Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area
Patent
1995-06-26
1996-12-03
Nelson, Jr., Milton
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area
297396, 29745229, 297DIG3, B60N 242
Patent
active
055801242
ABSTRACT:
A vehicle-installed supporting seat for a passenger is provided, which includes a seat back provided with an integral head-neck restraint comprising a cranium support portion and a cervical spine support portion. Each portion includes a layer of resilient material supported on an underlying inflexible support shell, which together act to effectively define a contour that interfits with the posterior contour of the passenger's cranium and cervical spine. This contour thus presents a first surface located behind the passenger's cranium for contacting the approximate center of mass of the cranium and supporting the approximate central posterior area of the passenger's cranium, and a second surface located below the first surface and defining a substantially convex smooth curve, the maximum protrusion point of which projects anteriorly relative to where the first surface contacts the center of mass of the passenger's cranium, the second surface thereby contacting and supporting the posterior portion of the passenger's cervical spine substantially simultaneously with the contact of the passenger's cranium with the first surface. The support shell is rearwardly displaceable upon being subjected to impressed forces generated from the passenger pressing against the restraint as a result of a rear end impact at the vehicle. A controllably deformable energy absorbing crush zone is disposed to the rear of the shell as to be compressed by the rearward displacement of the shell. The interfitting contour and thereby the inflexible shell, upon being displaced by the impressed forces toward the underlying crush zone, retain the shape of the contour, whereby the cervical and cranium support portions act to substantially simultaneously decelerate the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger during a vehicle rear end impact while the controlled deformation of the crush zone absorbs energy, to prevent whiplash-related injuries to the passenger.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3508788 (1970-04-01), Barton, Jr. et al.
patent: 3838870 (1974-10-01), Hug
patent: 4285081 (1981-08-01), Price
patent: 5181763 (1993-01-01), Dellanno et al.
patent: 5290089 (1994-03-01), Oleszko et al.
patent: 5290091 (1994-03-01), Dellanno et al.
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