DYNAMIC DISPLACEMENT ENERGY MANAGEMENT DEVICE

• US 20120001460A1
• Filed: 09/06/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Robert Spahn, Ian Brewster Hall, Kevin Siasoco, Parakrama Valentine Weerappuli, Richard Edward Ruthinowski
• Original Assignee: Brian Robert Spahn, Ian Brewster Hall, Kevin Siasoco, Parakrama Valentine Weerappuli, Richard Edward Ruthinowski
• Inventors: Ruthinowski, Richard Edward, Hall, Ian Brewster, Weerappuli, Parakrama Valentine, Spahn, Brian Robert, Siasoco, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.11
• 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. An energy management device, comprising:

a retainer having a front wall and a back wall and opposite side walls;

an anchor;

a connecting member interfacing the anchor;

a load-bearing deformable member between the anchor and a movable load-bearing member;

a retention member generally parallel to the front and back walls, the retention member in an undeployed state having a lower portion removably inserted in a side wall and an upper surface removably engaged with a portion of a surface of a blocking member; and

a downturned portion interfacing the retention member,

wherein when sufficient forces pull the connecting member in a direction from the back wall toward the front wall, the movable load-bearing member deforms the deformable member and the lower portion of the retention member becomes removed from the side wall and the upper surface of the retention member is removed from engagement with the surface of the blocking member.

73. The device of claim 72 wherein the anchor and the connecting member are a single continuous component of the device.

74. The device of claim 72 wherein the deformable member comprises an aluminum extrusion.

75. The device of claim 72 wherein the deformable member comprises a high density energy absorption foam.

76. The device of claim 72 further comprising a spring to bias the retention member against the portion of the surface of the blocking member.

77. The device of claim 72 wherein the blocking member comprises a displaceable plate-like locking wedge.

78. The device of claim 72 wherein the blocking member comprises a weighted portion and a contact surface that engages a groove in a side wall.

79. An automobile, comprising:

a restraint system including an energy management device, the device including

a retainer having a front wall and a back wall and opposite side walls;

an anchor;

a connecting member interfacing the anchor;

a load-bearing deformable member between the anchor and a movable load-bearing member;

a retention member generally parallel to the front and back walls, the retention member in an undeployed state having a lower portion removably inserted in a side wall and an upper surface removably engaged with a portion of a surface of a blocking member; and

a downturned portion interfacing the retention member,

wherein when sufficient forces pull the connecting member in a direction from the back wall toward the front wall, the movable load-bearing member deforms the deformable member and the lower portion of the retention member becomes at least partially removed from the side wall and the upper surface of the retention member is removed from engagement with the surface of the blocking member.

80. The automobile of claim 79 wherein the anchor and the connecting member are a single continuous component of the device.

81. The automobile of claim 79 wherein the deformable member comprises an aluminum extrusion.

82. The automobile of claim 79 wherein the deformable member comprises a high density energy absorption foam.

83. The automobile of claim 79 wherein the energy management device further comprises a spring to bias the retention member against the portion of the surface of the blocking member.

84. The automobile of claim 79 wherein the blocking member comprises a displaceable plate-like locking wedge.

85. The automobile of claim 79 wherein the blocking member comprises a weighted portion and a contact surface that engages a groove in a side wall.

86. A method of absorbing energy via an energy management device having a retainer with a back wall and a front wall, an anchor, a connecting member, a deformable member, movable member, a return assist, a blocking member and a retention member having a portion thereof removably within a recess of a wall of the retainer, the method comprising:

when sufficient forces pull the connecting member in a direction from the back wall toward the front wall, deforming the deformable member and removing the retention member at least partially from the recess; and

after sufficient forces cause rebounding, returning the movable member in a direction from the front wall toward the back wall.

87. The method of claim 86 further comprising securing the retention member between the blocking member the back wall after sufficient forces cause rebounding.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein removing the retention member comprises applying spring bias against the retention member.

89. The method of claim 86 wherein the removing the retention member comprises completely removing the retention from the recess.