| 摘要 |
Apparatus for preventing or limiting spinal injuries to a passenger (28) seated in a forward facing position in a moving vehicle during vehicular impact or sudden deceleration. The apparatus includes a vehicle-installed supporting seat (72) for the passenger (28), the seat having a support portion (46, 48) behind the seated passenger (28) which includes a resilient surface (73) in contact with the supported passenger (28). The resilient portion (73) is supported on an underlying stiff support shell (22). The support shell (22) is rearwardly displaceable upon being subjected to impressed forces generated from the passenger (28) pressing against the resilient surface (73) of the support portion (46, 48) as a result of a rear end impact at the vehicle. A controllably deformable energy absorbing crush zone (40) is disposed to the rear of the shell as to be compressed by rearward displacement of the shell (22), whereby the support portion (46, 48) acts to decelerate the supported spine of the passenger (28) during a vehicle rear end impact, while the controlled deformation of the crush zone (40) absorbs energy, to prevent or limit spinal injuries to the passenger (28). |
