Patent Application
20160068088
The disclosed invention in this application relates to relates to vehicle transport where the reduction of the shock force would be especially valuable in the rear seats of family vans or SUV's closest to the bumper that use a separate chassis with no crumble zones (offering minimal protection from “rear-to-front” horizontal force plane impacts during rear-end collisions where it would operate most efficiently) but the other embodiments are also significant. This application is one presently preferred practical application of the carrier but the other embodiments have other substantial applications which are important and are not limited to only this use as one that is knowledgeable and skilled in the manufacture of these articles can recognize and understand that the other applications presented in the embodiments to include customized attachments such as neck rolls and back supports to be used with the carriers and the attachments can be equally important when used during transport to offer greater protection then presently is available to drivers, handicapped, frail or injured individuals, expensive animals or valuable pets and children.
Balensiefer, II, et I. under U.S. Pat. No. 8,991,935 filed on Mar. 31, 2015 for a child safety seat comprising “a resilient member shock absorber including a soft material resilient member having opposing first and second end portions” so “the tensile force is at least partially converted to potential energy stored in the resilient member, wherein the resilient member comprises a foam rubber block, and wherein the safety belt extends through the slit defined between said first and second end portions through the foam block.”
The prior art did not specifically identify or distinguish the use of viscoelastic materials in individual or multiple layers to create a safety device designed to deflect harmful shock forces 90° from its intended course, the disclosed invention uses the layer or layers of viscoelastic material to absorb 75% of the harmful shock forces. The key aspect of the disclosed invention is the essential use and positioning of the viscoelastic material between the shock force and the passenger or cargo to cause the viscoelastic material to become a safety device used to deflect the shock forces from passengers or cargo. Balensiefer uses traditional foam to absorb the shock, whereas the disclosed invention specifically uses viscoelastic materials to purposely deflect the shock force 90° from its intended course.
Kazuyoshi Kaneko and Hiroyuki Ishihara, the inventors of another application (filed as a continuation of Ser. No. 08/563,785 which is now abandoned) for a Vehicle seat and shock-absorbing material, U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,320 A, these inventors use viscoelastic materials for comfort to lessen the vibrations experienced by the rider “A vehicle seat reduces the amount of vibrations from the vehicles engine or riding surface felt by the rider, . . . ” Their focus is the reduction of vibration not deflection of shock forces 90° to construct a safety device.
In their summary of the invention they state, “The present invention includes the recognition that the viscoelastic material of the shock-absorber member in the seat should have a sufficient spring constant that it absorbs and reduces vibrations transmitted to the rider.”
A vehicle seat reduces the amount of vibrations from the vehicles engine or riding surface felt by the rider, without sacrificing the comfort and fitness of the seat. The seat desirably includes a shock-absorbing member layered with a urethane cushion member. The shock-absorbing material comprises a viscoelastic material using a super-soft urethane elastomer as a matrix resin with a low density filler of resinous microballoons. The percent weight ratio between the resinous microballoons and the resin matrix advantageously ranges from 1% to 5%. In order to provide adequate damping without presenting too hard of a feel, the viscoelastic material desirable has a normal storage modulus (E1) ranging between 0.0628 MPa and 0.234 MPa, and a normal loss modulus (E2) ranging between 0.0171 MPa and 0.131 MPa.
An additional aspect of the present invention involves a shock-absorbing material comprises a viscoelastic urethane elastomer resin matrix containing a plurality of resinous microballoons. In a preferred embodiment, the shock-absorbing material has a normal storage modulus which is not less than 0.0628 MPa and is not greater than 0.234 MPa. A normal loss modulus of the material desirably is not less than 0.0171 MPa and is not greater than 0.131 MPa. A percentage weight ratio of the resinous microballoons to the viscoelastic urethane elastomer matrix advantageously is not less than 1% and is not greater than 5%.
The disclosed invention is not a device designed to use viscoelastic materials to reduce vibration it is designed to stop shock wave forces from harming whatever is placed upon the carrier by deflecting the force energy 90° away from its present course, protecting the cargo or goods placed on the shock absorbing carrier.
Gross, et all (U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,554 Jul. 31, 1990) (hereinafter “Gross”) in his ‘Background of the Invention’ gives many intricate measurements, percentages and formulas to substantiate his ‘Biomechanical Chair Design′ whose purpose is to “minimize spinal disc force or pressure by having the seated individual's spinal contour partially restored to that which exists when the individual is standing.” He states that “In driving and other work station postures, comfort, practicality and safety limit the adjustability range and benefit any one of these adjustment features.” He then combines the three strategies into his “Biomechanical Chair’ which he states “ . . . is not only (1) a biomechanically correct chair but also (2) a seat adjustment system” which he cites will “configure to each individuals lordosis, kyphosis and cervical curves.”
Gross uses the viscoelastic polymer to protect the seated occupant from shock and vibration from the road and states “shock transmitted through a vehicle to a seat and its occupant has the effect of reducing fluid content of the spinal nucleus pulpous. Repeated shock and vibration therefore plays an important role in the stress distribution capacity of the spine.” Gross states “It is well known that bus and truck drivers have among the highest frequencies of back related injuries. In vehicular applications, vibration attenuation is important to maintain the integrity of the spinal structure.” Gross states “Still another object of the present invention is to provide vibration attenuation by mounting the seat assembly on a viscoelastic material.”
Gross cites “Vibration forces, particularly vertical, can be detrimental to the spinal discs by promoting moisture loss therefore reducing resistance to physical stress. The vibration can be attenuated by the use of a viscoclastic material such as “Sorbothane”. The viscoclastic member is sandwiched between the seat assembly and vibrating deck or frame with the fastener isolation means commonly used in the industry.”
The invention by Bailey, Sr. et all (U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,501 Bland refers to U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,825 B2) (hereinafter “Bailey”) where Bailey's focus is comfort and to the field of ergonomic systems having intelligent adaptive surfaces with temperature control, providing support and an intelligent foundation surface to equalize the pressure applied to the skin along the entirety of the contact area.
Bailey, Sr. provides a number of different ergonomic intelligent adaptive surface selections and thermal control embodiments, providing comfort, cooling and/or heating functions to include cryotherapy on seating surfaces. Bailey targets cryogenic sensors for therapeutic benefits, greater comfort and support. Gross addresses vibration to preserve the spinal column fluid content. Kaneko uses viscoelastic materials for comfort and also to lessen the vibrations experienced by the rider. Prior art does do not use their seats or visco elastic material as a means to reduce the maximum force generated by a shock wave by limiting and deflecting the transmission of the shock energy 90° across a short distance to protect the seated occupants or cargo from injury or damage, creating a shock absorbing safety device, not a vibration inhibiting device for a comfortable ride.
The disclosed invention in the first embodiment is a carrier comprising a base, a padded or cushion arrangement on said carrier base and a carrier surface skin covering surrounding said carrier cushion arrangement, said carrier cushion arrangement including a pad or cushion member and a shock absorbing member, said shock absorbing member comprising a viscoelastic urethane or polyurethane substance, which can include differing combinations of matrix composites. The shock absorbing member being imbedded inside said carrier cushion member; near, within or next to the surface skin covering where the cargo or passengers will be situated; with said shock absorbing member being specifically installed upon or within the carrier padding or cushion member between or within the cushion or padded member and the carrier surface skin covering member encasing the carrier and shock absorbing material member and will be correctly positioned so the viscoelastic urethane or polyurethane substance, which can include differing combinations of matrix composites, being embedded between said carrier cushion member and closest to the carrier surface skin covering where the passengers, goods or cargo will be placed on this said arrangement to be specifically positioned so the viscoelastic material is compressed when a shock force is passed through the base of the carrier, through the carrier member, through said carrier cushion member, to engage the shock absorbing member where the force of impact is diffused, deflecting the force energy 90° away from its present course, protecting the cargo or goods placed on the shock absorbing carrier member from greater potential injury and loss.
The disclosed invention is to be used exactly and exclusively as a supplemental safety device, designed to work in combination with the right conditions and existing safety features found in most vehicles on today's market. The disclosed invention will lessen the shock wave forces that cause injuries and fatalities then what is currently available for this problem. The disclosed invention can be further modified and can be adapted or customized according to needs and requirements, but is not limited to the embodiments that are contained within this application.
The disclosed invention would be especially valuable in the rear seats of SUV's that use a separate chassis with no crumble zones offering minimal protection from “rear-to-front” horizontal force plane blows involving crossover SUV's and other similar vehicles. According to a Ford Motor analysis, when a minivan with a third-row occupant is hit from behind, the occupant is killed at least half of the time.
The following is a preferred embodiment form of the disclosed invention based on the disclosed images, which are described in detail. The figures illustrate:
FIG. 1—a front perspective rendering of a bench seat folded open;
FIG. 2—a cross section perspective of the bench seat showing the visco elastic layer;
FIG. 3—is a cross sectional view of a cut-out piece of the seat.
For this illustration a single upright, open seating surface is presented, though the upper backrest can be folded forward independently.
A vehicle bench seat, for instance the bench seat in
When the seat part area is in the open position in
The appearance and upholstered area of any section of the seat part will not be affected by the disclosed invention, which is attached directly to the upholstery and padding of the vehicle seat. The disclosed invention, when used or displayed in this manner, is not visible and when the seat having the disclosed invention is open or folded down with the backrest part resting on the seat part area of the bench, it does not attract attention to any visible changes in the seat part area when in use.
Referring to the drawings in
A preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention as a carrier cover will be further described based on the subordinate claims, other objects and advantages will be named or will become apparent from, the specifications and claims, as will modifications of the named embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:
The disclosed invention in the embodiment as a seat covering 01 is shown encasing a vehicle seat in
The upper front upper backrest 1 is connected 15 to the front lower seat portion 2 and then affixed 9 to the back member 8. This is securely attached to form a compartment case or pocket which slides over the top of the vehicle seat to ensure a secure, attractive fit.
The cross section depicted in
Child safety scats presently found on the market do not possess shock absorbing qualities to protect the infant or child from the linear horizontal force plane shock energy generated by a rear-end collision, a roll-over accident or other such unexpected tragedy, only the disclosed invention does offer shock absorbing protection at the present time.
The following is a preferred embodiment form of the disclosed invention based on the disclosed images, which are described in detail. The figures illustrate:
FIG. 1—a front perspective rendering of a mat or pad in a flat open position;
FIG. 2—is a right cross section perspective of the bench seat showing the visco elastic layer.
A similar design using extra visco elastic material for the shock absorbing cushion pad providing extra safety measures for the small cranium to shield the cervical and cranial areas from horizontal shock force transfer.
Other objects and advantages will be named or will become apparent from, the specifications and claims, as will modifications of the named embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:
This specific embodiment of the disclosed invention is to be used as a carrier, a pad or cushion intended to upgrade existing seated transport for infant and children's safety seats and is designed to be a supplemental safety device to be used with other safety devices presently installed in vehicles and in children safety seats. The small passenger, cargo or goods intended for transport will utilize the carrier pad or cushion as a protective barrier to inhibit the strike force plane from injuring or causing damage to the tiny passengers or items placed upon the carrier. Allowances will be made to customize the carrier mat or cushion to allow for supplemental safety devices such as the disclosed invention, the shock absorbing shoulder harnesses to operate at optimal capacity without compromise for the safety of each existing system that is currently in place.
This forms the front perspective layer of the cushion lying flat in
An added enjoyment is that not only will it be a protective safety device but the disclosed invention will improve the appearance of the interior seating, is waterproof, flame retardant and the top layer 18 depicted in
The main function of the disclosed invention is to provide a shock absorbing cover or harness as a supplemental safety device to be used with current safety systems protect the passenger, rider, occupant, etc. lessening and diminishing the shock forces that may stress or cause harm to the occupant.
The preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention as a shock absorbing seatbelt or cover, illustrating their features, will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and non-obvious shock absorbing seat belt or seatbelt or harness/strap cover shown in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only.
These drawings include the following:
This and all the items can be customized to accommodate many special situations, different and unusual features that may arise, including but not limited to other objects and advantages will be pointed out or be apparent from, the specifications and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings here, in which:
The preferred embodiment of the present seatbelt protector 1 is illustrated in
In
The cover in
In
The disclosed invention is appropriate for use with any safety harness, airline belts, thrill craft or any device that has the form or function of a harness, strap or belt which would benefit from shock absorbing properties.
It is, therefore, an object of the disclosed invention to provide a fixed or removable mat, cushion or pad of varying layers and durometers for shock absorbing properties depending upon the conditions and demands that the carrier would have to endure; it is recommended that for rescue devices that a customized model be designed for maximum efficiency which would offer greater comfort and lessen stress but not interfere with any function of the device during transport to carry and hold the sick or injured party directly upon the disclosed invention, steadily but securely during extraction transport having shock absorbing means as an integral part of the disclosed invention for better comfort and medical needs when being moved out of remote, desolate areas or rough, uneven terrain.
The following is a preferred embodiment form of the disclosed invention based on the disclosed images, which are described in detail. The figures illustrate:
FIG. 1—a top perspective rendering of a mat or pad in a flat open position installed in a plastic basket stretcher;
FIG. 2—a top perspective rendering of a mat or pad in a flat open position not installed showing the visco elastic layer:
The disclosed invention can be covered with durable fabrics, made to have great fire resistant properties, be manufactured to have antibacterial properties or topped with more foam for greater positioning and comfort when embodying a shock absorbing carrier pad or mat The top portion which is the part of the visco elastic polymer that the injured patient will be placed lying down on the disclosed invention in the embodiment of a pad or mat on a rescue stretcher depending on restrictions found in existing methods of land, nautical or airborne vehicle transport.
At the present time there are not many improvements to the existing vehicle seats besides being heated or cooled that will provide greater safety for the occupant or goods during normal transport. Contemporary seats for transport are designed for comfort with a lumbar support or a memory foam insert but are not designed to be a protective safety device to shield the occupant from shock wave forces by removing the force transmission to protect the seated occupant or goods that are placed upon the disclosed invention.
In the case of aircraft travel where the occupant or cargo may be ejected or undergo tremendous forces in space travel upon re-entry (the astronaut will plunge into the atmosphere in a crash seat custom poured for the individuals' body with a 4 point harness across their shoulders and waist fastened by a big buckle) the shock absorbing carrier could greatly improve the comfort and quality of re-entry into earth's atmosphere and landing with the shock energy force being decreased lessening the chances of injury.
When the disclosed invention is used exactly and exclusively as a supplemental safety device, designed to work in combination with the right conditions and existing safety features found in most vehicles on today's market it will lessen the shock wave forces that cause injuries and fatalities then what is currently available for this problem. The disclosed invention can be further modified and can be adapted or customized according to needs and requirements.
The prior art did not recognize or utilize viscoelastic materials in individual or multiple layers as a safety device to deflect harmful shock forces 90° from its intended course, thereby using the layer or layers of viscoelastic material to absorb 75% of the harmful shock forces. The key aspect of the disclosed invention is the essential positioning of the viscoelastic material between the shock force and the passenger or cargo to cause the viscoelastic material to become a safety device used to protect the passenger from shock forces.
At the present time there are not many improvements to the existing vehicle seats besides being heated or cooled that will provide greater safety for the occupant or goods during normal transport. Contemporary seats for transport are designed for comfort with a lumbar support or a memory foam insert but are not designed to be a protective safety device to shield the occupant from shock wave forces by removing the force transmission to protect the seated occupant or goods that are placed upon the disclosed invention.
In the case of aircraft travel where the occupant or cargo may be ejected or undergo tremendous forces in space travel upon re-entry (the astronaut will plunge into the atmosphere in a crash seat custom poured for the individuals' body with a 4 point harness across their shoulders and waist fastened by a big buckle) the shock absorbing carrier could greatly improve the comfort and quality of re-entry into earth's atmosphere and landing with the shock energy force being decreased lessening the chances of injury when using the disclosed invention.
When the disclosed invention is used exactly and exclusively as a supplemental safety device, designed to work in combination with the right conditions and existing safety features found in most vehicles on today's market it will lessen the shock wave forces that cause injuries and fatalities then what is currently available for this problem. The disclosed invention can be further modified and can be adapted or customized according to needs and requirements.
The disclosed invention can lessen the potential for greater injury by reducing the force wave of energy that is directed at passengers during rear-end collisions. There are no safety standards on what makes a vehicle seat “industry safe” or “crash-worthy” nor are there any distance requirements for third seat safety or crush space cell in vehicles.
The disclosed invention in the above disclosed embodiments demonstrate how the carrier can have many related functions and purposes. The disclosed invention as an adaptable form for any method of transport whether designed for the front individual style of seating or the longer bench type of back seats in current vehicles would be especially valuable in the rear seats of SUV's or large vehicles that use a separate chassis with little or no crumble zones offering minimal protection from “rear-to-front” horizontal force plane blows involving crossover SUV's and other similar vehicles. According to a Ford Motor analysis, when a minivan with a third-row occupant is hit from behind, the occupant is usually a child, is killed at least half of the time. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports out of the 6 million car accidents on U.S. roads every year, over 40% of them (2.5 million) are rear-end collisions; on Nov. 14, 2012 it reported that 28% of reported crashes are rear-end collisions. On May 29, 2014 the Associated Press published an article that vehicle accidents cost $871 billion a year. Another estimate reports 2.3 million rear collisions in 2000 or 21.7% of all accidents, according to the latest-available federal statistics, but no reporting system exists. The actual number of whiplash injuries per year is unknown.
The economic cost was the equivalent of nearly 2 percent of the country's gross domestic product in 2010. The disclosed invention in combined or differing embodiments can transform this equation when considering the total damage of $871 billion caused by accidents with a conservative estimate of 28% rear end collisions.
The disclosed invention when used as a shock absorbing carrier component of a safety system will specifically and purposefully reduce the force from accidental impact during a rear end collision to protect the passenger(s) from the “rear-to-front”; or any horizontal plane impact force and will lessen the chances of greater injury when used as a supplemental safety device designed to work in combination with existing safety features found in vehicles and other methods of transport today such as but not limited to smart headrests, seat belts, air bags, crunch zone cells, dashboard and side panel padding.
At the present time there are not many improvements to the existing vehicle seats besides being heated or cooled that will provide greater safety for the occupant or goods during normal transport. Contemporary seats for transport are designed for comfort with a lumbar support or a memory foam insert but are not designed to be a protective safety device to shield the occupant from shock wave forces by removing the force transmission to protect the seated occupant or goods that are placed upon the disclosed invention.
By decreasing the harmful or fatal force to a potential shock wave plane will help to create a less harmful outcome then is presently available to the general public when vehicles are equipped with the disclosed invention in the differing embodiments of shock absorbing carriers, pads, cushions and harness covers; we certainly must consider a safer outcome that can protect us from loss of life, harm, pain and offer great protection than is presently on the market. The disclosed invention can lessen the potential for greater injury by reducing the force wave of energy that is directed at passengers during rear-end collisions. There are no safety standards on what makes a vehicle seat “industry safe” or “crash-worthy” nor are there any distance requirements for third seat safety or crush space cell in vehicles.
The disclosed invention when used as a shock absorbing carrier component of a safety system will specifically and purposefully reduce the force from accidental impact during a rear end collision to protect the passenger(s) from the “rear-to-front”; or any horizontal plane impact force and will lessen the chances of greater injury when used as a supplemental safety device designed to work in combination with existing safety features found in vehicles today such as but not limited to; headrests that slide up during a rear-end accident, seat belts, air bags, crunch zone cells, dashboard and side panel padding.
By decreasing the harmful or fatal force to a potential shock wave plane will help to create a less harmful outcome then is presently available to the general public when vehicles are equipped with the disclosed invention in the differing embodiments of shock absorbing carriers, pads, cushions and harness covers; we certainly must consider a safer outcome that can protect us from loss of life, harm, pain and offer great protection to our children and elderly than is presently on the market.
The different embodiments all have the common thread of reducing shock forces while in transport upon a carrier, whether the transportation is during space travel, air travel, sea transport, vehicle transport, thrill craft, recreational vehicles carrying adults, children, livestock, pets, elderly, handicapped or individuals with special needs, cargo or any custom or valued item that can be moved during transport, the shock absorbing carrier can offer greater protection than is presently available.
The disclosed invention answers the problems of reducing vehicle rear-end injuries and loss offering advantages of greater shock absorption, the disclosed invention decreases the impact forces in most linear force planes but especially in the “rear-to-front” horizontal force plane. The viscoelastic material will express a greater out-of-phase time relationship between a shock impact and the transmission of the force through the shock absorbing carrier to the passengers or cargo placed or seated upon the carrier. The viscoelastic material is an integral part of the disclosed invention to reduce the impact force while expressing a greater out-of-phase time relationship between the shock impact wave and the transmission of force through gradual deceleration, reducing the impulse force of the shock wave over a longer period of time. This would offer the seated passengers or living cargo greater protection than currently exists in regular transportation seating available today.
The vehicle seats at present are not designed to protect us from any linear rear impact forces directed from behind extending in the same direction. The disclosed invention is a shock absorbing carrier, carrier cover or carrier pad and is designed to be a supplemental safety device created to work best in combination with existing safety features such as “active head restraints”, which automatically move up and forward to catch a person's head in a rear crash. But they are only effective if each occupant takes the time to adjust them properly, most people don't, which increases their risk of serious injury. Seat belts, air bags, the crunch zone cell, dashboard and side panel padding are not adequate protection from the shock forces that cause the rapid snapping back of a person's head during a collision.
The rear end impact is especially dangerous when a vehicle with a larger mass strikes a smaller vehicle from behind. This can have lethal results especially at high speed. The disclosed invention will reduce the shock force wave that appears, preserving lives and lessening injuries. The disclosed invention would be especially valuable in the rear seats of family vans or SUV's that use a separate chassis with no crumble zones offering minimal protection from “rear-to-front” horizontal force plane impacts.
The viscoelastic material is an integral part of the disclosed invention reducing the impact force while expressing a greater out-of-phase time relationship between the shock impact wave and the transmission of force through gradual deceleration, reducing the impulse force of the shock wave over a longer period of time by changing the angle of force 90° from its intended course of momentum. The disclosed invention will help to save lives, reduce personal injuries and property damage and has the added enjoyment of improving the appearance of worn or damaged interior seating. This would offer the seated passengers or living cargo greater protection than currently exists in regular seating available today providing us with a direction to proceed to begin addressing increased safety features for our most precious cargo, our passengers.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62045667 | Sep 2014 | US |
