Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a container, in particular a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) container to an aircraft consists of four tiedown adapters. The tiedown adapters are attached one each to a corner of the COTS container, typically at about the vertical midpoint of the edge. The tiedown adapters each comprises a base and a swivel. The base abuts the COTS container and has an integral cable fairlead. A cable is threaded through the fairleads so it wraps horizontally around the COTS container. The ends of the cable are then attached to each other using a turnbuckle, which is adjusted to put a predetermined tension in the cable. A shackle is attached to the swivel of each of the tiedown adapters and attached to an Adjustable Strap Assembly (ASA) or similar tiedown, which is attached to one of the load rings in the aircraft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a passenger during a crash comprises a moveable seat with an energy absorber (EA) that allows the seat to stroke a finite distance to decelerate the passenger in a controlled manner. The seat is designed so that one of a plurality of fixed profile EA's can be selectively engaged to provide a tailored EA composite profile adapted to the occupant's weight and anticipated crash environment. The tailored EA composite profile applies a frequency matched, low onset force to the seat, which substantially eliminates problems associated with dynamic overshoot of the passenger's spine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a passenger during a crash comprises a moveable seat with an energy absorber (EA) that allows the seat to stroke a finite distance to decelerate the passenger in a controlled manner. The seat is designed so that one of a plurality of fixed profile EA's can be selectively engaged to provide a tailored EA composite profile adapted to the occupant's weight and anticipated crash environment. The tailored EA composite profile applies a frequency matched, low onset force to the seat, which substantially eliminates problems associated with dynamic overshoot of the passenger's spine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a passenger during a crash comprises a moveable seat with an energy absorber (EA) that allows the seat to stroke a finite distance to decelerate the passenger in a controlled manner. The seat is designed so that one of a plurality of fixed profile EA's can be selectively engaged to provide a tailored EA composite profile adapted to the occupant's weight and anticipated crash environment. The tailored EA composite profile applies a frequency matched, low onset force to the seat, which substantially eliminates problems associated with dynamic overshoot of the passenger's spine.

Abstract: An inversion tube energy absorber, that absorbs energy by inverting a tube, is made to be capable of infinitely variable loading within a prescribed range by addition of a constricting device surrounding the inverted tube where it emerges from its housing. In this device, spherical balls in contact with the tube can be forced inwardly in radial directions by incline surfaces inside a rotatable ring surrounding the balls. This ring can be rotated as desired by turning a dial that is connected to the ring by a flexible shaft via gear systems.The invention also includes the method for making a variable-load energy absorber by addition of a device that creates additional force through plastic deformation in a selective manner in the basic device.