Head and neck restraint system and method for forward-facing installation of a child seat

Abstract

The application discloses a head and neck protection system and method for forward installation of a child seat, and belongs to the field of automobile safety. The system comprises a limiting mechanism and an energy-absorbing mechanism. The limiting mechanism is arranged on the child seat or is detachably worn on the head of an occupant, and is used for limiting the forward movement stroke of the head in a frontal collision. The energy-absorbing mechanism is connected with the limiting mechanism or is integrally arranged, and is used for irreversible plastic deformation or tensile deformation in the process of limiting the forward movement to absorb the collision kinetic energy. The two are synchronous and cooperative in the collision process, and the rigid limiting prevents excessive forward movement and the flexible deformation dissipates the impact energy. In the integrated scheme, the two are integrally arranged as a multi-layer composite headrest cover; in the system scheme, a wearing device is adopted to cooperate with a woven belt and a tensile energy-absorbing device. The application improves the score rate of a Q3 dummy in a 56km / h frontal collision test from 0% to 25% to 75% to 100%, and takes into account safety and riding comfort.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention pertains to child occupant protection technology in the field of automotive safety, specifically relating to a head and neck protection system and method for forward-facing child seats. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous improvement of automotive safety standards, the safety of child occupant protection systems has received increasing attention. Currently, all legally sold child seats on the market meet the requirements of the national standard GB 27887, "Child Restraint Systems for Motor Vehicles." However, the GB 27887 standard is more lenient than the 2024 / 2027 versions of the China New Car Assessment Programme (C-NCAP) in terms of crash test speed and injury assessment indicators for Q3 dummies (corresponding to 3-year-old children). The C-NCAP (2024 version) frontal crash speed has increased from 50 km / h in the 2021 version to 55-56 km / h, and this increase in speed raises the occupant load criterion by 3-6g. This means that ordinary forward-facing child seats that only meet the GB 27887 standard often fail to ensure that the Q3 dummies achieve ideal scores in critical areas such as the head and neck during the high-standard C-NCAP tests. This phenomenon reflects the significant limitations of existing forward-facing child seats in protecting the head and neck of 3-year-old children in frontal collisions.

[0003] To address the aforementioned testing challenges, the current mainstream industry approach is for manufacturers to recommend rear-facing seats for children aged 3 and under in their user manuals, and to directly use rear-facing installation to pass the C-NCAP 2024 / 2027 tests. This approach leverages the advantage of rear-facing posture in distributing loads during a collision, which does significantly improve the Q3 dummy's test score. However, test data shows that when the vehicle's collision deceleration reaches a certain threshold, even with rear-facing installation, the dummy's chest injury value remains extremely high, even approaching the zero-point limit, indicating that this approach still provides insufficient chest protection under extreme conditions.

[0004] Furthermore, rear-facing installation presents a significant conflict between comfort and safety in practical applications: on the one hand, when a 3-year-old child uses a rear-facing seat for an extended period, their legs are forced into a cramped position, resulting in extremely poor comfort and potentially causing crying or resistance; on the other hand, rear-facing installation prevents the front driver from observing the child's condition in the rear seat through the rearview mirror, increasing blind spots and posing potential safety hazards. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new child seat technology that meets high collision safety standards while also ensuring both child comfort and parental visibility.

[0005] In existing technologies, mainstream forward-facing child seats are typically equipped with only standard five-point harnesses. For example, existing solutions disclose structures that connect the headrest and backrest in a rotatable manner to provide damping and restraint during a collision. Other solutions incorporate spring damping in components such as the base, backrest, and headrest of the child seat to facilitate cushioning and energy absorption during a collision. Still other solutions use energy-absorbing mounting brackets to connect the child seat backrest support panel to the supporting seat structure or frame to reduce neck injuries in children. However, in a frontal collision, while the five-point harness effectively restrains the torso of the child occupant (or Q3 dummy), the lack of direct head restraint or auxiliary support allows the head to experience significant forward relative motion (i.e., a "whiplash" effect or head thrust) due to inertia.

[0006] This relative motion results in child occupants experiencing extremely high head acceleration and neck tensile loads during a collision. Especially when tested according to C-NCAP 2024 or 2027 evaluation procedures, existing structures often lead to extremely low (even zero) scores for the head and neck evaluation indicators of Q3 dummies. Therefore, the method of this invention aims to solve the technical problem that existing forward-facing child seats provide insufficient head and neck protection for child occupants (Q3 dummies) in frontal collisions, making it difficult to meet the latest safety evaluation standards. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention addresses the problem that existing forward-facing child seats are insufficient in protecting the head and neck of child occupants (and Q3 dummies) in frontal collisions, and proposes an improved method and system based on a motion restriction and energy absorption synergy mechanism.

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to: solve the limitation of 3-year-old children being forced to adopt a rear-facing riding posture for collision safety through an innovative method, enabling them to safely adopt a forward-facing riding posture, significantly improving children's vision and riding experience, and greatly enhancing the riding comfort of child occupants; at the same time, while maintaining forward-facing installation, it significantly improves the protective capability of forward-facing child seats in frontal collision conditions, effectively improving the score of the Q3 dummy in the C-NCAP 2024 / 2027 56km / h 0° frontal collision test.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a head and neck protection system for a forward-facing child car seat, characterized in that it includes: a limiting mechanism and an energy-absorbing mechanism. The limiting mechanism is disposed on the child seat or detachably worn on the occupant's head, and is used to interact with the occupant's head in the event of a frontal collision to limit its forward movement. The energy-absorbing mechanism is connected to or integrally formed with the limiting mechanism, and is used to undergo irreversible plastic or tensile deformation during the process of the limiting mechanism restricting the forward movement stroke, so as to absorb the impact kinetic energy of the head. The limiting mechanism and the energy-absorbing mechanism work synchronously and collaboratively during the collision process. The limiting mechanism prevents excessive forward movement by rigidly limiting the forward movement, while the energy-absorbing mechanism dissipates impact energy through flexible deformation.

[0010] Furthermore, the limiting mechanism and the energy-absorbing mechanism are integrated into a head protection cover that is fixedly installed on the upper part of the child seat.

[0011] Furthermore, the head shield is a multi-layer composite structure, comprising, from the inside out: an inner flexible buffer layer for contact with the head, an intermediate deformable energy-absorbing unit with a preset plastic deformation capability, and an outer plastic shell as a rigid stop structure.

[0012] Furthermore, the plastic deformation initiation threshold and deformation stroke of the intermediate deformable energy-absorbing unit are set according to a preset collision energy level.

[0013] Furthermore, the foamed energy-absorbing material of the intermediate deformable energy-absorbing unit is foamed polypropylene, and the density of the foamed polypropylene is 30~100 kg / m³.

[0014] Furthermore, the thickness of the outer plastic shell is 2~8 mm.

[0015] Furthermore, the limiting mechanism includes a quick-detachable headwear device and a high-strength webbing; the energy-absorbing mechanism is a stretchable energy-absorbing device fixed to the child seat body. The two ends of the high-strength webbing are respectively connected to the head-wearing device and the stretchable energy-absorbing device. In the event of a collision, the stretchable energy-absorbing device is stretched by the webbing to absorb energy.

[0016] Furthermore, the stretchable energy-absorbing devices are a pair, symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the child seat body, and correspondingly, the high-strength webbing is also a pair.

[0017] Furthermore, the head-wearing device is detachably connected to the high-strength webbing via a buckle structure.

[0018] The present invention also provides a method for head and neck protection using the above-mentioned head and neck protection system, comprising the following synergistic steps: In the event of a frontal collision, the limiting mechanism physically constrains the forward movement distance of the occupant's head relative to the torso. While limiting the forward movement distance, the energy absorption mechanism converts the kinetic energy of the head collision into internal energy for dissipation. The limiting step is performed synchronously with the energy absorption step to reduce the impact load transmitted to the head and neck.

[0019] The present invention has the following advantages over the prior art: 1. This invention, through an innovative method, successfully addresses the limitation of 3-year-old children being forced into a rear-facing riding posture for collision safety, enabling them to safely adopt a forward-facing riding posture. This improvement significantly enhances children's visibility and riding experience, greatly improving the comfort of child occupants.

[0020] 2. Compared with the prior art, the method of the present invention significantly improves the protection capability of forward-facing child seats in frontal collision conditions while maintaining forward-facing installation.

[0021] 3. This method can effectively improve the score of the Q3 dummy in the C-NCAP 2024 / 2027 56km / h 0° frontal collision test, thereby improving the overall score of the participating vehicle. Verified through sled tests, the method of this invention significantly improves the overall evaluation score rate of the Q3 dummy from the original 0%~25% range to a high score range of 75%~100%.

[0022] 4. This invention, through a synergistic mechanism of "rigid limiting + flexible energy absorption", significantly reduces the impact load transmitted to the head while restricting head and neck displacement, thereby effectively reducing the risk of head and neck injury to child occupants / Q3 dummies. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the head and neck protection system structure of an integrated solution in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the multi-layer composite structure in an integrated scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the head and neck protection system structure of a systematic solution in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Reference numerals: 1—Child seat body; 2—Headrest; 3—Head shield; 4—Outer plastic shell; 5—Middle deformable energy-absorbing unit; 6—Inner flexible cushioning layer; 7—Headwearing device; 8—High-strength webbing; 9—Stretchable energy-absorbing device; 10—Steering mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Except for the contents specifically mentioned below, the processes, conditions, and experimental methods for implementing the invention are all common knowledge and general knowledge in the art, and the invention does not have any particular limitations.

[0026] Example 1: Integrated Solution

[0027] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the limiting mechanism and the energy absorption mechanism are integrated and are fixedly installed on the upper part of the child seat body 1. The head shield 3 and the child seat body 1 form a rigid connection, thereby forming a stable support base. The headrest 2 is fixedly installed on the child seat body 1.

[0028] The head shield 3 adopts a multi-layered composite structure, which includes, from the inside out: Inner flexible buffer layer 6: This layer fits snugly against the child's head, providing flexible contact and dispersing localized pressure in the initial stages of a collision. This inner flexible buffer layer is composed of a flexible cushioning material, selectable from one or more of polyurethane soft foam, memory foam, and silicone cushioning pads. In this embodiment, polyurethane soft foam is preferred, as it possesses good flexibility and comfort, effectively absorbing the initial impact force and dispersing localized pressure in the initial stages of a collision, preventing direct contact between the head and hard structures that could cause localized injury.

[0029] Intermediate Deformable Energy Absorbing Unit 5: Located between the inner flexible buffer layer 6 and the outer plastic shell 4, this core energy-absorbing component is designed with a preset plastic deformation capacity. This intermediate deformable energy-absorbing unit is composed of a foamed energy-absorbing material, selected from one or more of expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and expandable polyethylene (EPE). In this embodiment, expanded polypropylene (EPP) is preferred, with a density of 30~100 kg / m³. EPP material has excellent shock absorption performance; during impact compression, it undergoes irreversible plastic deformation through buckling deformation of the cell walls, effectively absorbing impact energy. Compared to EPS and EPE, EPP has superior shock absorption performance, higher recovery rate after deformation, and stronger toughness. Studies have shown that using EPP material can significantly reduce the head performance index (HPC) of the Q3 dummy model. The plastic deformation initiation threshold and deformation stroke of the intermediate deformable energy-absorbing unit are set according to a preset impact energy level to ensure optimal energy absorption under different impact conditions.

[0030] Outer plastic shell 4: Serving as the structural framework and protective layer of the device, it encloses and supports the internal components. This outer plastic shell is made of engineering plastic, selectable from one or more of polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), and polycarbonate (PC). In this embodiment, polypropylene (PP) is preferably used, with a thickness of 2-8 mm. This thickness range ensures sufficient structural rigidity for effective containment while also meeting lightweight design requirements.

[0031] In the event of a frontal collision, the head of the child occupant or Q3 dummy moves forward due to inertia and comes into contact with the head shield 3. At this time, the head shield 3 works in concert through the following mechanisms: Movement restriction: The outer plastic shell 4 and the child seat body 1 form a physical stop, which effectively limits the forward movement distance of the head and prevents the head from rushing forward excessively; Energy dissipation: As the head continues to press forward, the deformable energy-absorbing unit 5 in the middle undergoes controlled plastic deformation, converting part of the head's kinetic energy into deformation work for dissipation.

[0032] Through the aforementioned synergistic mechanism of "rigid restraint + flexible energy absorption", this device significantly reduces the impact load transmitted to the head while restricting head and neck displacement, thereby effectively reducing the risk of head and neck injury to child occupants / Q3 dummies.

[0033] Example 2: Systematic Solution

[0034] like Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the limiting mechanism includes a quickly detachable headwear device 7 and a high-strength webbing 8, and the energy-absorbing mechanism is a stretchable energy-absorbing device 9 fixed to the child seat body. One end of the high-strength webbing 8 is detachably connected to the headwear device 7, and the other end passes through the steering mechanism 10 and is fixedly connected to the stretchable energy-absorbing device 9.

[0035] The stretchable energy absorption device 9 has a buffering tensile force characteristic, and its stretching amount is configured to complete the buffering of the tensile force when the forward displacement of the head reaches the preset safety range boundary, while maximizing the stretching amount. This design ensures a precise match between the energy absorption process and the limiting process, which can fully absorb the collision kinetic energy without causing the limiting to fail due to stretching deformation.

[0036] Preferably, the stretchable energy-absorbing devices 9 are a pair, symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the child seat body 1, and correspondingly, the high-strength webbing 8 are also a pair. The symmetrical arrangement helps to maintain the balance and restraint of the head during a collision, avoiding head twisting or tilting due to unilateral force.

[0037] Preferably, the head-wearing device 7 is detachably connected to the high-strength webbing 8 via a buckle structure. The buckle structure facilitates quick donning and disassembly, improving ease of use. In practical use, the tightness of the wearing device can be adjusted according to the child's head circumference to ensure comfortable and reliable wear.

[0038] In terms of usage, after the child occupant or dummy is seated and fastened with the child seat belt, a head-mounted device 7 must be worn, which is then connected to the stretchable energy-absorbing device 9 via high-strength webbing 8. In the event of a frontal collision, the child seat belt restrains the torso; the head and neck, under the combined action of the head-mounted device 7, the high-strength webbing 8, and the stretchable energy-absorbing device 9, experience only limited forward displacement. Simultaneously, the stretchable energy-absorbing device 9, stretched by the high-strength webbing 8, absorbs impact energy, thereby keeping the risk of head and neck injury within a safe range.

[0039] Example 3: Protection Method

[0040] The present invention also provides a method for head and neck protection using the above-mentioned head and neck protection system, comprising the following synergistic steps: Step 1: In the event of a frontal collision, the limiting mechanism physically constrains the forward movement distance of the occupant's head relative to the torso.

[0041] Step 2: While limiting the forward movement distance, the energy absorption mechanism absorbs the kinetic energy of the head impact.

[0042] The two steps are executed simultaneously to reduce the impact load transmitted to the head and neck. This synergistic mechanism of rigid restraint and flexible energy absorption can effectively control the range of head movement while minimizing the transmission of impact energy to the head and neck, thereby achieving comprehensive protection for the head and neck of child occupants.

[0043] Example 4: Performance Verification

[0044] To verify the technical effects of the present invention, the inventors conducted a trolley test to verify the technical solution of the present invention. The test was conducted according to the C-NCAP 2024 / 2027 test procedures, using a Q3 dummy under a 56km / h 0° frontal collision condition.

[0045] The experimental groups are as follows: Control group: Standard forward-facing child car seats (equipped only with five-point harnesses); Experimental group: Head and neck protection system using the integrated solution of this invention.

[0046] Test results show that using the solution of this invention significantly improved the overall evaluation score of the Q3 dummy from the original 0%~25% range to a high score range of 75%~100%. This indicates that the present invention can effectively solve the problem of insufficient head and neck protection for child occupants in existing forward-facing child seats under frontal collision conditions, and can meet the high safety evaluation requirements of C-NCAP 2024 / 2027.

[0047] Meanwhile, the child seat using the solution of this invention can be safely installed in a forward-facing position, without having to be installed in a rear-facing position in order to pass the crash test. This significantly improves the child's riding comfort and the driver's observation convenience while ensuring safety.

[0048] The head and neck protection system and method for forward-facing child car seats provided by this invention have a reasonable structure and flexible implementation methods. They can be adopted as an integrated solution integrated into the headrest or as a modular solution that can be detached and worn, making them suitable for widespread application in various types of forward-facing child car seats. This invention can effectively improve the protection performance of child car seats for the head and neck of child occupants in frontal collisions, meeting the high-standard safety evaluation requirements of C-NCAP 2024 / 2027, and has good industrial applicability and broad market application prospects.

Claims

1. A head and neck protection system for a forward-facing child seat, characterized in that, include: Limiting mechanism and energy absorption mechanism, The limiting mechanism is disposed on the child seat or detachably worn on the occupant's head, and is used to interact with the occupant's head in the event of a frontal collision to limit its forward movement. The energy-absorbing mechanism is connected to or integrally formed with the limiting mechanism, and is used to undergo irreversible plastic or tensile deformation during the process of the limiting mechanism restricting the forward movement stroke, so as to absorb the impact kinetic energy of the head. The limiting mechanism and the energy-absorbing mechanism work synchronously and collaboratively during the collision process. The limiting mechanism prevents excessive forward movement by rigidly limiting the forward movement, while the energy-absorbing mechanism dissipates impact energy through flexible deformation.

2. The head and neck protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting mechanism and the energy-absorbing mechanism are integrated into a head protection cover that is fixedly installed on the upper part of the child seat.

3. The head and neck protection system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The head shield is a multi-layered composite structure, comprising, from the inside out: an inner flexible buffer layer for contact with the head, an intermediate deformable energy-absorbing unit with a preset plastic deformation capability, and an outer plastic shell as a rigid stop structure.

4. The head and neck protection system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The plastic deformation initiation threshold and deformation stroke of the intermediate deformable energy-absorbing unit are set according to the preset collision energy level.

5. The head and neck protection system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The foamed energy-absorbing material of the intermediate deformable energy-absorbing unit is foamed polypropylene, and the density of the foamed polypropylene is 30~100 kg / m³.

6. The head and neck protection system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The thickness of the outer plastic shell is 2~8 mm.

7. The head and neck protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting mechanism includes a quick-detachable headwear device and a high-strength webbing; the energy-absorbing mechanism is a stretchable energy-absorbing device fixed to the child seat body. The high-strength webbing is connected at both ends to the headwear device and the stretchable energy-absorbing device, respectively. In the event of a collision, the stretchable energy-absorbing device is stretched by the webbing to absorb energy.

8. The head and neck protection system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The stretchable energy-absorbing devices are a pair, symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the child seat body, and correspondingly, the high-strength webbing is also a pair.

9. The head and neck protection system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The head-wearing device is detachably connected to the high-strength webbing via a buckle structure.

10. A method for head and neck protection using the head and neck protection system as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The following steps are included in the synergistic effect: In the event of a frontal collision, the limiting mechanism physically constrains the forward movement distance of the occupant's head relative to the torso. While limiting the forward movement distance, the energy absorption mechanism converts the kinetic energy of the head collision into internal energy for dissipation. The limiting step is performed synchronously with the energy absorption step to reduce the impact load transmitted to the head and neck.

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