Adjustable spine joint assembly for crash test dummy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9947244-B2
Application number	US-201615080983-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Apr 2, 2015
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

An adjustable spine joint assembly for a crash test dummy includes an upper member adapted to be operatively connected to an upper thoracic portion of a spine of the crash test dummy, a lower member adapted to be operatively connected to a lower thoracic portion of the spine of the crash test dummy, a center pivot bolt pivotally connected to the lower member and the upper member to allow rotational movement therebetween, and a self-locating adjustment mechanism cooperating with the upper member and the lower member to allow adjustment of a plurality of fixed joint angles between the upper member and the lower member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable spine joint assembly for a crash test dummy comprising:
an upper member adapted to be operatively connected to an upper thoracic portion of a spine of the crash test dummy;
a lower member adapted to be operatively connected to a lower thoracic portion of the spine of the crash test dummy;
a center pivot bolt pivotally connected to said lower member and said upper member to allow rotational movement therebetween; and
a self-locating adjustment mechanism cooperating with said upper member and said lower member to allow adjustment between a plurality of fixed joint angles between said upper member and said lower member.

2. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said self-locating adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of ball plungers and a plurality of detents.

3. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a plurality of locking bolts.

4. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a plurality of wave spring washers, each of said locking bolts being associated with one of said wave spring washers.

5. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 4 including a cover plate connected to one side of said lower member.

6. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said upper member includes said detents.

7. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lower member includes said ball plungers.

8. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a dowel pin connected to said upper member.

9. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lower member includes at least one groove for receiving said dowel pin.

10. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower member has a yoke shape.

11. A crash test dummy comprising:
a body;
a spine operatively attached to said body; and
an adjustable spine joint assembly including an upper member operatively connected to an upper thoracic portion of said spine, a lower member operatively connected to a lower thoracic portion of said spine, a center pivot bolt pivotally connected to said lower member and said upper member to allow rotational movement therebetween, and a self-locating adjustment mechanism cooperating with said upper member and said lower member to allow adjustment between a plurality of fixed joint angles between said upper member and said lower member.

12. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of ball plungers and a plurality of detents.

13. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 including a plurality of locking bolts.

14. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 13 including a plurality of wave spring washers, each of said locking bolts being associated with one of said wave spring washers.

15. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 including a cover plate connected to one side of said lower member.

16. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 12 wherein said upper member includes said detents.

17. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 12 wherein said lower member includes said ball plungers.

18. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 including a dowel pin connected to said upper member.

19. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 18 wherein said lower member includes at least one groove for receiving said dowel pin.

20. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 wherein said lower member has a yoke shape.

21. An adjustable spine joint assembly for a crash test dummy comprising:
an upper member adapted to be operatively connected to an upper thoracic portion of a spine of the crash test dummy;
a lower member adapted to be operatively connected to a lower thoracic portion of the spine of the crash test dummy;
a center pivot bolt pivotally connected to said lower member and said upper member to allow rotational movement therebetween; and
a self-locating adjustment mechanism cooperating with said upper member and said lower member to allow adjustment between a plurality of fixed joint angles between said upper member and said lower member, said self-locating adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of ball plungers in said lower member and a plurality of detents in said upper member, said ball plungers and said detents being arranged such that one set of said ball plungers engages a maximum of one set of said detents at a time.

Assignees

• Humanetics Innovative Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Wang Zhenwen J
• Mcinnis Joseph P

Classifications

• G09B23/34

  with removable parts · CPC title

• G09B23/30

  Anatomical models {(G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G09B23/32 Primary

  with moving parts · CPC title