DUAL STAGE VARIABLE LOAD ENERGY ABSORBER FOR VEHICLE SEATING
First Claim
1. A mine blast and slam down protective vehicle safety seat system comprising:
- (a) a vehicle seat;
(b) a frame supporting the vehicle seat;
(c) a support surface supporting the frame, the frame and support surface being movable with respect to each other between a rest position, wherein the frame and support surface are a first distance apart, and an attenuated position, wherein the frame and support surface are a second distance apart, the second distance being less than the first distance;
(d) a biasing mechanism biasing the frame and support surface to the rest position between a blast phase and a slam down phase; and
(e) a variable resistance damper operatively coupled between the frame and the support surface, the damper having a blast resistance setting to account for variable loading and a rebound recovery resistance setting, the blast resistance setting being automatically set to a predetermined value based on a weight of an occupant of the vehicle seat, the damper being configured to(i) during the blast phase where the support surface and frame move toward each other, resist respective motion between the frame and the support surface based upon the blast resistance setting until the frame and support surface reach the attenuated position, and(ii) after completion of the blast phase, resist respective motion between the frame and the support surface caused by the biasing mechanism based upon the rebound recovery resistance setting until the frame and support surface reach the rest position prior to the slam down phase.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle safety seat system includes a seat, and a frame and support surface that are movable with respect to each other between rest and attenuated positions, wherein the frame and support surface are respectively a first and second distance apart. A biasing mechanism biases the frame and support surface to the rest position between blast and slam down phases. A damper coupled between the frame and support surface has blast and rebound recovery resistance settings. The blast resistance setting is set to a predetermined value based on a weight of a seat occupant. The damper, during the blast phase, resists motion between the frame and support surface toward the attenuated position based upon the blast resistance setting, and after the blast phase and prior to the slam down phase, resists motion between the frame and support surface toward the rest position based upon the rebound recovery resistance setting.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A mine blast and slam down protective vehicle safety seat system comprising:
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(a) a vehicle seat; (b) a frame supporting the vehicle seat; (c) a support surface supporting the frame, the frame and support surface being movable with respect to each other between a rest position, wherein the frame and support surface are a first distance apart, and an attenuated position, wherein the frame and support surface are a second distance apart, the second distance being less than the first distance; (d) a biasing mechanism biasing the frame and support surface to the rest position between a blast phase and a slam down phase; and (e) a variable resistance damper operatively coupled between the frame and the support surface, the damper having a blast resistance setting to account for variable loading and a rebound recovery resistance setting, the blast resistance setting being automatically set to a predetermined value based on a weight of an occupant of the vehicle seat, the damper being configured to (i) during the blast phase where the support surface and frame move toward each other, resist respective motion between the frame and the support surface based upon the blast resistance setting until the frame and support surface reach the attenuated position, and (ii) after completion of the blast phase, resist respective motion between the frame and the support surface caused by the biasing mechanism based upon the rebound recovery resistance setting until the frame and support surface reach the rest position prior to the slam down phase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of protecting a vehicle occupant positioned on a vehicle seat which is movably mounted with respect to a vehicle floor in an explosive blast, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a weight of the occupant in the seat; (b) establishing a blast resistance setting based upon the weight of the occupant; (c) establishing a rebound recovery resistance setting; (d) during a blast phase, resisting respective motion between the vehicle seat and the vehicle floor based upon the blast resistance setting; and (e) after completion of the blast phase and prior to a slam down phase, resisting respective motion between the vehicle seat and the vehicle floor based upon the rebound recovery resistance setting. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A mine blast and slam down protective vehicle safety seat system comprising:
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(a) a vehicle seat; (b) a frame supporting the vehicle seat; (c) a support surface supporting the frame, the frame and support surface being movable with respect to each other between a rest position, wherein the frame and support surface are a first distance apart, and an attenuated position, wherein the frame and support surface are a second distance apart, the second distance being less than the first distance; (d) a biasing mechanism biasing the frame and support surface to the rest position between a blast phase and a slam down phase; and (e) a damper operatively coupled between the frame and the support surface, the damper having a resistance setting, the damper being configured to, during the blast phase where the support surface and frame move toward each other, resist respective motion between the frame and the support surface based upon the resistance setting until the frame and support surface reach the attenuated position.
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Specification