Device for avoiding whiplash injuries

• US 6,435,592 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• 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): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutman, Hilary L.
• Application Number:
  US09/811,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 296/68.1, 297/216.1, 297/216.14, 297/216.15, 297/216.16, 297/216.18, 297/216.17
• US Class Current: 296/68.1
• 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

In one embodiment, a device is configured to counteract the occurrence of whiplash injury to a person sitting in a seat, which can occur due to a rapid change in velocity, such as in a rear-end collision. The device comprises guide means that, during a change in motion of a vehicle, provide for a change in position of the seat in the form of translation and rotational movement of the seat in a generally backward direction opposite the direction of travel of the vehicle. As the seat and the occupant of the seat move backward relative to the vehicle, the head of the occupant accelerates over a longer distance than the hips of the occupant.

Claims

1. A device for preventing the occurrence of whiplash injuries to an occupant sitting in a seat of a vehicle, which could occur during a rapid change in motion, comprising:

guide means, that during the change in motion provide a change in position of the seat in the form of a translation and rotation movement of the seat in a direction against the direction of travel,

said guide means comprising front and rear track elements designed to control the backward movement of the seat relative the vehicle, under controlled conditions, such that the rotation movement is dependent on the translation movement,

said track elements having different angles to the horizontal so that the inclination of the backrest is increasing when the backward movement is increased along the guide means from a normal sitting position to an increasing backward-inclining position.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the seat has a front-end and a back-end, and

said guide means being designed to give the front-end of the seat an upward movement or the back-end of the seat a downward movement relative the front-end, essentially at the same time as the backward movement of the seat along the guide means.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising:

first and second moving devices coupled to the seat, the first moving device being movably coupled to the front track element and the second moving device being movably coupled to the rear track element.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the front-end of the seat moves upward simultaneously as the seat moves backward in a horizontal direction.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the rear-end of the seat moves downward simultaneously as the seat moves backward in a horizontal direction.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein both the front-end and the rear-end of the seat move downward, but the rear-end moves downward a greater distance than the front-end simultaneously as the seat moves backward in a horizontal direction.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein both the front-end and the rear-end of the seat move upward, but the front-end moves up more than the rear-end, simultaneously as the seat moves backward in a horizontal direction.

8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the front-end of the seat moves upward simultaneously as the rear-end of the seat moves downward, the movement of both the front-end and the rear-end occurring as the seat moves backward in a horizontal direction.

9. The device according to claim 3, wherein the front track element comprises an arcuate section of constant or varying radius.

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

11. The device of claim 3, wherein the front and rear track elements are shaped to initially give the seat a linear motion against the direction of travel, followed by a swinging, rearward-inclining movement.

12. The device according to claim 2, further comprising:

at least one triggering mechanism, arranged to sense the forces or accelerations acting upon the vehicle during the collision,

and wherein if a set force or acceleration is exceeded, the triggering mechanism permits movement of the seat.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the triggering mechanism alters the damping of the movement of the seat.

14. The device according to claim 12, comprising at least one energy absorber to damp the movement of the seat in at least one direction.

15. The device according to claim 12,

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 movement of the seat.

16. The device of claim 12, including means to damp a change in position of the seat after the collision.

17. The device of claim 12, including a sensor to detect a person located behind the seat and further including means that in response to such detection limit or prevent a change of position of the seat.