US 8,800,735 B2 · Dynamic displacement energy management device

Abstract

A dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfaces with a child seat in a vehicle, engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable member(s) in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. The device may be further operable to limit or prevent restraint anchor displacement and the distortion of said deformable member(s) under quasi-static load conditions in order to meet motor vehicle static load/displacement anchorage performance requirements applicable to certain anchors. Anchor retraction capability and various interlocking configurations for securing the position of an anchor, before or after having extracted, may be incorporated relative to the energy management device interfacing with both a vehicle and a child seat. An indicator may further be provided to identify the functional state of the restraint device.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An energy management device, comprising:

a retainer having a front wall, a back wall, opposite side walls, and a base;
an anchor;
a connecting member interfacing the anchor and extending beyond a moveable load bearing member;
a load-bearing deformable member between the anchor and the movable load-bearing member;
a retention member generally parallel to the front and back walls and between the movable load bearing member and the back wall, the retention member in an undeployed state having a lower portion removably inserted in the base of the retainer and biased upward against a blocking mass member;
and
a downturned portion of the connecting member, between the retention member and the back wall, and interfacing the retention member,
wherein when sufficient forces pull the connecting member in a direction from the back wall toward the front wall, the movable load-bearing member deforms the deformable member, the downturned portion of the connecting member pulls the lower portion of the retention member from the base of the retainer and the upper surface of the retention member from engagement with the surface of the blocking mass member, and the retention member translates toward the front wall to absorb energy.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dynamic displacement energy management device

Life of this patent

Dynamic displacement energy management device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18