Device for avoiding whiplash injuries

• US 6,435,591 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nilsson, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US09/380,715
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 296/68.1, 297/216.1, 297/216.14, 297/216.15, 297/216.16, 297/216.18, 297/216.19
• US Class Current: 296/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0745 the slide path being curved
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42709 involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42727 involving substantially rigid displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering

Abstract

A device for counteracting whiplash injury to a person sitting in a seat (1) which can occur due to a rapid change in velocity, such as a collision, primarily from the rear, or similar. The device is characterized by containing means of allowing controlled displacement of the entire seat (1) against the direction of travel during rapid change of velocity, that the seat (1) is provided with control devices which are arranged to give the seat and its occupant an essentially simultaneous and essentially linear movement against the direction of movement and/or an essentially arcuate movement, and that the seat (1) is arranged to stay in a rear position after the change of velocity.

Claims

1. A device for preventing the occurrence of whiplash injuries to an occupant of a vehicle having front and back ends, said device comprising:

a seat having front and rear sections, the seat being mounted to the vehicle; and

at least two rolling devices attached to the seat; and

at least one track having front and rear track sections, one of the rolling devices positioned in the front track section and one of the rolling devices positioned in the rear track section and wherein at least one of the track sections has an arcuate shape; and

wherein in response to a collision of the vehicle, the seat moves towards the back end of the vehicle and in an accruate motion in accordance with the movement of the rolling devices in the front and rear track sections; and

wherein as a result of the arcuate motion of the seat, the seat has a rearward inclination, and

wherein both the front section and the rear section move downward, but the rear section moves downward a greater distance than the front section, simultaneously as the seat moves backward in a horizontal direction, thereby resulting in the rearward inclination of the seat.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the front track section comprises an arcuate section of constant or varying radius.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the rear track section comprises an arcuate section of constant or varying radius.

4. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a triggering mechanism coupled to the seat and arranged to sense the forces or accelerations acting upon the vehicle, wherein if a set force or acceleration is exceeded, the triggering mechanism permits a linear and arcuate movement of the seat.

5. The device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one dampening element to dampen linear and arcuate movement of the seat in at least one direction.

6. The device according to claim 1 when utilized in an application which might allow an individual to be present behind the seat during normal operation, further comprising a sensor arranged to detect the position of the individual, wherein the sensor limits or checks the linear and arcuate movement of the seat.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the track sections are shaped to initially give the seat a linear motion against a direction of travel, followed by a swinging, rearward-inclining movement.

8. The device according to claim 1 further including means to damp a change in position of the seat.

9. The device according to claim 1 further including a sensor to detect a person located behind the seat and further including means that, in response to detecting the person, limit or prevent a change of position of the seat.

10. A device for preventing the occurrence of whiplash injuries to an occupant of a vehicle having front and back ends, said device comprising:

a seat having front and rear sections, the seat being mounted to the vehicle, and

at least two rolling devices attached to the seat; and

at least one track having front and rear track sections, one of the rolling devices positioned in the front track section and one of the rolling devices positioned in the rear track section and wherein at least one of the track sections has an arcuate shape; and

wherein in response to a collision of the vehicle, the seat moves towards the back end of the vehicle and in an arcuate motion in accordance with the movement of the rolling devices in the front and rear track sections, and

wherein as a result of the arcuate motion of the seat, the seat has a rearward inclination, and

wherein both the front section and the rear section move upward, but the front section moves up more than the rear section, simultaneously as the seat moves backward in a horizontal direction, thereby resulting in the rearward inclination of the seat.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein the front track section comprises an arcuate section of constant or varying radius.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein the rear track section comprises an arcuate section of constant or varying radius.

13. The device according to claim 10 further comprising a triggering mechanism coupled to the seat and arranged to sense the forces or accelerations acting upon the vehicle, wherein if a set force or acceleration is exceeded, the triggering mechanism permits linear and arcuate movement of the seat.

14. The device according to claim 10 further comprising at least one dampening element to dampen linear and arcuate movement of the seat in at least one direction.

15. The device according to claim 10 when utilized in an application which might allow an individual to be present behind the seat during normal operation, further comprising a sensor arranged to detect the position of the individual, wherein the sensor limits or checks linear and arcuate movement of the seat.

16. The device according to claim 10 wherein the track sections are shaped to initially give the seat a linear motion against a direction of travel, followed by a swinging, rearward-inclining movement.

17. The device according to claim 10 further including means to damp a change in position of the seat.

18. The device according to claim 10 further including a sensor to detect a person located behind the seat and further including means that, in response to detecting the person, limit or prevent a change of position of the seat.