Infant Seat Damping Device for Cervical Spine Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child safety seats are inadequate in absorbing impulse energy during accidents, as manual belt adjustments are prone to loosening, and the energy absorption mechanisms are not reliable, posing a risk of failure during vehicle movements or accidents.
Innovation Solution
A child seat design featuring a flexible backrest element that can deform and displace relative to the seat bottom, equipped with a damping device that absorbs energy through reversible or irreversible deformation, ensuring effective force absorption only when sufficient impulse is applied, thus protecting the child's cervical spine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual belt adjustment is used for suspension system, then the system can be adjusted and fastened, but the belt tension cannot be permanently ensured and may loosen during vehicle movement or vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system uses self-adjusting elements that automatically adapt to load changes and maintain optimal tension without manual intervention. The system includes self-locking mechanisms that prevent loosening during vehicle movement, allowing the structure to service itself and maintain reliability continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system incorporates dynamically adjustable elements that can adapt their tension and positioning in response to varying loads and vibrations. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain permanent fixation while accommodating movement, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid backrest structure is used, then structural stability is maintained, but impulse energy cannot be effectively absorbed during accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest structure incorporates elements with variable stiffness parameters that can change their mechanical properties in response to applied loads. Under normal conditions, the structure maintains high stiffness for stability, but under impact loads, the parameters change to allow energy absorption through controlled deformation, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and energy absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The backrest uses composite construction combining rigid structural elements with energy-absorbing materials. This composite approach allows the structure to maintain overall stability while specific components can deform to absorb impulse energy during accidents, effectively resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and energy dissipation.
3Loss of energy
If foam deformation element is used for energy absorption, then the element can be compressed and expand again, but the energy absorption capacity is limited and the child's body is only pressed against the damping element
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorption system is divided into multiple segmented components including foam elements, spring mechanisms, and deformable structural members. This segmentation allows different zones to absorb energy through various mechanisms simultaneously, increasing overall energy absorption capacity while distributing protective forces more effectively across the child's body, thus resolving the contradiction between energy absorption and force distribution.
4Adaptability or versatility
If shell pivoting mechanism is used, then the shell can pivot in the direction of travel and against the direction of travel, but the energy absorption is insufficient and the child is only pivoted
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting mechanism is merged with multiple energy absorption mechanisms including foam deformation, spring compression, and structural element deformation. This combination ensures that when the shell pivots in response to impact, simultaneous energy absorption occurs through multiple mechanisms, significantly increasing total energy absorption capacity beyond what pivoting alone can achieve.
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 seat effectively absorbs and distributes accident energy by combining deformation and displacement of the backrest and seat elements, reducing the risk of injury by adjusting the child's position from a lying to a more upright position, enhancing safety during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
the backrest element and/or the seat element are connected to at least one damping device, and the at least one damping device allows the backrest element to be displaced as of a determinable impulse energy
Implementation Method 2
the impulse energy occurring in the event of an accident is absorbed by the seat
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a seat for infants and toddlers, which has at least one seat lower part and a seat back part, wherein a seat element and a backrest element are applied on the seat lower part and on the seat back part respectively, in a moveable manner and connected to one another. At least the backrest element is flexibly designed and is arranged at a distance from the seat back part, wherein the backrest element can be moved in the event of an influence of an impulse energy by the body of a child. At least one damping device allows a movement of the backrest element from a determined impulse energy, by which means the distance between the backrest element and the seat back part is reduced and a movement of the seat element occurs with respect to the seat lower part.