Active Seatback Shielding for Neck Injury Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger seat designs fail to adequately reduce neck flexion and associated injuries during impact events, as they do not effectively mitigate the risk of the head striking protrusions or latch mechanisms on the seatback.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an accelerometer to detect emergency events and an actuator that translates portions of the tray table or molding to create a smooth surface, shielding the latch mechanism and reducing the likelihood of neck injury by forming a flush surface over which the head travels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the seatback includes protruding components such as latch mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the neck injury risk increases during impact events
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting emergency events ahead of impact and proactively translating the tray table to a safe position before the passenger's head can strike the latch mechanism. The accelerometer detects deceleration patterns indicating an emergency event, and the actuator rapidly moves the tray table out of the danger zone, preventing neck injury before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies dynamics by making the tray table position adjustable rather than fixed. The actuator translates the tray table between a retracted position (during normal operation) and an extended safe position (during emergency events), allowing the system to adapt its configuration dynamically based on real-time conditions to minimize harm.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tray table is translated during emergency events, then neck injury is reduced, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system serves multiple functions: it translates the tray table during emergency events to prevent neck injury, and can also maintain the tray table in a safe position during normal operation if needed. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity by providing both injury prevention and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service through the accelerometer that automatically detects emergency events and triggers the actuator without requiring external input or manual intervention. The control system monitors acceleration patterns and autonomously activates the tray table translation mechanism when crash conditions are detected, reducing the need for complex external control systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the tray table translation mechanism is added, then neck injury criterion is satisfied, but the weight of the seat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses lightweight, compact actuator components and accelerometer sensors that add minimal weight compared to the overall seat structure. The tray table itself serves as the protective element rather than requiring separate heavy shielding materials, utilizing existing components in a new protective configuration that minimizes additional weight while meeting neck injury criteria.
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 solution effectively reduces neck injuries by smoothing out the surface of the seatback, minimizing the risk of the head becoming trapped on the latch mechanism and preventing unintentional tray deployment during emergency events.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer configured to generate a signal in response to detecting an acceleration indicative of an emergency event
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger seat is described which reduces neck deflection in a 16G loading event. The passenger seat includes one or more seatback surfaces which translate to shield a surface, such as a latch mechanism, during the crash event. By shielding the latch mechanism, a smooth surface is created, thereby reducing a likelihood of a passenger's head becoming trapped on the latch mechanism. The seatback surfaces actuated include one or more of a shroud surrounding the latch mechanism, a pocket defined by the shroud, or a hinged surface.