Abstract: A passenger seat is described which reduces neck deflection in a 16G loading event. The passenger seat includes one or more seatback surfaces which translate to shield a surface, such as a latch mechanism, during the crash event. By shielding the latch mechanism, a smooth surface is created, thereby reducing a likelihood of a passenger's head becoming trapped on the latch mechanism. The seatback surfaces actuated include one or more of a shroud surrounding the latch mechanism, a pocket defined by the shroud, or a hinged surface.

Abstract: A passenger seat is described which satisfies a head-injury criterion (HIC). To satisfy the HIC, the passenger seat translates or pivots one or more components of the seatback towards a passenger sitting behind the passenger seat. By translating and/or pivoting the components of the seatback towards the passenger, a crush zone for the passenger seat may be increased, thereby increasing the impact time and correspondingly decreasing the forces felt by the passenger.

Abstract: A passenger seat is described which reduces neck deflection in a 16 G loading event. The passenger seat includes one or more seatback surfaces which translate to shield a surface, such as a latch mechanism, during the crash event. By shielding the latch mechanism, a smooth surface is created, thereby reducing a likelihood of a passenger's head becoming trapped on the latch mechanism. The seatback surfaces actuated include one or more of a shroud surrounding the latch mechanism, a pocket defined by the shroud, or a hinged surface.

Abstract: A passenger seat is described which satisfies a head-injury criterion (HIC). To satisfy the HIC, the passenger seat translates or pivots one or more components of the seatback towards a passenger sitting behind the passenger seat. By translating and/or pivoting the components of the seatback towards the passenger, a crush zone for the passenger seat may be increased, thereby increasing the impact time and correspondingly decreasing the forces felt by the passenger.

Abstract: A device for controlling the breakover rate of a seatback in response to a dynamic event (regulating the breakover velocity so as to achieve optimal velocity differential to the impact velocity of a passenger's head impacting with the seatback) is attachable to the seatback and to the seat frame; when a breakover event is triggered, the passage of a head injury criterion (HIC) pin through a controlled traveling slot is impeded by energy absorbing materials selected, e.g. for material composition and structure, to restrict the breakover velocity of the seatback to optimize velocity differential between the breakover velocity and the impact velocity by engaging the HIC pin and deforming at a predetermined deformation rate.

Abstract: A device for controlling the breakover rate of a seatback in response to a dynamic event (regulating the breakover velocity so as to achieve optimal velocity differential to the impact velocity of a passenger's head impacting with the seatback) is attachable to the seatback and to the seat frame; when a breakover event is triggered, the passage of a head injury criterion (HIC) pin through a controlled traveling slot is impeded by energy absorbing materials selected, e.g. for material composition and structure, to restrict the breakover velocity of the seatback to optimize velocity differential between the breakover velocity and the impact velocity by engaging the HIC pin and deforming at a predetermined deformation rate.