Apparatus for preventing whiplash

Apparatus for preventing whiplash-related injuries to a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:

• a frame supported on a seat of the vehicle and located behind the cranium and cervical spine of a passenger on the seat;
• and
• a layer of resilient material supported on the frame and conforming to the shape of the frame in the location behind the cranium and cervical spine of the said passenger, the layer of resilient material and underlying frame thereby defining a supporting means located behind the cranium and cervical spine of the passenger and defining at least one contour that interfits with the posterior contour of the passenger's cranium and cervical spine, and including a first surface located behind a passenger's cranium and projecting upwardly above the approximate center of mass of the passenger's cranium and including a substantially flat portion including a cranium contact zone for contacting and supporting the approximate central posterior area of the passenger's cranium, and a second surface located below the first surface and defining in vertical cross-section a substantially convex smooth curve, the maximum horizontal protrusion point of which projects anteriorly relative to the flat portion of said first surface a distance of 11/2 to 4 inches, the said maximum protrusion point being about 3 to 8 inches below said cranium contact zone, said second surface thereby contacting and supporting the posterior portion of the passenger's cervical spine substantially simultaneously with the said contact of the passenger's cranium with said first surface, thereby substantially simultaneously decelerating the cranium and cervical spine during a vehicle collision to prevent whiplash-related injuries to the passenger.