Adaptive head and neck restraint system for a vehicle occupant

Abstract

Head and neck restraint apparatus for an occupant of a vehicle comprises a stiff yoke shaped to engage the upper torso and shoulders of the occupant. The yoke is generally U-shaped, with a base and upwardly extending limbs, and has a frontal portion shaped to extend over the chest of the occupant which corresponds to the base of the U. An intermediate portion of the yoke is shaped to fit over the shoulders of the occupant, and an upper portion of the yoke, corresponding to the upper ends of the limbs, extends beyond the intermediate portion to constrain movement of a helmet worn by the occupant. A set of first guides on the yoke are arranged to engage harness members of a safety harness worn by the occupant. Each guide is shaped to engage a respective harness strap or buckle and responds to longitudinal movement of the harness strap or buckle. Tensioning members connected between the respective guides and the helmet apply a tensioning force to the helmet when movement of the occupant causes displacement of the harness relative to the yoke. A set of second guides that respond to lateral movement of the harness is also provided.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . Head and neck restraint apparatus for an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a stiff yoke shaped to engage the upper torso and shoulders of the occupant, the yoke having a frontal portion shaped to extend over the chest of the occupant, an intermediate portion shaped to fit over the shoulders of the occupant, and an upper, helmet engaging portion extending beyond the intermediate portion and shaped to constrain movement of a helmet worn by the occupant;   a plurality of guide means associated with the yoke and arranged to engage harness members of a safety harness worn by the occupant, each guide means being shaped to engage a respective harness member and being responsive to movement of said harness member relative to said guide means; and   tensioning members connectable between the respective guide means and the helmet, so that movement of the occupant causing displacement of the harness relative to the yoke results in a tensioning force being applied to the helmet by at least one tensioning member.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the yoke is generally U-shaped, with a base and upwardly extending limbs, the base of the U corresponding to the frontal portion of the yoke and the upper ends of the limbs corresponding to the helmet engaging portion thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of guide means comprises:
 a pair of guide means mounted on the frontal portion of the yoke, each said pair of guide means being arranged to receive a respective strap of a safety harness worn by the occupant.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein each of said pair of guide means is shaped to engage a formation on the strap so that longitudinal movement of the strap relative to said guide means, at least in one direction, is prevented. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of guide means is mounted slidably relative to the yoke so that an acceleration causing movement of the occupant and the yoke relative to the harness causes sliding displacement of said guide means relative to the yoke. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said tensioning members are flexible cords fixed to said guide means at one end thereof and connectable to respective fixing points on the helmet in use. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the yoke defines a guide for each tensioning member to ensure correct orientation thereof in use. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the yoke defines a plurality of conduits extending between a lower edge of the frontal portion of the yoke, adjacent to said guide means, and respective inner surfaces of the helmet engaging portion of the yoke. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said guide means is mounted on the intermediate portion of the yoke and arranged to engage respective harness members passing over the shoulders of the occupant in use, said guide means being responsive to movement of the harness members due to movement of the occupant causing displacement of the harness relative to the yoke, with a plurality of tension members each connectable between said guide means and the helmet. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said guide means is mounted slidably relative to the yoke so that an acceleration causing lateral movement of the occupant and the yoke relative to the harness causes sliding displacement of said guide means relative to the yoke. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the yoke defines a plurality of conduits extending between the intermediate portion of the yoke, and respective inner surfaces of the helmet engaging portion of the yoke.