Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-03-13
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area
C297S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199947
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a vehicle chair provided with a neck support which is adapted to shift up and forward upon a rear end collision and to a neck support moving mechanism.
STATE OF THE ART
One of the most common types of personal injury in traffic today is neck injuries, so-called whiplash injuries. These injuries occur usually during rear end collisions, often at low speeds. The neck or cervical column of the traveller is thereby subjected to abnormal stresses but there is still no complete knowledge on which movements in a complicated pattern of movements actually damage the neck. It is, however, known, on the one hand, that no injuries occur if the traveller has effective support for both the body and the head during a collision and, on the other hand, that violent relative movement between the body and the head give rise to injuries on the inter-mediate vertebrae, ligaments and other types of tissue.
The appearance of neck supports on vehicle chairs has been a link in the efforts to reduce such injuries. These neck supports have had different shapes and been made adjustable in the vertical direction. It is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,043, with the help of a manoeuvering mechanism which is influenced by the back of the traveller during collisions, to move a neck support from a position a long way back to a position further forwards and somewhat higher in order to better meet and receive the head of the traveller. The arrangement is, however, with a stiff backplate and guide rails for the movement of the plate relative to the frame of the chair, such that the comfort is unsatisfactory and the friction high. Furthermore, the constituent components of the mechanism require a lot of space inside the backrest behind the back of the traveller.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The invention aims to provide a vehicle chair which in a better way than previously can protect a traveller against whiplash injuries.
Yet another object is to provide a vehicle seat which, despite the presence in the backrest of a mechanism for the moving of the neck support, feels comfortable for the traveller.
Yet another object is to provide a design which without special measures permits the renewed use of the mobility of the neck support.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention the stated objects are achieved through the vehicle chair being designed according to the characterizing part of claim
1
.
chair having a neck support, a maneuvering means for maneuvering the neck support and a support mechanism between the neck support and the maneuvering means, wherein the support mechanism is movably and tippably mounted in the support means on an upper fixed part of the frame. The lower end of the maneuvering means faces away from the neck support and is articulately connected to a frame by a link mechanism wherein the connection of a link mechanism to the frame is higher than the connection of the link mechanism to the maneuvering means and the maneuvering means has a normal position when the neck support is held in the rest position and the movement of the link mechanism pushes the head upward and forward manner stated to the frame in the back of the chair by means of a link mechanism, an advantageous pattern of movement for the neck support is permitted so that it can move sufficiently far forwards in order to form an effective support for the head of the traveller during rear end collisions. It also becomes possible to divest the supporting part of the back of the chair from parts which can be experienced as hard and uncomfortable by the traveller. These pieces can now be placed completely within the sides of the frame in the back.
The arrangement also provides the use of a type of spring which easily can be placed along the sides of the frame, which simplifies the construction. These springs can advantageously be selected to that a precise minimum force on the manoeuvering means must be achieved before the neck support can be moved. The chair thereby feels stable during normal use.
During a collision the back of the chair will be sprung backwards relative to the seat to an extent which depends on the force of the collision and the weight of the traveller. The design of the support mechanism makes it possible to thereby distribute the absorption force on the traveller so that the head and back are subjected to the smallest possible mutual movement from a normal position during travelling. This is advantageous from the point of view of risks of injury. The body of the traveller is permitted through the movable manoeuvering means to sink into the chair until the head comes into contact with the neck support. In this way the wave which otherwise would go through the neck of the traveller when the shoulders meet a hard chair back, before the head has yet received any support, is avoided.
Other advantages and features of the invention are evident from the description below.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3802737 (1974-04-01), Mertens
patent: 5378013 (1995-01-01), Viano et al.
patent: 5823619 (1998-10-01), Herlig et al.
Brown Peter R.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Saab Automobile AB
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