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Fluid-actuated support for vehicular seats

  • US 6,820,930 B2
  • Filed: 04/24/2003
  • Issued: 11/23/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for preventing whiplash related injuries to a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:

  • a frame supported on a seat of the vehicle;

    a head and neck restraint secured to said frame and adapted for being located behind the cranium and cervical spine of a passenger on the seat;

    said restraint comprising one or more fluid pressurized bladders, the walls of which comprise a tough flexible skin, the wall defining a supporting means adapted for being located behind the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger and defining at least on contour that interfits with the posterior contour of the passenger'"'"'s cranium and cervical spine, and including a first surface adapted for being located behind a said passenger'"'"'s cranium and projecting upwardly above the approximate center of mass of the said passenger'"'"'s cranium and including a substantially flat portion including a cranium contact zone adapted for contacting and supporting the approximate central posterior area of the said passenger'"'"'s cranium, and a second surface located below the first surface and defining in vertical cross-section a substantially convex smooth curve, the maximum horizontal protrusion point of which projects anteriorly relative to the flat portion of said first surface a distance of 1 to 6 inches, the said maximum protrusion point being about 3 to 9 inches below said cranium contact zone, said second surface thereby being adapted for contacting and supporting the posterior portion of the said passenger'"'"'s cervical spine substantially simultaneously with the said contact of the said passenger'"'"'s 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.

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