Described are active crash systems for seats and associated methods. The active crash system includes a seat for an occupant of a vehicle and a crash seat system. The crash seat system includes a seat velocity device and a trigger device. The seat velocity device is configured to selectively move the seat. The trigger device configured to estimate at least one of an impact time or an impact condition of an impact event based on a detectable condition and activate the seat velocity device at an activation time prior to the estimated impact time such that the seat is moved.

An energy absorption device includes a support, a dissipating element mounted around the support and being operable to deform plastically under the effect of a shock, and balls mounted with a given pressure against the dissipating element and intended to deform the dissipating element. The support is provided with grooves, and the balls are mounted opposite the grooves of the support and are operable to deform the dissipating element along the length of the grooves.

A vehicle seat is disposed on a floor portion of a passenger compartment, and includes first and second upper seat tracks, and a seat bottom disposed thereon. First and second lower seat tracks are each disposed longitudinally in the vehicle and secured to the floor portion at respective fore and aft attachment locations, wherein each of the first and second upper seat tracks is slidably disposed in a respective one of the first and second lower seat tracks. A support damper is disposed between the floor portion and one of the first and second lower seat tracks and disposed between the respective fore and aft attachment locations. The support damper is disposed at a longitudinal position between the respective fore and aft attachment locations at a maximum vertical deflection point of the respective one of the first and second lower seat tracks relative to the floor portion.

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat system for reduction of vertical peak acceleration of a person seated in a vehicle seat during impact. The vehicle seat system comprises a seating structure and a trim at least partially enclosing the seating structure. The trim is releasably fastened to the seating structure by means of interconnected trim fastening means comprising at least two parts adapted to release from each other when the vertical peak acceleration exceeds a predetermined limit value, subsequently reducing the vertical peak acceleration. The present invention further relates to a vehicle comprising the vehicle seat system.

A seat assembly reclines during an under-vehicle explosion or other upward impact on the vehicle to mitigate spinal and lower leg damage to a human occupant. The seat assembly has a back frame portion and a lower frame portion. The lower frame portion has a pivotal connection with an energy absorbing mechanism mounted to the vehicle floor. The pivotal connection includes a stop mechanism to prevent seat assembly tilt during normal vehicle operation but allow tilt due to an explosion. A second mechanism is disposed between the back frame portion and the floor; this mechanism controls the seat assembly pivot and provides further absorbing of energy from the upward impact. Projections from the front of the lower frame portion toward the floor can be used to enhance seat assembly pivoting; specially designed seat engagement levers can be used for this purpose as well.

A seat impact energy absorbing system having an energy absorbing module that manages forces emanating from, for example, a land mine detonation. The module has frustoconical structures joined by hollow interconnecting ribs that create support pillars there between. At least some of the support pillars have tops that underlie an occupant-supporting surface. To receive forces associated with detonation, an impact-receiving surface underlies the energy absorbing module.

The energy absorbing assembly may include a seat frame having a base, a seat pan coupled to the seat frame, and a deformable member disposed substantially between the seat pan and the base of the seat frame. In various embodiments, the seat pan is configured to support a passenger in a seated position and the deformable member is configured to undergo plastic deformation in response to a first compressive load on the deformable member.

Emergency vehicle patient transport systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an emergency vehicle patient transport system includes: a loading passage providing access to an interior of an emergency vehicle; one or more tracks coupled to a floor of the emergency vehicle, a ceiling of the emergency vehicle, a wall of the emergency vehicle or combinations thereof wherein, a travel path is delineated by the one or more tracks; and a chair slidingly engaged with the one or more tracks, and vertically positioned between the floor and the ceiling. The chair locks in one or more set positions. And, the one or more set positions are selected from a group consisting of an airway care position, an extended airway care position, a procedural care position, a responder position, a patient care position, and a patient load position.

Methods and apparatus are provided for a shock absorbing vehicle seating system. In one embodiment the seating system includes a seat moveably attached to a vehicle by a seat guide apparatus configured to constrain seat movement to a stroking direction. The system further includes a spring damper with opposed first and second ends, configured to compress along a longitudinal axis extending through the ends in response to an external compressive load, and an energy attenuating component with a deformable portion disposed between a first end and a second end thereof. The spring damper and energy attenuating component are arranged serially with respect to one another, and together form a seat supporting assembly disposed between the seat and the vehicle. The energy attenuating component is configured to deform in a predictable manner in response to a shock load that reaches a predefined threshold value, allowing the seat to stroke in the stroking direction as the energy attenuating component absorbs energy.

Methods and apparatus are provided for a shock attenuation device configured for use in conjunction with a body movably mounted to a structure along a stroking direction to attenuate shock loads associated with a high energy impact event on the structure. The device includes an elongated metal frame with left and right sides symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal slot extending from proximate a first end of the frame to a second end. The frame is mountable to one of the body and structure in an orientation causing the longitudinal slot to align with the stroking direction. A mandrel mountable to the other one of the body and structure is positioned in the frame at one end of the slot. The mandrel has width and length dimensions measured in the plane of the frame, wherein a maximum width of the mandrel is greater than a width of the slot.