Integrated energy attentuating vehicle passenger seat

Claim 2

A lightweight energy attenuating seat for a vehicle comprising: means for seating; integral impact energy dissipation and stroke guide means including: at least one track means; means for supporting said means for seating and comprising at least one elongate, plastically deformable, support member having a first cross-sectional configuration and being aligned parallel to said at least one track means and fixed thereto; and means mounted in fixed association with the vehicle and mounted in association with each of said at least one track means for permitting a stroke of said at least one plastically deformable support member in a predetermined direction defined by said at least one track means, as said at least one plastically deformable support member experiences a force having a component in a direction parallel to said predetermined direction and having at least a predetermined rate of acceleration, said means for permitting including at least one assembly for plastically deforming one of said at least one plastically deformable, elongate support member as said stroke occurs, each of said at least one assembly for plastically deforming comprising a die defining an aperture of a second cross-sectional configuration different from said first cross-sectional configuration and through which one of said at least one plastically deformable, elongate support member extends, movement of said one support member through said aperture and in said predetermined direction being operative to cause plastic deformation of said one support member so as to impart said second cross-sectional configuration to at least a portion of the length of said one support member and means for preventing rebound of said at least one support member through said means for permitting and comprising means arranged in touching contact with said one support member and associated with said die so as to permit movement therepast of said one support member in said predetermined direction and to substantially prevent movement therepast of said one support member in an opposing direction.

Claim 3

A lightweight seat according to claim 1, and wherein said die is seated in a bored housing, there also being provided within said housing an element for retaining said die within said housing.

Claim 4

A lightweight seat according to claim 2, and wherein said housing and said die are made from a steel alloy.

Claim 5

A lightweight seat according to claim 2, and wherein said housing is mounted in association with the vehicle and has a single degree of rotational freedom with respect thereto so as to be rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction.

Claim 6

A lightweight energy attenuating seat for a vehicle comprising: means for seating; an integrated assembly for mounting said means for seating onto the vehicle and including energy dissipation and stroke guide means including: at least one track means mounted onto the vehicle; at least one elongate, plastically deformable member for at least partially supporting said means for seating and arranged along and attached to said at least one track means, said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member having a first cross-sectional configuration; means associated with said at least one track means for mounting said at least one plastically deformable member and for permitting a stroke thereof and, consequently, of said means for seating, along said at least one track means, and being operative to plastically deform said at least one plastically deformable member so as to dissipate impact energy that would otherwise be transferred to said means for seating; said means for permitting comprising at least one assembly, associated with each of said at least one track means, for plastically deforming each of said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member, each said at least one assembly for plastically deforming comprising: a die defining an aperture of a second cross-sectional configuration different to said first cross-sectional configuration and through which an associated one of said at least one elongate, plastically deformable, member extends, movement of said one elongate, plastically deformable member through said aperture and in said predetermined direction being operative to cause plastic deformation of said elongate, plastically deformable member by said die, so as to impart said second cross-sectional configuration to at least a portion of the length of said elongate, plastically deformable member; and means for preventing rebound of said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member relative to said die and comprising means arranged in touching contact with said associated one of said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member and associated with said die so as to permit movement therepast of said associated one of said at least one support member in said predetermined direction and to oppose movement thereof in an opposing direction.

Claim 7

A lightweight energy attenuating seat for a vehicle comprising: means for seating; an integrated assembly for mounting said means for seating onto the vehicle and including energy dissipation and stroke guide means including: at least one track means mounted onto the vehicle; at least one elongate, plastically deformable member for at least partially supporting said means for seating and arranged along and attached to said at least one track means, said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member having a first cross-sectional configuration; means associated with said at least one track means for mounting said at least one plastically deformable member and for permitting a stroke thereof and, consequently, of said means for seating, along said at least one track means, and being operative to plastically deform said at least one plastically deformable member so as to dissipate impact energy that would otherwise be transferred to said means for seating; said means for permitting comprising at least one assembly, associated with each of said at least one track means, for plastically deforming each of said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member, each said at least one assembly for plastically deforming comprising: a die defining an aperture of a second cross-sectional configuration different to said first cross-sectional configuration and through which an associated one of said at least one elongate, plastically deformable, member extends, movement of said one elongate, plastically deformable member through said aperture and in said predetermined direction being operative to cause plastic deformation of said elongate, plastically deformable member by said die, so as to impart said second cross-sectional configuration to at least a portion of the length of said elongate, plastically deformable member; and means for preventing rebound of said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member relative to said die and comprising means arranged in touching contact with said associated one of said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member and associated with said die so as to permit movement therepast of said associated one of said at least one support member in said predetermined direction and to oppose movement thereof in an opposing direction.

Claim 8

A lightweight seat according to claim 5, wherein said die is seated in a bored housing, there also being provided within said housing an element for retaining said die within said housing.

Claim 9

A lightweight seat according to claim 6, wherein said housing and said die are made from a steel alloy.

Claim 10

A lightweight seat according to claim 6, wherein said housing is mounted in association with the vehicle and has a single degree of rotational freedom with respect thereto so as to be rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction.

Claim 11

A lightweight seat according to claim 5, wherein said at least one elongate plastically deformable member comprises a tube.

Claim 12

A lightweight seat according to claim 5, wherein said at least one track means is a pair of track means and said at least one elongate, plastically deformable, member is a pair of elongate, plastically deformable members.

Claim 13

A lightweight seat according to claim 5, wherein said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member is made from an aluminum alloy.

Claim 14

A lightweight seat according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle passenger seat is an aircraft passenger seat.

Claim 15

A lightweight seat according to claim 31, wherein said means for seating comprises a foldable seat element arranged, in an extended position, transversely to said means for mounting.

Claim 16

A lightweight seat according to claim 13, wherein said means for seating also comprises means for attaching a forward portion of said foldable seat element to said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member so as to transfer thereto a portion of a load imposed on said seat element.

Claim 17

A lightweight seat according to claim 5, wherein said means for seating comprises: a seat element; and means for attaching a forward portion of said seat element to said at least one elongate, plastically deformable member so as to transfer thereto a portion of a load imposed on said seat element.

Claim 18

A lightweight seat according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle passenger seat is a vertical takeoff aircraft passenger seat.

Claim 19

A lightweight seat according to claim 5, wherein the seat has a weight of no more than approximately 15 Kg.