Evaluation of Effects of FMVSS 213 Seat Back's Flexibility on Booster SeatResponses

摘要

A study was conducted to determine what the effects are on the dummy's responseswhen seat back/dummy contact occurs during FMVSS 213 compliance tests with small shield booster seats. Of the seven compliance tests reviewed, seat back/dummy contact was present in four of the tests. Those four seats were selected to be used in HYGE sled testing with the seat back rigidly fixed, preventing any forward rotation of the seat back. Ejection of the 3 year old dummy did not occur with any of the booster seats tested with the rigidly fixed FMVSS 213 seat back. Head excursions with the rigidly fixed seat back were very similar to those observed when seat back/dummy contact was present. None of the head excursions exceeded the 32 in. limit of FMVSS 213. The knee excursions ranged from 2.3 in. to 5.0 in. larger for the rigidly fixed seat back tests than those for the flexible seat back tests. None of the knee excursions exceeded the criterion limit of 36 in. All four booster seats passed the FMVSS 213 criterion of 60 G's for the resultant chest acceleration.