Apparatus for preventing whiplash
First Claim
1. Apparatus for preventing whiplash-related injuries to a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle-installed supporting seat for said passenger, which includes a seat back provided with an integral head-neck restraint comprising a cranium support portion and a cervical spine support portion;
each said portion including a layer of resilient material supported on an underlying inflexible support shell, and together acting to effectively define a support contour that interfits with the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine when seated;
said support contour presenting a first surface located behind the seated passenger'"'"'s cranium for contacting the approximate center of mass of the cranium and supporting the approximate central posterior area of the seated passenger'"'"'s cranium, and a second surface located below the first surface and defining a substantially convex smooth curve, a maximum protrusion point of which in the direction of passenger support projects anteriorly relative to where the first surface contacts the center of mass of the related passenger'"'"'s cranium, said second surface thereby contacting and supporting the posterior portion of the Seated passenger'"'"'s cervical spine substantially simultaneously with the contact of the seated passenger'"'"'s cranium with said first surface;
said support shell being rearwardly displaceable upon being subjected to impressed forces generated from the seated passenger pressing against the restraint as a result of a rear end impact at said vehicle; and
a controllably deformable energy absorbing crush zone being disposed to the rear of said shell as to be compressed by said rearward displacement of the shell;
said interfitting support contour and thereby said inflexible shell upon being displaced by said forces toward the crush zone, retaining the shape of the support contour, whereby said cervical and cranium support portions act to substantially simultaneously decelerate the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger during a vehicle rear end impact, while the controlled deformation of said crush zone absorbs energy, to prevent whiplash-related injuries to the passenger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle-installed supporting seat for a passenger is provided, which includes a seat back provided with an integral head-neck restraint comprising a cranium support portion and a cervical spine support portion. Each portion includes a layer of resilient material supported on an underlying inflexible support shell, which together act to effectively define a contour that interfits with the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine. This contour thus presents a first surface located behind the passenger'"'"'s cranium for contacting the approximate center of mass of the cranium 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 smooth curve, the maximum protrusion point of which projects anteriorly relative to where the first surface contacts the center of mass of the passenger'"'"'s cranium, the second surface thereby contacting and supporting the posterior portion of the passenger'"'"'s cervical spine substantially simultaneously with the contact of the passenger'"'"'s cranium with the first surface. The support shell is rearwardly displaceable upon being subjected to impressed forces generated from the passenger pressing against the restraint as a result of a rear end impact at the vehicle. A controllably deformable energy absorbing crush zone is disposed to the rear of the shell as to be compressed by the rearward displacement of the shell. The interfitting contour and thereby the inflexible shell, upon being displaced by the impressed forces toward the underlying crush zone, retain the shape of the contour, whereby the cervical and cranium support portions act to substantially simultaneously decelerate the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger during a vehicle rear end impact while the controlled deformation of the crush zone absorbs energy, to prevent whiplash-related injuries to the passenger.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for preventing whiplash-related injuries to a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle-installed supporting seat for said passenger, which includes a seat back provided with an integral head-neck restraint comprising a cranium support portion and a cervical spine support portion;
each said portion including a layer of resilient material supported on an underlying inflexible support shell, and together acting to effectively define a support contour that interfits with the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine when seated;
said support contour presenting a first surface located behind the seated passenger'"'"'s cranium for contacting the approximate center of mass of the cranium and supporting the approximate central posterior area of the seated passenger'"'"'s cranium, and a second surface located below the first surface and defining a substantially convex smooth curve, a maximum protrusion point of which in the direction of passenger support projects anteriorly relative to where the first surface contacts the center of mass of the related passenger'"'"'s cranium, said second surface thereby contacting and supporting the posterior portion of the Seated passenger'"'"'s cervical spine substantially simultaneously with the contact of the seated passenger'"'"'s cranium with said first surface;said support shell being rearwardly displaceable upon being subjected to impressed forces generated from the seated passenger pressing against the restraint as a result of a rear end impact at said vehicle; and a controllably deformable energy absorbing crush zone being disposed to the rear of said shell as to be compressed by said rearward displacement of the shell;
said interfitting support contour and thereby said inflexible shell upon being displaced by said forces toward the crush zone, retaining the shape of the support contour, whereby said cervical and cranium support portions act to substantially simultaneously decelerate the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger during a vehicle rear end impact, while the controlled deformation of said crush zone absorbs energy, to prevent whiplash-related injuries to the passenger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification