CA2314345C

CA2314345C - Shoulder and neck holder

Info

Publication number: CA2314345C
Application number: CA002314345A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Giok Djien Go
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-11
Filing date: 1998-11-10
Publication date: 2005-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-10
Also published as: WO1999024292A1; EP1037771A1; CA2314345A1; EP1037771B1

Abstract

A shoulder- and/or neck-holder, seat-belt, seat and sets of vibration- dampening energy-absorbers are integrated into an energy-absorbing, vibration-dampening safety-seat in order to restrain the shoulders and/or neck of a belted passenger, dampen vibratio ns and gradually absorb subenergies, resulting from a subdivision of the total energy, just below the respective injury-irrelevant threshold-values in any real-world accident of a transport-system, submarining or during in-flight turbulence. The conversion of an adult-seat into a child-seat or a baby-cot or vice-versa is simple. A rotatable device makes t he holder easy to use. Neck- and/or shoulder-shaped, height-, width-adjustable holders and/or neck- and/or shoulder-shaped energy absorbers, attached thereto, ensure complete restrain t of the shoulders and necks of passengers with different weights and body-proportion s. For the convenience of the passenger or in cases of emergency all latch-plat es are disengaged from the buckle-assemblies and/or the rotatable holder is repositioned to the resting position when depressing a master release-button.

Description

SHOULDER- AND NECK HOLDER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to a shoulder- and neck holder, which restrains the shoulders and neck of a belted passenger, an anti-submarining seat-belt assembly, a seat-belt use as well as a safety seat in order to dampen vibrations and substantially reduce the acceleration-depending loads below the injury-related values - in an event of arbitrary accident of a transport system (vehicle, train, boat or aeroplane) or - in an inflight turbulence.

2. Discussion of the Related Art:
It is known in the prior art to provide - a three-point seat belt (safety belt or lap-shoulder seat belt), consisting of a shoulder belt and a lap belt, for extending across the torso and across the lower part of body in motor vehicles;
- a two-point seat belt acting, as lap belt, for extending across the lower part of body in aeroplanes or rear seats of vehicle or - a seat-belt substitute for restraining the shoulders, upper part of the body and/or neck.
In order to formulate in single terminology a generalized definition for the proper term is presented:
"belt portions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4" for members of a mufti-point seat belt la to ld (Fig. 14) ref. to EP 1 037 773 B 1, equivalent to CA 2,313,780. The upper part of body is restrained by extending the shoulder belt portions 1.1, 1.2 crosswise in an "X-shape"
while the lower part of body is restrained by the lap belt portion 1.3.
"belt portions 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4" for members of a three-point belt le to restrain the upper part of body and to restrain the lower part of body, shown in Fig. 14;
"belt portion 1.3 " for conventional two-point or lap seat belt;
'floor 6" for vehicle-, train- or aeroplane floor (Fig. 14);
"seat frame" for frame of seat backrest or seat cushion;
CA 2314345 010504 2-space "accident" of a vehicle, train or aeroplane for front-, side-, rear collision of a vehicle or pile up (mass accident) or for train-, aeroplane accident or inflight turbulence;
"energy-absorption" for absorption and release of impact energy as well as dampening vibrations;
"undampened energy-absorption" for absorption and release of impact energy while vibrations are undampened;
"energy-absorbing method" for gradually absorbing subenergies "tlF;", the addition of which is equal to total energy "F"" or belt force (Fig. 9) and the increment "i" of which increases from "1" to "n", below the respective injury-related values by undampened energy-absorption, energy-absorption, preserving the clamping and friction forces of control-clamping elements associated with the fracture of the sites of predetermined fracture of clamping elements and energy absorbers during the energy-absorption, thus enhancing the survival chance and ensuring the restraint below the tensile strength of seat belt.
It is well known to restrain passengers, particularly, of vehicles with seat belts in the event of accident, where a small forward motion "w~" of the upper part of body at low speed is acceptable (Fig. 2). However, in the crash tests at speed of 55 km/h the rotating masses of torso 95.2 and head 95.1 are thrown forward and twisted by the acceleration-dependant loads [1, 2, 6 to 8].
Due to lack of restraint systems in trains passengers are not restrained, thus subjected to severe or fatal injury when ejected from the seats in accidents.
It is well known to restrain passengers of aeroplanes by two-point or lap seat belts, which are incapable of restraining the upper part of body as well as head in accidents, particularly associated with sudden turbulence. Consequently, severe/fatal injuries have been reported and, for sure, will be reported in the future.
Ref. to US 2,833,554 a passenger, sitting on the seat, is restrained by a head shielding plate, chest shielding plate and at least one knee shielding plate, all of which are provided with arms pivotally mounted to a column fastened to the vehicle roof and tunnel. US

3,392,989 has the same feature.
US 3,713,694 teaches a pair of rotatable U-shaped shoulder-arms, connected to each other by an upper crank shaft transversely arranged in the upper portion of the seat backrest, and a CA 2314345 010504 2-space lever arm, which, adjacent to the side of the seat cushion, is connected to a rotatable lower crank shaft, transversely arranged to the rear portion thereof and loosely connected to the upper crank, by a connector. When the lever arm is moved downwardly, the upper crank rotates the U-shaped shoulder-arms downwardly to restrain the shoulders of a passenger, sitting on the seat. DE-OS 2152146 has the same feature.
US 3,829,158 addresses a body-restraining device comprising a rotatable U-shaped hook, both ends, provided with a pair of pivots and arranged in the seat backrest.
When rotating from a resting position, in which the U-shaped hook is located above the head, to an operative position the U-shaped hook envelopes the upper part of the body of a passenger sitting on the seat.
Ref. to US 4,700,632 a passenger, in a standing position on a roller coaster, is restrained by a device comprising a seat placed between his legs, a back member, into which a head rest is incorporated, and a pair of arms, one of which remains fixed and the other is movable, defines a harness for retaining the upper part of his body.
US 5,529,382 addresses an over-shoulder-rotatable operating device, permitting fine adjustments of two pairs of pivoting arms to a body proportion, for amusement attractions.
The device comprises a lower plate, resting against the passenger's abdomen and the pairs of pivoting arms, the first pair located behind and above the passenger's shoulders and the second pair in conjunction with the lower plate in front of the passenger.
Ref. to EP 0003354 Al, equivalent to DE-OS 2803574, a seat backrest has a pair of recesses at the seat sides to house a pair of rotatable legs of a U-shaped seat member in a resting position. In an operative position the legs are rotated vertically, thus facilitating the U-shaped seat member to restrain a child, sitting on the seat.
According to the above-listed patent documents U5 2,833,554, US 3,392,989, US
3,713,694, US 3,829,158, US 3,901,550 (DE-OS 24 28 285), US 4,700,632, US
5,529,382, DE-OS 2152146 and EP 0003354 A1 (DE-OS 2803574) the restraint device, a seat belt-substitute, restrains the shoulders, lap and/or abdomen of the passenger. This feature is in contradiction to the law, valid world-wide, enforcing the use of seat belts during travel.
Unbelted passengers are not tolerated. Police fine them for belt violations.
Recently, in Washington State a hefty $ 86 fine per passenger, imposed therefor, is legislated.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space -!~-Furthermore, Administrations world-wide would reject motor vehicles, equipped with such restraint devices, thus putting the car manufacturer out of business.
Moreover, all the restraint devices need space, the design is bulky and unattractive. By no means can child-seats and/or baby cots be installed in the car. The overall stylish impression of the vehicle is not beneficial to sales. When cleaning, repairing or stepping in or out of the vehicle body, the passengers, in particular, children can stumble over such devices, unintentionally hit them and/or be obstructed, for example, by the seat harnesses, located in the resting position at the head level, ref. to US 2,833,554, US 3,392,989, US
3,829,158 etc.
Evidently, all the restraint devices are incapable of absorbing great energy, dampening strong vibrations and ensuring the restraint of the passengers in any real-world accident, for example, submarining, rollover, multi-crash etc. As a result, passengers are exposed to the danger of being severely/fatally injured and/or burnt alive if the car catches fire.
Ref. to US 3,901,550, equivalent to DE-OS 24 28 285, the invention has the best feature among the above-mentioned restraint devices, the passenger is secured by the restraint of both shoulders and the pelvis 96 by means of two pairs of air-cushioned guard arms 16 and 18. The following problem cases cast doubt on the survival chance and applicability:
I. Due to the gap between,the shoulders and shoulder cap the shoulders and head 95.1 can oscillate. High injury severity results from 1. large acceleration of head of a belted dummy about 83 g in the crash test of a vehicle without airbag [ 1 ], 2. limited energy-absorption property of the air chambers to dissipate large energy of the upper part of body of belted dummy, thrown forward, by a force of about 64 g and 3. lack of neck cap to dissipate large energy of the head, yaw-accelerated at the yaw angle O [2],acting as the second rotating mass.
A passenger, submarining (slipping downward) in a rear collision, releases himself from the restraint by the guard arms 16 and 18, thus exposed to severe/fatal injury.
In a real-world accident, the load cases of which are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the survival chance is low due to lack of energy- and shock absorber.
II. Upper part of body, defined by various outer contour, for example, upon putting a thick winter coat, can't be retained because only one outer contour is configured when pulling together the air chambers 26 of guard arms 16 via a tension strap 30. The outer contour is determined by two body shapes (both shoulders and chest) and the passenger, whose circumference varies depending on the clothes worn.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space IILThe manufacturing costs for two pairs of guard arms and two feeding systems are higher than that of the shoulder- and neck holder including the seat belt.
IV.Passengers are severely/fatally injured in the event of submarining or rolling over.
According to DE 37 06 394 C1 a backrest of a front vehicle seat is equipped with deformation elements, which are deformed beyond the yield limit for the purpose of undampened energy-absorption when - a passenger, seated in the front, is thrown against the seat backrest in a rear collision or - an unbelted passenger, seated in the back, is thrown against the seat backrest in a front collision.
The supporting members ofthe seat-backrest frame serve as deformation elements, to which expanding and contracting elements are arranged, the geometry of which and elastic limit of which vary along the length of the seat backrest.
Ref. to DE 42 38 549 A l thin walls of a seat-backrest frame are proposed for undampened energy-absorption.
According to DE 92 02 219 U 1 a belt retractor, equipped with a clamping device, acts as delimiter of a restraint system in conjunction with deformation and energy-absorption. The belt retractor and clamping device are connected to each other by a plate with ribs. Due to clamping of the belt in excess of a threshold value the ribs are deformed, thus increasing the distance of the clamping device from the belt retractor. The energy, imposed on the belted passenger, is released by the fracture of predetermined sites of the ribs.
A seat ref. to EP 04234348 A1 is proposed for survival chance in a mid-front collision of car, train or aeroplane. A pair of energy absorbers is pivotally attached to a pair of front and rear seat legs, which are pivotally attached to the floor 6 and a seat-cushion frame. Each energy absorber consists of a rod, pivotally attached to the rear seat leg and floor 6 and having a cone-shaped end, and a tube, pivotally attached to the front seat leg and seat-cushion frame and having a cone-shaped collar to receive the end of the rod.
During the movement of the seat in mid-tiont collision, the end of the rod expands (reams) the tube, thus performing work of deformation and friction in order to dissipate energy.
For the purpose of gliding the end of the rod along the inner cylinder of the tube, the wall may not be cracked, but only deformed.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space Exemplified by DE 39 33 721 Al, another energy-absorbing friction device, mounted to a vehicle part, has a tube, which is deformed by the belt force. The end of a rod, protruding through the tube, is connected to the seat belt and several barrels of a role (bearing balls) are arranged around the other end, inserted in the inner cylinder of tube. The outer diameter of the rod and barrels of a role is a little larger than the inner diameter of tube. Under the load of belt force the barrels expand the inner cylinder of tube.
A very low work of deformation and friction is achieved, nevertheless, this invention contains the first-promising feature which only in co-operation with the seat belt is able to effectively absorb energy.
US 5,544,918 discloses an energy-absorbing management device, which comprises a crushable (deformable) honeycomb to absorb energy and a controller consisting of three-sensor mechanisms to monitor and sense the weight of the passenger, his forward motion and the severity of the vehicle collision. Unfortunately, sensors are incapable of evaluating crash data within few milliseconds and responsible for false deployment of airbags, resulting in decapitations, severe/fatal injuries and burns, which are reported in [6 to 8] and EP
0844939 B1, equivalent to CA 2,236,816. Due to the unreliable operation of sensors car manufacturer has no choice to start recall program, which impairs the reputation and is costly.
A more reliable and far cheaper energy-absorbing device is described hereinafter and in DE
197 58 497 C2.
SCJMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the principle object of the present invention is to provide for a belted passenger of a transport system a shoulder- and neck holder which resolves the above-mentioned shortcomings and deficiencies, dampens vibrations and decreases all the loads, imposed on the passenger, below the injury-relevant threshold values in the event of a real-world accident, shown in Figs. 1 a and 2, or in an inflight turbulence.
A second object of the present invention resides in emergency operation by means of a common release button, when depressed, either to release all the latch plates of the insertable shoulder- and neck holder from the respective buckle assemblies or to move a rotatable device of the rotatable shoulder- and neck holder back from the operative position to the CA 2314345 010504 2-space resting position. By law passengers travelling in a motor vehicle or experiencing flight-turbulence must remain belted. The need for a belted mother to turn around becomes apparent, because she must attend to her belted children, sitting on the rear seat, when crying.
A third object of the present invention resides in one-click operation by means of a master release button, when depressed, to release the main latch plate and all the additional latch plates from the main and supplemental buckle assemblies, either to release all the latch plates of the insertable shoulder- and neck holder from the respective buckle assemblies or to move the rotatable device of the rotatable shoulder- and neck holder back from the operative position to the resting position. In emergency cases paramedics and fire-fighters can easily rescue the injured passengers. Within seconds the passengers can step out of the transport system when catching fire.
A fourth object of the present invention resides in a cost-, space-saving integration of a seat belt, the insertable shoulder- and neck holder, energy absorbers, sets of vibration-dampening energy absorbers, an anti-submarining seat-belt assembly and the seat into an energy-absorbing, vibration-dampening safety seat, which can be converted into a safety baby-cot 86, safety child-seat 85a, 85b or safety adult-seat 85a to 85e or vice-versa, illustrated in Fig.
14. As a result, the rate of seat occupancy in a bus, train or an aeroplane is increased and there is no need to purchase child-seats and baby-cots and transport them, when not used, back anymore.
A fifth object of the present invention resides in exploiting the fracture of the energy absorbers as irrefutable evidence for a seat-belt use.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
It should be apparent that the invention provides substantially improved restraint including the following features:
- In compliance with the law, valid world-wide, enforcing the use of seat belts by the use of the conventional seat belt or the multi-point seat belt ref. to EP 1 037 773 B
1, equivalent to CA 2,313,780, the restraint of shoulders and/or neck by the shoulder-and/or neck holder can be determined before the travel/flight or in accident/turbulence or in excess of a threshold speed e.g. over 80 km/h. The deflecting point or end of a conventional seat CA 2314345 010504 2-space belt 3e (Fig. 14) is located at the top edge of seat backrest. The compound of two restraint systems lc / 10, la / 10a, lb / lOb, ld / lOd, le / l0e minimizes movements/motions/torsions and all acceleration-dependant loads (Fig. la), imposed on the shoulders, neck, torso, lower part of body and, in particular, head acting as the 3rd mass. This feature contributes to new development to increase the reliability of substitutes for airbags. Due to the unreliability and false deployment of airbags newspapers [3] have reported recall programs, decapitations, severe/fatal injuries, burns etc.
- Beyond doubt, one-piece neck cap 10.4a, 10.4c, rigidly connected to shoulder caps 10.2a, 10.2c, sustains the neck e.g. of a cervical trauma suffering passenger at the best. If such shoulder- and neck holders 10a, lOc were installed in a vehicle or an aeroplane, healthy passengers would reject to use them when it is hot or the passenger is wearing tie or jewellery around her/his neck. This controversy is resolved by the features of one of the Claims 3 and 17.
- By making the caps 10.2, 10.2a to 10.2f and a number of the respective alternate energy absorbers 10.3, 10.3a even a passenger with broad shoulders can use the holder by changing shoulder caps.
Moreover, the overall stylish impression of seats is spoilt by shoulder-and/or neck-shaped caps, when not in use, thus impairing the sales. Understandably, the design of caps of holders e.g. 10, lOb (Fig. 14) for expensive luxury cars depends, principally, on the form of the seat 3c, 3b. It is more likely that seats of expensive luxury cars are equipped with shoulder- and neck holders lOd, l0e (Figs. 1, la, 8, 8a, 8b), which are located in the seat backrests when not used. To protect the broad shouldered passenger the shoulder-caps must be changed. The decision for shoulder- or seat -shaped caps depends on the purpose of holders installed in the motor vehicle (bus, ambulance, van, luxury car etc.), train and aeroplane. This controversy is resolved by the features of one of the Claims 29 to 32.
- The problem case II, aforementioned, is resolved by variable restraint of a single body member comprising the shoulders and neck. Preferably, two-piece, shoulder-shaped energy absorbers 10.3, 10.3a can be detached from two-piece, deformable caps 10.2, 10.2a to 10.2f and one- or two-piece, neck-shaped energy absorbers 10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c from one- or two-piece, deformable caps 10.4, 10.4a to 10.4c, 10.4f as well as fastened thereto via adhesive fastener such as zip-, snap-in- or Velcro fastener. The absorber as well as cap can be made of one- or two pieces.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space For the purpose of cost saving associated with the demand for passengers, with different neck- and shoulder shapes, a large number of neck- and shoulder-shaped energy absorbers 10.3, 10.3a, 10.5, 10.5x, 10.5c and a low number of caps are produced. Fig. 14 exemplifies the adaptation of the holder to the body proportion of a child, sitting on the seat 3a, 3b, by using detachable holder 10a, lOb.
- For the purpose of quick storage and removal, the holder l0a to lOc is inserted into the seat backrest or -cushion of seat 3a to 3c (Fig. 14), secured by inserting the pair of latch plates 10.1, l0.lb, l0.lf therein and released by pressing the release button 87a to 87c.
Both latch plates of shoulder- and neck holder l0a are disengaged from seat cushion 3.1a (Fig. 14) by pressing the release button 87a. As front portion of that seat cushion the holder l0a is removed from the cutaway portion (opening) to exploit its space for accommodation of both lower legs of a child sitting on the rear portion thereof.
- For the convenience of the passenger and in cases of quick-rescue and emergency a master release button 84 of lap buckle assembly 9.1 is pressed to release all latch plates of the seat belt from the respective buckle assemblies and * to move the holder lOd, l0e back from the operative position to the resting position or * to release all latch plates of holder 10, l0a to lOc, lOf from the respective buckle assemblies.
- Both casings 29a of rotatable device 28a are guided by two pairs of inner tubes 71, 72 of seat-backrest frame 3.4d, 3.4e and can be locked in the required height.
- Large impact energy is absorbed, during which vibration is dampened, by * fracture of pads of predetermined fracture "S11" to "Sr"I," and "Hl l" to "Ht,n,", which define the energy absorber 10.3, 10.3a and 10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c;
* fracture of sites of predetermined fracture "s" of spring 10.9;
* fracture of sites of predetermined fracture of clamping elements of the following sets of energy absorbers 30, 40, 50 (Figs. 10 to 12) having control-wires 37, 47, 57, representing 40e, 40f having wires 47e, 47f, which are tautly, less tautly and/or loosely connected to holder 10e; and * friction of clamping elements 32.1 to 32.e, 42.1 to 42.e, 52.1 to 52.e, which move along the respective retaining elements 31, 41, 51.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space - The shoulder- and/or neck cap can be inserted or rotatably attached to or in the seat backrest. Furthermore, it can be adapted to the body proportion of a passenger by a width-and height-adjustable mechanism of the holder.
The sets of energy absorbers and accommodation thereof in the frame of seat backrest and/or seat cushion account for a method of construction to save space, weight and costs and to increase stiffness. Furthermore, the energy-absorbing elements are made by extrusion, depth extrusion, casting, die casting or of spring plate or of spring steel. A
preference for the embodiments is given to elements, having round profile, which are the cheapest and easiest to manufacture.
The costs and reject rate are lowered by a single tolerance (over- or undermeasure of a round profile), pre-tensioning (biasing) the clamping elements on or in the retaining element and pre-assembling all sets of energy absorbers, which are pre-loaded, for the delivery and final assembly to the frame of seat backrest and/or seat cushion.
The position of clamping elements e.g. 42, 42.1, ..., 42.n to each other can be adjusted by choosing the adjusting holes "Ll" to "Le" and/or by clamping the brackets 37b1 on the wires.
Owing to the property of the great energy-absorption by small mass, lighter materials such as magnesium-, aluminium-extrusion, die casting of GD-MgAl2 or alloys or carbon/glass fibre-reinforced plastics, used for skis, are recommended for the caps of the holder, latch plates and parts of the set of energy absorbers.
- Fracture of sites of predetermined fracture "s" can be used as court-evidence for a passenger having belted in the accident.
- Retaining elements (Figs. 1, la, 10 to 12), integrated into the frame of seat backrest and/or seat cushion, enormously increase the stiffness of seat frame and save weight and costs. The buckle assemblies, receiving the latch plates, are sustained by the frame of seat backrest and/or seat cushion. Advantageously, retaining elements such as 31c can be exploited as the seat legs of the seat 3c (Fig. 14).
- Two- or three-point seat belt can be equipped with sets of energy absorbers.
The guide pieces 4.7a, 4.7b of buckle assemblies, plug-in connected to the respective latch plates, have two functions to integrate energy absorbers into the two-, three- or mufti-point seat belt and to guide the movement of the buckle assemblies, when loaded or unloaded.
- Due to the increased tension on the wire the clamping element performs the work of deformation and friction, which is released in excess of threshold value resulting in CA 2314345 010504 2-space -I l -fracture of sites of predetermined fracture "s", two sites shown in Fig. 11, upon the contact with both heads of stop pin or bolt 46.1, ..., 46.n. The site of predetermined fracture can be formed as crack, corrugation, hole or recess.
- In another embodiment the performed work (energy) is released by fracture * in excess of the yield limit of the clamping element, * due to constrained deformation of carrier piece or expanding (reaming) the clamping element upon the contact with a wedge-shaped stop element 41.3 (Fig. 11) or with a wedge-shaped rib 41.1, 51.1 (Fig. 12).
- Generally, the energy absorber consists of a tube-shaped base body with/without rib, serving as retaining element, and at least one clamping element, which is arranged to or in the retaining element. Wires are employed to tautly, less tautly and/or loosely connect * clamping elements to each other, whereby a row of energy absorbers e.g. R42 (not denoted) is defined from the expanding clamping elements 42, 42.1 to 42.n and the retaining element 41 (Fig. 11). In similar manner the other rows of energy absorbers such as R32, R52 etc. can be built together;
* rows of energy absorbers to define a set of energy absorbers 30, 40, 50 (Figs. 10 to 12) and * sets of energy absorbers to coupling member 1.2a,1.2b of tie band (catch band) l.la, l.lb, 1.5. 1.6, 47e, 47f (Figs. 1, la, 13a, 13b and 13e) to dissipate subenergies "0F;"
by applying the energy-absorbing method.
Injury-irrelevant threshold value is defined by the difference between two forces "OF';", lower than the injury-related load. The threshold values may have different magnitudes.
For the energy-absorption up to the starting threshold value "~F1", at least one clamping element 32e, 32f (Figs. 1, I a) or energy absorber 10.3, 10.3a, 10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c is responsible.
In order to prevent vibration and to fix the onset of energy-absorption at least one control-clamping element 52 must be biased up to an onset force-level e.g. "OF1 - 500 N", which is lower than "OF1". Over this onset force-level the element, pulled by the corresponding wire 57, performs work of deformation and friction, during which the energy "Of1" is released by fracture of sites of predetermined fracture of clamping element 32e, 32f, so that the passenger is neither injured nor thrown back. The energy increase about "OF'2" is CA 2314345 010504 2-space compensated by the fracture of at least one complementary clamping element 52.1 to 52.n, so that the passenger is neither injured nor thrown back.
The gradual reduction of energy is repeated so long up to a load zone defined of "~Fe -500 N", in which all clamping elements are broken, the control-clamping elements 52 cannot move anymore and at least one control-clamping element 42, biased at "Off - 500 N", and/or at least one clamping element of set of energy absorbers 40 performs) work of deformation and friction.
The energy increase about "Off' is compensated by the fracture of the control-clamping elements 52 and/or of at least one complementary clamping element 42.1 to 42.n, so that the passenger is neither injured nor thrown back. The gradual reduction of energy is repeated so long till 1. the total energy "F"" is consumed or 2. a new load zone defined of e.g. "~Fh - 500 N", in which all clamping elements are broken, the control-clamping elements 42 can't move anymore and at least one of the following sets of energy absorbers decrease energy, such as * 30, 40a, 50a (not shown) of the other structural half of seat-cushion frame 3.3a, * 40, 50 of the other structural half of seat-backrest frame 3.4a, * 30M, 40M, 50M, 65M (not shown) fastened to the cross members 3.41, 3.42 of seat-backrest frame 3.4a facing each other, * 30N, 40N, 50N, 65N (not shown) fastened to the cross members 3.31, 3.33 (not shown) of seat-cushion frame 3.3a facing each other.
Because the passenger was subjected to a succession of injury-irrelevant threshold values "4F;", where i = 1 to n, during the accident and restrained by the seat belt, tensile strength of which about 24,000 N is substantially higher than "~F;", he needs only to depress the master release button 84 of lap buckle assembly 9.1, detaching all latch plates from buckle assemblies, and egresses, unscathed, from the vehicle, train or aeroplane (Figs. la and 14).
An energy-absorbing device, comprising a number of sets of energy absorbers, having different threshold values, is connected to the holder and to the latch plates of the seat belt 3 0 in plug-in connection with the buckle assemblies of the seat backrest and/or -cushion.
- In another embodiment a sound-proofing material 83, having arbitrary friction coefficient "~", different or progressive friction coefficient, is attached to the contact surface of CA 2314345 010504 2-space retaining element and/or clamping element for the purpose of dampening vibration and performing work of friction. Furthermore, it is possible to coat the retaining elements and corresponding clamping elements therewith, thus eliminating any noise.
- In the event of submarining and/or rollover the energy is dissipated by sets of energy absorbers, which are arranged to the seat frame and are tautly, less tautly and/or loosely connected to the buckle assembly.
- A single seat can be equipped with holder for persons (adults and/or children) of different ages related to weight groups, which depend on the appropriate sets of energy absorbers.
The sets of energy absorbers and/or energy absorbers have different threshold values.
Owing to these features the survival chance of the passengers is enhanced and the seats, equipped therewith, can be modified to be used by adults or children, thus increasing the rate of seat occupancy in a bus, train or an aeroplane, exemplified in Fig.
14.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A number of embodiments, other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in the accompanying tables and drawings with reference to the xyz global coordinate system:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view a rotatable shoulder holder 10e, rotated by a 2nd embodiment of a rotatable device 28a from a resting position "P" to an operative position "Pi".
Fig, la is a side view a belted passenger whose shoulders are restrained by the rotatable shoulder holder 10e, which, equipped with energy absorbers 10.3, is rotated due to the forward motion from the operative position "P1" to an accident-related position "PZ", according to the arrow R of Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a restrained dummy under load of "F"", thrown forward "w,,"
in an offset crash test [ 1 ].
Fig. 3 is a schematic, perspective view of a 1 st embodiment of a half of a shoulder- and neck holder 10 equipped with a set of energy absorbers 10.3, 10.5 and latch plate 10.1 and of a belt-feeding device 20d, provided with a pair of rollover tubes 20.2b and a safety bracket 20.6, and a height- and width-adjusting mechanism 27, 27a.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space Fig. 4 is a schematic, perspective view of a 2nd embodiment of a shoulder- and neck holder l0a equipped with a wider chin-supporting neck collar 10.4a, energy absorbers 10.3a, 10.5a and latch plates l0.lf.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a 3 rd embodiment of a half of a shoulder- and neck holder lOb equipped with the energy absorbers 10.3, 10.5,10.9.
Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a 4th embodiment of a shoulder- and neck holder lOc equipped with energy absorbers.
Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a 5th embodiment of a half of a shoulder- and neck holder lOf, equipped with a latch plate l0.lf in plug-in connection with a buckle assembly 4b.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a 1st embodiment of a rotatable device 28 rotating from a resting position "P" to an operative position "P1".
Fig. 8a is a perspective view of a 6th embodiment of a half of a rotatable shoulder holder lOd, rotated by the rotatable device 28 from the resting position "P" to the operative position "P1".
Fig. 8b is a perspective view of a rotatable lever 28.5 of the rotatable device 28 retained by a stop piece 28.9.
Fig. 9 illustrates a total load "F"", absorbed by the restraint system in co-operation with an energy-absorbing, vibration-dampening device, in the event of a real-world accident.
Fig. 10 is a schematic, perspective view of a 1 st embodiment of a set of energy absorbers 30, 40e, 40f.
Fig. 11 is a schematic, perspective view of a 2nd embodiment of a set of energy absorbers 40, 40e, 40f.
Fig. l la is a partially enlarged perspective view of a clamping element with sites of predetermined fracture "s" and both heads of a stop pin to block the clamping element.
Fig. 12 is a schematic, perspective view of a 3rd embodiment of a set of energy absorbers 50, 40e, 40f.
Fig. 13 a is a schematic, perspective view of a 1 st embodiment of a buckle assembly 4a comprising a guide piece 4.7a, release cable 4.2, tie band l.la and coupling member 1.2a.
Fig. 13b is a schematic, perspective view of a 2nd embodiment of a buckle assembly 4b comprising a guide piece 4.7b, an electrical motor 4.2b with a shaft 4.3b, a tie band l.lb and coupling member 1.2b.
Fig. 13c is a cross-sectional view of buckle assembly 4.8c, adjustable along the width of the back rest, having two holes to loosely guide two tie bands 1.5,1.6, and a height- and CA 2314345 010504 2-space width-adjusting mechanism 27a, whose locking handle 27.5 is form- and force-locking connected to the slots of both inner tubes 27.4, along the line I-I of Fig. 3.
Fig. 13d is a cross-sectional view of buckle assembly 4.8c, adjustable along the width of the back rest, having two holes to loosely guide two tie bands 1.5, 1.6, and a height- and S width-adjusting mechanism 27, whose locking handle 27.5 is form- and force-locking connected to the slots of the inner tube 27.4, along the line I-I of Fig. 3.
Fig. 13e is a cross-sectional view of a 3rd embodiment of a buckle assembly 4c comprising two tie bands 1.5, 1.6 and a release cable 4.3 along the line II-II of Fig.
13d.
Fig. 14 is a front view of safety seats 85a to 85e, 86, into which the seat belts la to le, sets of energy absorbers, shoulder holders 10, 10a, lOb, lOd, l0e and seats 3a to 3e are integrated, for passengers with diil'erent weights and body proportions.
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a belt-detachable U-shaped latch plate 25.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF
THE INVENTION
The advantages of the preferred embodiments, above-mentioned in the Chap.
"Summary of the advantages...", are outlined hereinafter with regard to the functions and features thereof.
An upper part 95 of body of a passenger comprises a torso 95.2, head 95.1 and neck 95.3 (Fig. 1 a). The method of the present invention capitalizes on the premise that a seat belt is employed to restrain a passenger in, preferably, at least four attachment points of the seat to distribute all acceleration dependant loads, particularly the yaw "O"-acceleration-dependent torque "T", thereto in an accident. In conjunction therewith and with a large number of sets of vibration-dampening energy absorbers, a shoulder holder, restraining both shoulders, gradually lowers all the loads, imposed thereon and on the neck, serving as a "spring"
connecting the head to the torso. When the neck is properly restrained by a neck holder, the loads, imposed on the head, are substantially decreased. In addition thereto, this restraint system is able to dampen strong oscillations for example in an event of in-flight turbulence.
The features are applicable for any motor vehicle, provided with arbitrary post sections (pillars), train or aeroplane.
In the 1st to 7th embodiment the shoulder- and/or neck holder 10, l0a to lOf, shown in Figs. 1, 1 a, 3 to 8, compri ses CA 2314345 010504 2-space - one- or two-piece caps 10.2, 10.2a to 10.2f with the shoulder-shaped energy absorbers 10.3, 10.3a and/or - one- or two-piece caps 10.4, 10.4a to 10.4c, 10.4f with the neck-shaped energy absorber 10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c.
Two-piece caps of the shoulder holder have an advantage over a one-piece cap of the shoulder holder that it can be put into use for a passenger with two different shoulders. The problem of the one-piece cap of the shoulder holder can only be resolved by the use of two different shoulder energy absorbers adapted thereto.
The cap of shoulder- and neck holder 10, lOb (Figs. 3 and 5) is built by inserting a pair of neck-caps 10.4, 10.4b into a pair of shoulder-caps 10.2, 10.2b. This feature makes the design of the neck caps, insertably attachable thereto as well as detachable therefrom, possible.
Thanks to such design the passenger can decide for the use of the neck caps.
If he or she is born with a weak neck muscle, the pair of neck-caps must be insertably attached thereto. On a hot day the neck caps can be removed therefrom. However, for children and persons, having very weak neck muscle, in particular when suffering from cervical trauma, the neck-shaped cap 10.4a of holder l0a is recommended. Its wider chin-supporting energy absorber 10.5a (Fig. 4) improves the properties of bracing the head and substantially absorbing energy during the forward motion "w,," of the passenger.
To restrain the shoulders and neck of a passenger, the one-piece holder 10a, in closed form and using a connecting cap-member 10.11, has the greatest stiffness, however by removing that connecting cap the holder lOc in open form does not block out air flow.
This controversy is resolved by the stiff rotatable device 28, 28a of rotatable holder lOd, l0e in the different embodiments.
The latch plate 10.1 is pivotally attached to the flange 10.12 of shoulder-and neck holder 10 by a pin 10.6 or by a bolt 10.6a and nut 10.6b (Fig. 3). The adjustment to the shoulder shape is done by rotating the bolt 10.7 in the threaded hole of flange 10.12.
Finally, that bolt is secured by a nut 10.8. Time is greatly consumed for the removal of the belt from the closed apertures of cap 10.2 and the latch plate 10.1, to loosely guide the belt portion 1.1, in order to store the holder 10 on the seat backrest of seat 3c (Fig. 14). Thanks to the open aperture 10.14 of cap 10.2b, 10.2c, 10.2f and open aperture of latch plate l0.lb, the belt, when strapped over the holder, can be loosely locked, guided by quick-release pin 10.10 and released by withdrawal of quick-release pin.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space In the 5th embodiment ref. to Fig. 7 the latch plate l0.lf is secured to the flange 10.12f by a pin 10.6, bolt 10.6a and nut 10.6b. In order to adjust the cap 10.2f along the width of the seat backrest the bolt 10.6a is rotated in the appropriate direction in the threaded hole of flange 10.12~
In the 1 st embodiment ref. to Fig. 8 each of the pair of casings 29 of rotatable device 28 of holder lOd consists of two outer tubes 28.1, 28.2, force-locking connected with a coupling wall 28.3, and an L-shaped plate 28.4, having a forward-motion catch 28.16 connecting to the coupling wall 28.3.
First ends of the pair of rotatable levers 28.5 are connected to each other by a shaft 28.7, about which each rotatable lever 28.5, loosely guided between the plate 28.4 and the coupling wall 28.3, is rotated from the resting position "P" or "O" to the operative position "P1" or "Ol" and vice-versa. A shoulder cap 10.2d, illustrated by a segment "PO" or "P101"
in the resting or operative position, and a release cam 28.6 are fastened to a second end of each rotatable lever (Figs. 8, 8a).
In the resting position "P" each cap is located in the seat backrest or on its upper portion underneath a seat cover 3.22d and, if available, underneath a head rest 3.6.
If a supporting tube 3.61 is available, the cap, recessed about that supporting tube, must be reinforced by reinforcing plate 10.13. Alternatively, the transverse member 28.51 of rotatable lever 28.5, when having the shape thereof, can reinforce the recessed cap.
Because the outer tubes 28.1, 28.2 are guided by inner tubes 71, 72 of seat-backrest frame 3.4d with outer diameter "d;" (Figs. 1, 10, 11), the height of the caps 10.24 in association with the rotatable device 28 can be adjusted to the body proportion in both directions denoted by arrow "U" (Fig. 8) by manual operation or by a drive apparatus 80 e.g.
hydraulic-piston cylinder unit, electrical motor (not drawn), similar to 4.2b shown in Fig.
13b.
The drive apparatus 80 can be activated by a switch, release button, controller, sensor or an accelerator pedal in reference to one of the features of the Claim 13. Upon e.g. tipping the switch or release button the drive apparatus moves the holder lOd back to the resting position.
For the convenience of the passenger stepping out of the vehicle or in cases of emergency all latch plates of the seat belt are disengaged and the drive apparatus moves the holder lOd back to the resting position when depressing the master release button 84 of lap buckle assembly 9.1 (Fig. 14).
CA 2314345 010504 2-space Due to the rotation of both rotatable levers 28.5, operated manually or by drive apparatus 80, a pair of release cams 28.6 in conjunction with a pair of devices (not shown) forces the rotation of lock pawls 28.8, pre-loaded (biased) by first springs 28.10, about the axis of pins 28.15 in the direction denoted by arrow "D". As a result, a pair of locking pins 28.12, pre-loaded by second springs 28.13, and loosely guided in guide tubes 28.11, moves in the direction denoted by arrow "V" from a resting position into the corresponding holes 28.14 at the coupling walls 28.3 and blocks together with the forward-motion catch 28.16 of the plate 28.4 the rotatable levers 28.5 in both directions.
When blocked, in the event of accident the loads are reduced by the deformable holder lOd equipped with energy absorbers 10.3 (Fig. 1 a). In front collisions the upper body part 95 of the restrained passenger is thrown forward (Figs. la, 2) while both rotatable levers 28.5 are blocked by the forward-motion catches 28.16.
When the deformable holder 10d is withdrawn and the locking pins 28.12 are moved back to the resting position, both rotatable levers 28.5, moving from the operative position "PI" to the resting position "P", snap into the respective spaces, defined by the stop pieces 28.9 and the coupling walls 28.3, and are retained therein (Fig. 8b).
In the 2nd embodiment ref. to Fig. 1 each of the pair of casings 29a of rotatable device 28a of holder l0e consists of two outer tubes 28.1, 28.2, force-locking connected with a coupling wall 28.3, and an L-shaped, partly laterally closed and partly laterally open plate 28.4x, having a small front plate 28.16x, connecting to the coupling wall 28.3, and a forward-motion opening 28.18.
First ends of the pair of rotatable levers 28.5a are connected to each other by shaft 28.7, about which each rotatable (ever 28.5x, loosely guided between the plate 28.4a and the coupling wall 28.3, is rotated from the resting position "P" or "O" to the operative position "P1" or "O1" and vice-versa. A shoulder cap 10.2e, illustrated by a segment "PO" or "P101"
in the resting or operative position, and a release cam 28.6a are fastened to a second end of each rotatable lever.
In the resting position "P" each cap is located in the seat backrest or on its upper portion underneath a seat cover 3.22e and, if available, underneath a head rest 3.6.
Because the retaining elements 31e, 31f, form- locking connected to the outer tubes 28.1, 28.2 by a pair of auxiliary tubes 71x, 72a and force-locking connected thereto, are guided by inner tubes 71, 72 of seat-backrest frame 3.4e with outer diameter "d;" (Figs.
l, 10, 11), the height of the caps 10.2e in association with the rotatable device 28a can be adjusted to the CA 2314345 010504 2-space body proportion in both directions denoted by arrow "U" (Fig. 1) by manual operation or by a drive apparatus 80 e.g. hydraulic-piston cylinder unit, electrical motor (not drawn), similar to 4.2b shown in Fig. 13b.
The drive apparatus 80 can be activated by a switch, release button, controller, sensor or an accelerator pedal in reference to one of the features of the Claim 13. Upon e.g. tipping the switch or release button the drive apparatus moves the holder l0e back to the resting position.
For the convenience of the passenger stepping out of the vehicle or in cases of emergency all latch plates of the seat belt are disengaged and the drive apparatus moves the holder l0e back to the resting position when depressing the master release button 84 of lap buckle assembly 9.1 (Fig. 14).
Due to the rotation of both rotatable levers 28.5a, operated manually or by drive apparatus 80, a pair of release cams 28.6a forces the rotation of lock pawls 28.8a, pre-loaded (biased) by first springs 28.10a, about the axis of shaft 28.7, and activates a pair of switches (not 1 S shown). As a result, a pair of locking pins 28.12, pre-loaded by second springs 28.13 (Fig.
8), and loosely guided in guide tubes 28.11 (Fig. 8), moves from a resting position into the corresponding holes 28.14 (Fig. 8) at the coupling walls 28.3 and blocks the rotatable levers 28.5 in one direction.
When blocked, in the event of accident great loads are dissipated and strong vibrations are dampened by the deformable holder l0e equipped with energy absorbers 10.3 and a set of vibration-dampening energy absorbers 40e, 40f. The wire 47f is clamped (jammed) on the control-wire 47e at the clamping site by a bracket 48.1. Similarly, the control-wire 37f (not shown) is clamped on the control-wire 37e by another bracket (not shown). A
wire-guiding piece 28.17 loosely guides the control-wire 37e, 47e. A wire-attachment assembly 48 comprises two wire-rings 48.3, 48.6, two sleeves 48.2, 48.5, a bolt 48.4 and nut 48.7. Both wire-rings 48.3, 48.6 of the control-wires 37e, 47e are fastened to the holder l0e by bolting the bolt 48.4, protruding therethrough and through both sleeves 48.2, 48.5, to the nut 48.7.
The control-wires 37e, 47e, tightly, less tightly and/or loosely connecting the rotatable levers 28.5 to the rotatable levers 28.5 in the operative position "P1" determines the onset of energy-absorption and vibration-dampening.
In front collisions the upper body part 95 of the restrained passenger, thrown forward to an accident-related position "P2" or "02", moves the holder 10e, through the forward-motion opening 28.18, while the control-wires 37e, 47e pull via stop pieces 28.9a, serving as CA 2314345 010504 2-space deflectors and pivots, the clamping elements 32e, 32f moving along the respective retaining elements 31e, 31f (Fig. la). During which the work of deformation and friction is achieved thereby. The stored energy is released in excess of the yield strength and/or of the threshold values. Additional clamping elements 32, 32.1 to 32.n, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n can be arbitrarily arranged or be series-connected to clamping element 32e, 32f to absorb great energy and dampen strong vibrations.
The gap "n" (Fig. 1) between the release cam 28.6a and the L-shaped, partly laterally closed and partly laterally open plate 28.4a determines how far both rotatable levers 28.5a may rotate. Alternatively, the rotation of both rotatable levers is limited when at least one of clamping elements 32e, 32f comes in contact with the lower edge of the respective casing 29a.
When the deformable holder l0e is withdrawn and the locking pins 28.12 are moved back to the resting position, both rotatable levers 28.5a, moving from the accident-related position "P2" or operative position "P1" to the resting position "P", snap into the respective spaces, defined by the stop pieces 28.9a and the coupling walls 28.3, and are retained therein (Fig.
1 a).
In the lst embodiment the set ofvibration-dampening energy absorbers 30, 40e, 40f (Fig.
10) comprises a retaining element 31, control-wire 37, control-clamping element 32 and complementary clamping elements 32.1 to 32.n (not drawn). After projecting through or into the cylinder-shaped edges 37c1 of control-clamping element 32, both end portions of complementary wire 37a1 of control-wire 37 are secured by clamping two brackets 37b1 or both cylinder-shaped ends 37c1 therewith. The inner diameter "d;" of retaining element 31, 41 is a little larger than the outer diameter "d;" of inner tubes 71, 72 (Figs. 1, la, 8, 8a).
In the 2nd embodiment ref. to Figs. 11, l la the set of vibration-dampening energy absorbers 40, 40e, 40f comprises a retaining element 41, control-wire 47, control-clamping element 42 and complementary clamping elements 42.1 to 42.n. Owing to taut, less taut and/or loose connection of complementary wires 47.1, ..., 47.n with the clamping elements 42, 42.1, ..., 42.n, if necessary by occupying another pair of adjusting holes "L1 to Le", the onset of each clamping element, biased, is determinable. Owing to arbitrary connection of wires with arbitrary clamping elements the fracture of the clamping elements can be pre-determined in an arbitrary succession. Determinable, too, is the fracture of each clamping element to absorb energy, e.g. by reaming (bulging) the complementary clamping element CA 2314345 010504 2-space 42.1, ..., 42.n in contact with both heads of stop pin or bolt 46.1, ..., 46.n with both sides of wedge-shaped stop element 41.3 or by fracture in excess of the yield strength when increasingly loaded.
In the 3rd embodiment ref. to Fig. 12 the set of vibration-dampening energy absorbers 50, 40e, 40f comprises a cone-shaped retaining element 51, control-wire 57, control-clamping element 52 and clamping elements 52.1, .., 52.n and 53.1, .., 53.n (not-shown). Both ends of complementary wire 57a1 of control-wire 57 are secured to a control-clamping element 52 by rivets 57b1.
The load-deflection area is achieved progressively or arbitrarily by the expansion of cone-shaped clamping element 52, .., 52.n, 53, ...,53.n along - the cone-shaped retaining element 51 and/or - the longitudinal rib 51.1. whose thickness longitudinally increases.
The space in the seat backrest and -cushion is exploited to accommodate a number of sets of energy absorbers, having different threshold values for baby, child, adult, old woman and man, which are connected to the shoulder- and/or neck holder and buckle assemblies, whereto the latch plates of, preferably, the mufti-point, one-piece seat belt of the seat 3a to 3d, shown in Fig. 14, are plug-in connected. In a real-world accident this energy-absorbing, vibration-dampening device, operating without sensors, but with the mufti-point, one-piece seat belt gradually absorbs great energy below the injury-related values and dampens vibrations. In comparison with the energy-absorbing management device, monitored by the three-sensor mechanisms, aforementioned and proposed by US 5,544,918, the operation is more reliable, the injury severity is substantially lower, the manufacturing costs are far lower and there is neither recall programs nor court-cases.
In the 1st and 2nd embodiment of the buckle assembly 4a, 4b (Figs. 13a and 13b), to receive latch plate 2, 11, 25, the one-piece guide piece 4.7a, 4.7b is provided with an opening 4.5a or longitudinal groove 4.5b to loosely guide tie band l.la, l.lb, having coupling member 1.2a, 1.2b, to which the wires of sets of energy absorbers 30, 40, 50 are tautly, less tautly and/or loosely connected.
After the insertion, in the direction of double arrow, of a pair of engaging parts 4.10a, 4.lOb of guide piece 4.7a, 4.7b in the apertures of the housing 4.8a, 4.8b of buckle assembly 4a, 4b the clamping parts 4.12 snap into the clamping holes 4.13.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space When the latch plate is pulled under the load of "OFl - 500 N", less than the starting threshold value "OFl", the buckle assembly, clamping elements and energy absorbers move about the deflection "TF" (not drawn). In the state of non-deformation the housing 4.8a, 4.8b with/without clamping parts 4.12 must be pulled back into the engaging parts 4.10a, 4.lOb.
This is possible, when "T~" is at least as long as "Ts + TF". Experiment can clarify, whether the clamping parts and clamping holes are needed. However, the clamping assemblies have the advantage of exactly positioning the buckle assembly in the seat backrest or -cushion.
Due to the restriction for the depth "T" of seat backrest or -cushion (Fig.
14) the length "TL"
of engaging parts 4.10a, 4.lOb is restricted too, hence, the following countermeasures are required:
- When the buckle assembly under load of great impact energy moves along the engaging parts, the tie band l.la, 1.1 b must be guided by the guide piece 4.7a, 4.7b, fastened to the seat frame;
- In order to exploit the depth "T", the length "TZ" of latch plate and/or the length "TL" of engaging parts 4.10a, 4.lOb is/are increased;
- By not using guide piece the wires of sets of energy absorbers can tautly, less tautly and/or loosely be connected to coupling member 1.2a,1.2b or an end of the seat belt;
and/or - Owing to biasing at least one control-clamping element 32, 42, 52 at "~F1-500 N" the housing can only move in excess thereof for the purpose of undampened energy-absorption.
Ref. to Figs. 3, 13c to 13e, 14' a height- and width-adjusting mechanism 27, 27a of the seat 3c comprises a frame 39, at least one pair of buckle-assembly units 18.1 to 18.3, 19.1 to 19.3, a pair of tubes 27.4, members 27.5 to 27.9 and a pair of tubes 27.1 having a plurality of vertical locking slots, in form- and force-locking connection with an angle fitting 26a. The frame 39 consists of a pair of outer tubes 27.3, a pair of tubes 27.2 and a connecting member of all tubes.
The locking handle 27.5 is form- and force-locking connected to the slots of the inner tubes 27.4, which, movable in the outer tubes 27.3, are pre-loaded by the tube-springs 27.6. Each tube-spring 27.6 on a sleeve 27.7, secured by pin 27.8, protruding through the holes of the inner tube 27.4, presses against the spring rest 27.9 of the outer tube 27.3.
The locking handle 27.5 is in engagement with a pair of vertical locking slots of tubes 27.1. The locking CA 2314345 010504 2-space handle 27.5, when pulled out from both slots, is detached therefrom. At the appropriate height for the passenger, sitting on the seat 3c, latch plates 25 are inserted into the pair of buckle-assembly units, shown in Fig. 14.
In the 3rd embodiment of the buckle assembly 4c (Fig. 13e) to receive latch plate 2, 9, 11, 25, the housing 4.8c, that can be moved along a pair of tube 27.3 of the frame of seat backrest or seat cushion and latched thereon, are provided with two holes 4.5c to loosely guide tie bands 1.5, 1.6, having coupling members 1.2a, 1.2b. A wire is projected through the hole 2.3 ofbuckle assembly 4c. Both end portions, serving as tie bands 1.5, 1.6, are secured by a common bracket 1.7. The engaging member 4.lOc of buckle assembly 4c is in pig-tail- or form-locking connection to an aperture of housing 4.8c. Large height- and width-adjustment can result in slackness and inaccuracy when biasing the wires. Such shortcoming is resolved by directly attaching the sets of energy absorbers to the parts (not drawn) of the height- and width-adjustable mechanism, shown in Fig. 1.
The buckle assemblies 4a, 4b, 4c, having the release cable 4.2, the electrical motor 4.2b with a shaft 4.3b and release cable 4.3, are suited for buckle assemblies 4, 7, 8, 8a, 18a / 19a to 18n / 19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n (Fig. 14) of the seats 3a to 3c. When the release cables 4.2 or 4.3 of the buckle assemblies are connected to the master release button 84 of lap buckle assembly 9.1 (Fig. 14) the depressing the master release button 84 results in disengaging of all latch plates of the seat belt and holder 10, l0a to lOc, lOf therefrom. This one-click operation increases the convenience of the passenger, when stepping out as well as facilitates the quick-rescue of the injured passenger in accidents.
Thanks to plug-in connection of at least one anti-submarining latch plate 11, 25, movable along the lap belt portion 1.3, with an anti-submarining buckle assembly 7, 8, 8a of the seat cushion (Fig. 14), provided with sets of energy absorbers, the energy, imposed on both thighs, in the event of submarining and/or rollover is absorbed and released by fracture of the sites of predetermined fracture. To properly restrain both thighs of a child, sitting on the seat 3a, three movable anti-submarining latch plates 11, 25 are in plug-in connection with the respective anti-submarining buckle assemblies 7, 8a. So a safety child-seat 85a, 85b is created by integrating the seat belt, energy absorbers and holder into the seat itself.
Another application results from direct conversion of a child-seat 85a into - a safety baby-cot 86 by flipping the seat backrest 3.2a into a baby-resting position or CA 2314345 010504 2-space - a safety adult-seat 85a by disconnecting the movable latch plates 25 from the anti-submarining buckle assemblies 8a, repositioning the seat backrest to an adult-seating position and mounting the holder l0a back into the cutaway of the seat cushion.
Thanks to the multi-purpose of energy-absorbing, vibration-dampening safety seat a high rate of seat occupancy in an aeroplane can be achieved and there is no need for purchasing child-seats and baby-cots, administrating, storing and transporting them anymore.
For safety reasons and easy access the latch plates 25, when not being used, are stored in a storage box 25.2 (Fig. 14). The belt-detachable latch plates 25, each having a quick-release pin 25.1 (Fig. 15), are attached to any belt portion 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 when needed (Fig. 14).
Notably, any passenger of any age, body proportion and weight is protected from severe/fatal injury by the energy-absorbing device incorporated with the mufti-point seat belt and insertable or rotatable attachment of the shoulder- and/or neck holder 10, l0a to lOf to the seat-backrest frame.
Lack of functional tests to determine the permeability, stiffness and design of the caps and properties of energy-absorption it is necessary to design a number of holders to restrain the upper part of body 95 of a passenger (dummy), restrained, preferably, by the mufti-point seat belt, in order to determine the cheapest design characterized by the best mode to reduce all acceleration-dependant forces, dampen vibrations and avoid whiplash in crash tests.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the terminology used is intended to describe rather than limit. Many more objects, embodiments, features and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above-mentioned teachings. Therefore, within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described and illustrated.
CA 2314345 010504 2-space

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A restraint system equipped with a rotatable shoulder holder to increase survival chance in a real-world accident of a transport system or in an inflight turbulence, where a passenger is restrained by a seat belt (1d, 1e), characterized in that a) the rotatable shoulder holder (10d, 10e), located in a seat backrest (3.2d, 3.2e) of a seat or on an upper portion thereof in a resting position (P), is attached to a rotatable device (28, 28a), located therein;
b) where his shoulders are restrained by the rotatable shoulder holder, when rotated by the rotatable device from the resting position (P) to an operative position (P1);
and c) the seat belt is extended over the rotatable shoulder holder.

2. The restraint system equipped with a rotatable shoulder- and neck holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoulders and a neck are restrained by the rotatable shoulder- and neck holder (10d, 10e), defined by the rotatable shoulder holder (10.2d, 10.2e) and a neck holder (10.4, 10.4b), where a) the rotatable shoulder holder (10.2d, 10.2e) consists of a pair of shoulder caps (10.2d, 10.2e) and b) the neck holder (10.4, 10.4b) consists of a pair of neck caps (10.4, 10.4b).

3. The restraint system according to claim 2, characterized in that the pair of neck caps (10.4, 10.4b) is insertably attached to the pair of shoulder caps (10.2d, 10.2e) and detachable therefrom.

4. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the shoulder cap (10.2d, 10.2e), recessed about a supporting tube (3.61) of a head rest (3.6), is reinforced by a reinforcing plate (10.13).

5. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rotatable device (28, 28a) is manually operated or motor-driven.

6. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rotatable device (28, 28a) is height-adjustable.

7. The restraint system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the motor-driven rotatable device (28, 28a) is equipped with a drive apparatus (80) which rotates the rotatable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10d, 10e) about both shoulders of the passenger from the resting position (P) to the operative position (P1).

8. The restraint system according to claim 7, characterized in that a shoulder belt portion (1.1, 1.2) of the seat belt (1, 1a to 1e) is loosely guided by a U-shaped plate (10.15) of the shoulder cap (10.2d, 10.2e).

9. The restraint system according to claim 8, characterized in that the shoulder belt portion (1.1, 1.2), extending over the U-shaped plate (10.15), is loosely secured by a quick-release pin (10.10) and releasable by withdrawal thereof.

10. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rotatable device (28) of the rotatable shoulder holder (10d) comprises the pair of rotatable levers (28.5) and a pair of casings (29), to which the pair of rotatable levers (28.5) are rotatably attached and which is height-adjustable, latchable and guided by a pair of inner tubes (71, 72) of a seat-backrest frame (3.4d, 3.4e);
a1) where each casing (29) is defined by an L-shaped plate (28.4), having a forward-motion catch (28.16) fastened to a coupling wall (28.3), and by two outer tubes (28.1, 28.2), connected to each other by the coupling wall (28.3); and a2) the pair of rotatable levers (28.5), retained by a pair of stop pieces (28.9) mounted to the coupling walls (28.3) in the resting position (P), having upper ends connected to the pair of shoulder caps (10.2d), and lower ends connected to each other by a shaft (28.7) rotatably attached to shaft-holes of the pair of casings (29), are rotatable between the coupling walls (28.3) and L-shaped plates (28.4);
b1) where the passenger is restrained by the seat belt (1d, 1e) and his shoulders are restrained by the shoulder caps (10.2d), rotated by the rotatable device from the resting position (P) to the operative position (P1); and b2) at least one shoulder belt portion of the seat belt (1d, 1e) is extended over the respective shoulder cap and U-shaped plate (10.15), when the rotatable levers (28.5) are rotated manually or by the drive apparatus (80), causing release cams (28.6) of the rotatable levers to force a rotation of lock pawls (28.8), pre-loaded by first springs (28.10), thereby permitting locking pins (28.12), pre-loaded by second springs (28.13) and loosely guided in guide tubes (28.11), to move into holes (28.14) of the casings (29) and block together with the forward-motion catches (28.16) the rotatable levers in both directions;
c) where in the real-world accident or in the inflight turbulence a forward motion (w v) of the upper part of the passenger's body results in a forward rotation of the rotatable levers which are blocked by the forward-motion catches (28.16).

11. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 10, characterized in that the rotatable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10d, 10e) is equipped with at least one cap energy absorber (10.3, 10.5).

12. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a seat frame, generally representing a seat-cushion frame or the seat-backrest frame, is equipped with at least one seat energy absorber (30, 40, 40e, 40f, 50) comprising a) a retaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51), fastened to the seat frame; and b) at least one clamping element (32, 32.1 to 32.n, 32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n), connected to the rotatable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10d, 10e) by means of at least one control-wire (37, 37e, 37f, 47, 47e, 47f, 57), biased and arranged along the retaining element.

13. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, 11 and 12, characterized in that the rotatable device (28a) of the rotatable shoulder holder (10e) comprises the pair of rotatable levers (28.5a), a pair of casings (29a), to which the pair of rotatable levers (28.5a) are rotatably attached and which is height-adjustable, latchable and guided by a pair of inner tubes (71, 72) of a seat-backrest frame (3.4d, 3.4e), the cap energy absorbers (10.3) and the seat energy absorbers (40e, 40f);
a1) where each casing (29a) is defined by an L-shaped, partly laterally closed and partly laterally open plate (28.4a), having a small front plate (28.16a) fastened to a coupling wall (28.3), and a forward-motion opening (28.18), by two outer tubes (28.1, 28.2), connected to each other by the coupling wall (28.3), and by the pair of retaining elements (31e, 31f), form-lacking connected to the outer tubes (28.1, 28.2) by auxiliary tubes (71a, 72a) and force-locking connected thereto;
a2) the rotatable levers (28.5a), having upper ends, connected to the pair of shoulder caps (10.2e), and lower ends, connected to each other by a shaft (28.7), rotatably attached to holes of the pair of casings (29a), are rotatable between the coupling walls (28.3) and L-shaped plates (28.4a);

a3) the pair of cap energy absorbers (10.3) is subdivided into pads of predetermined fracture; and a4) the two pairs of seat energy absorbers (40e, 40f), each pair of which has the clamping elements (32e, 32f) provided with sites of predetermined fracture (s), biased, arranged along the respective retaining elements (31e, 31f) and tautly, less tautly and/or loosely connected at clamping sites to corresponding control-wires (37e, 37f, 47e, 47f), wire-ends of the control-wires (37f, 47f) are clamped on clamping sites of the control-wires (37e, 47e) by a pair of brackets (48.1) and, finally, the control-wires (37e, 47e), deflected by a pair of stop pieces (28.9a), mounted to sides of the coupling wall (28.3) and serving as pivots for the control-wires as well as stoppers for the rotatable lever, have wire-ends, fastened to the wire-rings (48.3, 48.6) of a wire-attachment assembly (48), through which, an upper section of the rotatable lever and two sleeves (48.2, 48.5) a bolt (48.4) is projected and a projected section thereof is bolted to a nut (48.7);
b1) where the passenger is restrained by the seat belt (1, 1e) and his shoulders are restrained by the shoulder caps (10.2e), rotated by the rotatable device from the resting position (P) to the operative position (P1); and b2) at least one shoulder belt portion of the seat belt (1, 1e) is extended over the respective shoulder cap and U-shaped plate (10.15), when the rotatable levers (28.5a) are rotated manually or by the drive apparatus (80), causing release cams (28.6a) of the rotatable levers to force a rotation of lock pawls (28.8a), pre-loaded by first springs (28.10a) and to allow locking pins (28.12), pre-loaded by second springs (28.13) and loosely guided in guide tubes (28.11), to move into holes (28.14) of the casings (29a) and block the rotatable levers in one direction;
c) where in the real-world accident or in the inflight turbulence the forward motion (w v) of the upper part of the passenger's body causes a rotation of the rotatable levers in another direction to an accident-related position (P2) through the forward-motion openings (28.18), thus pulling the control-wires (37e, 47e) together with the clamping elements (32e, 32f) moving along the corresponding retaining elements (31e, 31f) resulting in a work of deformation and friction, during which vibrations are dampened and a stored energy is released by a fracture of the pads of predetermined fracture of the cap energy absorbers (10.3) and sites of predetermined fracture of the clamping elements (31e, 31f) in excess of respective cap- and clamping-element threshold values.

14. The restraint system according to any one of claims 7, 10 and 13, characterized in that the apparatus (80) is activated by a) a separately operated switch; or b) a controller, monitoring a travelling speed, which exceeds a threshold speed; or c) an accelerator pedal; or d) a sensor, sensing an acceleration, which exceeds a threshold acceleration.

15. A restraint system equipped with an insertable shoulder holder to increase survival chance in a real-world accident of a transport system or in an inflight turbulence, where a passenger is restrained by a seat belt (1, 1a to 1c), characterized in that a) the insertable shoulder holder (10, 10a to 10c, 10f) is equipped with a pair of cap latch plates (10.1, 10.1b, 10.1f); and b) at least one pair of supplemental buckle assemblies (18a / 19a to 18n /
19n; 18.1 /
19.1 to 18.n / 19.n) is attached in a seat backrest (3.2a to 3.2c, 3.2e) of a seat;
c) where his shoulders are restrained by the insertable shoulder holder, when the cap latch plates are in-plug connected to the supplemental buckle assemblies; and d) the seat belt is extended over the insertable shoulder holder.

16. The restraint system equipped with an insertable shoulder- and neck holder according to claim 15, characterized in that the shoulders and a neck are restrained by the insertable shoulder- and neck holder (10, 10a to 10c, 10f), defined by the insertable shoulder holder (10.2, 10.2a to 10.2c, 10.2f) and a neck holder (10.4, 10.4a to 10.4c, 10.4f), where a) the insertable shoulder holder (10.2, 10.2a to 10.2c, 10.2f) consists of a shoulder cap (10.2a, 10.2c) or a pair of shoulder caps (10.2, 10.2b, 10.2f); and b) the neck holder (10.4, 10.4a to 10.4c, 10.4f) consists of a neck cap (10.4a, 10.4c) or a pair of neck caps (10.4, 10.4b).

17. The restraint system according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the insertable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10, 10a, 10b) is attached to the seat backrest (3.2c) or a seat cushion (3.1a, 3.1b) for the purpose of storage and detachable therefrom upon the pressure on a release button (87a to 87c) of the seat.

18. The restraint system according to claim 16, characterized in that the pair of neck caps (10.4, 10.46) is insertably attached to the pair of shoulder caps (10.2, 10.2b, 10.21f) and detachable therefrom.

19. The restraint system according to claim 16, characterized in that the insertable shoulder- and neck holder (10a, 10c) is a one-piece holder.

20. The restraint system according to claim 15 to 17 or 19, characterized in that the cap of the insertable shoulder- and neck holder (10a) is reinforced by a connecting cap-member (10.11).

21. The restraint system according to any one of claims 15, 16 and 18, characterized in that a shoulder belt portion (1.1, 1.2) of the seat belt (1, 1a to 1e) is loosely guided by a) a closed aperture of the shoulder cap (10.2) and a closed aperture of the cap latch plate (10.1); or c) an open aperture (10.14) of the shoulder cap (10.2b, 10.2c) and an open aperture of the cap latch plate (10.1b).

22. The restraint system according to claim 21, characterized in that the shoulder belt portion (1.1, 1.2), extending over the aperture of the cap latch plate (10.1b), is loosely secured by a quick-release cap-latch-plate pin (10.10) and releasable by withdrawal thereof.

23. The restraint system according to any one of claims 15, 16, 18 and 21, characterized in that the shoulder cap (10.2, 10.2f) is height- and/or width-adjustable by rotating a bolt (10.7, 10.6a) in a threaded hole of a flange (10.12, 10.12f).

24. The restraint system according to any one of claims 15, 16, 18 and 21, characterized in that the cap latch plate (10.1b) of the insertable holder (10b) has a member, which acts as a cap-latch-plate energy absorber (10.9).

25. The restraint system according to any one of claims 15 to 24, characterized in that the insertable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10, 10a to 10c, 10f) is provided with at least one cap energy absorber (10.3, 10.3a, 10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c).

26. The restraint system according to claim 25, characterized in that the cap energy absorber (10.3, 10.3a, 10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c) is subdivided into pads (S ll to S
mn; H ll to H nm) of predetermined fracture.

27. The restraint system according to claim 26, characterized in that the pads (S ll to S mn;
H ll to H nm) of predetermined fracture have cap-threshold values.

28. The restraint system according to claim 27, characterized in that the cap-threshold values are different.

29. The restraint system according to any one of claims 11, 13 and 25 to 28, characterized in that the cap energy absorber (10.3, 10.3a, 10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c) is fastened to the shoulder- and/or neck cap (10.2, 10.2a to 10.2f, 10.4, 10.4a to 10.4c, 10.4f) by an adhesive fastener and detachable therefrom by opening the adhesive fastener.

30. The restraint system according to claim 29, characterized in that the adhesive fastener is zip-, snap-in- or Velcro fastener.

31. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 7, 8, 10 to 13, 15 to 21, 23 and 24, characterized in that the shoulder cap (10.2, 10.2a to 10.2f) is shoulder-shaped.

32. The restraint system according to any one of claims 11, 13, 25 to 29, characterized in that the cap energy absorber (10.3, 10.3a) is shoulder-shaped.

33. The restraint system according to any one of claims 2 to 3, 7 to 13, 16 to 20, characterized in that the neck cap (10.4, 10.4a to 10.4c) is neck-shaped.

34. The restraint system according to any one of claims 11, 25 to 29, characterized in that the cap energy absorber (10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c) is neck-shaped.

35. The restraint system according to any one of claims 25 to 29, 33 and 34, characterized in that the cap energy absorber (10.5a), arranged in the neck cap (10.4a), serves as a neck collar, which, having a wide portion for bracing the passenger's chin, improves properties of sustaining the head and substantially absorbing energy during a forward motion (w v) of an upper part of the passenger's body or in the real-world accident or in the inflight turbulence.

36. The restraint system according to any one of claims 9 to 35, characterized in that a belt detachable latch plate (25) has a quick-release pin (25.1) and a U-shaped portion to house the shoulder belt portion (1.1, 1.2) which is secured therein by the quick-release pin (25.1) and detached therefrom by pulling it.

37. The restraint system according to claim 36, characterized in that the belt-detachable latch plates, when not being used, are stored and secured in a storage box (25.2) of the seat.

38. The restraint system according to any one of claims 10, 13, 15 and 16, characterized in that on depressing a master release button (84) of a main buckle assembly (9.1), attached to the seat or a floor of the transport system, a main latch plate (9) is detached therefrom and a) all cap latch plates of the insertable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10, 10a to 10c, 10f) are disengaged from the respective supplemental buckle assemblies (18a /
19a to 18n / 19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n) or b) the drive apparatus (80) moves the rotatable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10d, 10e) back from the operative position (P1) to the resting position (P).

39. The restraint system according to claim 36, characterized in that on depressing a master release button (84) of a main buckle assembly (9.1), attached to the seat or a floor of the transport system, a main latch plate (9) is detached therefrom, all the belt-detachable latch plates (25) are disengaged from the respective supplemental buckle assemblies (18a / 19a to 18n / 19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n) and a) all cap latch plates of the insertable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10, 10a to 10c, 10f) are disengaged from the respective supplemental buckle assemblies (18a /
19a to 18n / 19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n) or b) the drive apparatus (80) moves the rotatable shoulder- and/or neck holder (10d, 10e) back from the operative position (P1) to the resting position (P).

40. The restraint system according to claim 38 or 39, characterized in that the master release button (84) is provided with deactivating cables connecting to switches of the drive apparatus (80) and of electrical motors (4.2b) of all the buckle assemblies.

41. The restraint system according to claim 38 or 39, characterized in that the master release button (84) is provided with release cables (4.2) connecting to a switch of the drive apparatus (80) and to release buttons of all the buckle assemblies.

42. The restraint system according to any one of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the supplemental buckle assembly (18a / 19a to 18n / 19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n /
19.n) is equipped with at least one seat energy absorber (30, 40, 40e, 40f, 50) comprising.

a) a retaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51), fastened to a seat frame, generally representing the seat-cushion frame or a seat-backrest frame; and b) at least one clamping element (32, 32.1 to 32.n, 32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n), connected to the supplemental buckle assembly by means of at least one control-wire (37, 37e, 37f, 47, 47e, 47f, 57), biased and arranged along the retaining element.

43. The restraint system with according to claim 12 or 42, characterized in that the clamping element is provided with sites of predetermined fracture (s), which have clamping-element threshold values.

44. The restraint system with according to claim 43, characterized in that the clamping-element threshold values are different.

45. The restraint system with according to any one of claims 12, 13, 42 to 44, characterized in that the seat energy absorber is vibration-dampening.

46. The restraint system according to any one of claims 12, 13, 42 to 45, characterized in that the clamping element (32, 32.1 to 32.n, 32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n) has open and tube-shaped profile.

47. The restraint system according to any one of claims 12, 13, 42 to 45, characterized in that the retaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51) is tube-shaped.

48. The restraint system according to any one of claims 12, 13, 42 to 45 and 47, characterized in that a longitudinal rib (41.1, 51.1) is arranged to the retaining element (31e, 31f, 41, 51).

49. The restraint system according to any one of claims 12, 13, 42 to 48, characterized in that both edges of the clamping element (42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n) are loosely guided by the longitudinal rib (41.1, 51.1) in longitudinal direction.

50. The restraint system according to claim 48 or 49, characterized in that one stop element (41.3) is arranged to the longitudinal rib (41.1, 51.1).

51. The restraint system according to any one of claims 48 or 49, characterized in that the thickness of the longitudinal rib (41.1, 51.1) increases in longitudinal direction, in which the clamping element, when pulled, moves.

52. The restraint system according to any one of claims 12, 13, 42 to 45 and 51, characterized in that the clamping element (52, 52.1 to 52.n) is cone-shaped.

53. The restraint system according to any one of claims 12, 13, 42 to 45, 48 and 49, characterized in that the retaining element (51) is cone-shaped.

54. The restraint system according to any one of claims 12, 13, 42 to 46, 49 and 52, characterized in that the clamping element (32, 32.1 to 32.n, 32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n) is pre-tensioned and arranged along the retaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51).

55. The restraint system according to any one of claims 42 to 54, characterized in that at least one stop pin (46, 46.1 to 46.n) is laterally arranged to the retaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51), where the stop pin blocks the movement of the clamping element (42, 42.1 to 42.n), thus resulting in the fracture of the sites of predetermined fracture (s) when the respective clamping-element threshold value is exceeded.

56. The restraint system according to any one of claims 42 to 55, characterized in that contact surfaces of the retaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51) have arbitrary friction coefficients (µ0).

57. The restraint system according to any one of claims 42 to 56, characterized in that the contact surfaces of the retaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51) are provided with a soundproofing material (83).

58. The restraint system according to any one of claims 42 to 55, characterized in that contact surfaces of the clamping element (3, 32.1 to 32.n, 32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n) have arbitrary friction coefficients (µ0).

59. The restraint system according to any one of claims 42 to 55 and 58, characterized in that the contact surfaces of the clamping element (32, 32.1 to 32.n, 32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n) are provided with a soundproofing material (83).

60. The restraint system according to any one of claims 42 to 59, characterized in that the end portions of a complementary wires (37a1), connected to the control-wire (37), are inserted into both cylinder-shaped edges (37c1) of the clamping elements (32) and secured by clamping the cylinder-shaped edges (37c1) with the end portions or by clamping two brackets (37b1) to the termini thereof.

61. The restraint system according to any one of claims 42 to 59, characterized in that the clamping element (32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n) is provided with a pair of ribs, whereto several pairs of adjusting holes (L l to L e) are arranged.

62. The restraint system according to any one of claims 42 to 61, characterized in that a set of seat energy absorbers (30, 40, 40e, 40f, 50), equipped with the control-wire (37, 37e, 37f, 47, 47e, 47f, 57), comprises the regaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51), one stop pin (46, 46.1 to 46.n), one stop element (41.3) and several clamping elements (32, 32.1 to 32.n, 32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n) with/without sites of predetermined fracture (s), where the clamping elements, arranged along the retaining element (31, 31e, 31f, 41, 51), are tautly, less tautly or loosely connected to each other by means of wires (37, 37.1 to 37.n, 37e, 37f, 47, 47.1 to 47.n, 47e, 47f, 57, 57.1 to 57.n).

63. The restraint system according to claim 62, characterized in that an energy absorbing device comprises a couple member (1.2a, 1.2b) and at least one set of seat energy absorbers (30, 40, 40e, 40f, 50), where the control-wire (37, 37e, 37f, 47, 47e, 47f, 57) is connected to the couple member (1.2a, 1.2b).

64. The restraint system according to claim 63, characterized in that a guide piece (4.7a, 4.7b), fastened to the seat-cushion frame (3.3a to 3.3e) or seat-backrest frame (3.4a to 3.4e), has a) a pair of engaging parts (4.10a, 4.10b), form-locking connected to the respective apertures of a housing (4.8a to 4.8c) of the supplemental buckle assembly (4a, 4b), having clamping parts (4.12), snapping into clamping holes (4.13) of the engaging parts; and b) an opening (4.5a) or longitudinal groove (4.5b) to loosely guide a tie band (1.1a, 1.1b), one end of which is connected to the supplemental buckle assembly (4a, 4b,18a / 19a to 18n / 19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n) and the other end to the couple member (1.2a, 1.2b);
c) where in excess of a clamping-part threshold value in the real-world accident of the transport system or in the inflight turbulence the clamping parts (4.12) are shorn off thus allowing the supplemental buckle assembly (4a, 4b, 18a / 19a to 18n /
19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n) to move along the engaging parts (4.10a, 4.10b) and pull the couple member (1.2a, 1.2b).

65. The restraint system according to claim 63, characterized in that a housing (4.8c), movable along a pair of tubes (27.3) of the seat-backrest frame (3.4a to 3.4e) or seat-cushion frame (3.3a to 3.3e) and latchable thereon, has a) an aperture to receive an engaging part (4.10c) of the supplemental buckle assembly (4c, 18a / 19a to 18n / 19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n), through a hole (2.3) of which a wire is protruded and both end portions of the wire, serving as tie bands (1.5, 1.6), are secured by a common bracket (1.7); and b) two holes (4.5c) to loosely guide the tie bands (1.5, 1.6), connected to the couple members (1.2a, 1.2b);
c) where in excess of a engaging-part threshold value in the real-world accident of the transport system or in the inflight turbulence the clamping part (4.12) moves together with the supplemental buckle assembly (4c, 18a / 19a to 18n / 19n;
18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n), which pulls the couple members (1.2a, 1.2b) along the aperture.

66. An energy-absorbing, vibration-dampening safety seat using the restraint system of any one of claims 15 to 65, characterized in that a) the sets of seat energy absorbers, the seat belt, shoulder- and/or neck holder and seat are integrated into a safety adult-seat;
b) which is transformed into a safety child-seat when a detachable front portion of the seat cushion (3.1a) serves as the shoulder- and neck holder (10a), the cap latch plates of which are plug-in connected to any one of the pairs of supplemental buckle assemblies (18a / 19a to 18n / 19n; 18.1 / 19.1 to 18.n / 19.n) of the seat backrest, to restrain shoulders and a neck of a belted child and a space thereof is exploited to accommodate legs of the child sitting on a rear portion thereof;
c) where the safety child-seat can be converted back into the safety adult-seat.

67. The energy-absorbing, vibration-dampening safety seat according to claim 66, characterized in that a) the safety child-seat is transformed into a safety baby-cot when the seat backrest is flipped into a baby-resting position;
b) where the safety baby-cot can directly be converted back either into the safety child-seat or into the safety adult-seat.

68. The restraint system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, 24 to 35, 42 to 67, characterized in that the fracture of at least one cap energy absorber (10.3, 10.3a, 10.5, 10.5a, 10.5c), at least one cap-latch-plate energy absorber (10.9) and/or at least one clamping element (32, 32.1 to 32.n, 32e, 32f, 42, 42.1 to 42.n, 52, 52.1 to 52.n) is irrefutable court-evidence for the passenger having belted in the real-world accident or in the inflight turbulence.

69. The restraint system according to any one of claims 1 to 68, characterized in that metal, compound material, fibre reinforced material or non-metal material is suited for material of the parts of the shoulder holder, neck holder, cap- and seat energy absorbers.