A method and apparatus for protecting a passenger during a crash comprises a moveable seat with an energy absorber (EA) that allows the seat to stroke a finite distance to decelerate the passenger in a controlled manner. The seat is designed so that one of a plurality of fixed profile EA's can be selectively engaged to provide a tailored EA composite profile adapted to the occupant's weight and anticipated crash environment. The tailored EA composite profile applies a frequency matched, low onset force to the seat, which substantially eliminates problems associated with dynamic overshoot of the passenger's spine.

Described is an extendable joint (10,100) for attaching a passenger seat to a cabin floor or support structure. The extendable joint (10,100) exhibits behavior of a rigid mounting during normal usage, such as when carrying or securing passengers or luggage. However, if a force threshold is exceeded, such as with an emergency situation, the extendable joint (10,100) may lengthen to absorb energy applied from the cabin floor through the passenger seat and vice versa. Additional force damping mechanisms may also be incorporated into the joint to further absorb, distribute, or reduce loadings that may otherwise separate the passenger seat from the floor or support structure.

A vehicle seat comprising a stand and a bucket having a seat pan and a seat back. Said stand serves to fasten said bucket to a floor of said vehicle and to absorb deformation of said floor while limiting the mechanical stresses that are transmitted to said bucket. Said pan is connected to said bucket via a revolute joint for pivoting about a transverse direction and by energy absorber devices. The stand has two first legs forming a fork and connecting the front of said bucket to said floor via ball joint connections. The bucket is connected to said floor at the rear of the seat via two ball joint connections. The stand is thus connected to said bucket via three points and to said floor via four points making it possible to avoid twisting said bucket as a result of deformation of said floor.

A motor vehicle seat rotation mechanism includes a connecting plate connected to a seat, a moving plate, located below the connecting plate and connected to the connecting plate, and a fixed plate, located below the moving plate and connected to an upper slide rail in a seat slide rail assembly. An upper ball assembly is located between a press plate and the moving plate. A lower ball assembly is located between the moving plate and the fixed plate. A lower anti-detachment hook ring is located between the connecting plate and the fixed plate and fixed to the fixed plate. An annular lower anti-detachment hook is provided at an inner edge of the lower anti-detachment hook ring. An annular upper anti-detachment hook is provided at an outer edge of the moving plate. The lower anti-detachment hook and the upper anti-detachment hook are engaged with each other.

A locking device includes a locking pin mounting box, a locking pin, a locking spring, a handle and an unlocking tension spring. Respective ends of the locking pin pass through corresponding locking pin guide holes in lateral sides of the locking pin mounting box. A spring bearing boss is provided in a middle position of each locking pin. The locking spring surrounds the corresponding locking pin with one locking spring end in contact with one lateral side and another end in contact with the spring bearing boss. One end of the handle is hinged to a top side of the locking pin mounting box. The unlocking tension spring has one end connected to the handle and another end connected to an end of the locking pin that has passed through the first lateral side. In the locking device, the locking pin is inserted into a locking hole to achieve locking.

A system and method are provided for controlling an interior configuration of a vehicle following a collision. Sensor data that includes, or is derived from data that includes, data collected by one or more sensors is received, and a vehicle accident condition indicative of an accident having occurred is detected by processing the sensor data. After detecting the vehicle accident condition, an actuator component is caused to prevent a passenger from adjusting an interior vehicle component outside a predetermined range of physical configurations, while allowing the passenger to adjust the interior vehicle component within the predetermined range of physical configurations.

A securing system for supporting an object within a vehicle and for translating forces occurring therebetween. The system includes a component adapted to support the object within the vehicle, a mount adapted for attachment to the vehicle for concurrent movement with the vehicle, and an interface member operatively attached to and spaced from the mount. A coupler is operatively attached to one of the component and the interface member, and a receiver is operatively attached to the other of the component and the interface member. The receiver is selectively movable between a first position where the receiver secures the coupler for concurrent movement therewith and a second position where the coupler can be removed from the receiver. A translation module is interposed in force-translating relationship between the mount and the interface member to support the component when the coupler is secured to the receiver in the first position.

A method and apparatus for protecting a passenger during a crash comprises a moveable seat with an energy absorber (EA) that allows the seat to stroke a finite distance to decelerate the passenger in a controlled manner. The seat is designed so that one of a plurality of fixed profile EA's can be selectively engaged to provide a tailored EA composite profile adapted to the occupant's weight and anticipated crash environment. The tailored EA composite profile applies a frequency matched, low onset force to the seat, which substantially eliminates problems associated with dynamic overshoot of the passenger's spine.

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.

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.