Integrated safety net for vehicle

An integrated safety net system for a recreational vehicle having a chassis with a step-through door opening, the system comprising:

• a door having a forward end and a rearward end;
• a hinge coupling the door to the chassis of the vehicle;
• a safety net coupled to the door and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle;
• and
• a release mechanism coupled to the door or the chassis for cooperatively opening or closing the door and the safety net, wherein the safety net is an upper safety net, and wherein a lower safety net is coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening, the upper safety net being disposed in an upper position of the door to protect upper body parts from potential injury, and the lower safety net being positioned in a lower position of the door to protect lower body parts from potential injury.

A recreational vehicle comprising:

• a chassis, the chassis having a door opening with a rearward side and a forward side;
• a door having a forward end and a rearward end, the door having a hinge coupled between the rearward end of the door and the rearward side of the door opening;
• upper and lower safety nets coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening;
• and
• a release mechanism coupled to the forward end of the door for cooperatively opening or closing the door and the safety nets in one operational step;
• and
• wherein the upper safety net has a first rotational axis, the lower safety net has a second rotational axis, and the door has a third rotational axis, wherein said rotational axes being substantially fixed relative to each other as the door and the safety nets rotate from the open position to the closed position.

A method for improving safety regarding potential for bodily injury to riders of a recreational vehicle, the improvement including a safety net system integrated to a rear-hinged door and to a chassis of the vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing at least one door having a forward end and a rearward end, the door having a hinge coupled between the rearward end of the door and the chassis of the vehicle;
• providing a safety net coupled to the door forward of the hinge at an intermediate point between the rearward end and the forward end and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening;
• providing a release mechanism coupled to the forward end of the door;
• releasing the release mechanism;
• opening the door and the safety net collectively in the open position and in a rearward manner relative to the front of the vehicle;
• entering the vehicle through the door opening;
• and
• securing the release mechanism by closing the door and the safety net collectively to the closed position and in a forward manner relative to the front of the vehicle.

A method for improving safety regarding potential for bodily injury to riders of a recreational vehicle, the improvement including a safety net system integrated to a rear-hinged door and to a chassis of the vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing at least one door having a forward end and a rearward end, the door having a hinge coupled between the rearward end of the door and the chassis of the vehicle;
• providing a safety net coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening;
• providing a release mechanism coupled to the forward end of the door;
• releasing the release mechanism;
• opening the door and the safety net collectively in the open position and in a rearward manner relative to the front of the vehicle;
• entering the vehicle through the door opening;
• and
• securing the release mechanism by closing the door and the safety net collectively to the closed position and in a forward manner relative to the front of the vehicle, wherein the safety net is an upper safety net, and wherein a lower safety net is coupled to the door forward of the hinge and coupled to the chassis of the vehicle on or rearward of the rearward side of the door opening, the upper safety net being disposed in an upper position of the door to protect upper body parts from potential injury, and the lower safety net being positioned in a lower position of the door to protect lower body parts from potential injury.