Simula Announces inflatable Seatbelt System
28 January 1999
New Inflatable Seatbelt System Will Improve Occupant Protection In Cars & Trucks
|
Manufacturers of automobiles, SUVs, light and heavy trucks and members of the auto safety community are showing a keen interest in the inflatable seatbelt system, which Simula has named the "ITTR", short for Inflatable Tubular Torso Restraint. The ITTR resembles a conventional, "three-point" seat belt, which combines a lap and shoulder belt. During a crash, a flat tube inside the shoulder portion of the seatbelt inflates to become sausage-shaped. Once inflated, it holds passengers snugly in their seats, protecting them from head, neck and torso injuries.
The inflated section of the ITTR absorbs and spreads the shock of a sudden impact, and prevents occupants from flailing around in the vehicle or from being ejected from it. Importantly, the ITTR's patented design enables it to shorten in length as it inflates in diameter. This capability allows the system to effectively "pretension" occupants' seatbelts during a crash. What's more, the system is designed to remain inflated much longer than conventional airbags, offering protection in the event of secondary impacts or rollovers.
The ITTR inflates in an outward direction away from the occupant's body; therefore it is less aggressive than conventional airbags. As a result, the system offers enhanced protection for the entire range of occupants, including those who are out-of-position, and those of different stature, such as children, small adults and the elderly.
The system has both front and rear occupant applications. If seated in the rear, passengers will for the first time receive an enhanced level of occupant protection; front-seat passengers will also receive boosted protection for head, neck and torso injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has already conducted a successful, preliminary evaluation of the ITTR in rollover tests. The NHTSA is planning a series of upcoming frontal crash tests of the system to gauge its effectiveness in a variety of vehicle makes and models. In the meantime, auto and truck manufacturers continue to examine the details of incorporating the ITTR in their vehicles.
The US military is also interested in the technology. The US Army's Tank- Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) has contracted with Simula to improve the safety of its heavy trucks by implementing many Simula safety options, the ITTR among them. In fact, the military suffers more casualties from vehicular accidents than from combat injuries. Each year, many military personnel are killed or injured while driving in medium- and heavy-duty Army tactical vehicles. Many of the most serious injuries occur during vehicle rollovers.
Based in Phoenix, Simula is an acknowledged world leader in transportation safety. Its Inflatable Tubular Structure (ITS(R)) head-protection system, which uses technology closely related to the ITTR, is now standard equipment on all BMW automobile sedans; its energy-absorbing crashworthy helicopter seats are standard equipment on numerous military helicopters. Other Simula products include ballistic armor; high-technology energy-absorbing aircraft seating systems; lightweight and efficient advanced composite structures; andcommercial airline seating systems. Additional information about Simula can be found at its Web site, http://www.simula.com.
Operating results are affected by a wide variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Factors include, but are not limited to, the levels of orders which are received and can be shipped in a quarter; whether or when order options are exercised; customer order patterns and seasonality; shifting production and delivery schedules; manufacturing capacity and yield; costs of labor, raw materials, supplies and equipment; reliability of vendor base; amount of resources committed to research and development from time to time; technological changes; competition and competitive pressures on pricing; and economic conditions in the United States and worldwide. Additionally, factors and risks affecting operating results include those described in the Company's registration statements and periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
