How big is my idea for a car safety feature?

I have an idea for a safety feature designed for rear-end collisions. The idea: Driver's seat, passenger seat, rear seats, are each mounted on 2 "gliding poles" measuring 7-in with 2 strong springs in them. The poles are locked in place with an electronic latch that stops the seats from gliding back and forth during acceleration and braking. The electronic latches are connected to the car's computer box, with collision sensors on the rear bumper. For example of how it should work: You are first to stop at a red light. The car behind you doesn't slow or stopped because the driver behind was texting on the phone. You get rear-ended at 30 mph. As soon as the behind car touches your bumper, the rear bumper sensor triggers the computer to unlatch all glideable seats in milliseconds. Now the seat is able to glide, it does glide back, and the springs help cushion the sudden blow of the rear end impact.

Answers

Goldfly252000

So you are going to shove me in to the steering wheel as the driver? Sounds like a pretty bad idea. Unless I misunderstand and you want me to go in to where the force of impact is COMING FROM. Also if the seat glides forward are you considering the airbags? Honestly it sounds terrible. That is why they put crumple zones in to cars to absorb impact. There is only so much you can do when it comes to the person/seats.

Mark big sky boat man

This has already occurred to people. It was found that rather than springs, a metal box that would crumple up under the force worked better and removed the need for a damper. As for the internally moving seating, since the car is already on wheels, it was considered unnecessary, particularly if you build the crumple zones into the front and back bodywork of the car. This also allows you to use the inertia of the car to moderate the g load.

Erik

If the force of the impact was strong enough, it wouldn't matter if there were springs, or if the seat could move in some way. Seat belts and airbags work much better than your idea.

Jason

What about crushing the rear passenger's legs or cutting off toes in the track of the glides? I suppose cushioning in the right places and shields work fix that. Play with it. Cause a malfunction and see what happens. Could work good as a dampener and save necks.

AlCapone

Too late. I thought of this idea and patented it about an hour ago. Just kidding. Sounds like a good idea but your challenge is to protect it (it's probably already been patented) and have car companies accept it (they've probably already thought of it and rejected it). They could probably give you some good reasons why they never implemented it.

don r

I will put your rear seat passengers on the prayer list.

STEPHEN

" the seat is able to glide, it does glide back,".... and kills the person in the seat behind you. Great idea. *rolls eyes*

Otis

Basically that's what happens when a plane crashes. The "bolts" that hold the seats in place, (there are sort of on rails so they can easily adjust leg room for different classes or airlines.), fail on impact and the seat all slide forward. Your legs get badly damaged but you probably get killed by the impact anyway.

StephenWeinstein

Not very. Being rear-ended at 30 mph usually won't kill you. You might get whiplash or something. This feature would cost more than car buyers would want to pay for it. Car safety features are usually successful only if they also improve convenience (backup cameras) or if the government mandates them because they will save many lives (seat belts, air bags). You idea isn't bad, but it's not cheap enough to get many customers to want to pay for it, and it's not enough of a lifesaver for the government to make them.

Edna

Your idea wouldn't do much good, if I'm understanding it correctly. The injuries that an automobile occupant might receive in an accident aren't caused by his seat moving forward or backward. His injuries are the result of his body continuing to move forward at the moment of impact; not by his seat moving.The seat he's sitting in usually doesn't move. For example: If you're driving down the road at 50 mph and you're hit in the rear, your body will continue moving forward at 50 mph (if you're not wearing a seat belt). It will bounce around inside the car like a rubber ball; and it will slam into the steering wheel, or into the dashboard, or into the back of the seat in front of you, or into other passengers in the car. While all that's going on, the seat you were sitting in will remain stationary.

zipper

You should of applied for a patine before posting this; NOW ANY ONE CAN STEAL YOUR IDEA AND NOT PAY YOU FOR IT!

MATTYG

Self driving cars

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