Joint for a human neck simulator

Claim 2

A joint for use in a human neck simulator which includes a number of vertebra simulating members arranged in a stacked relationship in alignment with each other and connected for multidirectional angular movement cushioned by viscoelastic material to provide the simulator with human-like characteristics when subjected to impact loadings, the joint comprising: means connecting an adjacent pair of the vertebra simulating members for pivotal movement relative to each other about an axis located forward of the connections between the other members; and viscoelastic material located between this adjacent pair of vertebra simulating members and normally maintaining these members in a predetermined angular position relative to each other so that the simulator is adaptable to position a dummy head on a dummy torso in a predetermined orientation against forward movement therefrom, this viscoelastic material deflecting when the joint is subjected to an impact so as to allow the mentioned pair of adjacent members to pivot relative to each other about their forward axis of connection such that the dummy head moves forward to momentarily increase the length of the simulator before the viscoelastic material returns to its original configuration and moves the simulator back to its original configuration in a lifelike manner.

Claim 3

A joint for use in a human neck simulator which includes a number of vertebra simulating members arranged in a stacked rElationship in alignment with each other and connected for multidirectional angular movement cushioned by viscoelastic material to provide the simulator with human-like characteristics when subjected to impact loadings, the joint comprising: means connecting an adjacent pair of the vertebra simulating members at the lower portion of the simulator to connect these members for pivotal movement relative to each other about an axis located forward of the connections between the other members; and viscoelastic material located between this adjacent pair of vertebra simulating members and normally maintaining these members in a predetermined angular position relative to each other so as to define an included angle between 5* and 30* such that the simulator is adaptable to position a dummy head on a seated dummy torso and simulate human forward neck tilting in this seated position while normally resisting further forward tilting of the simulator, this viscoelastic material deflecting when the dummy is subjected to an impact so as to allow the mentioned pair of members to pivot relative to each other about their forward axis of connection such that the dummy head moves forward to momentarily increase the length of the simulator as the viscoelastic material deforms before returning to its original configuration and moving the simulator back to its original configuration in a lifelike manner.

Claim 4

A joint for use in a human neck simulator which includes a number of vertebra simulating members arranged in a stacked rElationship in alignment with each other and connected for multidirectional angular movement cushioned by viscoelastic material to provide the simulator with human-like characteristics when subjected to impact loadings, the joint comprising: means connecting an adjacent pair of the vertebra simulating members at the lower portion of the simulator to connect these members for pivotal movement relative to each other about an axis located forward of the connections between the other members; and viscoelastic material located between this adjacent pair of vertebra simulating members and normally maintaining these members in a predetermined angular position relative to each other so as to define an included angle between 5* and 30* such that the simulator is adaptable to position a dummy head on a seated dummy torso and simulate human forward neck tilting in this seated position while normally resisting further forward tilting of the simulator, this viscoelastic material deflecting when the dummy is subjected to an impact so as to allow the mentioned pair of members to pivot relative to each other about their forward axis of connection such that the dummy head moves forward to momentarily increase the length of the simulator as the viscoelastic material deforms before returning to its original configuration and moving the simulator back to its original configuration in a lifelike manner.

Claim 5

A joint for use in a human neck simulator which includes a number of vertebra simulating members arranged in a stacked relationship in alignment with each other and connected for multidirectional angular movement cushioned by viscoelastic material to provide the simulator with human-like characteristics when subjected to impact loadings, the joint comprising: means pivotally connecting the two lower vertebra simulating members of the neck simulator so as to support these members for movement relative to each other about an axis located forward of the connection between the other members; first and second viscoelastic receiving portions respectively mounted on the two lower vertebra simulating members rearward of their axis of connection and having respective opposed portions which move toward each other as these two members pivot to increase their included angle and tip the neck simulator forwardly in a manner increasing its length; and a mass of viscoelastic material received between these two opposed portions on the two members and normally maintaining these members so they define an included angle between 5* and 30* such that the simulator is adaptable to position a dummy head on a seated dummy torso and simulate the forward human neck tilting in this seated position while normally resisting further forward tilting of the simulator, this viscoelastic material being squeezed between the two opposed portions of the two members as they pivot about their forward axis of connection such that the head moves forwardly to momentarily tip the simulator forwardly and increase its length as the viscoelastic material deforms before returning to its original configuration and moving the simulator back to its original configuration in a lifelike manner.

Claim 6

A joint for use in a human neck simulator which includes a number of vertebra simulating members arranged in a stacked relationship in alignment with each other and connected for multidirectional angular movement cushioned by viscoelastic material to provide the simulator with human-like characteristics when subjected to impact loadings, the joint comprising: means pivotally connecting the two lower vertebra simulating members of the neck simulator so as to support these members for movement relative to each other about an axis located forward of the connection between the other members; first and second viscoelastic receiving portions respectively mounted on the two lower vertebra simulating members rearward of their axis of connection and having respective opposed portions which move toward each other as these two members pivot to increase their included angle and tip the neck simulator forwardly in a manner increasing its length; and a mass of viscoelastic material received between these two opposed portions on the two members and normally maintaining these members so they define an included angle between 5* and 30* such that the simulator is adaptable to position a dummy head on a seated dummy torso and simulate the forward human neck tilting in this seated position while normally resisting further forward tilting of the simulator, this viscoelastic material being squeezed between the two opposed portions of the two members as they pivot about their forward axis of connection such that the head moves forwardly to momentarily tip the simulator forwardly and increase its length as the viscoelastic material deforms before returning to its original configuration and moving the simulator back to its original configuration in a lifelike manner.