Interpretation ID: nht88-2.27

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 05/17/88

FROM: GERALD PETERSON -- TARACO ENTERPRISES INC

TO: ERIKA JONES -- N.H.T.S.A.

TITLE: NONE

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 09/02/88 FROM ERIKA Z JONES TO GERALD PETERSON; REDBOOK A32, STANDARD 202; LETTER DATED 08/28/87 FROM CARL C CLARK TO JERRY PETERSON; LETTER DATED 09/29/86 FROM DALE T FANZO TO DIANE STEED

TEXT: Dear Ms. Jones:

My name is Gerald Peterson and I would like to introduce you to a new safety product that our company produces called the Truck Hed-rest. This product is designed to help protect the head of the driver and passenger of a truck in an accident when their head is snapped back against the rear window of a vehicle. A brochure, a description of the product and safety information is enclosed.

I am very concerned about the safety of trucks and would like you to send me any information on petitions filed, concerning the safety problems on trucks.

I have done extensive testing on our product and feel it to be a terrific and inexpensive product.

I look forward to hearing from you in the very near future. If you have any questions please call me anytime.

ENCLOSURES

THE ORIGINAL

TRUK -- HEDREST

* Tested and fits into NHTSA guidelines, for rear end collisions up to 50 MPH D.O.T. to help protect against possible neck and head injuries.

* Inexpensive.

* Mounts to truck rear window or van bulkhead.

* Hi-lo temperate velcro mounting material.

* Attractive and easy to install, removes easily with the Velcro(tm).

* Use with sliding rear window.

* Washable and adjustable.

* Use as seat cushion.

* Use as a cushion when canoeing.

* Kneeling pad.

* Five colors: Burgundy, Tan, Black, Blue and Brown.

* Passes MVSS-302 Test for fire and toxic fumes.

* Customized company logo can be imprinted on the Hedrest.

DON'T BE CAUGHT WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF TRUK-HEDREST IN YOUR TRUCK OR VAN

Taraco Enterprises, Inc. would like to introduce you to a new safety product that our company produces called the Truk-Hedrest. This product is designed to help protect the head of the driver and passenger of a truck or van in an accident when their hea d is snapped back against the rear window or bulkhead of a vehicle. It gives the person added protection that could prevent injuries to your employees and could save your company medical and injury-related expenses. This is the first after-market head p rotection devise of its kind on the market today.

The Truk-Hedrest is easily attached to the back window of a vehicle with Velcro(tm) and therefore can be taken off at any time. A brochure describing the Truk-Hedrest is enclosed along with a general description of the product, some of its features, the safety testing done and a current price sheet. Please read through all the materials to get a good understanding of what the Truk-Hedrest is and how it can protect your employees or yourself.

If your company would like to know more about the Truk-Hedrest and the added protection it can give your employees, please give me a call at (612) 228-3417. I will be glad to provide you with a sample of our product along with other literature on it. A video tape which shows the extent of injuries that can occur to the driver or passenger of a vehicle if their head hits against the back window or van bulkhead is also available.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Jerry Peterson President

SAFETY TESTING

The Hedrest was tested extensively under the following conditions to determine to a certain extent the safety it provided to a person's head in a vehicle that was rear ended. These tests were performed by TEI with Gerry Peterson using NHTSA guideline s.

A bowling ball weighing approximately 10 pounds (which is the approximate weight of a human head as per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration guidelines) was dropped onto the rear window of a truck. The distance the ball was dropped vari ed to simulate the velocity a head would hit the rear window. The test was designed to see at which levels the head was most likely to break the rear window tempered glass. Without the Hedrest on the glass, the bowling ball broke the glass at a height o f 7.5 feet or a contact velocity of 15 mph. With the Hedrest on the rear window glass, the bowling ball was dropped from a height of 25 feet or 54 mph contact velocity and the rear window did not break, indicating that the chance of head injuries should decrease or not be as extensive. The reason the window did not break was because the Hedrest displaced the force of the blow throughout the entire perimeters of the Hedrest and tempered the blow. The test showed the added protection the Hedrest can giv e to the driver or passenger of a vehicle.

Another interesting fact about how dangerously exposed the head is, is the high impact that can occur when the head hits the glass at just 35 MPH. The force of impact or contact velocity of a head hitting the rear window at 35 MPH without any protect ion would equal approximately 100 G's at the point of impact and extensive injuries could and probably will result.

Illbruk Manufacturing Co. who helped develop the Hedrest also tested the Hedrest for fire hazard and toxic fumes. The Hedrest passed the MVSS-302 test in both of these areas. Also, different materials were tested to determine which would produce the be st and safest Hedrest.

TRUK-HEDREST

Specifications

The Truk-Hedrest is made of a soft yet firm foam material covered by a micro-thin layer of a special plastic. The plastic coating protects the Hedrest, allows it to be washed, and gives it a long life. The Hedrest measures 14 inches horizontally and 8 inches vertically so that if the vehicle is hit at an angle there still should be enough room to protect a person's head.

The Hedrest is attached to the back of the window of a vehicle by three pieces of Velcro(tm) that are placed in three strategic places so that the Hedrest will not interfere with the opening of a split window on the back of a truck. One-half of the Velcr o(tm) is attached to the back of the Hedrest and one is attached to the glass on the rear window. This allows the Velcro(tm) to be separated and the Hedrest removed if desired. The adhesive on the Velcro(tm) pieces is made to withstand drastic temperat ure changes and will not fall off.

The Truk-Hedrest also passes the MVSS-302 test for fire and toxic fumes. It has also been tested under NHTSA guidelines for collisions up to 50 mph.

The Hedrest does not claim to prevent all injuries to the head of a driver or passenger in a collision but rather it is designed to help protect the head by helping to reduce the extent of injuries that can occur when an accident occurs.