WO2012122653A1

WO2012122653A1 - Impact damping floating seat system

Info

Publication number: WO2012122653A1
Application number: PCT/CA2012/050159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Diana ZAIKOVATY
Original assignee: Zaikovaty Diana
Priority date: 2011-03-17
Filing date: 2012-03-15
Publication date: 2012-09-20
Also published as: CA2734480A1

Abstract

The floating system is a mechanism which consists of flexible and semi-rigid connections systems and is allocated between a vehicle seat and a vehicle. The vehicle seat and the vehicle are physically detached from each other and interconnected through the floating system. The floating system is inactive during no impact stages. Once an impact is applied to a vehicle and it reaches the floating system it is forced to travel through the floating system before it reaches the vehicle seat. The constituent components and connections of the floating system are designed to damp, detour and absorb some of the impact energy that is travelling through the floating system.

Description

IMPACT DAMPING FLOATING SEAT SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The field of this invention relates to a connection of a vehicle seat to a vehicle or its chassis within which that vehicle seat is situated. It also relates to a shock absorber technology, as well as vehicle sacrificial structure and its materials and such frame designs as to accommodate for absorption of impact energies. This invention is based on the field of kinematics (and some elements of dynamics) particularly in the area of rigid versus semi-rigid or flexible connections a.k.a. fixed versus pinned connections. This invention also relates to the field of mechanics, which primarily involves selection of materials and components that constitute the invention and identification of performance and interaction of such materials and components.

BACKGROUND ART:

In the fixed seat-body connection, the forces applied to a vehicle are being directly transferred to the vehicle seat that is situated within that vehicle and through the seat to an occupant sitting on that seat. Due to the type of connection that is generally used in modern vehicles, between a vehicle seat and the vehicle to which the seat is connected to, all of the generated impact forces that reach that connection location are being transferred to the vehicle seat. Further, the forces that reach the vehicle seat are being passed on to the occupant. Depending on the type of impact or accident, a momentum is being generated on the occupant that can cause strain on the

occupant's body. At the time of impact the occupant and the seat are acting as two separate entities: the seat as a fixed part of the vehicle and the occupant as an independent free floating entity sitting on that seat. This situation is not a favorable one in the time of an impact or an accident. As to achieve the lowest possibility and severity of injury during an impact or an accident it is sought for the occupant and the vehicle to have a dynamic response to the impact or the accident and act as one single body. This has been sought in combination of four major ways:

One - is to attach the occupant as best as possible to the vehicle seat by means of a seat belt and an ergonomically designed seat. The works of art of seat belts and ergonomically designed seats are widely used in our society and are not part of the scope of this art, so there will be no further reference to them.

The second way is to have the seat react to an accident or an impact congruently with the occupant's body's reaction to such accident or impact. There have been previous works of art that allow some mobility of a seat; such as CA Patent No. 2069245 entitled "Vehicle Safety Device" and CA Patent No. 2150323 entitled "Safety Seat Trajectories" and European publication KR20080091600 (A) entitled "Rear of a Car When Collide Passenger Lumbar and Cervical Vertebrae Protection Method". These works of art describe vehicle seat designs that allow the vehicle seat to shift, slide or rotate along with the occupant in a certain designed fashion. Allowance of such mobility reduces the possibility of injury or strain due to an accident or an impact because of the following principles: one primary principle is to catch the occupant by moving, shifting or rotating the seat along with the occupant's body; and the secondary principle is to release some of the energy that has reached the seat by transferring it into mobile energies (instead of releasing this energy directly onto the occupant) . Note that there also have been numerous works of art on improving the actual seat design as to reduce the possibility of injury on the occupant, such as an improved head-rest and CA Patent 2466486 that catches and supports the occupant's head and neck during collision, and much more, but these are not part of scope of this art.

The third way to reduce the possibility of injury to the occupant is to dampen the impact energy of an accident

altogether. This is being achieved by proper body design and frame structure design of a vehicle. There are numerous works of art describing such designs [see publications CN101574948 (A), CN101683836 (A), especially JP2010241176 (A), X2010002012 (A) and more] . The objective of these designs is to improve body and chassis/frame structure of the vehicle and to provide some kind of sacrificial structure/parts or materials that would absorb the impact energy onto themselves during an impact. The structure would generally be made of certain materials that were designed and calculated for such purpose.

CA Patent No. 2327535 entitled "Vehicle Body Structure for Improved Crash Safety" is the patent that introduces a concept close to this work of art. That is to integrate the vehicle seat and the vehicle structure as a damping mechanism of forces generated during an accident/impact. The art describes a vehicle structure design to respond to a front end collision.

And the fourth way is the implementation of airbags that are to be deployed at the time of an accident/impact. The airbags are not part of the scope of this art, but should be mentioned as to provide general understanding of the safety procedures

undertaken during an accident .

The problem with all of the above mentioned techniques is that there is still a considerable amount of energy that is being transferred onto the occupant that is not desirable and can be further reduced.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION: It is the object of this art to reduce impact/accident/collision energies/forces from reaching the occupant's seat and ultimately the occupant. It is also an object of this art to provide a broad system that is capable to react to majority types and strengths of collisions, accidents or impacts. For example, in the case of a low speed rear-end collision where the impact is not significant enough for the vehicle structure and seat to react, but is already significant enough to cause discomfort and possible injury to the occupant. The solution is: semi-rigid or flexible connection system (also referred as a "floating system" throughout this art) between the vehicle seat and the vehicle or the vehicle seat and the vehicle chassis. It is beyond the scope of this art as to what part exactly of the vehicle the floating system will be connected to - the vehicle body, its chassis, or any components of the vehicle; the concept/essence of the floating system is to physically detach a vehicle seat from the vehicle and interconnect the seat and the vehicle (or its chassis/body/interior) through the floating system. The exact part of the vehicle to be connected to the floating system, such as body/chassis/parts/interior is to be determined by the person skilled in this art.

This work of art describes a method of achieving a semi-rigid flexible connection between a vehicle seat and the vehicle in which the seat is situated. This method is achieved by the introduction of a floating system to be situated in between these two bodies - the vehicles seat and the vehicle. The floating system is a mechanism for allowing the vehicle seat to be physically detached from the vehicle and yet interconnected with the vehicle in a semi-rigid/flexible fashion by the floating system. Additionally, depending on the selected and implemented design of the floating system, the floating system can also serve as a mechanism for:

1 . reducing, absorbing and/or bypassing the generated impact energies away from the seat, and 2. for allowing controlled vehicle seat displacement/mobility in response to an accident or an impact.

See Figure 1, all of the shown figures describe the fundamentals of the floating system wherein the seat is not directly attached to the vehicle body, but is attached through certain systems. These systems indicated in Figure 1 can be constructed

singularly or in combination, which is to be determined by the persons skilled in this art and the desired end goal of the system performance. The floating system can be designed to perform a single function or perform a series of functions. These functions can be selected singularly or in combination and are to be planned and calculated for real life applications and implemented for the desired performance. Below is an outline of some of the general functions starting from the simplest functions to more complex ones that the system can be designed to implement, but is not limited to:

1. Detaching the vehicle seat from the vehicle within which it is situated;

2. Absorbing or damping the maximum amount of energy that has reached the floating system, within the floating system and thus allowing none or only minimal amount of energy to pass to the vehicle seat;

3. Bypassing or diverting the generated energy away from the floating system;

4. Bypassing or diverting the generated energy away from the seat (yet passing through the system) ;

5. Allowing for the seat mobility (with respect to the

vehicle/chassis) and yet in a controlled fashion as to react to an accident;

6. Allowing the floating system to collapse in a desired fashion . Some additional benefits of the floating system are that the floating system provides:

The ability to have a greater extent of predictability and management of force distribution within the system;

a greater extent of prediction and control of the final outcome due to an impact/collision/accident;

the ability to manipulate impact energies and the amount that will reach the floating system and path through the floating system;

the ability for the vehicle seat to provide more reliable support for the occupant during and after

impact/collision/accident and to provide increased safety.

Furthermore, the floating seat system can be constructed in a minimally intrusive fashion within a vehicle and its

incorporation in vehicles can provide a greater benefit of the improved safety. Also, the suspended seat space area can be covered with a softer material that is not part of the vehicle structure as to camouflage the internal work. If the floating system is efficiently designed the seat itself will hide some or most of the floating system. It should be noted that after an impact/collision/accident the floating system may require replacement or a simple resetting to bring it to its original pre-accident state depending on the severity of the accident and the implemented design of the floating system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Figure 1 - is a view of the principle behind the floating system and the possible configurations of the floating systems.

Figure 1 a - is the principle of the floating system, it shows a side view of a simplified representation of a vehicle seat supported by the floating system; wherein the floating system is situated between the vehicle seat and the vehicle and is supported by the vehicle (or any components of the vehicle, for example it's body/chassis/frame parts).

Figure lb - is a side view of the vehicle seat, the floating system; wherein the floating system is made up of 2 main systems. The first system (referred herein as system A) is connected to the vehicle (or its chassis or other parts of the vehicle) and the second system (referred herein as system B) is connected to the vehicle seat. The first system (System A) supports the second system (System B) and yet both systems are connected with each other by a flexible or semi-rigid type of connection .

Figure 1 c - this Figure provides a view of a possible

embodiment of Figure lb. This Figure shows a top & side view of a vehicle seat. See Figure lc (i), wherein the vehicle seat is being suspended (that is not directly attached to the vehicle) and has a pipe like body built-in into it and constitutes a components of system B. Another pipe like body is being attached to the vehicle (or vehicle frame) and constitutes a component of system A; the component of system A is designed to connect with the component of system B in such a way as to form a semi-rigid flexible connection. In this Figure an example is provided of having a component of system A cross through the suspended vehicle seat space and "thread" through a component of system B and thus System A supports System B and the seat.

Whenever the system is being released after a certain threshold of force is applied system B is free to slide over system A and vice versa, the system A is free to slide through system B.

Some of the options for this mechanism are indicated below:

a slider - See Figure lc (ii) same as described in Figure lc (i);

a roller - See Figure lc (iii);

a rail - Figure lc (iv) ; a hydraulic mechanism - Figure lc (v)- wherein System B is T'ing into System A, wherein the connecting element of (Aib) - see Figure 3b(ii)- belongs to System B.

Other types of connection systems can be selected based on the required strength and manufacturer's preference. The system A and B sizes (or any selected member sizes) and their

interconnection with each other can be interchanged or reversed, see Figure lc(vii) .

Figure Id (i) - is the same as Figure lc, but uses 2 sets of the described systems instead of 1. That is 2 System A's and 2 System B's.

Figure Id (ii) - is the same as Figure lc, but incorporates 2 Systems A and a single System B.

Figure le - provides a top view of a singular floating system (that is a floating system that supports one single seat), wherein the principles governing the design of the floating system are shown to accommodate for the following types of collisions which are shown: Figure le (i) - front and back end collisions and Figure le (ii) for side collision and Figure le (iii) for tangential collision.

Figure If - is a top view of the vehicle seat designed with shock absorbers, installed in the front (see Figure If (i)), the back (see Figure If (ii)), and sides (see Figure If (iii)). The advantage of shock absorbers is that they allow for an angled installation and lighter floating system (see Figure If (iv) ) . The shock absorber installation can be combined, for example rear front and back installation. The required number of shock absorbers and their capacity is to be determined during

calculations and design of the floating system.

Figure lg - shows a view of a simple release mechanism. This Figure shows two examples of a release mechanism which is a simple sacrificial structure that ruptures at the application of certain prescribed forces. Figure 2 - is a simplified timed diagram of a vehicle at the time of an impact.

Figure 2 a - is a simplified timed diagram of a vehicle side view (including vehicle seat) at the time of the impact with the vehicle seat attached directly to the vehicle, without the floating system. It shows general direction of forces generated due to an impact and how they reach the occupant. This Figure shows an example of a timed diagram for a rear end collision, however the same principle applies to front end collisions and side collisions; depending on the implemented design of the floating system.

Figure 2 b - is the same as Figure 2 a, but with the floating system and includes the general reaction of the floating system and its main components to the generated forces. Figure 3 - This Figure is showing a comprehensive example of a worked out floating system and its components.

Figure 3a - provides a more detailed side view of Figure lc (ii) and a simplified timed diagram of the model and its action during an accident.

Figure 3b - provides examples of the possible system A designs. System B shall correspond to accommodate for system A.

Figure 3b (i) - system A is comprised of a single component (Ai) interconnected with a vehicle.

Figure 3b (ii) - system A is comprised of (Ai) that is made up of 3 elements, shown on the Figure as (Aia, Aib, and Aic), these elements are designed to be collapsible after a certain

threshold energy is met, and thus energy is being absorbed.

These elements will be collapsing as the impact energy reaches them, and the design can incorporate a timed collapse and extent of collapse of each of these elements.

Figure 3b (iii) - system A is comprised as per Figure 3b(ii) but includes additional collapsible components (Aii) on each ends of (Ai) see Figure 3b (iiia), and collapsible components (Aii) and (Aiii) at each end of the (Ai) see Figure 3b (iiib) . Figure 3b (iv) - shows a top view of system A wherein the components of Figures 3b (i) through 3b (iii) are the inner "center piece" components of system A and system A comprises of additional components connected perpendicularly with the ends of the center piece components forming an I shaped system A. These additional components are interconnected with the vehicle (or its chassis) and thus designed to also accommodate for side types of impacts/collisions. The perpendicular components connected with the ends of the centerpiece of System A in a flexible-semi-rigid fashion, analogous to system A and B connection. The seat is to react sideways and displace in the direction away from the impact, that way the seat will shift away from the point of impact .

Figure 3b (v) - system A as per Figure 3b (iv) but with dual components as per Figure Id.

Figure 3b (vi) - same as per Figure 3b (iv) but instead of an I shaped system A, the perpendicular components extend to the sides and surround the inner centerpiece of system A.

Figure 3c (i)- provides a side view of system B attached to the vehicle seat.

Figure 3c (ii)- provides a side view of system B attached to the vehicle seat, but with energy absorbing components (Bii) within system B.

Figure 3c (iii) - provides a top view of system B incorporating elements for response to side or tangential impact.

Figure 3d - shows top and side views of the possible connection systems between System A and System B.

Figure 3d (i) - shows connection wherein a System A component (or an element) is "threaded" (similar to needle and a thread, but system A component/element is rigid) in a System B component and thus is free to slide within System B once released.

Figure 3d (iia) - shows a component of System B inserted into a System A component (or an element) that has a slot opening through which the System B component is inserted into the System A component (or an element) which has a neck extending through and interconnects with the main System B. Such that when the system is released the inserted System B component is free to slide inside the System A component (or an element) and thus System B and System A are free to slide with respect to each other .

Figure 3d (iib) - same principle as 3d (iia) but hydraulic.

Figure 4 - provides views of possible slowing down and stopping mechanisms that are there to arrest the floating system and its components after the activation and performance of its function. Figure 4a - shows a simple concept of a slowing down mechanism within each mobile part of the floating system. Figure 4a (i) shows such mechanisms to be hydraulic, 4a (ii) springs, and 4a (iii) shows such mechanisms to contain simple pads.

Figure 4b - is showing a slowing down and stopping system to be incorporated as part of the floating system between components (or elements) that are designed to slide within each other once activated. The shown slowing down and stopping system operates analogous to the breaking system in the wheels of cars, but with a different configuration. The interior walls of a component

(or an element) (C) are to function analogous to a rotor and the component (or an element) (D) that slides inside (C) will have retracting breaking pads built into it. These pads are to be designed to begin its operation at a certain designated time after activation. Once the system is activated the pads push in on the interior walls and thus slow down and eventually stop the sliding of the pipe-like members with respect to each other. Figure 4c - is showing a side of a slowing down and stopping system that is attached to a vehicle seat and system A - see (i), alternatively, the slowing down and stopping system is attached to system B and system A - see (ii) . The slowing down and stopping system functions analogous to the breaking system in the wheels of cars. In this Figure certain designated components of system A act the role of a rotor of the breaking system, and the attached devices to the vehicle seat or system B act analogues to the breaking pads. The breaking pads clutch to the designated components of System A and thus slow down and stop the floating system with respect to the vehicle seat and the floating system.

Figure 4d - see Figure 4a (i) - shows a principle constructing sliding elements (or components) with the incorporation of hydraulics. The principle provides the benefit of the slowing down and stopping system by use of hydraulics and the benefit of the ability to release the floating system components back to their original pre-accidental state by the use of hydraulics. Figure 4e - shows a top and side view of a hydraulic slowing down mechanism which can also serve a dual function as both a release and a slowing down and stopping mechanism. Figure 5 - The Figure is showing a side view of a vehicle seat and floating system with a seat displacement control mechanism. This mechanism can be incorporated as part of Figure 4e . This mechanism can be designed to control the seat in either

longitudinal or horizontal displacement or both. Figure 6 - is showing a top view of a floating system to be implemented as a singular system (i) or as a system supporting a pair of seats either longitudinally (ii) or horizontally (iii) or supporting all the seats in a vehicle (iv) .

Figure 7 - collapsible or partially collapsible system to accommodate for a rollover accident or any other type of accident where an occupant might collide with a vehicle roof or vehicle interior.

Figure 8 - this figure shows two top views. Top view (i) shows energy diversion away from the floating system and top view (ii) shows energy diversion within the floating system away from the vehicle seat. Note: The drawings are not to scale, the floating system is to undergo design and calculations for identification of

dimensions .

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY :

This art describes the fundamentals and concepts of a floating system. This section covers objectives, construction

principles, and parameters to be considered during design implementation of the floating system. It also describes the preferred embodiment and configuration of the system and principles behind such configuration. This section touches on the provided Figures and provides examples along the way.

The following are the objectives and construction principles to be considered in the design stages of a floating system.

The objective is to construct the floating system as minimally intrusive to the existing vehicle structure and yet perform all of its necessary functions. The floating system is to be interconnected properly with the vehicle and the seat in order to prevent pullout or rupture of the floating system during an impact .

The construction of the floating system might require additional aids of springs and other tools, devices, members, connections, nuts, bolts, shims, and other constructability elements that are to be selected based on design, calculations and construction preferences.

During the design implementation stages of the floating system the following parameters are to be considered:

1. Types of impact the floating system will be designed to respond to and the range of strengths of the impacts;

2. The forces and their magnitude that the floating system will transmit, dampen, absorb and reduce; 3. The paths that will transmit the impact forces and the distribution of forces within the system;

4. The threshold of forces/energies (or impact strengths) to which the floating system and its components will be initiating their response. Calibration of reactions of each component in the floating system with respect to each other and the time of the impact energy generation;

5. The desired outcome;

6. The functions that the system will perform;

7. The ability to divert forces away from the floating system and from the vehicle seat within the floating system.

Below is the description of the preferred embodiment of the floating system. This description provides a higher complexity model of the floating system and incorporates the following Figures la, lb, lc, 3b (ii) and (iiib), 3c (ii), 3d, 4a (i), 4b, 4c, 4 d, 6. As desired the model can be simplified and only selected components can be embodied in the floating system.

Alternatively, a greater complexity of components may be introduced to substitute the components in the described model or to be added as additional components - this topic is being discussed after the description of preferred embodiment.

This section introduces the model of the preferred embodiment of the floating system. See Figure la for a general representation of the floating system. A separate floating system can be incorporated under each vehicle seat, or a floating system can be designed to support multiple vehicle seats, see Figure 6. The model described herein is designed to respond primarily to front and rear impacts on the vehicle. The floating system of this embodiment comprises of 2 main systems, System A and System B, see Figure lb and lc (i), (ii) . System A is attached to the vehicle (its chassis/frame) and is supported by the vehicle. System B is interconnected with System A in a semi- rigid flexible manner and is supported by System A. System B is attached to the vehicle seat and supports the vehicle seat.

For System A composition see Figure 3b (ii) and (iiib) . System A is comprised of the following components that are sequenced as follows: (Aiii), (Aii), (Ai) which is comprised of elements {(Aic), (Aib), (Aia)}, (Aii), (Aiii).

Components (Ai) , (Aii) and (Aiii) are configured as follows: component (Ai) is partially inserted with its end into a larger rod-like component (Aii). A smaller rod-like component (Aiii) is inserted into the component (Aii) on its opposite end thus placing the larger component (Aii) in between of (Ai) and

(Aiii) . At the time of impact energy generation such as an accident or collision, whenever a certain prescribed threshold energy is met - component (Aiii) will slide into (Aii) and (Aii) will slide over (Ai) , thus absorbing energy, then (Ai) will be pushed further and slide under (Aii) on the opposite end, pushing the (Aii) to slide over (Aiii), and thus

absorbing/damping even more energy. The sliding distance of each component is to be defined. The sequence and timing when the components will be released can be manipulated by defining appropriate threshold energy amounts at which the components will be released. It might be beneficial to collapse external components such as (Aiii) and (Aii) on both sides prior to reaching (Ai) - this avenue should be investigated.

The (Ai) is comprised of elements A(ia), A(ib), and A(ic) and is configured as following: element (Aic) is analogous to element (Aia) but inserted on the opposite end of rod-like element (Aib) into element (Aib) such that element (Aib) is a center piece of the (Ai) . Element (Aia) is a rod-like element that is smaller than rod-like element (Aib) , element (Aia) is then partially inserted into element (Aib) - this configuration allows element (Aia) to slide in into element (Aib) . Once element (Aia) is released at a certain designated threshold energy, and thus by chain reaction, once element (Aia) will reach its sliding distance and push onto element (Aib) , element (Aib) then will slide over said (Aic) .

In this case (Aia) and (Aic) are the parts that are partially inserted into the (Aii)'s.

This same configuration can be constructed with the

incorporation of hydraulic systems, see figure 4d. There are a number of benefits of hydraulic systems, such as:

1. ease of enabling activation of elements/components/systems and connections at a certain defined threshold;

2. ease of ensuring slowing down and arresting/stopping the elements at a certain distance;

3. ability of the floating system and its mobile

parts/components/systems to respond in proportion to the intensity of the impact energy; and

4. provision of some enablement of the floating system and its elements/components to self-restore (decompress) to its pre- impact state.

Also, the smaller components/elements that are partially inserted into the larger ones, can have a piston with sealers attached to them on the inserted ends.

For System B composition see Figure 3c(ii). The primary function of System B when no impact energy is generated is to support the vehicle seat and be supported by System A. System B interconnects with the vehicle seat with certain designated components and with System A with certain other designated components. System B can contain miniature collapsible

system(s) within itself to release/damp/absorb some of the impact energy

that has reached System B, as per Figure 3c (ii) . The components can incorporate hydraulic systems and function analogous to components in System A.

System A and System B are interconnected with each other in a semi-rigid flexible fashion in such a way that when the

connection is being released its behavior is predictable. Some suggestions for flexible connection are provided in Figure lc. For the preferred embodiment this art will examine three possible preferred connections that are described in Figure 3d. See Figure 3d(i), for the preferred embodiment connection between System A and System B. In this connection type the connection components of the System B are designed to

accommodate for the connection components of System A. The System B connection components are larger than the System A connection components and surround the System A components like a needle and a thread, wherein System B acts analogous to needle and System A - to thread (System A components however are rigid) . Under normal performance, that is whenever no impact energy is generated, the connection between System B and System A components is fixed (or allowed some minimal floatation if the floating system is designed for such function) . At certain prescribed threshold energy the connection will be released and System A connecting components will slide through System B connecting components (or vice versa, System B components will slide over System A components) . This configuration can be reversed and System A and B connecting components interchanged - that is smaller System B connecting components and larger System A connecting components, wherein System A connecting components thread System B connecting components.

See Figure 3d (iia), for the preferred embodiment connection between System A and System B. System A contains a designated hollow space of certain distance within itself and a slotted opening of certain length into the hollow space. The hollow space is to accommodate for a component from System B to be placed in it and the slotted opening to accommodate for a connecting neck between the inserted component of System B and the main System B. The hollow space and the slotted opening are also to accommodate for a certain sliding distance that the inserted component of System B can slide within the hollow space when released. At certain designated threshold energy the system is released and the inserted component of System B is free to slide within the hollow of the System A component (or element) (or system A over the inserted component of System B) . Thus both Systems A and B are free to slide with respect to each other. This system connection can also be constructed by principles of hydraulics, see Figure 3d (iib) . This system can comprise of multiple slots and openings for multiple necks if such arrangement is found beneficial. Alternatively, this configuration can be reversed between the Systems and System A to comprise the inserted component and System B to contain the hollow space and the slot opening.

Another type of connection can be a hydraulic one, see Figure lc (v) , with element (Aib) being actually incorporated as part of System B.

The floating system is a dynamic system and all of its

components, systems and elements are to be examined dynamically with respect to each other and external factors. The sequence and the timing of release of each system, component and element and is to be defined.

Any part or all the parts of the floating system can be

constructed by the incorporation of hydraulics. The hydraulics can incorporate the release and slow down and stopping of the floating system and its components, see Figure 4a (i) and 4d. However, the system can also incorporate a simple release mechanism that comprises of a simple sacrificial material or structure that can be designed to rupture at certain prescribed threshold energy generation, see Figure If.

The floating system can also contain slowing down and stopping systems. In this art the preferred embodiment of the following slowing down systems will be examined:

1. a slowing down system that is analogous to a breaking system in the wheels of cars in which one of the members acts the role of a rotor and other designated members the role of pads, see Figure 4c; and 2. a slowing down system is similar to 1 but the component that acts as a rotor is actually the internal walls of the

components/elements that contain components/elements that are designated to slide within them once released, see Figure 4b. These slowing down and stopping systems are to be placed at all required locations that fit the requirements and configuration of the floating system to contain these types of slowing down and stopping systems.

Item 1, see Figure 4c. The preferred embodiment of the slowing down and stopping system is as follows: System A and B contain designated components that interact in the fashion analogous to a breaking system designed in the wheels of cars, wherein the designated components of System A act the role of a rotor and the designated components of System B act the role of the clutching mechanism (and breaking pads if required) that are to slow down and stop the rotor. Wherein the serving function of this arrangement provides the ability to slow down and stop the movement of Systems A and B with respect to each other .

Item 2, see Figure 4b. This embodiment of a slowing down and stopping system applies to a configuration wherein a smaller component/element is designed to slide inside a larger

component/element. The breaking system is designed analogous to the one in the wheels of cars, but reversed. Wherein the clutching system is located within a smaller component/element, which is situated (and designed to slide when released) within a larger component/element. The internal walls of the larger component/element serve the role of a rotor. Wherein after the components/elements are being released to slide with respect to each other and slowing down and breaking is required, the clutches that are incorporated in the smaller component/element that are within the larger component/element expand outwards toward the internal walls of the larger component/element and press against the internal walls and thus breaking occurs. The below section discusses a greater complexity of components of the floating system that can be added to or substituted in the floating system described above. In essence the below section describes preferred embodiment of the more complex components of the floating system.

Providing the above described floating system with the

flexibility of responding to side, angled and tangential impacts. See Figure le for general representation of side, angled and tangential impact response of the system.

The response to these types of impact can be achieved in several ways: 1. through the provision of response elements to or in System A, 2. through provision of response elements in System B, and 3. through provision of response elements in the connection system between Systems A and B.

For item 1 see Figure 3b (iv) and (vi) . These Figures

incorporate addition of perpendicular components to each of the ends of System A. These components can be designed to be collapsible (slide into each other) in the same fashion as System A is designed. At each end of System A, the

perpendicular component is interconnected with the System A component in a semi-rigid flexible fashion (analogous to System A and System B connection) . Wherein System A can be designed to slide along these perpendicular components in the direction away from the impact energy generation points. The sliding distances are to be defined, with the selection of the most optimum sliding distance, and are to be accommodated for in the vehicle design .

For item 2 see Figure 3c (iii), wherein System B is designed to accommodate for side, angled and tangential impacts, by simply shifting the vehicle seat in the direction away from impact energy generation points.

For item 3 see Figure Id (ii), wherein the seat displacement is accommodated for due to existence of 2 Systems A and a single System B that is to be allocated in between of the 2 Systems A. Any of these items can be incorporated in the floating system, on their own or in combination.

The provision of the ability of the floating system to respond to a side, an angled and a tangential impact adds a complexity level of the dynamic responses of the floating system's systems, components and elements, and thus should be calibrated with these systems, components and elements and the floating system as a whole.

Providing the above described floating system with incorporation of controlled seat displacement in reaction to an impact.

Figure 5 shows an additional controlled seat displacement system as part of the floating system. Wherein the hydraulic system is attached to System B and the seat and is designed to respond to impact energy by pulling the seat to a certain direction away from an impact .

Providing the above described floating system with the ability to pull in the vehicle seat or collapse the floating system in response to rollover impact. See Figure 7. The floating system can be designed to pull-in or collapse whenever the vehicle experiences rollover or a complex impact that is being

experienced by the upper body of a vehicle. This can be achieved by integrating a vertical collapsible system or systems that are to be attached to System A. These vertical collapsible systems can be integrated at the points of the floating system connection with the vehicle or at some designated intervals of System A. For a rollover accident the floating system can be designed to collapse inward thus pulling the seat downward towards the vehicle bottom, creating greater space between the occupant and the vehicle roof and thus preventing the occupant from possible head and neck injuries. The collapsible mechanism can also be implemented in other types of collisions where a possibility exists that the occupant's body can collide with the upper interior of the vehicle. All of the described above mobile/ sliding

systems/components/elements/connections can be designed in the least to integrate any of the presented types of connections described in Figure lc (ii through vii) . That is Figure lc (ii through vii) is not restrictive to the connection types between System A and System B, but rather can be applied to any

systems/components/elements/connections that incorporate flexible semi-rigid types of connections. For example, the above described sliding components of system A can be substituted with the components incorporating hydraulics; or for example, be constructed using rollers.

See Figures Id and 3b (v) , wherein an addition of a second system, that is creating a dual system A's and B's might provide additional benefits to the performance of the floating system; that is providing 2 Systems A and 2 Systems B or 2 systems A and a single system B.

See Figure 8, wherein due to the fact that the system has defined points of energy entry into the floating system - energy diversion can be implemented such that a maximum amount of impact energy is designed to bypass the floating system. As well, the same concept applies within the floating system as it contains defined energy transmitting paths; maximum amount of the impact energy that has entered the floating system can be transmitted back onto the vehicle (chassis/frame/etc) and thus bypass the remaining of the floating system components. In such, the floating system can be designed to respond to an impact in an hierarchical fashion depending on the severity of the impact .

In conclusion, this invention can be constructed to accommodate for side impact collisions, front and rear end collisions, angled and tangential collisions, rollovers and more. All of the provided Figures are to be applied as tools and principles of the floating system design and implementation.

This invention applies to any transportation vessel and can be incorporated in any transportation vessel that contains an allocated resting/sitting body for the transportee; that is this invention can also apply to locomotives, planes, trains, boats, helicopters, SUV's, vans, busses, sedans, hunchbacks, cars, etc.

See Figure 2b and 3a as a reference to the example below. The provided example is for a rear end collision. At the time of an accident of a rear end collision, the forces are being

transferred to the floating system. First, the forces are being passed through the System A components. As System A collapses the forces are reaching further, System A components are being pushed forward, thus releasing Systems A and B. The System A components then continue to slide-in forward toward the end point of the opposite side of System A. Then System A is released (decompressed) to its original pre-accident state.

Meanwhile System B has barely been affected and has moved only minimally with respect to the vehicle body. The occupant might have experienced a little floatation during the accident, but with minimal or no impact on the occupants body, thus reducing the possibility of injury or eliminating it altogether.

The floating system can be used in parts or as a whole,

depending on the calculations, desired result and manufacturer's preferences. This invention is not limited to the systems described in the provided Figures and throughout the art, but applies to analogous systems at hand for the intended function of detaching the vehicle seat from direct physical fixed attachment to/with the vehicle's parts/chassis and reattaching the vehicle seat to/with the vehicle's parts/chassis through certain systems as to form a flexible energy absorbing and/or energy damping connection between the vehicle seat and the vehicle .

Claims

The following is being claimed:

[1] An impact damping floating seat system comprising a semirigid flexible connection system situated in between of a vehicle (and a vehicle chassis) and a vehicle seat within that vehicle, referred herein and hereunder as either

"floating system" or "floating seat system", comprising means for detaching and separating from and creating a buffer zone between said vehicle seat and said vehicle and vehicle chassis and interconnecting them by the floating seat system.

[2] An impact damping floating seat system comprising a vehicle seat, a vehicle (and its chassis) and a semi-rigid flexible connection system such that:

said semi-rigid flexible connection system (referred herein and hereunder as the "floating system") comprises means for reducing, absorbing and damping an impact energy that is generated due to an accident or a collision;

wherein said floating system comprises means for

attaching/connecting to said vehicle seat and other means for attaching/connecting to said vehicle (and said vehicle chassis) that contains said vehicle seat;

wherein said vehicle seat is supported by said floating system and said floating system is supported by said vehicle (and said vehicle chassis) ;

wherein said floating system comprises means for releasing its designated components into an activated state once certain threshold energy is achieved.

[3] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[2], wherein the releasing means are simple sacrificial elements that are designed to undergo fracture after certain threshold energy and thus releasing the floating seat system components in motion.

The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim [1], [2], or [3] comprising further means for providing: 1) an ability for said vehicle seat to react, as independently as possible from said vehicle within which said vehicle seat is situated, to an occurrence of an accident or a collision and yet controlled by the floating system, 2) an ability to reduce energy generated due to an accident or collision before it reaches said vehicle seat by the floating system, thus creating a buffer zone between said vehicle (and said vehicle chassis) and said vehicle seat within that vehicle.

The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [1] or [2] wherein said floating system is situated in such a way as to support a single said vehicle seat and an independent floating system is implemented for each desired vehicle seat in said vehicle.

The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [1] or [2], wherein the floating system is designed to support multiple vehicle seats within said vehicle either in pairs or all of said vehicle seats.

The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [1] or [2], wherein said floating system comprises of two main systems: main system that is connected to said vehicle (its chassis) referred herein and hereunder as (A), and main system that is connected to said vehicle seat within that vehicle referred herein and hereunder as (B) .

The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [7], wherein said (A) and said (B) are interconnected with each other by means of a semi-rigid flexible connection method . [9] The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [7], wherein said (A) further comprised of energy damping, energy absorbing and energy transferring elements and connections as means for reducing, absorbing/ damping the energy entering into the floating system.

[10] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], wherein said (A) comprises of main rod-like/pipelike component (Ai).

[11] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], wherein said (A) comprise the main element (Ai) that further comprised of 3 elements (Aia, Aib, Aic) ;

wherein said (Aic) is analogous to said (Aia) but inserted on the opposite end of rod-like said (Aib) into said (Aib) ; wherein said (Aia) is a rod-like element that is smaller than rod-like said (Aib) , said (Aia) is then partially inserted into said (Aib) - this configuration allows said (Aia) to slide in into said (Aib), once it is being released at certain designated threshold energy, and thus by chain reaction, once said (Aia) will reach its sliding distance and push onto said (Aib) , said (Aib) then will slide over said (Aic) .

[12] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [11], wherein said (Ai) is comprised only of said (Aia) and said (Aib), thus the ends of (Ai) are (Aia) on one side and (Aib) on the other.

[13] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [11] or [12], wherein the described system is reversed in terms of the elements that are inserted into each other; that is said (Aib) is being inserted into said (Aia) (and said (Aic) should it exist) . [14] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [10], [11], or [12], wherein said (Ai) is directly connected to said vehicle or said vehicle chassis.

[15] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], wherein said (A) comprises of component (Ai) and a rod-like component (Aii), that are configured as such: said (Ai) is partially inserted, with one of its ends, into larger said (Aii), wherein said (Aii) is directly connected to said vehicle or said vehicle chassis; and thus allowing (Aii) to slide over (Ai) once certain threshold energy is reached .

[16] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [15], wherein said (A) comprise the following: said (Ai) and 2 of said (Aii), wherein the second set of said (Aii) is simply applied to the other end of (Ai) .

[17] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], wherein said (A) comprise the following:

component (Ai), component (Aii), and component (Aiii) that are configured as such:

said (Ai) is partially inserted with one of its ends into larger rod-like said (Aii), and smaller rod-like said member (Aiii) inserted into said (Aii) of said (Aii) 's opposite end, thus placing larger said (Aii) in between of (Ai) and (Aiii); and thus at the time of energy generation such as an accident or collision, whenever a certain prescribed energy threshold is met said (Aiii) will slide into said (Aii) and said (Aii) will slide over said (Ai), thus absorbing energy.

[18] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [17], wherein said (A) comprise the following: said (Ai), 2 of said (Aii) and 1 of said (Aiii), wherein the configuration of these elements is as such: on one end said (A) is being connected to said vehicle (or vehicle chassis) with said (Aii) and on the other end with said (Aiii).

[19] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [18], wherein said (A) comprise the following: said (Ai), 2 of said (Aii) and 2 of said (Aiii), wherein the second set of said(Aii) and said (Aiii) are simply applied to the other end of (Ai) .

[20] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claims [16] through [19] inclusive, wherein said (Ai) contains elements as per Claim [11] or [12].

[21] The impact damping floating seat system as described in any of the Claims [9] through [19], or Claim [20] wherein said (A) is designed to accommodate for a side and tangential impact . [22] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], wherein said (A) comprises of components attached perpendicularly to each of its ends, thus said (A) is forming an "I" shape and said (A) is being attached to the vehicle (its chassis) through these components which provide means for the floating system to react to a side impact; wherein the centerpiece of said (A) is as described in any of the Claims [10] through [19].

[23] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [22], wherein the attached perpendicular component on each end of said (A) forming a whole with the other

component, such that the top view of said (A) it forms a I I shape, wherein the centerpiece of said (A) is as described in any of the Claims [10] through [19] .

[24] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [22] or [23] and Claim [8], wherein the perpendicular components of said (A) are interconnected with the centerpiece of said (A) in an analogous fashion as said (A) interconnects with said (B) .

[25] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [22] or [23], wherein the perpendicular components of said (A) are designed in an analogous fashion as the centerpiece of said (A) as per any of the described Claims [9] through [19] .

[26] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [8] wherein said (B) is designed to accommodate for a side and tangential impact.

[27] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claims [11], [12], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [22], and [23], wherein each said component (and element) comprising an end component (and element) that is being inserted into another component (and element) contains a piston (and all necessary mechanical and technical requirements that are required to be installed along with sealer that are universally accepted in our society) on its inserted end.

[28] The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [11], [12], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [22], or

[23], wherein the configuration and sizes of defined components (and elements) can be reversed and interchanged while the means provided by the described system and functionality are preserved. [29] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [9], [11], [12], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [22], or [23], wherein said (A) is designed and constructed by means for creating the described herein and hereunder as collapsible system; wherein each sliding component (and element) is coordinated to react to impact energy with respect to itself and other sliding components (and elements ) . [30] The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [7], [ 9 ] , [11], [12], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [22] or [23], wherein said (A) is designed and constructed by means of hydraulic systems. [31] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [9], [11], [12], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [22] or [23] , wherein said (A) comprises of components that are designed and constructed by means of hydraulic systems.

[32] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [9], [11], [12], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [22] or

[23], wherein all the sliding elements and components are have a certain sliding distance limit.

[33] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], [9], [11], [12], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [22] or [23], wherein said (A) is connected to said vehicle or said vehicle chassis at certain prescribed points as means for manipulating energy entering the floating system and means for creating a possible energy diversion away from the floating system. [34] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], or [26], wherein said (B) comprises means for controlled seat displacement or rotation.

[35] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], or [26], wherein said (B) comprised of main component referred herein and hereunder as said (Bi) that is directly connected to said vehicle seat.

[36] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], or [26], wherein said (B) comprised of two (2) main components referred herein and hereunder as (Bi) and (Bii) that are configured as follows: said (Bi) is connected to said (Bii) , wherein said (Bii) is directly connected to said vehicle seat.

[37] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], or [26], wherein said (B) comprises of a component (Bii), wherein said (Bii) comprising means for energy absorption of the remaining amount of the impact energy that has reached said (Bii) .

[38] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], or [26], wherein said (B) comprises of two main components (Bi) and (Bii); wherein the interface connection between said (Bi) and said (Bii) provides means of energy absorption or damping.

[39] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], or [26], wherein said (B) comprises of two main components (Bi) and (Bii) ; wherein the interface connection between said (Bi) and said (Bii) provides means for seat mobility in a predictable fashion as a reaction to generated energies.

[40] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], or [26], wherein said (B) comprises of two main components (Bi) and (Bii); wherein said (Bii) comprises means for controlled seat displacement or rotation.

[41] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7], [8], or [26], wherein said (B) comprises of two main components (Bi) and (Bii); wherein said (Bii)

comprises a series of hydraulic connections or shock absorbers that serve as the energy absorbing mechanisms between said (Bi) and said vehicle seat.

[42] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [8], wherein said connection method comprises means for the following: 1) energy absorption, release or damping; 2) predictable and manipulatable (that is ability to manipulate) reaction to an impact energy; and 3) connecting said (A) and said (B) such that said (A) supports said (B) .

[43] The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [8], wherein said (A) and said (B) are interconnected with each other such that said (A) and said (B) are allowed to undergo displacement with respect to each other in a predefined fashion once the threshold energy is met.

[44] The impact damping floating system as described in Claim

[7], wherein the floating system incorporates two (2) said

(A)'s and two (2) said (B)'s.

[45] The impact damping floating system as described in Claim

[7], wherein the floating system incorporates two (2) said (A)'s and one (1) said (B) . [46] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [7] or [8] and Claim [11] or [12], wherein said (Aib) is a component of said (B) .

[47] The impact damping floating system as described in Claim

[8] or [42] and Claim [11] or [12], wherein said (Aib) is a component of said (B) , wherein said (Aib) is part of the hydraulic connection between said (A) and said (B) .

[48] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claims [7] and [43], wherein the threshold energy to which the connection means of said (A) and said (B) are designed to react and the threshold energy reaction (s) to which constituents of said (A) and said (b) are designed to react are coordinated.

[49] The impact damping floating seat system as described in Claim [1] or [2], wherein all of the constituents of a floating system are designed to respond to an impact in coordinated dynamic fashion. [50] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim [8], [42], or [43], wherein said (A) and said (B) are interconnected by means of a hydraulic connection.

[51] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[8], [42], or [43], wherein said (A) and said (B) are interconnected hydraulically .

[52] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[8], [42], or [43], wherein said connection method comprises means for connecting said (A) and said (B) that is in a shock absorber manner.

[53] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[8], [42], or [43], wherein said connection method comprises means for connecting said (A) and said (B) that is in a sliding rail manner. [54] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[8], wherein said connection method comprises means for connecting said (A) and said (B) by the following concept: said (A) is hollow for a certain length within it and said (A) also contains a slotted opening of certain length into the hollow space, wherein the length of the slotted opening is also designed to accommodate for sliding distance;

whereas said (B) comprises a fitting into said (A) rod-like element that is inside of said (A) out of which a neck extended through said slotted opening and joins the main said (B) , such that said (B) will have the ability to slide with respect to said (A) with the allowable distance accommodated by the length of said slotted opening and the length of hollow within said (A) .

[55] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[8] or [54], wherein said (A) contains number of slots through which corresponding multiple necks joining said (B) and the rod-like element of said (B) that is situated within said (A) .

[56] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[54], wherein said (B) and said (A) are married in the fashion analogous to a breaking system designed in the wheels of motor vehicles (such as car wheels), wherein the internal walls of said (A) act the role of a rotor and said (B) the role of the clutching mechanism (and pads) that slows down and stops the rotor; wherein the clutching system of said (B) is located within said (A) and is a part of the rod-like element of said (B), which is situated within said (A) ; wherein during the slowing down and stopping of the floating system the clutches that are incorporated in the element of said (B) that is within said (A) expand toward the internal walls of said (A) and press against them and thus breaking occurs.

[57] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[8] , wherein said connection method comprises means for connecting said (A) and said (B) with each other such that said (A) has the ability to slide through said (B) .

[58] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[8], wherein said connection method comprises means for connecting said (A) and said (B) with each other such that said (B) has the ability to slide over said (A) . [59] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[54], [56], [57], or [58], wherein such configuration between said (A) and said (B) is reversed.

[60] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[7] or [8], wherein said (B) and said (A) contain designated components that interact in the fashion analogous to a breaking system designed in wheels of cars, wherein the designated components of said (A) act the role of a rotor and the designated components of said (B) act the role of the clutching mechanism (and breaking pads) that slow down and stop the rotor; wherein the serving function of this arrangement provides the ability to slow down and stop the movement of said (A) and said (B) with respect to each other .

[61] The impact damping floating seat system according to the

Claim [1] or [2], wherein the floating system comprising of constituents such as of systems, elements, members,

components, connections; wherein the described floating system constituents comprising slowing down and stopping systems/mechanisms for the constituents that are designed to undergo mobility/displacement.

[62] The impact damping floating seat system according to the Claims [1] or [2], comprising a slowing down and stopping mechanism analogous to either of the claim [57] or [61], for members of the floating system that are designed to undergo mobility .

[63] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[2], wherein the vehicle seat is designed to displaced during performance (activated state) of the floating system; wherein means for slowing down and stopping said vehicle seat displacement or rotation with respect to the vehicle (or vehicle chassis) are incorporated. [64] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[63], wherein said slowing down and stopping means have components attached to said vehicle seat and the floating seat system in such a way as to incorporate the principle of the breaking system in the vehicle wheels (such as car wheels) , such that the floating system acts the role of a rotor and said vehicle seat contains the mechanism attached to it that serves the role of clutches; thus these means serve the role of slowing down and stopping said vehicle seat with respect to the floating seat system.

[65] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[54], [56], [57], [58], [63], or [64], wherein such

principle/mechanism(s) for slowing down and stopping incorporates hydraulic system(s).

[66] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[1], [2], [3], [7], or [8], comprising means for contracting floating system in an event of occurrence of a rollover or other possible incident when an occupant might be subjected to colliding with the inner walls of said vehicle in which the occupant is situated, due to an accident.

[67] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[1], [2], [3], [7], or [8], comprising means for collapsing floating system in an event of a rollover or other possible incident when an occupant might be subjected to colliding with the inner walls of said vehicle in which the occupant is situated due to an accident.

[68] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[1]_? [2], [3], [7], or [8], comprising means for controlled displacement of the vehicle seat by the floating system in an event of occurrence or rollover or other possible incident when an occupant might be subjected to colliding with the inner walls of said vehicle. [69] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[66], [67], or [68], wherein such means involve hydraulic system { s ) .

[70] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[1], [2], or [3], wherein the constituents of the floating system are designed to operate by means of hydraulics. [71] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim [1] or [2], wherein the floating system is comprised of shock absorbing devices.

[72] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[1], [2], or [8], wherein the flexible, semi-rigid

connections that are incorporated in the floating system are designed to be hydraulic.

[73] An impact damping floating seat system situated in between a vehicle (and a vehicle chassis) and a vehicle seat within that vehicle, comprising means for creating a semi-rigid flexible connection system between said vehicle (and a vehicle chassis) and said vehicle seat within that vehicle as means for creating a buffer zone between said vehicle (and vehicle chassis) and said vehicle seat within that vehicle as means for reducing energy transfer to said vehicle seat in an event of an impact such as a collision of said vehicle.

[74] An impact damping floating seat system comprising a semirigid flexible connection system incorporated in between a vehicle (or a vehicle chassis) and a vehicle seat within that vehicle by having said vehicle seat physically detached from the elements of said vehicle and vehicle chassis (other than cosmetic) and physically connected to certain

prescribed elements comprising said semi-rigid flexible connection system (also referred hereunder as one and the same "semi-rigid flexible connection system", "semi-rigid flexible connection", "floating system" and "floating seat system"), which is in turn being connected through certain other prescribed elements of said semi-rigid flexible connection to said vehicle or vehicle chassis as means for detaching and separating said vehicle seat from said vehicle and said vehicle chassis and providing a maximized ability to act separately/independently of each other. [75] An impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising means for manipulating said vehicle displacement at the time of an accident as part of a floating system.

[76] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [73] or [74], wherein the floating system is situated in such a way as to support a single seat, an independent floating system is placed to support each desired seat in a vehicle .

[77] The impact damping floating seat system as described in

Claim [73] or [74], wherein the floating system is designed to support multiple seats within said vehicle either in pairs or all.

[78] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[73] or [74], wherein said semi-rigid flexible connection system is designed to undergo through the following main three (3) phases:

Phase 1 - said semi-rigid flexible connection system is in a static state, the main function of which under accepted vehicle use is to support said vehicle seat in place inside said vehicle;

Phase 2 - wherein due to generation of impact energy said semi-rigid flexible connection system is (or elements within said system are) being released into a dynamic state at certain prescribed impact energy strength;

Phase 3 - wherein said semi-rigid flexible connection is entering into and remaining in a post-dynamic static state after occurrence of said Phase 2 state.

[79] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising means for releasing said semi-rigid flexible connection system; wherein said

releasing means are designed to release said semi-rigid flexible connection system from static state into dynamic state at certain prescribed threshold of the impact energy.

[80] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[79], wherein said releasing means are being situated either within or outside of said semi-rigid flexible connection system.

[81] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising means for slowing

down/locking said floating system or parts therein;

wherein said slowing down/locking means are designed to transfer said semi-rigid flexible connection system from its dynamic state into its post-dynamic static state.

[82] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[81], wherein said slowing down/locking means are situated either within or outside of said semi-rigid flexible connection system.

[83] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising a system, a combination of systems of elements tied in together by a prescribed selection of semi-rigid, flexible, energy absorbing, sacrificial, energy damping, energy releasing and rigid connections as means for creating said semi-rigid flexible connection system.

[84] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising a system or a combination of systems of prescribed semi-rigid, flexible, energy absorbing, sacrificial, energy damping, energy releasing and rigid elements as means for creating the semi-rigid flexible connection system.

[85] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising means for absorbing and/or damping said impact energy by said semi-rigid flexible connection ;

wherein the absorbing and/or damping means comprise any combination of interconnected elements, members, devices, mechanisms and connections, their preferred shapes, and structure .

[86] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising means for directing and transmitting impact energy through provision of defined points of entry to the floating system, pathway within the floating system and exit points out of floating system.

[87] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising specifically prescribed members of said semi-rigid flexible connection, their tie- ins to said vehicle (or vehicle chassis) and tie-in

locations for energy entry as means for maximizing energy diversion away from said vehicle or vehicle chassis to semirigid flexible connection system.

[88] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[73] or [74], further comprising energy absorbing and/or energy damping devices at points of energy entry and throughout the system as means for reducing amount of energy farther passing to and along through said semi-rigid flexible connection. [89] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in any of the Claim [73] or [74], wherein the integration of the floating system provides the means for predicting,

calculating, manipulating and implementing the exact amount of energy/forces generated by an impact entering and leaving floating system, transferred within the floating system and lost/absorbed/dampened by the floating system with respect to the magnitude of strength of said impact energy. [90] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in any of the Claims [73] or [74], wherein the floating system comprising means for collapsing the semi-rigid flexible connection in cases of an occurrence of rollover or other possible incident when an occupant might be susceptible of hitting internal walls of said vehicle during an accident.

[91] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in any of the Claims [73] or [74], wherein the floating system comprising means for contracting the semi-rigid flexible connection in cases of an occurrence of rollover or other possible incident when an occupant might be susceptible of hitting internal walls of said vehicle during an accident.

[92] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in any of the Claims [73] or [74], wherein the floating system comprising means for displacing said vehicle seat by the semi-rigid flexible connection in cases when an occupant might be susceptible of hitting internal walls of said vehicle during an accident.

[93] An impact damping floating seat system, comprising a semirigid flexible connection system (referred herein and hereunder as "floating system") situated in between a vehicle (or a vehicle chassis) and a vehicle seat within that vehicle as means for maximizing absorption of impact energy between said vehicle and said vehicle seat situated within said vehicle as means for minimizing the amount of said energy transferred to said vehicle seat through said floating system as means for providing increased safety during and after application of said impact energy such as an accident or collision;

wherein said floating system is situated in between said vehicle seat and said vehicle (or vehicle chassis) as means for physically detaching and separating said vehicle seat from said vehicle or vehicle chassis and interconnecting them through said floating system and thus providing them with yet controlled and maximized ability to react

separately and independently of each other to generated impact energies .

[94] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[93], wherein the floating system further comprises means for creating said floating system with elements, mechanisms and devices interconnected together through flexible connections, rigid connections, semi-rigid connections, and through energy absorbing and energy damping devices;

wherein said floating system comprising of energy damping and energy absorbing devices, connections, elements and members throughout the floating system as means to dampen and absorb the impact energy as said energy is (or forces are) being transferred through said devices, connections, elements and members allocated within said floating system and thus reduce the amount of energy transferred to said vehicle seat within that vehicle. [95] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[93] or [94], wherein the floating system is a method of interconnecting the seat to the vehicle and introducing flexible connection system(s) between said vehicle and said vehicle seat within that vehicle. [96] The impact damping floating seat system according to Claim

[94], wherein the indicated composition and construction of floating system is a method of achieving a flexible connection type and a method of achieving energy absorption and reduction within the floating system. [97] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[93], wherein the floating system further comprising means for provision of defined points of energy entry and transmission of said impact energy into said floating system, defined paths of energy transmission within said floating system for the purpose of establishing the ability for predicting, calculating and implementing, manipulating, directing and re-directing the impact forces and energies on and within said floating system.

[98] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[97], wherein the defined points of energy entry, energy paths within the floating system is a method comprising means for energy prediction, manipulation, direction and redirection within the floating system and the two

displacements of said vehicle and said vehicle seats with respect to each other.

[99] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in any of the Claims [93], wherein said floating system comprises means for activating floating system elements in order to react to said impact energy.

[100] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[93], wherein said floating system comprises means for slowing down and stopping/locking floating system elements that have been activated as a reaction to said impact energy .

[101] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in any of the Claims [93], wherein said floating system comprises means for providing the ability to predict, calculate, manipulate and implement the exact favorable seat

displacement and direction thereof with respect to said vehicle body at the time of and subsequent to generated impact energy .

[102] An impact damping floating seat system comprising:

The vehicle seat being semi-suspended in the vehicle body; the semi-rigid flexible connection system connecting the vehicle seat to the vehicle;

wherein said vehicle seat is supported by said semi-rigid flexible connection system;

wherein said connection system supports said seat at certain prescribed points that are further comprised of a system or combination of systems of elements, devices and connections that are being further supported by and interconnected with said vehicle;

wherein said semi-rigid flexible connection system releases from its static state into dynamic state as to absorb and dampen accident impact energy.

[103] The impact damping floating seat system as defined in Claim

[102], wherein said elements, devices and connections comprise a prescribed combination of: flexible (semi-rigid), sacrificial, energy absorbing and energy damping, and rigid connections, members, elements and devices;

wherein the flexible/semi-rigid connections between said elements comprised either of rail, roller, slider, hydraulic devices and related mechanisms of analogous function;

wherein the energy absorbing and damping devises comprised of shock absorbers, sacrificial materials, springs,

hydraulic devices and related mechanisms of analogous function .

[104] An impact damping floating seat system as defined in any of the above Claims, wherein the Claims comprise means for methods of achieving the results of reducing, damping or absorbing impact energies before they reach the vehicle seat .

[105] An impact damping floating seat system is a method of

interconnecting a vehicle and a seat within that vehicle in such a way as to introduce a flexible semi-rigid connection between said vehicle and said vehicle seat within that vehicle .

[106] An impact damping floating seat system is a method of

maximizing reduction of impact energies reaching a vehicle seat (and an occupant seating on that seat) by separating that vehicle seat from the vehicle body and chassis and interconnection this vehicle seat and the vehicle (or the vehicle chassis) through the floating system that is designed to absorb or reduce such energy.

[107] An impact damping floating seat system according to any of the above described claims referring to "vehicle" (and its parts) and "vehicle seat"; wherein "vehicle" refers to any transporting vessel and "vehicle seat" refers to any kind o body that serves the purpose of resting the transported individual/passenger in or on it; an example for this is a plane, boat, locomotive, helicopter, bus, car, SUV, van, etc .

[108] An impact damping floating seat system which is to be

incorporated in between a vehicle seat and the vehicle that contains this vehicle seat, such that to create a flexible semi-rigid connection between said vehicle seat and said vehicle .