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SEAT WITH ENERGY ABSORPTION DEVICE

  • US 20100207433A1
  • Filed: 02/17/2009
  • Published: 08/19/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising:

  • an occupant support defining a support surface for an occupant of the seat;

    a mounting assembly coupled to the occupant support and adapted to rigidly mount to the vehicle, the mounting assembly further adapted to resist non-vertical movement of the occupant support relative to the mounting assembly, and to guide vertical movement of the occupant support relative to the mounting assembly;

    a shear member having a first hardness; and

    a sacrificial member having a second hardness lower than the first hardness, one of the shear member and the sacrificial member adapted to be rigidly mounted to the vehicle and the other of the shear member and the sacrificial member rigidly mounted to the occupant support, the shear member engaged with the sacrificial member to inhibit vertical movement of the occupant support relative to the mounting assembly under expected ordinary operating conditions of the vehicle,wherein a circumferential portion of the sacrificial member is sheared by the shear member in response to a generally downward force on the occupant support arising from inertia of the occupant in the presence of a rapid upward movement of the vehicle, the shearing of the sacrificial member by the shear member absorbing energy associated with the rapid upward movement of the vehicle and accommodating downward movement of the occupant support relative to the mounting assembly, the absorption of energy by shearing the sacrificial member reducing acceleration of the occupant.

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