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Dual stage variable load energy absorber for vehicle seating

  • US 8,702,147 B2
  • Filed: 05/08/2013
  • Issued: 04/22/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A mine blast and slam down protective vehicle safety seat system comprising:

  • (a) a vehicle seat;

    (b) a support surface supporting the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat and support surface being movable with respect to each other between a rest position, wherein the vehicle seat is located a first distance from a bottom surface of the vehicle, and an attenuated position, wherein the vehicle seat is located a second distance from the bottom surface of the vehicle, the first distance being greater than the second distance;

    (c) a deformable bladder operatively coupled between the vehicle seat and the support surface, the deformable bladder containing a gas therein; and

    (d) a valve with a gas release setting in fluid communication with the gas in the bladder, the vehicle seat being configured to, during a blast phase where the vehicle seat and the support surface move with respect to each other toward the attenuated position, deform the bladder against the support surface such that a predetermined volume of gas is released through the valve according to the gas release setting to resist the respective motion of the vehicle seat and the support surface until the vehicle seat and support surface reach the attenuated position.

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