Lateral operator restraint system and position sensor for material handler

A self-propelled machine having a frame and an operator's cab on the frame, the operator's cab comprising:

• a side opening, sized for entrance to and egress from the cab;
• an operator's support on the interior of the cab, the operator's support comprising a seat;
• a lateral restraint bar between the operator's support and the side opening, said lateral restraint bar being movably mounted relative to the cab and movable from a lowered position with a portion of the bar obstructing lateral movement through at least a portion of the side opening, to a raised position wherein the lateral restraint bar is moved to clear a major portion of the lateral opening to the cab sufficiently to permit an operator to enter and exit the cab through the side opening to reach the operator's support;
• an upright post that is positioned adjacent a rear portion of the seat, wherein the lateral restraint bar is pivotally mounted on the post, the lateral restraint bar comprising a generally horizontal arm rest portion adjacent the seat when the lateral restraint bar is in its lowered position;
• wherein the lateral restraint bar comprises a second portion that extends downwardly from the generally horizontal arm rest portion toward a floor of the cab, to contribute to the obstructing lateral movement toward the side opening at a space forward of the seat;
• and
• a retainer for retaining an end of the second portion of said lateral restraint bar relative to the cab when the lateral restraint bar is in its working position.

A self-propelled machine having a frame and an operator's cab on the frame, the operator's cab comprising:

• a side opening, sized for entrance to and egress from the cab;
• an operator's support on the interior of the cab, the operator's support comprising a seat;
• a lateral restraint bar between the operator's support and the side opening, said lateral restraint bar being movably mounted relative to the cab and movable from a lowered position with a portion of the bar obstructing lateral movement through at least a portion of the side opening, to a raised position wherein the lateral restraint bar is moved to clear a major portion of the lateral opening to the cab sufficiently to permit an operator to enter and exit the cab through the side opening to reach the operator's support;
• an upright post that is positioned adjacent a rear portion of the seat, wherein the lateral restraint bar is pivotally mounted on the post, the lateral restraint bar comprising a generally horizontal arm rest portion adjacent the seat when the lateral restraint bar is in its lowered position;
• and
• wherein the lateral restraint bar comprises a second portion that extends downwardly from the generally horizontal arm rest portion toward a floor of the cab.

A movable bar for a controllable self-propelled machine, forming a sensor and lateral restraint, comprising:

• a bar having a bar mounting frame adapted to be secured to a machine cab;
• a support on the bar mounting frame, the bar including an arm rest portion and a hub fixed to the arm rest portion, the hub being mounted on the support of the bar mounting frame for movement between a lowered position and a raised position;
• a sensor assembly mounted on the frame to sense when the arm rest portion is moved away from its lowered position toward its raised position a selected amount, and to provide a signal capable of disabling controls for a controllable machine on which the bar mounting frame is mounted;
• and
• a retainer for retaining an end of the bar relative to the cab when the arm rest portion is in its lowered position.