Back Breakover Rate Control Device for HIC/NIJ Damage Reduction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019031352-A1
Application number	US-201715659614-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 25, 2017
Priority date	Jul 25, 2017
Publication date	Jan 31, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for controlling the breakover rate of a seatback in response to a dynamic event (regulating the breakover velocity so as to achieve optimal velocity differential to the impact velocity of a passenger's head impacting with the seatback) is attachable to the seatback and to the seat frame; when a breakover event is triggered, the passage of a head injury criterion (HIC) pin through a controlled traveling slot is impeded by energy absorbing materials selected, e.g. for material composition and structure, to restrict the breakover velocity of the seatback to optimize velocity differential between the breakover velocity and the impact velocity by engaging the HIC pin and deforming at a predetermined deformation rate.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A device for controlling the breakover rate of a seatback, comprising:
at least one bracket rigidly attachable to a seatback of a seat, the at least one bracket including at least one opening configured to accept at least one pin fixed to the seat and capable of transmitting a breakover energy associated with the seatback and corresponding to a dynamic event, the at least one bracket including at least one breakover control element extending into the at least one opening and configured to optimize a velocity differential between a breakover velocity of the seatback and an impact velocity, the breakover velocity associated with the dynamic event and the impact velocity associated with at least one object impacting with the seatback during the dynamic event, by engaging the at least one pin to at least one of a) restrict the breakover velocity and b) absorb at least a portion of the breakover energy by deforming at a predetermined deformation rate.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the velocity differential is between a predetermined upper bound and a predetermined lower bound.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the velocity differential is associated with at least one of a head injury criterion (HIC) and a N ij value.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one breakover control element comprises:
at least one first breakover control element configured to engage the at least one pin by deforming in response to the at least one pin; and at least one second breakover control element configured to engage the at least one first breakover control element by deforming in response to the deforming of the at least one first breakover control element.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one breakover control element is configured to engage the at least one pin by deforming at a variable deformation rate in response to the at least one pin, the variable deformation rate within a predetermined range of deformation rates.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one breakover control element has at least one of a first diameter and a first volume, the at least one breakover control element configured to be driven by the at least one pin through an orifice having at least one of a second diameter less than the first diameter and a second volume less than the first volume.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one breakover control element is removably insertable in the at least one opening and configured to engage the at least one projected pin via directed deformation.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one breakover control element is configured to fail upon absorption of a predetermined load.

9 . A device for controlling the breakover rate of a seatback, comprising:
at least one bracket rigidly attachable to a seatback of a seat, the at least one bracket including at least one opening configured to accept at least one pin fixed to the seat and capable of transmitting a breakover energy associated with the seatback and corresponding to a dynamic event, the at least one bracket including at least one breakover control element extending into the at least one opening and configured to optimize a velocity differential between a breakover velocity of the seatback and an impact velocity, the breakover velocity associated with the dynamic event and the impact velocity associated with at least one object impacting with the seatback during the dynamic event, by engaging with the at least one pin to at least one of a) restrict the breakover velocity and b) absorb at least a portion of the breakover energy, the at least one breakover control element configured to fail when the absorbed portion reaches an energy threshold.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the velocity differential is between a predetermined upper bound and a predetermined lower bound.

11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the velocity differential is associated with at least one of a head injury criterion (HIC) and a N ij value.

12 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one bracket comprises:
at least one breaking element pivotably attached to the at least one bracket, the at least one breaking element configured to be rotatably driven by the at least one pin to break the at least one breakover control element away from the at least one bracket.

13 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one breakover control element includes a first breakaway element configured to fail upon absorbing a first energy threshold and at least one second breakaway element configured to fail upon absorbing a second energy threshold.

14 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the energy threshold includes at least one of a tensile load, a compression load, and a shear load.

15 . A device for controlling the breakover rate of a seatback, comprising:
at least one bracket rigidly attachable to a seatback of a seat, the at least one bracket capable of transmitting a breakover energy associated with the seatback and corresponding to a dynamic event, and at least one piston having a barrel end coupled to a frame of the seat and a rod end coupled to the seatback, the at least one piston configured to extend in response to the dynamic event, the barrel end including at least one compressible material configured to optimize a velocity differential between a breakover velocity of the seatback and an impact velocity, the breakover velocity associated with the dynamic event and the impact velocity associated with at least one object impacting with the seatback during the dynamic event, by engaging with the barrel end to at least one of a) restrict the breakover velocity and b) absorb at least a portion of the breakover energy by impeding the extension of the at least one piston.

16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the velocity differential is between a predetermined upper bound and a predetermined lower bound.

17 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the velocity differential is associated with at least one of a head injury criterion (HIC) and a N ij value.

18 . The device of claim 15 , wherein:
the at least one compressible material includes a fluid; and the extension of the piston is impeded by forcing the fluid from a first compartment of the barrel end into a second compartment of the barrel end via at least one orifice.

Assignees

• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Pierson-Moonan Jay
• Simecek Gregory J
• Barg Bradley
• Thompson Jeff B
• James Courtney
• Hatch Chad K
• Jarvis Jonathon

Classifications

• B60N2/2236

  with a transversal pin displaced by a slot or a cam along a predetermined path · CPC title

• B60N2/42709

  involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure · CPC title

• B64D11/064 Primary

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B64D11/0619

  with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash · CPC title

• B64D25/04

  Seat modifications · CPC title