Fairchild Industries, Inc.

Adrianus A Cooper

Ralph G Marrujo

An energy attenuating seat and a leg therefor for use in a vehicle. The leg for the seat is configured to allow it to be initially elastically deformed when subjected to a predetermined load. This elastic deformation is achieved by constructing the leg with two spaced apart flange portions. Spacers are located on one of the flange portions which are adapted to contact the other flange portion after a certain amount of elastic deformation has taken place. When the spacers are in contact the leg is capable of withstanding an increased load. However, further loading eventually results in the plastic deformation of the leg. Since the deformable legs are located on the forward portion of the seat, the seat pivots forwardly and downwardly when subjected to excessive loads which lowers the center of gravity of the seat. The elastic and plastic deformation of the leg absorbs energy and helps the seat and its occupants withstand peak loads or shocks resulting from excessive forward loads such as would occur during a vehicle crash. The lowering of the center of gravity also tends to prevent the seat from becoming detached from the vehicle when the seat is subjected to excessive forward loads.

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Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Adrianus A Cooper