Vehicle seat construction for cushioning the force of impact

Claim 1

A VEHICLE SEAT CONSTRUCTION FOR REDUCING THE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON A PASSENGER DURING SUDDEN DECELERATION, SAID SEAT CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A SUPPORT INCLUDING UPRIGHT SIDE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BE RIGIDLY SECURED IN A VEHICLE, A SEAT INCLUDING A SEAT PORTION, MEANS SWINGABLY MOUNTING SAID SEAT BETWEEN SAID SIDE MEMBERS FOR FREE ROTATION MOVEMENT COMPLETELY ABOUT AN AXIS SPACED ABOVE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID SEAT AND THE SEAT PORTION THEREOF AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREACROSS, AND MEANS RELEASABLY AND RIGIDLY SECURING SAID SEAT IN A NORMAL POSITION AND COMPRISING SHEARABLE SECURING MEANS, SHEARABLE UNDER THE INERTIA OF AN ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID SEAT UPON AN ABNORMAL SHARP REDUCTION OF SPEED OF SAID SUPPORT FOR RELEASING SAID SEAT AND ENABLING FREE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER, SAID SHEARABLE SECURING MEANS COMPRISING THE SOLE MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID SEAT IN SAID NORMAL POSITION, SAID SEAT INCLUDING A NORMALLY UPRIGHT SEAT BACK PORTION HAVING A HEADREST PORTION ON AN UPPER END, SAID AXIS BEING DISPOSED ABOVE SAID SEAT PORTION AND IN GENERAL HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID HEADREST PORTION, SAID SHEARABLE MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SHEAR PIN CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SEAT PORTION AND ONE OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS BELOW SAID AXIS OF ROTATION.