Application Spotlight: Sensor-triggered automotive headrest

Product description: The Securest 2000 is a newly developed crash-activated car headrest that, in the event of a rear collision, is sensor-triggered to reduce the distance between headrest and head by about 5 cm in less than 50 msec.

Molded parts: Headrest support and lever mechanism—the safety-relevant components

OEM: The headrest is used in several models of an unspecified German-American carmakerDesigner/Molder: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG, Kaiserslautern, Germany

Material: Factor LGF 40 S11 40% long-glass-fiber PA6—FACT Future Advanced Composites & Technology GmbH, marketed by Resin Express GmbH

Material advantages: This material won out on a combination of the following properties: creep strength, so parts withstand high spring tension (near 300N) for long periods; impact strength with no breaking or splintering in pendulum tests; low weight-to-strength ratio; high rigidity; high functional integration; and compliance with all relevant car interior requirements for emission, FR, nonsplintering, and mechanical performance.

Design details: The headrest combines increased crash protection with extreme comfort and freedom of head movement during normal driving. A spring-loaded kinematic system consisting of headrest support, lever mechanism, pretensioned two-legged spring, and movable front piece is mounted on metal rods. Keiper’s original concept was plastics-oriented so it collaborated with FACT in designing components. The support and lever mechanism are loaded by the spring.

More info: www.fact-kunststoffe.de