A shock mitigation seat 10 includes a plurality of individual shock absorbing members 16 resilient to compression from a shock impact. The shock absorbing members 16 are positioned one adjacent another and such that at a certain stage of compression an individual shock absorbing member 16 resiliently deforms and comes into contact with one or more adjacent individual shock absorbing members 16 which thereby increases resistance to further compression. The seat may be incorporated in a shock mitigation system 50 which has at least one sensor operable to detect a force and to provide a feedback signal indicative of the nature of the force and a memory record the incidence and severity of these forces and provides an indication of cumulative forces absorbed.

A combination adaptive energy absorption and emergency flotation device for positioning beneath a plurality of seat pans of a seat assembly in an aircraft seating application. The device includes a plurality of fluidly coupled inflatable elastic bladders, at least one constrictor valve fluidly coupling at least two adjacent ones of the plurality of inflatable elastic bladders allowing fluid flow therethrough in response to predetermined pressure on the device from the plurality of seat pans, and a fluid supply source fluidly coupled to the plurality of inflatable elastic bladders for outputting a positive flow of fluid to the plurality of inflatable elastic bladders, wherein the adaptive energy absorption device is detached from the plurality of seat pans to allow removal from beneath the plurality of seat pans for use as an emergency flotation device.

A mechanism disposed between a frame structure and a base structure, the mechanism comprising a damper including a piston rod. The damper is mechanically connected between the frame structure and the base structure in a normal mode of operation. The damper enables a longitudinal and suspended upward and downward movement of the frame perpendicular to a plane. An energy-absorbing arrangement that includes a plastically deformable absorbing element. The plastically deformable absorbing element is adapted to plastically deform in response to stresses greater than a predetermined threshold stress along an axis perpendicular to the plane. A bar mechanically attached to the plastically deformable absorbing element and having an engagement portion.

An active system and a computer-implemented method for reducing vibrations of seats in a vehicle is described. The system and method adjust a damping and/or a stiffness of a vibration damper based on system input signals from the vehicle or seat system. The signals include one or more of a signal associated with a user weight, a signal associated with time-dependent movement of a vehicle frame, and a signal associated with time-dependent movement of a seat back or a seat pan. The damping or the stiffness are adjusted by a closed loop control.

Method and apparatus are provided for a vehicle seat weight detection system utilizing a metal deformation type energy attenuating device disposed in a load path between a seat and a vehicle structure. The energy attenuating device includes a weight sensing portion with a first end connected to one of the seat or vehicle structure, and a second end configured to transfer the seat weight load to a deformable portion of the energy attenuating device connected to the other of the seat and vehicle structure. An aperture in the weight sensing portion between the first and second ends divides a region adjacent the aperture into first and second sides. A slot intersecting the aperture and lying on a plane generally perpendicular to the load path divides the second side into upper and lower halves. A sensor on a surface of the first side of the weight sensing portion is configured to detect strain variations in the surface and produce a calibrated weight signal.

A vehicle includes a vehicle ceiling, a vehicle floor, and a vehicle seat assembly that couples with the vehicle ceiling and the vehicle floor. The vehicle seat assembly includes a seat support that supports a vehicle seat from the vehicle ceiling, a base that forms a slip joint with the seat support from the vehicle floor, and a set of limit straps constructed and arranged to limit deflection of the slip joint in response to deformation between the vehicle ceiling and the vehicle floor (e.g., a vehicle collision, deformation between the vehicle ceiling and the vehicle floor possibly due to a blast, etc.). Each limit strap of the set of limit straps has a first end that attaches to a portion of the slip joint and a second end that attaches to the vehicle floor.

A combination adaptive energy absorption and emergency flotation device for positioning beneath a plurality of seat pans of a seat assembly in an aircraft seating application. The device includes a plurality of fluidly coupled inflatable elastic bladders, at least one constrictor valve fluidly coupling at least two adjacent ones of the plurality of inflatable elastic bladders allowing fluid flow therethrough in response to predetermined pressure on the device from the plurality of seat pans, and a fluid supply source fluidly coupled to the plurality of inflatable elastic bladders for outputting a positive flow of fluid to the plurality of inflatable elastic bladders, wherein the adaptive energy absorption device is detached from the plurality of seat pans to allow removal from beneath the plurality of seat pans for use as an emergency flotation device.

A rotorcraft seating assembly includes a seat base supporting a seat bucket, the seat base having left- and right-side panel portions. Each side panel portion has a linear bucket guide channel set into its inside face (including an upper portion for adjusting the seat bucket relative to the seat base for pilots of varying heights, and a lower portion for energy attenuation (EA) stroking in response to a crash event) and a bucket guide slot set into its outside face (including a linear upper portion corresponding to the range of adjustment of the seat bucket and a curved lower portion allowing the seat bucket to translate forward and away from the seat base during EA stroking). The curved outer bucket guide slot allows for the required EA stroking distance within a minimal vertical space between the seat bucket and the flight deck floor.

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.

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.