ADAPTIVE HEAD AND NECK RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE OCCUPANT
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Head and neck restraint apparatus for an occupant of a vehicle comprises a stiff yoke shaped to engage the upper torso and shoulders of the occupant. The yoke is generally U-shaped, with a base and upwardly extending limbs, and has a frontal portion shaped to extend over the chest of the occupant which corresponds to the base of the U. An intermediate portion of the yoke is shaped to fit over the shoulders of the occupant, and an upper portion of the yoke, corresponding to the upper ends of the limbs, extends beyond the intermediate portion to constrain movement of a helmet worn by the occupant. A set of first guides on the yoke are arranged to engage harness members of a safety harness worn by the occupant. Each guide is shaped to engage a respective harness strap or buckle and responds to longitudinal movement of the harness strap or buckle. Tensioning members connected between the respective guides and the helmet apply a tensioning force to the helmet when movement of the occupant causes displacement of the harness relative to the yoke. A set of second guides that respond to lateral movement of the harness is also provided.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1-11. -11. (canceled)
-
12. Head and neck restraint apparatus for an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
-
a stiff yoke shaped to engage the upper torso and shoulders of the occupant, the yoke having a frontal portion shaped to extend over the chest of the occupant, an intermediate portion shaped to fit over the shoulders of the occupant, and an upper, helmet engaging portion extending beyond the intermediate portion and shaped to constrain movement of a helmet worn by the occupant; a plurality of guide means associated with the yoke and arranged to engage harness members of a safety harness worn by the occupant, each guide means being shaped to engage a respective harness member and being responsive to movement of said harness member relative to said guide means; and tensioning members connectable between the respective guide means and the helmet, so that movement of the occupant causing displacement of the harness relative to the yoke results in a tensioning force being applied to the helmet by at least one tensioning member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification