Chairs and seats – Back reversible as to bottom; e.g. – walkover type – Multiple links – pivotally connected to back
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-01-30
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Back reversible as to bottom; e.g., walkover type
Multiple links, pivotally connected to back
C297S216100, C297S216130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179375
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to railroad cars and, more particularly, to a railroad passenger walk-over seat having energy dissipation means during abrupt deceleration causing seat back impact by a passenger.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
It is common in railroad passenger cars to provide seat backs capable of being walked over or moved to face in opposite directions. There exists significant problems in the past when a passenger impacted the unrestrained seat back in front of him during rapid deceleration situations, causing catastrophic emergencies. As a result, seat backs were provided in the prior art with locking mechanisms by which the seat back was restrained when a passenger collided with the seat back in front of him. A restrained seat back, however, creates an unyielding wall-like object against which the individual would be subjected to severe deceleration during emergency situations. A one hundred and fifty pound individual, for example, could be subject to in excess of 7 g's deceleration under such situations.
In the prior art, attempts were made to install energy absorbing devices in the seat back to lessen impact by increasing the distance and/or time in which an individual is subjected to deceleration forces. One technique of energy absorption is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,171 to Gilevich, et al. in which a latching mechanism restrains walkover movement of the seat back in a progressive manner when impacted under deceleration forces. The technique in Gilevich, et al., however, relies on a complex and cumbersome system using a pendulum and a series of gears. The latching system of Gilevich, et al. is expensive to manufacture, difficult to service, inspect and maintain, and does not demonstrate optimum impact absorption:
Another seat locking mechanism for walk-over seats is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,124 to Schlidt. During rapid deceleration through impact in Schlidt, a wear surface contacts a braking surface in conjunction with an energy absorption means in the form of spring blocks and Belleville washers. Like the Gilevich, et al. system, the Schlidt locking mechanism is complex, difficult to service and is not optimally capable of alleviating serious injury to the impacting passenger. Moreover, the prior systems, such as disclosed in the foregoing Gilevich, et al. and Schlidt patents, are particularly designed for the presence of two passengers on the seat rather than a single passenger. In the case of a single passenger, the impact absorption capability of prior art walk-over seats is generally ineffective and is not sufficiently responsive to deceleration forces on a single individual. Accordingly, it is desirable in the transportation industry to provide a safer, a more economical and less complex walk-over passenger seat system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved walk-over seat having a locking device and torsion means capable of dissipating significant energy during impact by one or more passengers from the rear during abrupt deceleration. The torsion means of the invention includes energy dissipation sections which undergo plastic deformation and are permanently twisted by an amount dependent on the magnitude of deceleration. The torsion means herein disclosed provides a light weight and less complex system than the prior art while being capable of superior energy dissipation under extreme conditions of abrupt deceleration. The torsion means is capable of attaining plastic deformation of up to 90° and reacts in an effective, linear function. The walk-over seat of the invention is less expensive to manufacture than prior walk-over designs, demonstrates long durability, and can easily be inspected and maintained. The locking mechanism of the walk-over seat of the invention is highly effective in restraining the seat back during rapid deceleration and operates effectively with or without the torsion means herein disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the torsion means and locking mechanism are used with separated side by side seats and seat backs to protect the passenger under single occupancy situations in which the prior art systems are ineffective and offer little protection. Overall, the invention provides an improved walk-over seat greatly improving the safety of the passenger as well as providing benefits of reliability and economy among many advantages.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3150897 (1964-09-01), Higley
patent: 3313570 (1967-04-01), McVeigh
patent: 4407542 (1983-10-01), Kehl et al.
patent: 5362124 (1994-11-01), Schlidt
patent: 406135269 (1994-05-01), None
Brown Peter R.
Shaw Seyfarth
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