Abstract:
An Occupant Retraction System (ORS) retracts a partially exposed occupant into a vehicle. The system responds to a trigger, wherein an occupant support retracts and actively pulls the occupant into the vehicle interior. The triggering event may be initiated by a manual switch, a rollover sensor, a crash sensor, a hostile ordnance sensor, or the like. A belt, harness, or foot strap may be connected to the occupant support to pull the occupant into the vehicle interior. A forcing means may be provided by a spring, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electro-mechanical actuator. The system further includes a damper for limiting acceleration to a safe maximum.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a system and method for preventing injury of an occupant of a vehicle, and more particularly to preventing injury to an occupant of a vehicle by retracting the occupant into the vehicle during events which may otherwise result in injury to the occupant. 
   Various special purpose vehicles are used in a multitude of applications which may influence or dictate characteristics of the vehicles. Some applications may dictate a high Center-of-Gravity (CG) design, which high CG may result in a propensity to roll the vehicle. Further, the need for a high CG is generally associated with off-road use of the vehicle, which off-road use often result in the vehicle leaning at large roll or pitch angles (hereafter, “rolling” is intended to refer to motion about either a vehicle roll or pitch axis.) 
   One particular special purpose vehicle particularly susceptible to rolling is a military vehicle, and particularly an armored military vehicle. Military vehicles are often designed to operate over rough terrain, and to ford bodies of water. Such operation motivates substantial ground clearance, and the positioning of mechanical structure (engine, axles, differentials, etc.) high in the vehicle. Further, military vehicles often require armor on some exterior surfaces, and such surfaces are generally the top and side surfaces, versus the bottom which is not likely to be hit by enemy ordnance. The combination of the requirement for ground clearance and armor further contributes to a high CG, and a greater likelihood of rolling the vehicle 
   Additionally, military vehicles often come under enemy fire and must react immediately to survive. In such cases, there is little time to evaluate the terrain which the vehicle must navigate to find cover from the enemy fire. As a result, the vehicle may take a path resulting in very large roll or pitch, which combined with a high CG may result in vehicle rollover. Further, the ability to see the situation surrounding the vehicle is critical to survival. While remote viewing means are available to a vehicle commander, for example, television or periscope, there is often a need to directly view the situation to make quick decisions. Such direct viewing requires that the vehicle commander be at least partially outside the vehicle. If vehicle rollover occurs while the commander is thus exposed, it is difficult for the commander to quickly “climb” back into the vehicle interior, and severe injury or death has resulted. In other instances, a vehicle may come under fire and a partially exposed occupant may be at immediate risk. In cases where the occupant has been injured by enemy fire, the injured occupant may be unable to quickly climb back into the vehicle interior. 
   There is thus a need for a system and method for repositioning (or retracting) a partially exposed vehicle occupant when one of above described events occurs. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing an Occupant Retraction System (ORS) which retracts a partially exposed occupant into a vehicle. The system responds to a triggering event, wherein an occupant support retracts and actively pulls the occupant into the vehicle interior. The triggering event may be initiated by a manual switch, a rollover sensor, a crash sensor, a hostile ordnance sensor, or the like. A belt, harness, and/or foot strap may be connected to the occupant support to pull the occupant into the vehicle interior. An actuating force may be provided by a spring, squib, hydraulic, pneumatic, and/or electro-mechanical actuator. The system further includes a damper for limiting acceleration to a safe maximum. The occupant retraction system is preferably resettable after each use. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an occupant retraction system comprising an occupant support having a first position adapted to position the occupant partially outside a vehicle, and a second position adapted to position the occupant substantially inside the vehicle. An occupant restraint is mechanically connected to the occupant support and adapted to pull the occupant with the occupant support when said occupant support moves from the first position to the second position. A forcing means is mechanically connected to said occupant support, wherein said forcing means is adapted to force said occupant support from the first position to the second position, and a trigger is provided for initiating said forcing means. A damping means is mechanically connected to said occupant support, said damping means adapted to resist motion of said occupant support to limit injury to the occupant. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a typical vehicle suitable for an occupant retraction system, and an occupant partially outside the vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  shows an occupant standing partially outside the vehicle and supported by an occupant support in a first position. 
       FIG. 3  shows the previously standing occupant retracted substantially inside the vehicle with the occupant support in a second position. 
       FIG. 4  shows a seated occupant partially outside the vehicle and supported by an occupant support in the first position. 
       FIG. 5  shows a seated occupant retracted substantially inside the vehicle and supported by the occupant support in a second position. 
       FIG. 6  shows an occupant support with footrest, seat, and back pads attached, wherein the seat is adjusted vertically down. 
       FIG. 7  shows the occupant support with footrest, seat, and back pads attached, wherein the seat is extended away from an occupant support. 
       FIG. 8  shows the occupant support with footrest, seat, and back pads attached, wherein the seat is folded. 
       FIG. 9A  shows a side view of the occupant retraction system with the seat in a horizontal position. 
       FIG. 9B  shows a side view of the occupant retraction system with the seat in a folded position. 
       FIG. 10  shows details of the occupant support and a support member with which the occupant support cooperates. 
       FIG. 10A  shows a cross-sectional view of the occupant support and a support member taken along line  10 A- 10 A of  FIG. 10 , wherein the occupant support is in an up position. 
       FIG. 10B  shows a second cross-sectional view of the occupant support and a support member taken along line  10 A- 10 A of  FIG. 10 , wherein the occupant support is in a down position. 
       FIG. 10C  shows a third cross-sectional view of the occupant support and a support member taken along line  10 A- 10 A of  FIG. 10 , wherein a forcing means is a squib. 
       FIG. 11  is a occupant support and support member connected by an external shock absorber and spring assembly. 
       FIG. 12  describes a method according to the present invention for retracting an exposed occupant into a vehicle. 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
   The present invention provides an Occupant Retraction System (ORS) adapted to protect an exposed occupant  12  of a vehicle  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 . Vehicles which combine a high Center of Gravity (CG) with use in irregular terrain, and frequently have occupants partially exterior to the vehicle, create a likelihood of serious injury or death to such occupants. In particular, military vehicles, and more particularly Light Armored Vehicles (LAV), have a high CG and operate in irregular terrain. A LAV vehicle commander is frequently required to reside partially outside the LAV to visually observe the tactical situation surrounding the LAV. In many instances, such vehicles may roll-over, creating an extremely dangerous situation for the exposed occupant, or the vehicle commander may come under hostile fire, and may be injured and unable to quickly climb into the vehicle for cover. 
   A typical partially exposed occupant  12  is shown in a standing position in  FIG. 2 . The occupant  12  stands on a footrest  14  and is further supported by backrest  20  and seat  16 , wherein the seat  16  is in a folded position. Foot straps  18  and a harness  21  may be included to aid in pulling the occupant  12  into the vehicle  10 . The foot rest  14 , seat  16 , backrest  20 , foot straps  18 , and harness  21  are attached to an occupant support  22 . The occupant retraction system is adapted to pull the occupant support  22  down, thereby retracting the exposed occupant  12  into the vehicle  10 . The occupant retraction system may be exercised upon the occurrence of any one of several events and may be triggered by a manual switch  60  mounted to allow easy access by the occupant  12 , a hostile fire sensor  64  mounted to facilitate sensing hostile fire, or a rollover/crash sensor  62 . The occupant retraction system is preferably less than 200 pounds in weight. 
   The occupant  12  is shown substantially retracted into the vehicle  10  in  FIG. 3 . The occupant  12  may be retracted completely into the vehicle, or some small portion of the occupant  12 , or gear worn by the occupant  12 , may somewhat protrude from the vehicle  10  when the occupant  12  is in a retracted position, and the degree of retraction need only be sufficient to protect the occupant  12 . The harness  21  may further retract to a greater extent than the occupant support  22 , to pull the occupant  12  further inside the vehicle  10 . 
   The seat  16  is shown in a seating position with the occupant  12  seated thereon and partially outside the vehicle  10 , in  FIG. 4 . The foot straps  18  and a seatbelt  17  may be included to aid in pulling the occupant  12  into the vehicle  10 . The seated occupant  12  is shown substantially retracted into the vehicle  10  in  FIG. 5 . 
   The seat  16  includes three independent adjustments. The seat  16  may be adjusted vertically relative to the occupant support  22  as shown by vertical arrows  32  in  FIG. 6 , the seat  16  may be adjusted horizontally relative to the occupant support  22  as shown by horizontal arrows  25  in  FIG. 7 , and the seat  16  may be folded between a seating position and a folded position as shown by rotation arrows  28  in  FIG. 8 . 
   An enlarged side view of the occupant retraction system is shown in  FIG. 9A . The occupant retraction system is shown with the seat  16  in a seating position. The seat  16  is adjusted away from the occupant support  22  on the seat brace  26 , wherein the horizontal adjustment is indicated by horizontal arrows  25 . A rotation bracket  30  is provided to allow the seat  16  to fold between the seating position and the folded position as shown by rotation arrows  28 . The seat may further be adjusted vertically by sliding vertical bracket  34  along the occupant support  22  as shown by vertical arrows  32 . The occupant support  22  is shown residing on a support member  24 , wherein the occupant support  22  may move along the support member  24  to move the occupant support  22  between a first position adapted to position the occupant  12  partially outside the vehicle  10 , and a second position adapted to position the occupant  12  substantially inside the vehicle  10 . 
   A view similar to  FIG. 9A  is shown in  FIG. 9B  wherein the seat  16  is shown in the folded position, and the occupant support  22  is moved downward on the support member  24 . 
   A front view of the occupant support  22  and support member  24  is shown in  FIG. 10 . A support track  40  is shown as an opening in the front face of the support member  24 . The support track  40  is a single example of a means for guiding the occupant support  22  on the support member  24 , and is not intended to limit the present invention. Various means for guiding are anticipated for the present invention, including tracks inside the support member  24  and/or external to the support member  24 . Further, the support member  24  may cooperate with a track internal and/or external to the occupant support  22 . Any occupant retraction system including a means for guiding the occupant support  22  along the support member  24  is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. The support member  24  is preferably a backbone structure, and more preferably defines a two inch by four inch cross section, and is preferably made from aluminum. The term “backbone structure” as used herein is intended to mean a single centered structure member providing support to a plurality of elements (e.g., foot rest, seat, backrest, etc.) distributed along the length of the structure. 
   A cross-sectional view taken along line  10 A- 10 A of  FIG. 10  is shown in  FIG. 10A . The occupant support  22  is shown connected to the support member  24 , wherein a first support guide  48   a  and a second support guide  48   b  are attached to the occupant support  22  and slidably cooperate with the interior of the support member  24 . The support guide  48   b  is shown attached to a damping means comprising a shock absorber  46  residing inside the support member  24 . A spring  42  with spring guide  44  reside above the shock absorber  46 , and provide downward force on the shock absorber  46  to retract the occupant  12  into the vehicle  10 . The occupant support  22  may be connected to the shock absorber  46  though an open front of the support member  24 , or through vertical slots in the support member  24 . While a simple spring has been shown as an example, any suitable forcing means maybe utilized, such as a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, an electronic device (e.g., a solenoid), or a pyrotechnic device adapted to provide linear force, and any forcing means providing sufficient acceleration is usable. 
   The damping means may be any suitable shock absorber, for example, a hydraulic shock absorber, a gas shock, a friction device, or an electro-mechanical shock absorber (e.g., solenoid adapted to provide a magnetic field to resist motion) or a combination of any of the above. Preferably, the damping means has at least approximately eighteen inches of travel and may have as much as approximately thirty inches of travel, and may be a type of shock absorber commonly called a “monster truck shock,” and preferably includes cartridge control. Damping means may further include a system to vary the damping such as a variable fluid flow control through an orifice, or a clamping device to increase damping friction. The damping means preferable limits the acceleration of the occupant support  22  to two Gs of acceleration or deceleration to prevent injury to the occupant. However, acceleration may be controllable based on scenario and may be from as small as one G to as great as fifteen Gs (e.g., permits very high acceleration when a rapid roll over occurs, in order to prevent serious injury or death.) 
   A release  50  cooperates with the shock absorber  26  to lock the occupant support  22  in the first position wherein the occupant  12  is partially outside the vehicle  10 . The release  50  may be released by the manual trigger  60 , the rollover/crash sensor  62 , and/or the hostile fire sensor  64 , to release the occupant support  22  and cause the occupant  12  to be retracted into the vehicle  10 . The release  50  may be a mechanical trigger mechanism, like in a hunting rifle or an electrical device like a solenoid or a combination of both, and may be one of many embodiments. The release  50  may cooperate with the spring  42 , either support guide  41   a  or  48   b , the occupant support  22 , or any other element of the present invention wherein actuation of the release  50  causes the occupant support  22  to move from the first position to the second position, and any occupant retraction system including any release providing this functionality is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
   A second cross-sectional view taken along line  10 A- 10 A of  FIG. 10  is shown in  FIG. 10B , wherein the occupant support  22  is shown in a second (i.e., retracted) position, wherein the release  50  has released the shock absorber  46 . The occupant support  22  may further be returned to the first position following resolution of the triggering event. An embodiment with an occupant support  22  and support member  24  connected by an external shock absorber  46  and spring  42  is shown in  FIG. 11 . 
   A third cross-sectional view of the occupant support  22  and a support member  24  taken along line  10 A- 10 A of  FIG. 10 , wherein a forcing means is a squib  49 . 
   The occupant retraction system may further include structure to retract the occupant  12  independently from the occupant support  22 , wherein the occupant  12  is retracted further than the travel of the occupant support  22  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). For example, a particular harness routing may result in occupant  12  retraction twice the motion of the occupant support  22 . For example, a harness may be connected to the support member  24 , and cooperate with a roller attached to the occupant support  22 , whereby motion of the occupant support  22  results in twice the motion of the harness. Additionally, occupant retraction may be enhanced by actively tightening a seat belt during the retraction to reduce the chance of injury during a roll over or other event. For example, a resettable seat belt retraction (pretensioner) device may be included which acts independently or in conjunction with Occupant Retraction System (ORS) described in  FIGS. 2-11  above. 
   A method according to the present invention for retracting a partially exposed occupant into a vehicle is described in  FIG. 12 . The method comprises positioning an occupant on an occupant support in a first position at  70 , and securing the occupant to the occupant support using an occupant restraint at  72 . Following sensing a life threatening condition at  74 , triggering a forcing means which forces the occupant support from the first position to a second position in which the occupant is substantially inside the vehicle at  76 . The system limits an acceleration and a deceleration of the occupant support to prevent injury to the occupant at  78 . 
   While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.