# US 11,999,311 B2 · Energy management system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,311 B2 - Document ID: US11999311B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/611,692 - Filed: 2020-05-22 - Published: 2022-07-28 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-22 - Assignees: Valeda Company, LLC - Applicants: Valeda Company, LLC - Inventors: Patrick Girardin; Robert Cumming - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999311B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/0132: responsive to vehicle motion parameters {, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value} - B60R 21/01544: {detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment} - A61G 3/006: {Means for reducing the influence of acceleration on patients, e.g. suspension systems of platforms (securing loads against shocks in general B60P7/16)} - A61G 3/0808: {Accommodating or securing wheelchairs} - B60R 21/055: Padded {or energy-absorbing} fittings {, e.g. seat belt anchors (sun visors B60J3/00; head rests B60N2/80)} - B60R 21/16: Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags ({protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; } connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00) - A61G 2203/70: with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort - A61G 2203/723: Impact absorbing means, e.g. bumpers or airbags - B60R 2021/0004: {Frontal collision} - B60R 2021/0006: {Lateral collision} - B60R 2021/0018: {Roll-over} - B60R 2021/0048: {Head} - B60R 2021/006: {Type of passenger} - B60R 2021/01231: {control of expansion timing or sequence} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A pre/post-tensioning controller system for a wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint system (“WTORS”) will be a comprehensive energy management system for controlling excessive excursions of a wheeled mobility device during various adverse driving scenarios. The system uses multiple pre-tensioning and post-tensioning events during a front, side, or rear impact crash or rollover scenario—and effectively controls excursions by the tensioning of the WTORS equipment at specific and ideal moments. The system also uses tensioning events on the tie-down equipment during a long duration turn or other aggressive maneuvers. The system may also use tensioning events on the occupant restraints. The energy management system can be adapted for use with traditional four-point tie-downs and newer three- and two-point tie-down systems that incorporate fixed or movable bumpers, as well as compressive-type securement systems, and other systems as well, including docking systems. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling energy in a securement system for a mobility device in a vehicle during an adverse driving condition, the system comprising a computing system including a processor configured to: ascertain that the adverse driving condition has occurred; ascertain at least one characteristic of the adverse driving condition; and, trigger a first safety device for controlling an excursion of one or both of the mobility device and an occupant seated in the mobility device, wherein the first safety device is selected from a plurality of safety devices based on the at least one characteristic of the adverse driving condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to trigger the first safety device after a first period of time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the first period of time corresponds generally with a first rebound time, the first rebound time being generally when the mobility device will experience a rebound. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein: the securement system comprises a first tie-down for securing a first side of the mobility device, the first side being opposite from a second side; and, the processor is further configured to select a first tensioner for the first tie-down as the first safety device when the adverse driving condition is an impact at the first side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein: when the impact is a front impact, the first side is a front side and the second side is a rear side; when the impact is a rear impact, the first side is the rear side and the second side is the front side; when the impact is a right side impact, the first side is a right side and the second side is a left side; and, when the impact is a left side impact, the first side is the left side and the second side is the right side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein: the securement system comprises a first bumper adjacent a first side of the mobility device, the first side being opposite from a second side; and, the processor is further configured to select a first urging device for the first bumper as the first safety device when the adverse driving condition is an impact at the second side, wherein the first urging device is configured to urge the first bumper toward the mobility device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein: the securement system comprises a first tie-down for securing a first side of the mobility device, the first side being opposite from a second side; and, the processor is further configured to select a first tensioner for the first tie-down as the first safety device when the adverse driving condition is a rollover to the second side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein: the securement system comprises a first bumper adjacent a first side of the mobility device, the first side being opposite from a second side; and, the processor is further configured to select a first urging device for the first bumper as the first safety device when the adverse driving condition is a rollover to the first side, wherein the first urging device is configured to urge the first bumper toward the mobility device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the first period of time is predetermined. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to trigger a second safety device after a second period of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the first period of time corresponds generally with a first rebound time, the first rebound time being generally when the mobility device will experience a rebound, and the second period of time corresponds to a secondary rebound time, the secondary rebound time being generally when the mobility device will experience a secondary rebound. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein: the securement system comprises a first tie-down for securing a first side of the mobility device and a second tie-down for securing a second side of the mobility device, the first side being opposite from the second side; the processor is further configured to select a first tensioner for the first tie-down as the first safety device and to select a second tensioner for the second tie-down as the second safety device when the adverse driving condition is an impact at the first side. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: when the impact is a front impact, the first side is a front side and the second side is a rear side; when the impact is a rear impact, the first side is the rear side and the second side is the front side; when the impact is a right side impact, the first side is a right side and the second side is a left side; and, when the impact is a left side impact, the first side is the left side and the second side is the right side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein: the securement system comprises a first bumper adjacent a first side of the mobility device and a second bumper adjacent a second side of the mobility device, the first side being opposite from the second side; the processor is further configured to select a first urging device for the first bumper as the first safety device and to select a second urging device for the second bumper as the second safety device when the adverse driving condition is an impact at the second side, wherein the first urging device is configured to urge the first bumper toward the mobility device and the second urging device is configured to urge the second bumper toward the mobility device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein: the securement system comprises a first tie-down for securing a first side of the mobility device and a second tie-down for securing a second side of the mobility device, the first side being opposite from the second side; the processor is further configured to select a first tensioner for the first tie-down as the first safety device and to select a second tensioner for the second tie-down as the second safety device when the adverse driving condition is a rollover to the second side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein: the securement system comprises a first bumper adjacent a first side of the mobility device and a second bumper adjacent a second side of the mobility device, the first side being opposite from the second side; the processor is further configured to select a first urging device for the first bumper as the first safety device and to select a second urging for the second bumper as the second safety device when the adverse driving condition is a rollover to the first side, wherein the first urging device is configured to urge the first bumper toward the mobility device and the second urging device is configured to urge the second bumper toward the mobility device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the first period of time and the second period of time are predetermined. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to ascertain a first rebound time, the first rebound time being generally when the mobility device will experience a first rebound, wherein the first safety device is triggered at approximately the first rebound time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured to: ascertain a second rebound time as generally when the mobility device will experience a second rebound; and, trigger a second safety device at approximately the second rebound time, wherein the second safety device is selected from the plurality of safety devices based on the at least one characteristic of the adverse driving condition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the adverse driving condition is selected from the group including an acceleration vector of the vehicle; an acceleration vector of the mobility device relative to the vehicle; and an acceleration vector of the occupant relative to the vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the adverse driving condition is a spatial orientation classification of the adverse driving condition. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the nature of the adverse driving condition includes at least one of a front side impact, a rear side impact, a right side impact, a left side impact, a rollover, a long duration turn, a high g turn, a hard acceleration event, and a hard braking event. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first safety device inflates a bladder in a bumper positioned adjacent to the mobility device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first safety device energizes a magnetorheological fluid. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first safety device moves a plurality of wheelchair-engaging members that conform to a shape of the mobility device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first safety device causes a gripping member to grip a structure on the mobility device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first safety device deploys at least one floor-mounted bumper that engages with a surface of the mobility device that is inwardly-directed toward of the mobility device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first safety device is an airbag positioned to engage with and control excursion of the mobility device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first safety device is configured to deploy an airbag positioned to engage with and control a rearward excursion of a head of the occupant. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the airbag is deployed at or about the time of rebound during a front-side impact. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the airbag is deployed at or about the time of a rear-side impact.