210, 220), so that the actuation of one lateral bar (210) causes the other lateral bar (220) to move.

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