Deployable Leg Restraint Panel for Aircraft Side Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side-facing vehicle occupants, particularly in aircraft, experience leg injuries due to lateral g-force loading during abrupt deceleration, as existing restraints can hinder rapid egress and are difficult to remove in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A leg restraint device with a deployable panel under the seat that locks into position during taxi, take-off, and landing, and upon impact, automatically retracts to allow for rapid egress, utilizing a spring-loaded mechanism and locking pins to secure the panel in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a leg restraint device is deployed to protect occupants during deceleration, then leg injury protection is improved, but egress time increases due to the need to remove restraints
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint panel is designed to be dynamic rather than static, automatically deploying during deceleration events and retracting after impact. This allows the system to provide protection when needed while clearing the egress path when not needed, eliminating the time penalty associated with manual restraint removal
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint system is self-activating through the biasing member that automatically deploys the panel upon impact without requiring manual intervention. After serving its protective function, the system self-retracts to facilitate egress, making the entire cycle automatic and eliminating human interaction time
2Reliability
If a rigid restraining panel is used to prevent leg rotation, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases due to deployment and locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system is segmented into distinct functional components: the rigid restraining panel, the biasing member for deployment, and the locking member with guide slot and notch. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member acts as an intermediary between the panel and the biasing member, using the guide slot and notch mechanism to translate the biasing force into reliable panel retention. This intermediary simplifies the connection between components while ensuring the panel remains securely deployed
3Stability of the object's composition
If the panel is locked in deployed position against biasing force, then restraint stability is improved, but the locking mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed so that the locking pin automatically engages with the notch in the guide slot as the panel is deployed by the biasing member. This preliminary locking action occurs naturally during deployment, providing stable retention without requiring additional complex locking operations
Solution Approach 2:
The guide slot is designed with a specific notch position that changes the geometric parameters of the locking interaction. This geometric feature allows the locking pin to engage reliably at the appropriate moment during panel deployment, providing stability through simple geometric constraint rather than complex mechanical locking
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 rotation and forward motion during deceleration events while ensuring unobstructed egress paths by retracting the panel upon impact, thus reducing injury risk and facilitating quick exit from the seat.
Implementation Method 1
The spring includes a coil spring mounted in a spring housing mounted on the panel housing
Data Source
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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.