Energy-dissipation system

Abstract

A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and an energy-absorption apparatus coupled to the juvenile vehicle seat. The energy-absorption apparatus is configured to absorb external energy associated with an external impact force applied to the energy-absorption apparatus.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel coupled to an upper portion of the backrest, a first side-wing panel coupled to a first side of the rear panel and arranged to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to an opposite second side of the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side-wing panels, 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the first side-wing panel and a second force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the second-side wing panel, and 
 wherein the first and second force-dissipaters are each in the form of an array of crush strips and each crush strip of the first and second force-dissipaters includes a series of polygonal structures coupled to one another to establish a crush strip and each polygonal structure is formed to have walls that are arranged to lie generally in perpendicular relation to the exterior surface of an adjacent companion side-wing panel one of the first side-wing panel and the second side-wing panel, and 
 wherein the first and second force dissipaters are made from a crushable polymeric foam. 
 
     
     
       2. The child restraint of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second force dissipaters includes a plurality of crush strips and adjacent crush strips are coupled to one another to establish an array of crush strips that is arranged to extend laterally along the exterior surface of the adjacent companion side-wing panel the first side-wing panel or the second side-wing panel. 
     
     
       3. The child restraint of  claim 1 , wherein a crush strip includes a series of crush cells coupled to one another and each crush cell is formed to include a crush aperture oriented to open away from the exterior surface of the adjacent companion side-wing panel the first side-wing panel or the second side-wing panel. 
     
     
       4. The child restraint of  claim 3 , wherein each crush cell in a crush strip has a polygonal shape. 
     
     
       5. The child restraint of  claim 4 , wherein each crush cell has a hexagon shape. 
     
     
       6. The child restraint of  claim 3 , wherein the crush aperture formed in each crush cell opens into a crush space formed in the crush cell and arranged to communicate with the exterior surface of an adjacent companion side-wing panel the first side-wing panel or the second side-wing panel. 
     
     
       7. The child restraint of  claim 3 , wherein each crush cell in a crush strip includes a plurality of walls coupled to one another to establish a crush-cell perimeter. 
     
     
       8. The child restraint of  claim 3 , wherein each crush cell in a crush strip includes a wall that is appended to the exterior surface of an adjacent companion side-wing panel the first side-wing panel or the second side-wing panel to establish a crush-cell perimeter. 
     
     
       9. The child restraint of  claim 3 , wherein each crush cell is formed to include a crush aperture opening into a crush space formed in the crush cell. 
     
     
       10. The child restraint of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second force dissipaters are made from a crushable polymeric foam. 
     
     
       11. The child restraint of  claim 1 , wherein a ride-down pad included in each force dissipater includes a front surface and a back surface and the front surface is arranged to be impacted by an external object during application of the impact force. 
     
     
       12. The child restraint of  claim 11 , wherein the front surface of the ride-down pad is defined by an array of crush strips. 
     
     
       13. The child restraint of  claim 11 , A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel coupled to an upper portion of the backrest, a first side-wing panel coupled to a first side of the rear panel and arranged to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to an opposite second side of the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side-wing panels, 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the first side-wing panel and a second force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the second-side wing panel, 
 wherein the first and second force-dissipaters are each in the form of an array of crush strips and each crush strip of the first and second force-dissipaters includes a series of polygonal structures coupled to one another to establish a crush strip and each polygonal structure is formed to have walls that are arranged to lie generally in perpendicular relation to the exterior surface of one of the first side-wing panel and the second side-wing panel, and 
 wherein a ride-down pad included in each force dissipater includes a front surface and a back surface and the front surface is arranged to be impacted by an external object during application of the impact force, and 
 wherein the back surface of the ride-down pad is coupled to a pad foundation. 
 
     
     
       14. The child restraint of  claim 1 , A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel coupled to an upper portion of the backrest, a first side-wing panel coupled to a first side of the rear panel and arranged to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to an opposite second side of the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side-wing panels, 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the first side-wing panel and a second force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the second-side wing panel, 
 wherein the first and second force-dissipaters are each in the form of an array of crush strips and each crush strip of the first and second force-dissipaters includes a series of polygonal structures coupled to one another to establish a crush strip and each polygonal structure is formed to have walls that are arranged to lie generally in perpendicular relation to the exterior surface of one of the first side-wing panel and the second side-wing panel, and 
 wherein the backrest includes a third side-wing panel located below and adjacent to the first side-wing panel, a fourth side-wing panel located below and adjacent to the second side-wing panel, and a center panel arranged to interconnect the third and fourth side-wing panels and lie between the seat bottom and the rear panel of the headrest, and the energy-dissipation system is also coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the third and fourth side-wing panels. 
 
     
     
       15. The child restraint of  claim 14 , wherein the energy-dissipation system is also coupled to at least a portion of the interior surface of the third and fourth side-wing panels. 
     
     
       16. The child restraint of  claim 1 , A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel coupled to an upper portion of the backrest, a first side-wing panel coupled to a first side of the rear panel and arranged to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to an opposite second side of the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side-wing panels, 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the first side-wing panel and a second force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the second-side wing panel, 
 wherein the first and second force-dissipaters are each in the form of an array of crush strips and each crush strip of the first and second force-dissipaters includes a series of polygonal structures coupled to one another to establish a crush strip and each polygonal structure is formed to have walls that are arranged to lie generally in perpendicular relation to the exterior surface of one of the first side-wing panel and the second side-wing panel, and 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system is also coupled to at least a portion of the interior surface of the first and second side-wing panels. 
 
     
     
       17. A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel coupled to an upper portion of the backrest, a first side-wing panel coupled to a first side of the rear panel and arranged to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to an opposite second side of the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side-wing panels, 
 wherein the backrest includes a third side-wing panel located below and adjacent to the first side-wing panel, a fourth side-wing panel located below and adjacent to the second side-wing panel, and a center panel arranged to interconnect the third and fourth side-wing panels and lie between the seat bottom and the rear panel of the headrest, and the energy-dissipation system is also coupled to at least apart a part of the exterior surface of the third and fourth side-wing panels, 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater coupled to exterior surfaces of the first and third side-wing panels and configured to include a first ride-down pad including at least one crush strip including a series of polygonal structures arranged to extend laterally across companion exterior surface, and a first pad foundation mounted on exterior surfaces and coupled to the first ride-down pad of the first and third side-wing panels and a second force dissipater coupled to exterior surfaces of the second and fourth side-wing panels and configured to include a second ride-down pad including at least one crush strip comprising a series of polygonal structures arranged to extend laterally across companion exterior structures and a second pad foundation mounted on exterior surfaces of the second and fourth side-wing panels and coupled to the second ride-down pad, and 
 each polygonal structure is formed to have walls that are arranged to lie generally in perpendicular relation to the exterior surface of an adjacent companion side-wing panel one of the first side-wing panel, the second side-wing panel, the third side-wing panel, or the fourth side-wing panel. 
 
     
     
       18. The child restraint of  claim 17 , wherein the third side-wing panel includes a first armrest and the fourth side-wing panel includes a second armrest. 
     
     
       19. A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel coupled to an upper portion of the backrest, a first side-wing panel coupled to a first side of the rear panel and arranged to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to an opposite second side of the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side-wing panels, and 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater having a hollow shell coupled to an exterior surface of the first side-wing panel to form a hollow interior region therebetween and a crush strip cantilevered to an inner surface arranged to face toward the first side-wing panel and arranged to extend inwardly toward the first side-wing panel. 
 
     
     
       20. The child restraint of  claim 19 , wherein the crush strip includes several inwardly projecting polygon-shaped sleeves cantilevered to the inner surface of the hollow shell and arranged to extend toward the seat back of the juvenile vehicle seat. 
     
     
       21. The child restraint of  claim 20 , wherein the hollow shell and the polygon-shaped sleeves cooperate to form a monolithic element made of a plastics material. 
     
     
       22. The child restrain of  claim 20 , wherein there are three polygon-shaped sleeves that cooperate to form a triangle-shaped array of polygon-shaped sleeves. 
     
     
       23. The child restraint of  claim 1 , A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel coupled to an upper portion of the backrest, a first side-wing panel coupled to a first side of the rear panel and arranged to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to an opposite second side of the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side-wing panels, 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the first side-wing panel and a second force dissipater coupled to an exterior surface of the second-side wing panel, 
 wherein the first and second force-dissipaters are each in the form of an array of crush strips and each crush strip of the first and second force-dissipaters includes a series of polygonal structures coupled to one another to establish a crush strip and each polygonal structure is formed to have walls that are arranged to lie generally in perpendicular relation to the exterior surface of one of the first side-wing panel and the second side-wing panel, and  
 wherein the backrest includes a third side-wing panel located below and adjacent to the first side-wing panel, a fourth side-wing panel located below and adjacent to the second side-wing panel, and a center panel arranged to interconnect the third and fourth side-wing panels and lie between the seat bottom and the rear panel of the headrest, and the energy-dissipation system is also coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the third and fourth side-wing panels and wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater having a hollow shell coupled to an exterior surface of the third side-wing panel to form a hollow interior region therebetween and a crush strip cantilevered to an inner surface arranged to face toward the third side-wing panel and arranged to extend inwardly toward the third side-wing panel. 
 
     
     
       24. A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel coupled to an upper portion of the backrest, a first side-wing panel coupled to a first side of the rear panel and arranged to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to an opposite second side of the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side-wing panels, 
 wherein the backrest includes a third side-wing panel located below and adjacent to the first side-wing panel, a fourth side-wing panel located below and adjacent to the second side-wing panel, and a center panel arranged to interconnect the third and fourth side-wing panels and lie between the seat bottom and the rear panel of the headrest, and the energy-dissipation system is also coupled to at least a part of the exterior surface of the third and fourth side-wing panels and wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a first force dissipater having a hollow shell coupled to an exterior surface of the third side-wing panel to form a hollow interior region therebetween and a crush strip cantilevered to an inner surface arranged to face toward the third side-wing panel and arranged to extend inwardly toward the third side-wing panel, and 
 wherein the crush strip includes several inwardly projecting polygon-shaped sleeves cantilevered to the inner surface of the hollow shell and arranged to extend toward the seat bottom of the juvenile vehicle seat. 
 
     
     
       25. The child restraint of  claim 24 , wherein the hollow shell and the polygon-shaped sleeves cooperate to form a monolithic element made of a plastics material. 
     
     
       26. The child restraint of  claim 24 , wherein there are three polygon-shaped sleeves that cooperate to form a triangle-shaped array of polygon-shaped sleeves. 
     
     
       27. A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel, a first side-wing panel coupled to the rear panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, 
 wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface, and 
 wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second side-wing panels with the energy-dissipation system including a series of polygonal structures and each polygonal structure is formed to have walls that are arranged to lie generally in perpendicular relation to the exterior surface of an adjacent companion side-wing panel the first side-wing panel or the second side-wing panel, 
 wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a plurality of force dissipaters each coupled to a respective interior or exterior surface of the juvenile vehicle seat, 
 wherein the plurality of force-dissipaters are each in the form of an array of crush strips and each crush strip of the force-dissipaters includes a series of polygonal structures coupled to one another to establish a crush strip, 
 wherein a crush strip includes a series of crush cells coupled to one another, and 
 wherein the plurality of force dissipaters are made from a crushable polymeric foam. 
 
     
     
       28. The child restraint according to  claim 27 , wherein the energy-dissipation system includes a plurality of force dissipaters each coupled to a respective interior or exterior surface of the juvenile vehicle seat. 
     
     
       29. The child restraint of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of force-dissipaters are each in the form of an array of crush strips and each crush strip of the force-dissipaters includes a series of polygonal structures coupled to one another to establish a crush strip. 
     
     
       30. The child restraint of claim  29  27, wherein each force dissipater includes a plurality of crush strips and adjacent crush strips are coupled to one another to establish an array of crush strips. 
     
     
       31. The child restraint of  claim 29 , wherein a crush strip includes a series of crush cells coupled to one another. 
     
     
       32. The child restraint of claim  31  27, wherein each crush cell in a crush strip has a polygonal shape. 
     
     
       33. The child restraint of  claim 32 , wherein each crush cell has a hexagon shape. 
     
     
       34. The child restraint of claim  31  27, wherein each crush cell is formed to include a crush aperture opening into a crush space formed in the crush cell. 
     
     
       35. The child restraint of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of force dissipaters are made from a crushable polymeric foam. 
     
     
       36. The child restraint of claim  31  27, wherein each crush cell in a crush strip includes a plurality of walls coupled to one another to establish a crush-cell perimeter. 
     
     
       37. The child restraint of claim  31  27, wherein each crush cell in a crush strip includes a wall to establish a crush-cell perimeter. 
     
     
       38. The child restraint of claim  31  27, wherein each crush cell is formed to include a crush aperture opening into a crush space formed in the crush cell. 
     
     
       39. The child restraint of claim  28  27, wherein each force dissipater includes a front surface and a back surface and the front surface is arranged to be impacted by an object during application of the impact force. 
     
     
       40. The child restraint of  claim 39 , wherein the front surface is defined by an array of crush strips. 
     
     
       41. A child restraint comprising
 a juvenile vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back including a backrest arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom, a headrest including a rear panel, a first side-wing panel coupled to the rear panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom, and a second side-wing panel coupled to the rear panel and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first side-wing panel to extend forwardly away from the rear panel and to lie above the seat bottom,   wherein each of the rear, first side-wing, and second side-wing panels and the backrest have an interior surface defining an occupant-receiving space and an oppositely facing exterior surface,   wherein an energy-dissipation system is coupled to at least a part of the seat back with the energy-dissipation system including a series of polygonal structures and each polygonal structure is formed to have walls that are arranged to lie generally in perpendicular relation to the exterior surface of the first side-wing panel or the second side-wing panel, and   wherein the backrest includes a third side-wing panel located adjacent to a first side of the seat bottom and the series of polygonal structures is coupled to a surface of the third side-wing panel.   
     
     
       42. The child restraint of claim 41, wherein a lower portion of the third side-wing panel is coupled to the first side of the seat bottom. 
     
     
       43. The child restraint of claim 42, wherein a portion of the third side-wing panel is formed to include a first armrest. 
     
     
       44. The child restraint of claim 41, wherein the series of polygonal structures is included in a force dissipater and the force dissipater has a leading edge that is shaped to match the contours of the juvenile vehicle seat. 
     
     
       45. The child restraint of claim 41, wherein the backrest includes a fourth side-wing panel located adjacent to a second side of the seat bottom and the series of polygonal structures is coupled to a surface of the fourth side-wing panel. 
     
     
       46. The child restraint of claim 45, wherein the series of polygonal structures coupled to the fourth side-wing panel are included in a force dissipater and the force dissipater is coupled to an interior surface of the fourth side-wing panel, the interior surface of the fourth side-wing panel arranged generally to face the third side-wing panel. 
     
     
       47. The child restraint of claim 45, wherein a lower portion of the third side-wing panel is coupled to the first side of the seat bottom and a lower portion of the fourth side-wing panel is coupled to the second side of the seat bottom. 
     
     
       48. The child restraint of claim 45, wherein a portion of the third side-wing panel is formed to include a first armrest and a portion of the fourth side-wing panel is formed to include a second armrest. 
     
     
       49. The child restraint of claim 45, wherein the series of polygonal structures coupled to the third side-wing panel is included in a first force dissipater, the series of polygonal structures coupled to the third side-wing panel is included in a second force dissipater, and the both the first force dissipater and the second force dissipater have a leading edge that is shaped to match the contours of the juvenile vehicle seat.