DYNAMIC DISPLACEMENT ENERGY MANAGEMENT DEVICE

• US 20100109395A1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Spahn, Brian Robert, Ruthinowski, Richard Edward, Hall, Ian Brewster, Weerappuli, Parakrama Valentine
• Granted Patent: US 8,496,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.110
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2809 with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2884 with protection systems against abnormal g-forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/286 using deformation of material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/105 for children adaptation of children's seats for seat belts B60N2/265, B60N2/2803
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/32 Belleville-type springs friction-clutch diaphragm springs F16D13/583
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/445 the spring material being contained in a generally closed space F16F1/393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/0041 Locking; Fixing in position
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2236/06 Tension
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/00 Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using fluid F16F5/00, F16F9/00; specific for rotary systems F16F15/10 ; belt tensioners F16H7/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/09 in dampers of the cylinder-and-piston type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/60 Biased catch or latch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/604 Radially sliding catch

Abstract

A dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfaces with a child seat in a vehicle, engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable member(s) in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. The device may be further operable to limit or prevent restraint anchor displacement and the distortion of said deformable member(s) under quasi-static load conditions in order to meet motor vehicle static load/displacement anchorage performance requirements applicable to certain anchors. Anchor retraction capability and various interlocking configurations for securing the position of an anchor, before or after having extracted, may be incorporated relative to the energy management device interfacing with both a vehicle and a child seat. An indicator may further be provided to identify the functional state of the restraint device.

Claims

1-71. -71. (canceled)

72. A dynamic displacement energy management device comprising:

a housing;

an anchor interfacing at least one connecting member;

a load bearing movable member securable to said connecting member;

at least one deformable member disposed within said housing; and

an inertial interlock that controls movement of said anchor.

73. The device as claimed in claim 72, wherein said inertial interlock includes a blocking member that is sensitive to inertia, and a retention member that is engagable with said blocking member to restrict anchor displacement.

74. The device as claimed in claim 72, wherein said inertial interlock includes a mass that pivots, and a mass that slides and is operable to engage said mass that pivots to restrict movement of said load bearing member in one condition and permitted to bypass said mass that pivots during dynamic conditions.

75. The device as claimed in claim 72, wherein said inertial interlock includes a rotating member and a sliding member, said rotating member is operable to engage said sliding member under static load conditions and be held in place until a dynamic event occurs.

76. The device as claimed in claim 72, further comprising an indicator associated with said movable member, said indicator indicates a state of said device relative to an anchor'"'"'s extraction.

77. The device as claimed in claim 72, wherein said inertial interlock includes a component mountable to said housing and a component slideable relative to said housing.

78. The device as claimed in claim 72, wherein said inertial interlock is operable to maintain the position of said moveable member.

79. The device as claimed in claim 72, wherein said interlock is operable to control the displacement of a plurality of anchors operatively associated with at least one load bearing moveable member.

80. The device as claimed in claim 72, wherein the position of said moveable member is controlled by a sensor.

81. The device as claimed in claim 72 wherein said inertial interlock is engageable with said load bearing moveable member to control position of said anchor.

82. The device as claimed in claim 72, wherein the device has at least one pivot axis, said device is adapted for mounting to a vehicle such that the device is permitted to rotate about at least one said pivot axis.

83. A dynamic displacement energy management device comprising:

a housing;

an anchor interfacing at least one connecting member;

a load bearing movable member interfacing said connecting member;

at least one deformable member disposed within said housing;

a retention member associated with said connecting member; and

a blocking member having a surface for engaging said retention member in one condition, wherein said blocking member is further operable to permit movement of said retention member during another condition.

84. The device as claimed in claim 83, wherein said retention member has a surface for sliding and a surface which mates with a portion of said blocking member.

85. The device as claimed in claim 83, wherein said blocking member includes a spring biased pivotal mass, said mass is responsive to inertial forces.

86. The device as claimed in claim 83, wherein said deformable member has memory and can recover at least a portion of its original load carrying capacity.

87. The device as claimed in claim 83, further comprising a spring for biasing said connecting member.

88. The device as claimed in claim 83, wherein said anchor blocking and retention members control the position beyond which an anchor may not be extracted in one condition and permits displacement of said anchor portion in another condition.

89. A dynamic displacement energy management device comprising:

a housing with an end wall having an opening;

an anchor interfacing at least one connecting member;

a load bearing member located at one end of said connecting member;

at least one deformable member located adjacent said load bearing member;

a first member that pivots upon a predetermined condition; and

a second member that slides past said first member during a dynamic condition.

90. The device as claimed in claim 89, wherein said first member has an offset weighted portion and a contact surface for engaging said second member.

91. The device as claimed in claim 89, wherein a connecting member interfaces said first member and said load bearing member, the position movement of said load bearing member is controllable by engagement between said first and said second members.

92. The device as claimed in claim 89, wherein said first and second members are operable to remain disengaged from one another to permit the movement of an anchor when said device is subjected to predetermined inertial loading conditions.

93. The device as claimed in claim 89, further comprising a spring for biasing said first member.

94. The device as claimed in claim 89, further comprising an indicator extendable from a stowed position to an exposed position for indicating when said anchor has been extracted.

95. A method of operating a dynamic displacement energy management device comprising the steps of:

providing a restraint device having a housing, a deformable material, a load bearing movable member, a sliding member, a blocking member and an anchor;

restricting the motion of said sliding member until said device is subjected to predetermined inertial loading conditions;

engaging said sliding member into said blocking member to restrict anchor movement;

maintaining at least a first position of said load bearing moveable member and an associated anchor;

rotating said blocking member to permit said retention member to bypass said blocking member, permitting displacement of moveable member and corresponding anchor;

distorting said deformable material when said retention member is permitted to bypass said blocking member; and

moving said sliding member in a direction of anchor extraction.