Patent Publication Number: US-2003222186-A1

Title: Dummy storage and transport device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] Generally, the present invention relates to a vehicle safety testing dummy. More particularly, the present invention relates to a storage and transport device for a vehicle safety testing dummy.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Conventional vehicle safety testing dummy (hereinafter dummy) storage and transport systems have several drawbacks. First, the weight of the dummy is traditionally concentrated on the dummy&#39;s hup and buttocks area, bringing about deformation of this area.  
       [0003] Another drawback in the conventional dummy storage and transport device is that the dummy&#39;s buttocks, thighs, legs and feet are in contact with the dummy storage and transport device during storage and transportation. This places the load of the dummy on measuring sensors embedded in the dummy, which can result in inadequate measurements during use of the dummy.  
       [0004] Still another drawback in the conventional dummy storage and transport device is that the devices can not accommodate dummies of varying sizes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention provides a dummy storage and transport device adapted to store a dummy while not concentrating the weight of the dummy on the dummy&#39;s buttocks, which minimizes the contact between the dummy and the device while accommodating dummies of various sizes. As such, the present invention helps prevent damage or physical alteration to the dummy during its storage and transport.  
       [0006] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a dummy storage and transport device comprises an arm supporting means for holding the dummy&#39;s armpit joints, a buttocks supporting means for insertion into the lower back of the dummy, a thigh supporting means for holding the lower joints of the dummy&#39;s thighs, and a transporting means for moving the dummy while the dummy is supported by the above supporting means.  
       [0007] The transporting means comprises front and rear horizontal panels and connecting panels for supporting the respective supporting means, while connecting the front and rear horizontal panels and wheels installed under the front and rear horizontal panels. Furthermore, the thigh supporting means includes a thigh supporter for holding the dummy&#39;s left and right knee joints. The thigh supporting means also includes a vertical panel for supporting the thigh supporter. The thigh supporter vertically slides along the vertical panel while the vertical panel horizontally slides along the connecting panel of the transporting part, and a clamp for controlling and fixing the height of the thigh supporter.  
       [0008] The arm supporting means comprises two arm rests for supporting the dummy&#39;s left and right arms. Also, the arm supporting means includse an arm rest supporter for horizontally sliding and supporting the arm rests and a clamp for controlling the position of the arm rests while fixing them at the arm rest supporter. The buttocks supporting means comprises a buttocks supporter for supporting the upper portion of the dummy&#39;s buttocks, a vertical panel for supporting the buttocks supporter while providing for vertical sliding of the arm rest supporter. Furthermore, a clamp is provided for controlling and fixing the height of the arm rest supporter. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a dummy storage and transport device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic of a part for supporting the dummy&#39;s buttocks in an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 shows an arm supporting part  1  that holds the joints of the dummy&#39;s armpits and supports the upper torso. Also included is a buttocks supporting part  2  (FIGS. 1 and 2), for insertion into the lower back of the dummy for supporting the weight of the dummy. A thigh supporting part  3  is also included for holding the joints of the dummy&#39;s left and right thighs for supporting the dummy&#39;s lower body. A transporting part  5 , permits movement of the dummy that is supported by the supporting parts  1 ,  2 , and  3 .  
     [0013] The arm supporting part  1  is preferably constructed with two arm rests  1   a  and  1   b . The arm rests  1   a  and  1   b  support the dummy&#39;s left and right arms respectively. An arm rest supporter  1   c  supports and provides horizontal sliding of the arm rests  1   a ,  1   b  and first clamp Id control the position of the arm rests  1   a  and  1   b  by fixing them at the arm rest supporter  1   c . The arm rest supporter  1   c  is configured to vertically slide along the vertical panel  2   b  of the buttocks supporting part  2 . In an alternative embodiment, the arm rest supporter  1   c  also includes a back panel  4  the provides additional support for the dummy&#39;s upper back.  
     [0014] The buttocks supporting part  2  includes a buttocks supporter  2   a  that has an end  2   a ′ that is inserted into an insertion hole  2   a ″ that is formed above the buttocks of the dummy. A vertical panel  2   b  supports the buttocks supporter  2   a  and provides for vertically sliding of the arm rest supporter  1   c . In a preferred embodiment, a dummy is specifically configured with a receiving port for receiving the buttocks supporting part  2  which is a protruding member, protruding off an upstanding member, for receiving the receiving port of the dummy. Also included is a second clamp  2   c  for controlling and fixing the position of the arm rest supporter  1   c.    
     [0015] The thigh supporting part  3  includes a thigh supporter  3   a  that holds the dummy&#39;s left and right knee joints. The thigh supporting part  3  also has a vertical panel  3   b  that supports the thigh supporter  3   a . Furthermore, the thigh supporter  3   a  also vertically slides along the vertical panel  3   b  and the vertical panel  3   b  horizontally slides along the connecting panel  5   c  of the transporting part  5 . A third clamp  3   c  is also included for controlling the height of the thigh supporter  3   a  and fixing it with the vertical panel  3   b . Finally, a fourth clamp  3   d  for controlling the position of the vertical panel  3   b  and fixing it with the connecting panel  5   c  is also included.  
     [0016] The transporting part  5  includes both front and rear horizontal panels  5   a  and  5   b  and a connecting panel  5   c . The connecting panel  5   c  supports the respective vertical panels  2   b  and  3   b  of the buttocks supporting part  2  and the thigh supporting part  3  while connecting the front and rear horizontal panels  5   a  and  5   b . The transporting part  5  also has wheels  5   d  installed at the lower surfaces of the front and rear horizontal panels  5   a  and  5   b  and a brake  5   e  mounted at each side of the wheels  5   d.    
     [0017] In use, when the dummy is transported and stored using the dummy storage and transport device of the present invention, the dummy&#39;s armpit joints are held at the left and right arm rests  1   a  and  1   b  supporting the upper torso of the dummy. The distance between the left and right arm rests  1   a  and  1   b  is adjustable to accommodate the width between a particular dummy&#39;s shoulders. Next, the first clamp  1   d  is used to fix the left and right arm rests  1   a  and  1   b  at the arm rest supporter  1   c.    
     [0018] Furthermore, the end  2   a ′ of the thigh support panel  2   a  is inserted into the insertion hole  2   a ″. The insertion hole  2   a ″ is formed in the lower back region of the dummy, such that the thigh and lower portions of the upper torso of the dummy are supproted. The arm rest supporter  1   c  vertically slides, thereby providing adjustment to accommodate different dimensions between the buttocks supporter  2   a  and the arm rests  1   a  and  1   b  of different size dummies. The second clamp  2   c  fixes the arm rest supporter  1   c  at the horizontal panel  2   b.    
     [0019] The left and right knee joints are held at the thigh supporter  3   a . The height of the thigh supporter  3   a  is adjustable, and the thigh supporter  3   a  is fixed at the vertical panel  3   b  with the third clamp  3   c . Thus, the device prevents a load from being placed on the knee joints and feet of the dummy.  
     [0020] Furthermore, the distance between the vertical panel  2   b  and the thigh support panel  3   a  is adjustable by moving the vertical panel  3   b . And the fourth clamp  3   d  fixes the vertical panel  3   b  with the connecting panel  5   c.