Vertebral fracture prevention system

Claim 1

A system for preventing the fracture of spinal column vertebrae of a person exposed to dangerous forces of acceleration while located within a vehicle, comprising in combination: means for firmly securing said person in a predetermined restrained postural position within an envelope-like confinement means located within said vehicle in response to a predetermined actuation signal; means disposed against the thoraco-lumbar region of the spinal column of said person for timely effecting a predetermined posterior arcuate curvature thereof in programmed response to the aforesaid predetermined actuation signal and immediately after said person is firmly secured within said predetermined envelope-like confinement means, said means including a resilient bag capable of being inflated and expanded by a pressurized gas, and means connected to said resilient bag for timely supplying said gas thereto in response to said predetermined actuation signal; and means effectively connected to said predetermined envelope-like confinement means for effecting a predetermined disposition thereof and the person firmly secured therein with respect to said vehicle in timely response to said predetermined actuation signal.

Claim 2

A system for preventing the fracture of spinal column vertebrae of a person exposed to dangerous forces of acceleration while located within a vehicle, comprising in combination: means for firmly securing said person in a predetermined restrained postural position within an envelope-like confinement means located within said vehicle in response to a predetermined actuation signal; means disposed against the thoraco-lumbar region of the spinal column of said person for timely effecting a predetermined posterior arcuate curvature thereof in programmed response to the aforesaid predetermined actuation signal and immediately after said person is firmly secured within said predetermined envelope-like confinement means, said means including a resilient bag capable of being inflated and expanded by a pressurized gas, and means connected to said resilient bag for timely supplying said gas thereto in response to said predetermined actuation signal; and means effectively connected to said predetermined envelope-like confinement means for effecting a predetermined disposition thereof and the person firmly secured therein with respect to said vehicle in timely response to said predetermined actuation signal.

Claim 11

A system for preventing the fracture of spinal column vertebrae of a person during the emergency ejection thereof from an otherwise dangerously situated vehicle, comprising in comBination: means for firmly securing said person in a predetermined restrained postural position within an envelope-like confinement means located within said vehicle in response to a predetermined ejection signal; means disposed against the thoraco-lumbar region of the spinal column of said person for timely effecting a predetermined posterior arcuate curvature thereof in programmed response to the aforesaid predetermined ejection signal and immediately after said person is firmly secured within said predetermined envelope-like confinement means, said means including a resilient bag capable of being inflated and expanded by a pressurized gas, and means connected to said resilient bag for timely supplying said gas thereto in response to said predetermined ejection signal; and means effectively connected to said predetermined envelope-like confinement means for effecting the ejection thereof and the person firmly secured therein from said vehicle in timely response to said predetermined ejection signal.

Claim 12

A system for preventing the fracture of spinal column vertebrae of a person during the emergency ejection thereof from an otherwise dangerously situated vehicle, comprising in comBination: means for firmly securing said person in a predetermined restrained postural position within an envelope-like confinement means located within said vehicle in response to a predetermined ejection signal; means disposed against the thoraco-lumbar region of the spinal column of said person for timely effecting a predetermined posterior arcuate curvature thereof in programmed response to the aforesaid predetermined ejection signal and immediately after said person is firmly secured within said predetermined envelope-like confinement means, said means including a resilient bag capable of being inflated and expanded by a pressurized gas, and means connected to said resilient bag for timely supplying said gas thereto in response to said predetermined ejection signal; and means effectively connected to said predetermined envelope-like confinement means for effecting the ejection thereof and the person firmly secured therein from said vehicle in timely response to said predetermined ejection signal.

Claim 17

A system for preventing wedge fracture of the anterior edges of adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column of a pilot during the emergency ejection thereof from a movable craft, comprising in combination: a pressurized gas supply; a normally closed master valve, adapter for being opened by a predetermined signal, connected to the output of said pressurized gas supply; a first gas powered motor having a gas input, a mechanical power movement output, and a control output, with the gas input thereof connected to the output of said normally closed master valve; a first normally closed delay valve having a gas input, a control input for effecting the opening thereof, and a gas output, with the gas input thereof connected to the gas output of said master valve, and with the control input thereof connected to the control output of the aforesaid first gas powered motor; a seat having a bearing-mounted movable bottom pan, an automatically actuated back in the fully retracted position which may be unlocked for normal use, and a rigid back; a pilot sitting within said seat in such manner as to be in contact with said bottom pan and rigid back; a torso restraint shoulder strap connected to the output of said first gas powered motor, effectively connected to said seat, and disposed around said pilot; a second gas powered motor having a gas input and a mechanical power movement output, with the gas input thereof connected to the output of said master valve; a pelvic restraining seatbelt connected to the mechanical power movement output of said second gas powered motor, effectively connected to said seat, and disposed around the pelvic region of said pilot; a third gas powered motor having a gas input and a mechanical power movement output, with the gas input thereof connected to the gas output of the aforesaid master valve; a head restraining means connected to the mechanical power output of said third motor, effectively connected to said seat, and mounted on the head of said pilot; a second normally closed delay valve, having a gas input and a gas output, the opening of which is automatic but delayed for such preset period of time that it remains closed until after the aforesaid first normally closed delay valve is opened; a seat ejector motor connected between the gas output of said second normally closed delay valve and the aforesaid seat; and an inflatable resilient bag, having a gas input connected to the gas output of the aforesaid first normally closed delay valve, disposed between the thoraco-lumbar region of the back of said pilot and the front of the rigid back of the aforesaid seat.

Claim 18

A system for preventing wedge fracture of the anterior edges of adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column of a pilot during the emergency ejection thereof from a movable craft, comprising in combination: a pressurized gas supply; a normally closed master valve, adapter for being opened by a predetermined signal, connected to the output of said pressurized gas supply; a first gas powered motor having a gas input, a mechanical power movement output, and a control output, with the gas input thereof connected to the output of said normally closed master valve; a first normally closed delay valve having a gas input, a control input for effecting the opening thereof, and a gas output, with the gas input thereof connected to the gas output of said master valve, and with the control input thereof connected to the control output of the aforesaid first gas powered motor; a seat having a bearing-mounted movable bottom pan, an automatically actuated back in the fully retracted position which may be unlocked for normal use, and a rigid back; a pilot sitting within said seat in such manner as to be in contact with said bottom pan and rigid back; a torso restraint shoulder strap connected to the output of said first gas powered motor, effectively connected to said seat, and disposed around said pilot; a second gas powered motor having a gas input and a mechanical power movement output, with the gas input thereof connected to the output of said master valve; a pelvic restraining seatbelt connected to the mechanical power movement output of said second gas powered motor, effectively connected to said seat, and disposed around the pelvic region of said pilot; a third gas powered motor having a gas input and a mechanical power movement output, with the gas input thereof connected to the gas output of the aforesaid master valve; a head restraining means connected to the mechanical power output of said third motor, effectively connected to said seat, and mounted on the head of said pilot; a second normally closed delay valve, having a gas input and a gas output, the opening of which is automatic but delayed for such preset period of time that it remains closed until after the aforesaid first normally closed delay valve is opened; a seat ejector motor connected between the gas output of said second normally closed delay valve and the aforesaid seat; and an inflatable resilient bag, having a gas input connected to the gas output of the aforesaid first normally closed delay valve, disposed between the thoraco-lumbar region of the back of said pilot and the front of the rigid back of the aforesaid seat.

Claim 23

A method of preventing the fracture of spinal column vertebrae of a person sitting in and leaning against the back of a seat disposed within a vehicle during the emergency ejection thereof from said vehicle, comprising the steps of: firmly restraining said person in a safe postural position within and against the back of the seat disposed within said vehicle in response to a predetermined ejection signal; forcefully bending the spinal column of said person in such manner that it has a backward arcuate curvature at the thoraco-lumbar region thereof while said person is being firmly restrained in a safe postural position within said seat and against the back thereof, said step being implemented by inflating a resilient bag in such manner against the back of said person that the spinal column thereof assumes the aforesaid backward arcuate curvature; and timely ejecting said seat and the person restrained therein from said vehicle while the spinal column of said person is being forcefully bent to have a backward curvature at the thoraco-lumbar region thereof.

Claim 24

A method of preventing the fracture of spinal column vertebrae of a person sitting in and leaning against the back of a seat disposed within a vehicle during the emergency ejection thereof from said vehicle, comprising the steps of: firmly restraining said person in a safe postural position within and against the back of the seat disposed within said vehicle in response to a predetermined ejection signal; forcefully bending the spinal column of said person in such manner that it has a backward arcuate curvature at the thoraco-lumbar region thereof while said person is being firmly restrained in a safe postural position within said seat and against the back thereof, said step being implemented by inflating a resilient bag in such manner against the back of said person that the spinal column thereof assumes the aforesaid backward arcuate curvature; and timely ejecting said seat and the person restrained therein from said vehicle while the spinal column of said person is being forcefully bent to have a backward curvature at the thoraco-lumbar region thereof.