System and method for induced acceleration mitigation for seat occupant

• US 7,270,045 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States Government As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Rene′ G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/117,409
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 296/68.1, 296/65.09, 296/187.08, 296/193.07, 297/216.1, 29721615-21617, 89 3601- 3602, 89/360.4, 89 3607- 3609, 180/271
• US Class Current: 89/36.02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/042 Floors or base plates for increased land mine protection
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/046 Shock resilient mounted seats for armoured or fighting vehicles

Abstract

A system for mitigation of induced acceleration to an occupant of a vehicle seat includes a substantially non-deforming structure having a top side with the vehicle seat mounted thereon and a bottom side forming a first portion of a floor of the vehicle, and at least one deformable bracket mounting the non-deforming structure to a second portion of the floor that is separate from the first portion of the floor. The at least one deformable bracket deforms, and the non-deforming structure extends through the floor when the vehicle is subjected to an upward force that is equal to or greater than a predetermined force that corresponds to an induced upward acceleration.

Claims

1. A system for mitigation of induced acceleration to an occupant of a vehicle seat, the system comprising:

a substantially non-deforming structure having a top side with the vehicle seat mounted thereon and a bottom side forming a first portion of a floor of the vehicle; and

at least one deformable bracket mounting the non-deforming structure to a second portion of the floor that is separate from the first portion of the floor, wherein the at least one deformable bracket deforms, and the non-deforming structure extends through the second portion of the floor when the vehicle is subjected to an upward force that is equal to or greater than a predetermined force that corresponds to an induced upward acceleration.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one deformable bracket is mounted to the non-deforming structure such that the height of the non-deforming structure that is extended through the floor when the at least one deformable bracket is fully deformed is less than the distance between the second portion of the floor and a surface on which the vehicle normally operates when wheels and hubs are removed from the vehicle, such that the non-deforming structure does not strike the surface on which the vehicle normally operates.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the induced acceleration is generated by an explosive event.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the explosive event is generated by at least one of a land mine, an improvised explosive device (IED), and a booby trap.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a seal configured to provide sealing between the first and the second portions of the vehicle floor.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the seal has a first seal portion mounted to the first portion of the vehicle floor, and a second seal portion mounted to the second portion of the vehicle floor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one deformable bracket comprises an accordion-shaped bracket.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one buffer mounted between the seat and the non-deforming structure, and configured to reduce vibration transmission to the seat occupant.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the buffer is a resilient material including at least one of rubber, an elastomer, and urethane.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the non-deforming structure comprises a vehicle battery box.

11. A method of mitigation of induced acceleration to an occupant of a vehicle seat, the method comprising:

mounting the vehicle seat to a top side of a substantially non-deforming structure, wherein the non-deforming structure has a bottom side forming a first portion of a floor of the vehicle; and

mounting the non-deforming structure to a second portion of the floor that is separate from the first portion of the floor using at least one deformable bracket, wherein the at least one deformable bracket deforms, and the non-deforming structure extends through the second portion of the floor when the vehicle is subjected to an upward force that is equal to or greater than a predetermined force that corresponds to an induced upward acceleration.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one deformable bracket is mounted to the non-deforming structure such that the height of the non-deforming structure that is extended through the floor when the at least one deformable bracket is fully deformed is less than the distance between the second portion of the floor and a surface on which the vehicle normally operates when wheels and hubs are removed from the vehicle, such that the non-deforming structure does not strike the surface on which the vehicle normally operates.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the induced acceleration is generated by an explosive event.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the explosive event is generated by at least one of a land mine, an improvised explosive device (IED), and a booby trap.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing sealing between the first and the second portions of the vehicle floor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the sealing is performed using a seal having a first seal portion mounted to the first portion of the vehicle floor, and a second seal portion mounted to the second portion of the vehicle floor.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one deformable bracket comprises an accordion-shaped bracket.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising mounting at least one buffer between the seat and the non-deforming structure to reduce vibration transmission to the seat occupant.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the buffer is a resilient material including at least one of rubber, an elastomer, and urethane.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-deforming structure comprises a vehicle battery box.