Apparatus for preventing whiplash

• US 5,181,763 A
• Filed: 10/07/1991
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald P. Dellanno
• Original Assignee: Ronald P. Dellanno
• Inventors: Dellanno, Ronald P., Gualtier, Quentin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US07/771,827
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 297/391, 297/396, 297/408, 297/216, 297/404, 297/410, 5/434, 5/439, 5/440, 5/436
• US Class Current: 297/391
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/847 with stepwise positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/891 with the head-rest being comma-shaped in side view

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing whiplash related injuries has a support member adjustably supported within the seat of a vehicle, and adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly relative to a passenger in the seat. A frame is supported on the support member and located behind the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger. A layer of resilient material is supported on the frame, and defines a supporting surface. The supporting surface defines a contour that corresponds to the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine. The supporting surface is therefore adapted to simultaneously decelerate the cranium and cervical spine during a vehicle collision and, thus, prevent whiplash related injuries to the passenger.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing whiplash related injuries to a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:

a frame supported on a seat of the vehicle and located behind the cranium and cervical spine of a passenger on the seat;

a layer of resilient material supported on the frame, the layer of resilient material defining a supporting surface located behind the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger and defining a contour that corresponds to the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine, wherein the supporting surface defines a first area located to contact and support the approximate central posterior area of the passenger'"'"'s cranium, a second area located below the first area to contact and support the posterior area approximately where the passenger'"'"'s cranium meets the cervical spine, and a third area located below the second area to contact and support the posterior area of the passenger'"'"'s cervical spine, the first, second and third areas each contacting the respective areas of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine to substantially simultaneously decelerate those areas during a vehicle collision and prevent whiplash related injuries;

a support member coupled to the frame and supported on the seat, the support member being vertically moveable relative to the seat to adjust the position of the apparatus relative to the passenger and align the position of the supporting surface with the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine, the frame being journaled to the support member and normally biased toward the front of the seat, whereupon during a vehicle collision, when the passenger'"'"'s head is forced toward the supporting surface, the posterior portion of the passenger'"'"'s cranium initially contacts the first area of the supporting surface and rotates the frame relative to the support member toward the back of the seat and, in turn, rotates the second and third areas of the supporting surface into contact with the posterior portion of the passenger'"'"'s lower cranium and cervical spine; and

wherein

the support member includes two support legs and a bar extending therebetween, the two support legs being oriented substantially parallel relative to each other and supported on the seat, and the frame is journaled to the bar;

a stop member coupled to the bar and projecting upwardly therefrom;

a stop plate coupled to the frame and moveable relative to the stop member; and

a spring coupled between the stop plate and the bar, wherein the spring biases the stop plate to slide relative to the stop member toward the front of the seat and, thus, biases the stop plate and frame toward the passenger'"'"'s head.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

the stop plate defines an elongated aperture extending therethrough and adapted to receive the stop member therein, the elongated aperture permitting the stop plate to slide toward the front of the seat until a back wall defining the aperture engages the stop member to orient the apparatus in a downwardly rotated position, the elongated aperture further permitting the stop plate to slide toward the rear of the seat until a front wall defining the aperture abuts the stop member to orient the apparatus in an upright position.

3. An apparatus for preventing whiplash-related injuries to a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:

a frame supported on a seat of the vehicle and located behind the cranium and cervical spine of a passenger on the seat; and

a layer of resilient material supported on the frame, the layer of resilient material defining a supporting surface located behind the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger and defining a contour that corresponds to the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine, and including a first surface located behind a passenger'"'"'s cranium and projecting upwardly above the approximate center of mass of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and including a substantially flat portion for contacting and supporting the approximate central posterior area of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and a second surface located below the first surface and defining a substantially convex curve projecting anteriorly relative to the first surface a sufficient distance to contact and support the posterior portion of the passenger'"'"'s cervical spine substantially simultaneously with the said contact of the passenger'"'"'cranium with said first surface, thereby substantially simultaneously decelerating the cranium and cervical spine during a vehicle collision to prevent whiplash-related injuries to the passenger;

said second surface being joined to said first surface by a flattened area which is smoothly joined to said first and second surfaces, said flattened area extending anteriorly at an obtuse angle from said first surface and being located to support the passenger'"'"'s posterior area approximately where the cranium meets the cervical spine;

said second surface including a convexly radiused portion the center of curvature of which is anterior of said first surface whereby said second surface is sufficiently anterior of said flattened area to enable said contact substantially simultaneously with said contact of the passenger'"'"'s cranium with said first surface, and with the contact of the flattened area with said passenger'"'"'s posterior area approximately where the cranium meets the cervical spine.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 for supporting a passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine seated in a vehicle, further comprising;

a support member supported within a seat in the vehicle and adjustable relative to the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine; and

a housing coupled to the support member and including said layer of resilient material for supporting a passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine when moved into contact therewith.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein

the housing is rotatable relative to the support member and includes means for biasing the apparatus in a downwardly rotated first position toward the passenger, whereupon during a vehicle collision, when the passenger'"'"'s head is moved into contact with the apparatus, the housing is rotated into an upright second position to permit the support surface to contact and support the posterior portion of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

a support member coupled to the frame and supported on the seat, the support member being vertically moveable relative to the seat to adjust the position of the apparatus relative to the passenger and align the position of the supporting surface with the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein

the frame defines a hollow enclosure and the layer of resilient material consists essentially of a urethane foam which is molded thereon.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein

the frame is journaled to the support member and normally biased toward the front of the seat, whereupon during a vehicle collision, when the passenger'"'"'s head is forced toward the apparatus, the posterior portion of the passenger'"'"'s cranium initially contacts the first surface of the supporting surface and rotates the frame relative to the support member toward the back of the seat and, in turn, rotates the second and third surfaces of the supporting surface into contact with the posterior portion of the passenger'"'"'s lower cranium and cervical spine.