← Back to Patent Explorer
US4301983A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

High acceleration protective seat

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1979-10-29
•
Granted: 1981-11-24
•
Expires: 1999-10-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A G-protective seat is disclosed for disposing an occupant within a vehiclen a supine tucked posture during high acceleration loading substantially along the Z-axis of the vehicle. At the onset of high Z-axis acceleration, a pair of pivotal leg support members are actuated to fold the legs of the occupant upwardly thereby drawing the knees up to the chest of the occupant in an intermediate tucked position. With the occupant in the tucked position, the seat rotates upward about an axis substantially defined by the occupant's eyes into a supine position for the duration of the high acceleration loading.

Inventors

  • 👤 John J. Horan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 04:13
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D25/00; B64D25/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 178 words
A G-protective seat for an occupant in a vehicle, comprising: torso support means formed to be rotatably mounted about an axis substantially through the eyes of the occupant within the vehicle so that the torso of the occupant is movable between a substantially erect attitude and a supine posture, said torso means including a back support adapted to be rotatably coupled to the vehicle in a substantially erect attitude, a seat pan rigidly connected to the bottom of said back support for supporting the pelvic area of the occupant, and arcuate means connected to the top of said back support for guiding the rotation thereof substantially about the eyes of the occupant; leg support means rotatably connected to said torso support means so that the legs of the occupant are movable between a substantially extended position and a fetal posture; and motor means coupled to said torso and leg support means for collaterally rotating said torso and leg support means so that the occupant is moved into and out of a supine fetal posture for increased high-G tolerance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 178 words
A G-protective seat for an occupant in a vehicle, comprising: torso support means formed to be rotatably mounted about an axis substantially through the eyes of the occupant within the vehicle so that the torso of the occupant is movable between a substantially erect attitude and a supine posture, said torso means including a back support adapted to be rotatably coupled to the vehicle in a substantially erect attitude, a seat pan rigidly connected to the bottom of said back support for supporting the pelvic area of the occupant, and arcuate means connected to the top of said back support for guiding the rotation thereof substantially about the eyes of the occupant; leg support means rotatably connected to said torso support means so that the legs of the occupant are movable between a substantially extended position and a fetal posture; and motor means coupled to said torso and leg support means for collaterally rotating said torso and leg support means so that the occupant is moved into and out of a supine fetal posture for increased high-G tolerance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
A seat according to claim 1 wherein said torso support means further comprises: stop means operatively connected to said arcuate means for limiting upward rotation of said torso support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 67 words
A seat according to claim 2 wherein said leg support means comprises: a pair of leg supports pivotally coupled to said torso support means to elevate the knees of the occupant substantially adjacent to the chest; and bifurcated cushion means attached to said pair of leg supports for splaying the legs of the occupant so that a viewing area is provided therebetween when the knees are elevated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
A seat according to claim 1, wherein said motor means comprises: a first motor operatively connected to rotate said leg support means; a second motor operatively connected to rotate said torso support means; and control means for actuating said first and second motors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A seat according to claim 4 wherein said control means comprises: manual control means for independently actuating said first and second motor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
A seat according to claim 4 wherein said control means comprises: automatic control means for phased actuation of said first and second motor means so that said torso and leg support means rotate unobstructedly within the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 34 words
A seat according to claim 4, further comprising: arm support means pivotally connected to said leg support means for providing substantially horizontal support for the arms of the occupant in the supine fetal posture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
A seat according to claim 7 further comprising: stirrup means pivotally linked to said leg support means for carrying the feet of the occupant.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2365026A Cited
US2638290A Cited
US2765130A Cited
US2904286A Cited
US3112955A Cited
US3591232A Cited
US3826434A Cited
US4004763A Cited
US4085963A Cited
US3981465A Cited
US4218035A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-11-23 1985-05-25 1985-11-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-11-23 1989-05-25 1989-11-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-11-23 1993-05-25 1993-11-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag