Patent ID: 7090292
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: B60N,B60R

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for preventing or limiting spinal injuries to a passenger seated in a forward facing position in a moving vehicle during vehicular impact or sudden deceleration, said apparatus comprising: a vehicle-installed supporting seat for said passenger, said seat having a support portion behind the seated passenger which includes a resilient surface in contact with the supported passenger, said resilient portion being supported on an underlying stiff support shell; said support shell being rearwardly displaceable upon being subjected to impressed forces generated from the said passenger pressing against the resilient surface of the support portion as a result of a rear end impact at said vehicle; and a controllably deformable energy absorbing crush zone being disposed to the rear of said shell as to be compressed by said rearward displacement of the shell; whereby said support portion acts to decelerate the supported spine of the passenger during a vehicle rear end impact, while the controlled deformation of said crush zone absorbs energy, to prevent or limit spinal injuries to the passenger; and said crush zone comprising a compressible foam having variable densities as a function of the front to rear depth in the foam, said foam being characterized in a rear end collision by exhibiting an absorption of the kinetic energy gained by the impact accelerated passenger of at least 80%; and the coefficient of restitution for the said crush zone material being in the range of 0.1 to 0.2.