Adaptive head and neck restraint system for a vehicle occupant

Abstract

Head and neck restraint apparatus for an occupant of a vehicle comprises a stiff yoke shaped to engage the upper torso and shoulders of the occupant. The yoke is generally U-shaped, with a base and upwardly extending limbs, and has a frontal portion shaped to extend over the chest of the occupant which corresponds to the base of the U. An intermediate portion of the yoke is shaped to fit over the shoulders of the occupant, and an upper portion of the yoke, corresponding to the upper ends of the limbs, extends beyond the intermediate portion to constrain movement of a helmet worn by the occupant. A set of first guides on the yoke are arranged to engage harness members of a safety harness worn by the occupant. Each guide is shaped to engage a respective harness strap or buckle and responds to longitudinal movement of the harness strap or buckle. Tensioning members connected between the respective guides and the helmet apply a tensioning force to the helmet when movement of the occupant causes displacement of the harness relative to the yoke. A set of second guides that respond to lateral movement of the harness is also provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]THIS invention relates to a head and neck restraint system for an occupant of a vehicle.[0002]The occupant of a vehicle such as a high performance motor racing vehicle, a high speed power boat or the like is subjected to significant accelerations, particularly in the event of a crash. Occupants of such vehicles generally wear a crash helmet and a four- or six-point harness securing them in position in a seat.[0003]Various systems have been proposed for enhancing the protection offered to the occupant of such a vehicle by tethering the occupant's helmet to a support structure of some kind. For example, it has been proposed to provide a yoke which rests on the upper torso of the occupant, to which the helmet is tethered. The purpose of such devices is to limit the movement of the helmet and hence the head and neck of the occupant relative to the occupant's torso when substantial accelerations are experienced, particularly in a crash.[0004]It is an obje...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]Preferably, each first guide means is shaped to engage a buckle or other formation on the strap so that longitudinal movement of the strap relative to the first guide means, at least in one direction, is prevented.

Problems solved by technology

so that movement of the occupant causing displacement of the harness relative to the yoke results in a tensioning force being applied to the helmet by at least one tensioning member.

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