Headrest for alleviating whiplash injury and the use of specific polyurethane foams therein

• US 7,144,081 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2002
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gunnar Baltzer
• Original Assignee: Gunnar Baltzer
• Inventors: Baltzer, Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/466,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 297/DIG.1, 297/216.12, 297/391
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7017 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing upholstery or upholstery springs not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/11 Baby bouncer

Abstract

A headrest for alleviating whiplash injury and comprising at least one support member which is uprightly fixed to a seat and a cushioning member of polyurethane foam attached to said at least one support member and enclosed in a covering material is disclosed, wherein the polyurethane foam is one having the following properties: A) A density within the range of 50 to 100 kg/m₃; B) a compressive strength between 0.9 and 3.5 mN/mm₂ at 25% deformation and between 1.3 and 4.5 mN/mm₂ at 40% deformation; C) a glass transition temperature, Tg (DSC), between −10° C. and +10° C., preferably −5° C. to +4° C.; D) a loss temperature peak maximum between 15 and 30° C.; E) a temperature range for the loss peak between −40° C. and +90° C.; and F) a loss peak area between 4.0 and 8.0.

Claims

1. A headrest for alleviating whiplash injury comprising at least one support member which is uprightly fixed to a seat and a cushioning member of polyurethane foam attached to said at least one support member and enclosed in a covering material, the polyurethane foam having the following properties:

A) A density within the range of 50 to 100 kg/m³;

B) a compressive strength between 0.9 and 3.5 mN/mm² at 25% deformation and between 1.3 and 4.5 mN/mm² at 40% deformation;

C) a glass transition temperature, Tg, between −

10°

C. and +10°

C.;

D) a loss temperature peak maximum between 15 and 30°

C.;

E) a temperature range for the loss peak between −

40°

C. and +90°

C.; and

F) a loss peak area between 4.0 and 8.0.

2. The headrest according to claim 1, the polyurethane foam having the following properties:

a density within a range of from 96 to 98 kg/m³;

a compressive strength of 2.7 to 2.8 mN/mm² at 25% deformation and 3.5 to 3.6 at 40% deformation;

a glass transition temperature, Tg, of 2°

C. to 4°

C.;

a loss temperature peak maximum of 20.5°

C. to 22.5°

C.;

a temperature range for the loss peak between −

37 and +90°

C.; and

a loss peak area of 5.5 to 5.6.

3. The headrest according to claim 1, the polyurethane foam having the following properties:

a density within a range of from 61 to 63 kg/m³;

a compressive strength of 1.15 to 1.3 mN/mm² at 25% deformation and 1.4 to 1.5 at 40% deformation;

a glass transition temperature, Tg, of −

5°

C. to −

2°

C.;

a loss temperature peak maximum of 16.0°

C. to 18.0°

C.;

a temperature range for the loss peak between −

30 and +90°

C.; and

a loss peak area of 6.0 to 6.2.

4. The headrest according to claim 1, the polyurethane foam having the following properties:

a density within a range of from 92 to 94 kg/m³;

a compressive strength of 1.0 to 1.1 mN/mm² at 25% deformation and 1.3 to 1.4 at 40% deformation;

a glass transition temperature, Tg, of −

1°

C. to +1°

C.;

a loss temperature peak maximum of 24.0°

C. to 25.5°

C.;

a temperature range for the loss peak between −

40 and +85°

C.; and

a loss peak area of 5.8 to 5.95.

5. Cushioning member to be attached to a conventional headrest, which cushioning member comprises a polyurethane foam as defined in any of claims 1 to 4.

6. The use of a polyurethane foam material as defined in any of claims 1 to 4 as a cushioning material in headrests of motor vehicles or in a cushioning member attached to a conventional headrest.

7. The headrest of claim 1, wherein the density is within the range of 90 to 100 kg/m³.

8. The headrest of claim 1, wherein the compressive strength is between 1.0 to 3.0 mN/mm² at 25% deformation and between 1.3 to 3.8 mN/mm² at 40% deformation.

9. The headrest of claim 1, wherein the glass transition temperature is between −

5°

C. to +4°

C.

10. The headrest of claim 1, wherein the loss temperature peak maximum is between 16 to 26°

C. and the loss peak area is between 5.0 to 6.5.