Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Force-absorbing means incorporated into back
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-02-20
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Force-absorbing means incorporated into back
C297S216130, C297S216100, C297S391000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189969
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a vehicle safety seat assembly. More specifically, the invention relates to such an assembly having means to prevent whiplash injuries.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A significant number of auto accidents involve one vehicle colliding into the rear of another at relatively low velocities. The passengers in the rear car are subjected to the sudden deceleration resulting from a front end collision, and are protected by belts, bags, and compliant steering wheels. On the other hand, the impacted vehicle is accelerated forward, subjecting the passengers to impact forces to their backs and heads. In this collision mode, the seat back and headrest are supposed to restrain the passenger and absorb the impact energy.
An objective of the invention is to prevent relative horizontal motion between the passenger's upper body and head during the collision process.
A further objective is to absorb the energy of impact between the head and the headrest by means of entropic heat generation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a vehicle safety seat assembly comprising a seat portion, a backrest portion and a headrest portion, the backrest including a frame secured to the seat portion and having an upper portion defined by a cover portion adapted to be engaged by the shoulders and upper torso of a vehicle occupant and a pressurized bladder or bag disposed between the frame and the cover portion and supporting the occupant away from the frame to a given level. The headrest is secured to the frame and positioned above the backrest, the headrest having a cover adapted to be engaged by the head of an occupant, the cover being at a level away from the frame less far toward the occupant than the cover of the backrest so that the head of the occupant is normally spaced from the headrest. The invention also comprises a rear end collision detecting means, and means activated by the detecting means for promptly evacuating the pressure in the bag.
The evacuation reduces the level of the backrest to the same level as the cover of the headrest to avoid injury to the neck of the occupant.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5669661 (1997-09-01), Pajon
patent: 5782529 (1998-07-01), Miller, III et al.
patent: 5833312 (1998-10-01), Lenz
patent: 5902010 (1999-05-01), Cuevas
patent: 6030036 (2000-02-01), Fohl
Ackermann Walter T.
McLaughlin Jay
Cuomo Peter M.
Hoopes Dallett
White Rodney B.
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