Deployable Leg Restraint Panel for Side-Facing Seat Egress
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Side-facing vehicle occupants, particularly in aircraft, experience leg injuries due to lateral g-force loading during deceleration, as existing leg restraints are either ineffective or hinder rapid egress.
Innovation Solution
A leg restraint device attached to the side-facing seat with a deployable and retractable panel under the seat bottom that prevents leg rotation by engaging the foot and lower leg during deceleration, using a spring-activated mechanism to deploy and retract the panel for protection during events like take-off, taxi, and landing, while allowing free egress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a leg restraint device is deployed to protect occupants during deceleration, then leg injury protection is improved, but egress time increases due to restraint removal
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system transitions from static to dynamic through automated deployment and retraction. The panel moves between deployed and retracted positions based on impact detection, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining protection during critical events and ensuring rapid clearance during egress.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects impacts through sensors and triggers deployment without human intervention. After the protective function is fulfilled, the system self-retracts the panel, eliminating the need for occupants to manually remove restraints and enabling immediate egress.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid restraining panel is used to prevent leg rotation, then protection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to deployment and retraction mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint function is extracted from a permanent structure and implemented as a separate, movable panel that can be deployed only when needed. This allows the rigid protective element to be introduced temporarily during critical phases while maintaining simplicity during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary deployment of the restraining panel before impact occurs, based on detection of critical phases such as taxi, take-off, and landing. This ensures protection is in place before leg rotation could occur, while avoiding continuous deployment that would increase complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the restraining panel remains deployed to ensure continuous protection, then safety is improved, but aisle space is reduced hindering occupant movement
Solution Approach 1:
The restraining panel operates periodically rather than continuously, deploying only during critical phases identified by sensors (taxi, take-off, landing) and retracting during other periods. This provides protection when needed while maintaining full aisle space for normal occupant movement and egress.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively prevents leg injuries during deceleration events by restraining the lower leg and foot, ensuring passenger safety without obstructing rapid exit from the seat after the event.
Implementation Method 1
an impact-activated biasing member cooperates with the leg-restraining member to move the leg-restraining member into the retracted position following the impact of an occupant's leg against the leg-restraining member
Data Source
AI summary
A leg restraint is provided for side-seated vehicle occupants, such as aircraft passengers, and includes a leg-restraining member mounted in proximity to a side-facing vehicle seat and is selectively moveable between a deployed, laterally-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position.