EP1964085A2

EP1964085A2 - Vehicle occupant support

Info

Publication number: EP1964085A2
Application number: EP06845601A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arjuna Indraeswaran Rajasingham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: RAJASINGHAM, ARJUNA, INDRAESWARAN
Priority date: 2005-12-19
Filing date: 2006-12-15
Publication date: 2008-09-03
Also published as: JP2016203979A; EP1964085A4; JP2009531209A; JP2012254794A; JP2015134609A; JP6050406B2; WO2007075467A3; WO2007075467A2; JP6212613B2

Abstract

An arrangement in passenger vehicles, that provide a mechanism for reducing the peak inertial loading on the occupant including children during lateral acceleration, and has synergistic comfort, convenience and utility features.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION: Vehicle Occupant support

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: This application claims priority from and hereby incorporates herein by reference, 11/113,028; 11/185,784; 60/751 ,305 filed December 19, 2005; 60/848,804 filed September 29, 2006; 60/849,685 filed October 5, 2006; and the US provisional application filed by the applicant on September 20, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention defines a means to incorporate in passenger vehicles, unique occupant supports that enhance the safety, comfort, utility and convenience. The special needs of child seats for vehicle have not evolved much beyond a static plastic seat with solid wings and projections to prevent excessive movement. This invention allows movement of the occupant to improve the well being of the occupant on the measures noted.

OBJECTS & ADVANTAGES

Some of the objects and advantages of the present invention are safety arrangements particularly for lateral or side impacts that provide energy absorption and a reduction in the peak acceleration, intrusion into the space occupied by the passenger and reduce other factors that can seriously injure or kill passengers or occupants. The present invention also addresses the discomfort of lateral accelerations due to vehicle movement. This invention also addresses the special needs of children's support in vehicles to reduce injury, increase comfort, and improve convenience to the parent and finally the enhancing the experience and related child development that derives from stimuli absorbed while traveling in a vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig 1& 2 illustrates an embodiment of a ( Child/Infant support mechanism) CISM and support. The mechanism for moving the CISM can be used for any passenger support mechanism. The illustrated position is during a lateral acceleration of the vehicle.

Figure 3 illustrates an occupant support mechanism that is adapted to reorient during lateral accelerations. It is also designed to eject along slides for egress and ingress with worm drives activating the ejection.

Figure 4- 7 illustrates the same occupant support mechanism from different perspectives.

Fig 8 illustrates the occupant support under lateral acceleration showing the reorientation to face the occupant away from the impact.

Fig 9,10 illustrates the movement after the initial impact where the occupant moves away from the impact.

Fig 11 illustrates a front facing CISM where the harness is in two parts and each of them can be independently locked down. These harness parts are shown swung up away from the occupant to allow egress and ingress. In addition the shell that supports the child can be rotated outwards for easy access.

Fig 12 shows the same front facing CISM at a time it is under lateral acceleration in the vehicle.

Fig 13 illustrates the same front facing CISM in the normal operating position with no lateral accelerations.

Fig 14 shows a rear facing CISM (using the same base, sub-base and support cradle as for the front facing CISM) the rear facing CISM is shown in the normal operating position has. The figure shows the retracted undercarriage and wheels along with the retracted handle. These are extended when the shell is released and are used to wheel the shell by the parent or guardian of the child.

Fig 15 shows the another view of the rear facing CISM in the normal operating position. Fig 16 shows the rear facing CISM under lateral acceleration. Fig 17 shows the "cradle" that supports the shell ( in this case the rear facing CISM is shown. The same cradle is adapted to support the front facing CISM also.

Fig 18 shows the rear facing CISM shell removed from the cradle and with the undercarriage and handle extended and ready for wheeling the child around.

Fig 19 shows the rear facing CISM shell with retracted wheels and handle.

Fig 20 shows the rear facing CISM under lateral acceleration.

Fig 21-30 illustrate an alternative embodiment.

Fig 31-33, 35, 37-52 show versions of the preferred embodiment, Fig 53-57 show an alternative embodiment. Fig 34,36 show the detail for a passive air conditioning system that utilizes the kinetic energy of the mass of the occupant to force fresh air into the shell for comfort.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

101 - Central Member of Indo-skeletal structure

102 - Safety Beam Lower Element

103 - Side impact shock absorbers

104 - External Air Bags ^£171^2006/048016

1 105 - Perforation Shields

2 106 - Protector Shields

3 107 - Safety Beam Upper Element

4 108 - Auxiliary Beam.( fixed or sliding) ε 109 - Multi-element contoured passenger seat

6 110 - Vehicle Shell/Body

7 111 - Secondary Slides/Impact decouplers/pivoting slider

8 112 -Locking devices

9 112 A-Pi vot for Protector shield

10 210 - Child or Infant support mechanism (CISM)

11 211 - CISM support pivots

12 212 - Lock pin - Internal Airbag equivalents (IAE) with Safety beam lower element

13 213 —Pin slot for lateral impact movement

14 214 - Internal Airbag equivalent shock absorber

15 215 - Slot for housing Internal Airbag Equivalent shock absorbers

16 216 - Pin Hole for registering Lock Pin

17 217 - Support Key -secondary slide to outer rotator

18 218 - CISM Support Bracket

19 219 - Pivotal support for CISM Support Bracket

20 220 - Pivot for Internal Airbag equivalent attached to CISM support bracket

21 221 - Fixed Support for safety beam lower elements and internal airbag equivalents

22 222 - support for secondary slides, CISM support bracket and internal airbag equivalents

23 223 - Support flange between Secondary slide and internal airbag equivalent active ends

24 224 - Internal airbag equivalents - dual movable active end at center

25 225 -Internal Airbag Equivalents-dual movable extremes-expansion/compression.

26 226 - Lock pin hole on dual internal airbag equivalent center support

27 227 - Top lock flanges

28 228 - Side lock flanges

29 229 - Front lock flanges

30 230 - Side support flange

31 231 -Lateral Brace

32 232 CISM Support Bracket /cradle

33 233 - Pivotal support for CISM Support Bracket

34 234 - Pivot for Slider or Shock absorber attached to one or both of CISM or its support bracket.

35 235 - Fixed Support for safety beam lower elements and shock absorbers

36 236 -Sliding pivot arrangement-supports secondary slides, CISM pivot bracket , shock absorbers

37 237 - Support flange between Secondary slide and shock absorber active ends ^' 38 238 - Shock absorbers - dual movable active end at center

39 239 -Slider or sliding Shock absorbers-dual movable extremes-expansion/compression.

40 240 - Lock pin hole on dual shock absorber center support

41 240A - Lock Pin support with slots to engage and compress one of the two shock absorbers

42 241 - Top lock flanges

43 242 - Side lock flanges

44 243 - Front lock flanges

45 244 - Side support flange 4S 245 -Lateral Brace

47 246 -Side sliding surface

48 247 -pivoted support for side sliding surface/crash bar

49 248 -pillow pads

50 249 -head rest

51 250 two part semi rigid harness

52 251 -shoulder pads/supports

53 252 -shell

54 253 -Flex bar

55 254 A-Front pivot slider, 254B Rear Pivot slider 5S 255 -front spine

57 256 -rear spine

58 257 -anchor

S3 258 A rear support bar 258B Front support bar

BO 259 -shell latch

61 260 -shell latch attach bar

62 261 -torsion "T" bar

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(. M i '- UU Ii

1 PlOl - Compressible Laterally Shdable (when detached) Hip Bolster

2 P 102 - Seat Bottom Contoured

^■j P103 - Impact Decoupler Secondary Slide Elements

4 P 104 - Retraction Slots for secondary slide support rails (rails not shown)

5 P105 - Retraction slots for Secondary slides, retracted at Egress and Ingress

6 P106 - Front side of rear seat

7 P107 - Back of seat bottom

8 P108 - Side bolsters in retracted position for egress and ingress

9 P109 - Crushed side bolsters during impact (does not intrude into hip space)

10 Pl 10 -Side Bolster Air Bags

11 Pl 11 - Shoulder bolster /support - operating position and width

12 Pl 12 - Back rest

13 Pl 13 - Head Rest

14 Pl 14 - Head and Neck air bags (head rest is fixed to backrest so that it moves with back rest on lateral impact) is Pl 15 - Body Air Bags to hold and move the body on lateral impact The airbags are shaped to push the arms

16 out of the way at deployment time.

17 Pl 16 - Crushed shoulder bolster/support (controlled crush)

18 Pl 17 - Back Rest

1 s QlOl - Head rest support

20 Q102 - Pivotally attached headrest flap (Left and Right)

21 PlOl - Compressible Laterally Slidable (when detached) Hip Bolster

22 P102 - Seat Bottom Contoured

23 P103 - Impact Decoupler Secondary Slide Elements

24 P104 — Retraction Slots for secondary slide support rails (rails not shown)

25 P105 - Retraction slots for Secondary slides, retracted at Egress and Ingress

26 P106 - Front side of rear seat

27 P107 - Back of seat bottom

28 P108 - Side bolsters in retracted position for egress and ingress

29 P109 - Crushed side bolsters during impact (does not intrude into hip space)

30 Pl 10 -Side Bolster Air Bags

31 Pl 11 - Shoulder bolster /support - operating position and width

32 Pl 12 -Back rest

33 Pl 13 -Head Rest

34 Pl 14 - Head and Neck air bags (head rest is fixed to backrest so that it moves with back rest on lateral impact)

35 Pl 15 - Body Air Bags to hold and move the body on lateral impact. The airbags are shaped to push the arms

36 out of the way at deployment time

37 Pl 16 - Crushed shoulder bolster/support (controlled crush)

38 Pl 17 - Back Rest

39 ClOl -ISOFIX latch

40 C102 - CISM incline pivot

41 C103 - Side Slide handle (with optional latch to release opening pivot)

42 C104 - Side slider

43 C105 - Side slide

44 C106 - arm attached to the CISM support

45 C107 - Pivot for Side slide

46 C108 - Pivot on Side Slider for arm attached to the CISM support

47 C109 - Worm Drive for seat slide to access position (the drive nut that engages Safety Beam Upper element

48 107 through slot in Safety beam Lower element 102, is not shown)

49 CllO - Motor forWorm drive

50 ClIl - Flange to support Spring/damper for shock absorber elements ( on each side of 111).

51 C 112 - Vertical pivots for rotation of seat frame under impact or for egress/ingress.

52 C 113 - Seat Frame support rear element

53 Cl 14 - Seat Frame support front side element

54 Cl 15 - Slide joints between Front and rear seat frame support elements

55 Cl 16 - Slot on 102 for drive nut on worm drive which drives 107 to and from the extended position. 53 C 117 - Seat slide for Fore/Aft control (seat not shown)

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1

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

3 PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

4 The preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figures 11-20, 31-57. This embodiment is for a CISM. It has a base

5 that is rigidly mounted with a pair of ISOHX latches and a tether. The rigidity of the base is enhanced with a "wishbone" that is made B of a rigid material such as aerospace aluminum connected between the Isofix latches and the tether mount and secured to the base 7 along its length. The wishbone is best with straight sections to allow it to accept tensile loads without distorting the surrounding B plastic material. Further, considering that the mount for the base is on its rear with the ISOFIX latches and the tether, a lateral 9 acceleration of the vehicle will apply an ineitial loading from the child and its immediate support to twist the section of the base

10 ahead of its mount. To counter that, the present invention, in addition to using rigid plastic materials has two lateral bars - one at the

11 front of the bass and the other at the back of the base and a rigid rod or tube that connects them from the front to the back., the toque

12 applied to the front of the base from the inertial loading will be resisted by this rigid rod or tube. In addition there may be a metal

13 brace that is embedded in the plastic to attach to the ISO FIX and the sub base along the section of the cylinder as seen in the figures.

14 The sub-base (see fig 31) has a crash bar that resists intrusion in to the occupant space, if forced in, it is adapted

15 to push the occupant shell away from the intrusion. The crash bar has a side sliding surface 246 that is slidably connected to a

16 pivoting head at the end of the flexbar 253 (Fig 37) that is connected at its other end to the cradle 232. The sub base has two lateral

17 slide bars 102 that have pivoting sliders 111 on them These pivoting sliders are attached on their pivoting end to the cradle 258. The

18 sub-base rides on the base on a a common section of a cylindrical surface. Therefore there are several angular positions that the sub

19 base can take relative to the base which is useful to accommodate different inclinations desired by the occupants and also to

20 accommodate the forward and backward facing shells There is a shock absorption device (not shown for clarity) that is both

21 compression and expansion enabled as a spring damper connected to the sub base at the point 239B and the other end connected to

22 the cradle 232 at 239 A. Finally the crash bar 247 is pivotally attached to the sub base and with the release of a latch can be swung

23 out thereby enabling the cradle to swing around with the shell thereby enabling easy egress and ingress. The shock absorbtion device

24 may have multiple discrete compression and expansion elements For example, there may be two elements in series where the first

25 element compresses/expands for accelerations of the order of 0.3Gs for use when the vehicle takes turns in the road and there is a

26 resulting lateral acceleration on the child and the support. This element may have an end stop to prevent more than a predetermined

27 level of motion. The second element may have compression/expansion starting at 20 Gs for impact conditions Notably here the first

28 stage of conpressio/expansion will also position the child to present a larger surface area for support even before the second stage

29 starts compressing/expanding.

30 The Cradle 232 is supported by the two sliding pivots 254A and B, and the flex bar 253. the flex bar may have

31 shock absorbtion properties and made of spring material. 1 1 may also be covered with a crushable or energy absorbing material that

32 damps the flexure of the flex bar and absorbs energy. The front facing shell 252 is locked onto it by engaging a ridge on the back of

33 the shell with a support bar 258 A and with a pair of latches 259. Notably the rear facing shell is reversed with the ridge on leg

34 section of the occupant and the latch under the torso section. Fig 18 shows the (holes for) the attachment bar 260 for this latch in the

35 rear facing shell. Notably the front and rear facing shells may have arm rests as seen in some of the figures.

36 The rear spine 256 has a support tube widi pin holes on it so it can be raised and lowered by removing the pin,

37 and has a torsion resistant rod attached at its bottom to the support tube. For the front facing seat, the head rest, and the assembly

38 comprising the pillow pads, the harness and shoulder supports are attached to this. These items can be swung up on each of two axes,

39 which are oriented to ensure that the harness and pillow pads swing away from the occupant when raised, thereby easing egress and

40 ingress. The Harness and or he Pillow pad rising may be spring loaded to ease release. The angled axes of this assembly allows the

41 pillow pads and the shoulder pad/support to be even slightly ahead of the child thereby ensconcing the shoulders or the head as the

42 case may be. The shoulder pad/support and the pillow pads may be set to different widths with adjustments which in this embodiment

43 may be done with retractable pins and several suitably positioned holes on a pivotally attached sleeve on the axis

44 The two part harness may be secured together by a loose piece of webbing or other material as the harness

45 retracts over the head of the child the webbing will allow the parts to separate. Notably the two part harness can be operated by a

46 single hand to secure a child.

47 The two part semi rigid harness is designed to be adjusted for length at a connection point just above the belly

48 pad (that provides a broad area of contact to support the body) and is designed to have a latch arrangement at the end just below the

49 shell on the cradle to hold it in position. This latch may be moved forward and backwards to ensure that the seat can be used for so children of all shapes. si It may be seen that the pillow pads are inclined towards the front and slightly outwards laterally. This is to aid

52 the use of the pillow pads as pillows for the rest of the child. When the shell and the occupant are under lateral acceleration, their

53 inertial mass will force the shell and cradle to rotate and thereby orient the pillow pad in the direction opposite that of the acceleration

54 to orient to the near vertical position (see fig 40), thereby supporting the head under severe acceleration, Notably the position of the

55 pillow pads in the normal operating position will reduce obstruction to the field of view of the child and reduce the impairment to

56 hearing when compared to other child seats with large wings.

57 The entire upper assembly containing the headrest, pillow pads, harness and shoulder pads/supports can be

58 moved up and down by disengaging a pin on the rear spine and moving the support tube. A variation of the embodiemtn may hav the

59 head rest on a shaft that is inside a tupe that supports the rest of the assembly thereby allowing independent adjustment of the

60 headrest.

4 ROS PΛGE4OF 9 llβM!! H|JgπUS2006/048016 In addition the upper assembly support rod may be designed to twist along its axis so that the upper assembly, while resisting the inertia! loading of the head and shoulders lags behind the movement of the shell thereby allowing the head to reduce peak accelerations. This is seen in figs 49 and50, another variation of the embodiment has a flex spine that bends to accommodate a differential motion desired between the head and the thorax. This is illustrated in Fig 51 and 52. In addition the material for the Pillow pads may be designed to flex on contact with the head thereby reducing peak loading conditions. Finally to address front impact, the pillow pads in the normal operating position constrict the space in front and below the face. In the front or certainly in an oblique impact these will support the head rather than allow the neck to take the entire loading resulting in high neck tensile load conditions. A variation of this design has a spring loaded pivot arrangement at the main Upper assembly hub. On contact of the torso with the harness, the forward force pulls the tow axes forward thereby reducing the space between the pillow pads, thereby increasing the likelihood of supporting the head in a front impact. In the case of the rear facing seat for infants, the shell is positioned in the reverse direction on the cradle - see for example Fig 14. While the same arrangements for the harness, shoulder pads and pillow pads may be used, as the main front impact loading is now on the back of the seat (which is the front of the vehicle) a conventional soft harness may be used. For side impact and acceleration the same cradle swing mechanism works. A simplified version of the upper assembly is used in this embodiment for the rear facing seats may be seen in Fig 14, 15, 16, 17. Here the Torsion 'T" bar is used to provide differential movement between the head and upper body and the lower body that moves with the cradle with inertial lateral loading. The Torsion 'T" bar is inserted into the front spine and held wit the same pin that held the shaft with the latch for the semi rigid harness for the front facing seat. With an inertial loading of the head the headrest pushes the torsion bar that twists to accommodate the differential movement of the head relative to the thorax. Notably all relative motion of regions of the anatomy of the occupant, are by design arranged to conform the axes of natural movement. In this case the rotational movement of the spine and neck and the flexural movement of the spine and neck. The rear facing seat is shown with a retractable undercarriage and handle that can be extended when the shell is removed from the cradle and wheeled for the convenience of the mother/guardian. The handle has a unique arrangement with the retracting mechanism allowing control of the retraction and extension with the handle alone. An extension element may be added to the handle to make it extend further. In all embodiments with the reorienting shell, the position of the center of mass relative to the support points that produce reaction forces determines the direction of reorientation. It should be ensured that the reaction forces should be lower on the side that needs to move more against inertial load due to the acceleration. Fig 34, 36 illustrate a passive air conditioning system for any shell type support mechanism for an occupant in a vehicle. Here a support shell has a substantially rigid structural shell with perforations, within which is interposed adjoining it, a flexible membrane with perforations staggered to the perforations of the structural shell and adjoining it a foam layer that is adapted to absorb air on expansion and release air on compression, within which is a gas permeable membrane adapted to be adjoining the occupant, such that during transient lateral accelerations of the vehicle in a first direction the inertial mass of the occupant compresses the foam thereby forcing air to the occupant side as the membrane with perforation s adjoining the structural shell with perforations will as a result for the force of compression and as a result of the staggered perforations, provide a seal against the transfer of air through the structural shell and wherein during transient lateral accelerations in a second direction the inertial mass shifts away from the foam and permeable membrane thereby allowing the foam to suck air from both sides, wherein the low pressure created next to the perforated membrane separates it from the perforated structural shell thereby allowing the staggered perforations to permit the infusion of air into the foam from the outer surface of the structural shell, thereby creating a mechanism for fresh air to enter the support shell for enhancing the comfort of the occupant. Notably the staggered spacing of the structural shell and the membrane may be even statistically staggered. ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the CISM as illustrated in Figs 21-30, has two sliders and two corresponding pivots therefore having two slides on two axes each with pivotal linkages to the CISM. One or both of the sliding mechanisms have shock absorbing elements. In the figures one of the sliding elements 107/111 on 102 has a pair of shock absorbing elements inside the tube 102 and a pin that serves as the pivot 233 engages the shock absorbers on each of the two sides for compression only. The slider 107/111 has a hole through its body to accommodate the pin that in turn goes through the slot in 102. Each of the two shock absorbers on the two sides of the pin 233 attached to 107/111 compress in the event of lateral acceleration of the CISM, which can be due to impact or centrifugal force as the vehicle negotiates curves. There may be multi element shock absorbers that have multiple compression characteristics to cater for the lower acceleration of centrifugal action, and the higher acceleration of impacts. These figures Fig 21-30 also show a head rest support QlOl which has two pivotally attached head rest flaps on it, with the pivot as far forward as possible so that on severe lateral acceleration the flaps are depressed thereby ensconcing the head to provide it a large surface area of support. The head rest flaps as shown also have one or more holes in the ear area to ensure a clear path for sound to the ears of the child. Such holes don't compromise the structural strength of the head rest as under such severe acceleration the flap rests against the headrest support that does not need to have holes in it. The Head rest flap is also shown to have a recessed section near the front for the eyes so that the child has an unrestricted view. During severe acceleration the rotation of the CISM raises the level of the relevant head flap to provide support as high as required on the head. The present R05 PAGES OF 9 ■fl i ii !ffl i*i! * i'if n\ I O¹SPS¹V ύ Iil ' !WlI nilI s!i lπτ !I !HaM ™ I nffl MM OPi 11 B ■ it! β ^'liBiRϊiiTfiφSQSinJβ ^^P^{τ/US2006/048016}

1 invention therefore has a solution that does not need to compromise the stimuli that the child can benefit from in the vehicle critical

2 for its development, to enhance safety. Most other designs would need to have huge wings on headrest to provide the same support.

^■3 Fig 21-30 does not show the ISOFIX or other latch mechanism in the interest of clarity. This will be mounted

4 on the curved bars shown at the bottom of the seat. s Any of the embodiments of the Child seat and CISM described herein may utilize a pre-tensioner device if

6 available in the vehicle. The car belt is threaded over a bar or lever that is pivotally or slidably attached to the seat frame. On

7 activation of the pre-tensioner the bar or lever is moved and this may activate a cable or other mechanical linkage that tightens the

8 child's harness.

9 The side arm 239 if on the door side of the child seat, it will also perform the function of an impact barrier to

10 further protects the child. The side arm 239 in some embodiments may be unlocked and either pivoted outwards or slid on yet

11 another sliding arrangement out of the way to allow the CISM to tilt outwards to ease egress and ingress.

12 Another alternative embodiment for occupant support is illustrated in Figs 3-10.This embodiment has

13 cylindrical slides for the safety beam lower element 102 and the safety beam upper element 107, with the safety beam upper element

14 driven to the access/ loading position fig 10E22 with a worm drive inside the safety beam lower element 102. the drive nut or ball

15 screw for the worm drive is attached to the safety beam upper element 107 through a slot C116 in the safety beam lower element

16 102. as may be seen from the illustrations a lateral impact loading on the protector shield 106 side will be supported by the safety

17 beam lower 102 and upper 107 elements that are braced to the central element 101. However the inertial loading under lateral impact

18 will move the secondary slides (without impact decouplers) 111 relative to the safety beam upper elements 107 against the spring

19 damper shock absorbers placed between 107 and 111 (not shown) thereby reducing the peak acceleration sustained by the occupant.

20 Moreover, when there is a controlled crush of the vehicle the occupant can move as shown from the normal operating position of Fig

21 7 to the initially loaded position against the shock absorbers that may have differential parameters to ensure rotation of the occupant

22 away from the impact (towards the acceleration direction) as shown in Fig S, and afterwards following the damping of the

23 acceleration pulse move towards the center of the vehicle and away from the crush as shown in Fig 9 and Fig 10. These illustrations

24 do not show the seat or passenger support mechanism but only a set of fore/aft adjustment slide mounts for the seats. This

25 embodiment has near vertical pivots C112 and front Cl 14 and rear C113 seat frame supports that are slidably interconnected Cl 15 to

26 allow a variable distance between the sliding Secondary slides 111 with differential displacements under load or during egress and

27 ingress when the impact decouplers and shock absorbers are disengaged allowing the rotation of the seat frame to further ease access

28 for the occupant. A further refinement of this embodiment (not shownO is analogous to the CISM of 1,2 where the occupant support

29 has a degree of rotation about an axis in a vertical plane through the direction of motion of the vehicle (analogous to 233 in the so CISM of Fig 1,2) thereby tilting the occupant support to reduce displacement of the head and thorax while using the impact energy to

31 rotate the passenger support mechanism to increase the area of support. If the Fore aft movement of the passenger support

32 mechanism is not obstructed, the Safety beam lower elements 102, upper elements 107 may be positioned on the rear of the

33 Passenger support mechanism and below it as in the CISMs of Fig 1,2. The CISM version of this embodiment may have ISOFIX

34 latches attached to the ends of the safety beam lower element 102 and the Safety beam upper element 107 may be coupled to the

35 secondary slide 111 (or even be the same element in some embodiments). The embodiment of the CISM may not be attached to the

36 central body member 101 or to the protector shields 106.

37 ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS

38 Yet another embodiment utilizes a viscous fluid filled anatomical micro air cushion with a vent to a secondary

39 chamber and internal constrictions to limit the speed of motion of the fluid within the chamber, thereby taking the shape of the

40 anatomical element such as the back of the head or the thorax, while under gentle pressure, but providing high levels of resistance

41 under sudden compression as in a collision.

42

43 Yet another embodiment has a curvilinear sliding surface attached to the CISM, with sets of rollers that engage the sliding surface

44 such that at least some of the sets of rollers are on both sides of the sliding surface thereby transferring pull and push reactive forces

45 from the CISM to the roller mounts. Moreover the sets of rollers may be mounted to a frame that allows controlled lateral movement

46 of the rollers and a degree or rotation al motion about an axis parallel to the axis of the rotators such that the rotational motion and

47 the translation motion rotate the CISM to enable the occupant to face away from the impact ( towards the direction of acceleration).

48 CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS & SCOPE

49 Thus it will become apparent that the present invention presented, provides a new paradigm for implementing

50 key safety comfort and convenience features and providing utility in accessing vehicles. While the above description provides many

51 specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present invention, but rather as an exemplification of the

52 preferred, an additional and an alternative embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible.

53 54 55 56 57

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Claims

2

Ώ 1. A support mechanism for an occupant in a vehicle wherein said support is adapted to reorient under lateral accelerations of the

4 vehicle. s

6 2. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said support is a multi-part support adapted to allow differential

7 motion of support elements supporting anatomical elements of the occupant under transient acceleration conditions, to utilize the

8 natural flexibility of the occupant anatomy in a confined space in a vehicle, to reorient and relocate anatomical elements of the

9 occupant to lower at least one of peak accelerations, intrusion into the occupant space by vehicle elements due to impact and local o loading on the occupant and resulting injury. 1 2 3. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said support is a multi-part support adapted to allow differential 3 motion of support elements supporting anatomical elements of the occupant under transient acceleration conditions in a confined 4 space in a vehicle, to utilize the inertial loading of said transient acceleration of a first anatomical element to reorient a support 5 element to protect a second anatomical element. 6 7 4. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said support is a multi-part support wherein said multi-part support 8 comprise at least one of a head support, a shoulder support and a torso support. 9 0 5. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said transient acceleration is due to a lateral impact on said vehicle. 1 2 6. A multi-part support of claim 3 wherein the first anatomical element is the torso and the second anatomical clement is the head. 3 4 7. The multi-part support of claim 6 wherein the head is supported by a head assembly and the torso is supported by a torso assembly 5 and where in the head assembly is adapted to one or both of rotate about a predefined axis relative to the torso assembly under β transient accelerations of the vehicle, and bend laterally along its axis relative to the torso assembly under transient accelerations, 7 thereby reducing the peak acceleration of one or both of the head and torso. 3 9 0 8. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the occupant is a child, comprising one of a front facing or a rear 1 facing detachable support shell in supporting the child. 2 3 9. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said occupant is a child, and wherein said support comprises a base 4 rigidly attached to the vehicle, adapted to support one or both of: 5 a cradle that is adapted to reorient the child under transient acceleration conditions, wherein said cradle supports a support 6 shell in direct contact with the child, 7 8 or a booster seat for older children. 9 0 10. An occupant support mechanism for a child as in claim 9, on a car seat with a back and a bottom, with at least two latch 1 attachment point at the base of the seat back, wherein said base comprises a wishbone that connects a harness attachment point to the 2 at least two latches, and is rigidly attached to the base along its length, thereby providing a rigid support at three or more points for 3 the base. 4 5 11. An occupant support mechanism as in claim 9 wherein said base is rigidly supported at its rear end and further comprises a linear 6 member adapted to resist an applied toque along its axis, rigidly attached at one end to the rear of the base and to the front end of the 7 base, thereby reducing the distortion of the base resulting from lateral loadings on base at point ahead of the rear of the base, resulting 8 from transient lateral accelerations. 9 εo

51

52 12.. A support mechanism for an occupant in a vehicle, wherein said support mechanism is for a child and comprises a shell with

53 wheels and a handle, adapted to transport said shell when detached from said support mechanism.

54

55 13. An occupant support mechanism as in claim 12 wherein one or both of the wheels and handle of the support shell are retractable,

56 thereby reducing the required space in the vehicle when attached to the support mechanism.

57

58 14. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, comprising a support shell for the occupant that is adapted to be reoriented

59 to face substantially outside the vehicle to facilitate egress and ingress.

60

61 15. A support mechanism for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim I₇ wherein said support comprises a child support shell and a

62 harness adapted to restrain the occupant substantially within the support shell, wherein said harness comprises a,| ROs PACE 8 OF 9

1 half, each of which are pivotally attached to axes on the support mechanism, substantially behind the back of the occupant and each

2 seperably attached at one or both of a point on the support mechanism between the legs of the occupant and a point on the support ^:3 mechanism beside the occupant, such that on release of the seperably attached harness, each of said harness halves, may be moved

4 subject to their pivotal constraints away from the occupant as each of them rise, thereby easing egress and ingress of the occupant

5 from the support mechanism. 6

? 16. An occupant support mechanism for a child in a vehicle as in claim 15_r wherein the separable attachment points may be moved

8 and locked in positions towards and away from the occupant to facilitate securing of children with different waist and chest

9 measurements. 0 1 17. An occupant support mechanism as in 15, wherein one or both of : the height of the axes for support for the left and right half 2 harnesses; and the length of each of the left and right half harness, are adjustable to accommodate taller and shorter children. 3 4 IS. An occupant support mechanism as in claim 15, wherein each of the left half and right half harness have a belly pad that provides 5 support to the torso of the occupant in a frontal or oblique impact. 6 7 19. An occupant support mechanism as in claim 15 wherein each of the left and πght half harness has a aircushion adjoining the torso 8 of the occupant that supports the occupant in the event of a frontal or oblique impact on the vehicle. 9 0 20. An occupant support mechanism as in claim 15, wherein both of said left half and right half of the harness have a support pad for 1 the head in the event of a front impact thereby reducing the neck tensile loadings during such impact. 2 3 21. A support mechanism for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said support is for a child and is adapted to reorient a 4 supported child under transient acceleration conditions, wherein the head is supported by a pair of pillow pads on either side of the 5 head in the event of a lateral transient acceleration, wherein the reorientation of the support mechanism concurrently reorients the 6 pillow pad with reaction force to the head to be substantially orthogonal to the direction of the lateral reaction force. 7 8 22. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said support is for a child and is adapted to reorient a supported 9 child under transient acceleration conditions, wherein the head is supported by a pair of pillow pads on either side of the head 0 wherein the position of the pillow pad in the absence of lateral accelerations lies in an angled position slightly below the head to one 1 or more of: allow the child to rest its head on said pillow pad; provides a less obstructed field of view than wings; .reduces 2 obstruction to hearing. 3 4 23. A support for an occupant in a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said support is adapted to reoπent a supported occupant under 5 transient acceleration conditions, wherein said reorientation is in discrete steps with multiple stages with increasing accelerations 6 enabled with multistage shock absorption devices . 7 8 24. An occupant support mechanism in a vehicle, comprising a support shell which comprises a substantially rigid structural shell 9 with perforations, within which is interposed adjoining it, a flexible membrane with perforations staggered to the perforations of the 0 structural shell and adjoining it a foam layer that is adapted to absorb air on expansion and release air on compression, within which 1 is a gas permeable membrane adapted to be adjoining the occupant, such that during transient lateral accelerations of the vehicle in a 2 first direction the inertial mass of the occupant compresses the foam thereby forcing air to the occupant side as the membrane with 3 perforation s adjoining the structural shell with perforations will as a result for the force of compression and as a result of the 4 staggered perforations, provide a seal against the transfer of air through the structural shell and wherein during transient lateral 5 accelerations in a second direction the inertial mass shifts away from the foam and permeable membrane thereby allowing the foam 6 to suck air from both sides, wherein the low pressure created bet to the perforated membrane separates it from the perforated 7 structural shell thereby allowing the staggered perforations to permit the infusion of air into the foam from the outer surface of the 8 structural shell, thereby creating a mechanism for fresh air to enter the support shell for enhancing the comfort of the occupant. 9 0

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