Chairs and seats – Crash seat
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2002-09-17
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Reexamination Certificate
active
06450573
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat device, and in particular to a vehicle seat device equipped with an anti-submarine vehicle seat device for preventing a vehicle occupant from slipping forward under the seat belt in case of an impact situation such as a vehicle crash.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known that the so-called submarine phenomenon may occur in an impact situation such as a vehicle crash by the vehicle occupant slipping forward under the seat belt and the waist belt failing to restrain the pelvis of the vehicle occupant. This is prone to occur when the vehicle occupant sits in the front end of the seat or when the back rest is tilted rearward, and reduces the effectiveness of the seat belt in restraining the vehicle occupant or prevents the desired parts of the vehicle occupant to be restrained.
Therefore, it is conceivable to raise the front end of the seat by providing a projection in a front end of the seat frame, or by installing a panel in a front end of the seat frame. However, a desired effect in preventing submarine may not be achieved if the projection or the panel is too low, and the comfort of the vehicle occupant may be impaired if it is too low.
Accordingly, it has been previously proposed to raise the front end of the seat only in case of an impact. Such proposals include those using an air bag (Japanese Patent laid-open (kokai) publications No. 5-229378, No. 7-81466, and No. 3-227745), those which mechanically raise the front end of the seat (Japanese UM laid-open (kokai) publications No. 2-149328, No. 3-121947, and No. 4-93222), and those using a pyrotechnic actuator to mechanically raise the front end of the seat (Japanese UM laid-open (kokai) publication No. 3-61446).
However, because such anti-submarine devices involve generation of a large force, the structure of the device is required to have a high mechanical strength, and this prevents a compact and light-weight design of the seat.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of such problems of the prior art, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an anti-submarine device which allows a compact and light-weight design of the seat while ensuring a sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the reaction of the actuator of the anti-submarine seat device at the time of actuation.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a low profile anti-submarine seat device which would not impair the sitting comfort and support capability of the seat.
A third object of the present invention is to provide an anti-submarine seat device which is economical and easy to manufacture.
According to the present invention, such objects can be accomplished by providing a vehicle seat device for raising a front part of a seat member to prevent a vehicle occupant from slipping forward under a seat belt in an impact situation such as a vehicle crash, comprising: a fixed casing; a vehicle occupant restraint member supported by the casing so as to be moveable between a rest position and a deployed position; and a power actuator supported by the casing for selectively driving the restraint member toward the deployed position; the fixed casing and/or the restraint member forming at least a part of a structural member of a seat frame.
Thus, the casing and/or the restraint member serve the dual purposes as structural members, and the overall amount of the material for the structural members can be reduced. This results in the reduction in the size and weight of the overall seat arrangement. Typically, the casing forms a side member of the seat frame, and has a front end which pivotally supports the restraint member, the seat frame having a rectangular configuration defined by the side member, a rear cross member, another side member opposing the side member, and the restraint member extending across front ends of the side members. The restraint member preferably consists of a pipe member or any other stamped sheet metal member for a required mechanical strength at a minimum cost.
If an additional reinforcement is required, the seat frame may additionally include a front cross member connecting front ends of the side members and extending in parallel with the restraint member.
Preferably, the seat member may be provided with a notch to facilitate deformation thereof when the restraint member is actuated. If desired, the seat member may be separated into a plurality of parts, and the device may be adapted to raise only one or two of such parts. Thereby, a favorable deformation of the seat member may be achieved, and the power requirement of the power actuator may be reduced.
To increase the support surface area of the restraint member, the restraint member may additionally comprise a plate member attached to a rod member at least over a part of length of the rod member, or a wire member attached to the rod member. If desired, the restraint member may be provided with an energy absorbing property through elastic or plastic deformations.
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Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 05229378 http://www.2.ipdl.jpo-miti.go.jp/dbpweb/connecter/guest/DBPquery/ENGDB/wdispaj.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 07081466 http://www.2.ipdl.jpo-miti.go.jp/dbpweb/connecter/guest/DBPquery/ENGDB/wdispaj.
Combined Search and Examination Report under Sections 17 and 18(3) dated June 27, 2000 for Great Britain Application Serial No:GB0005953.5 (5 pages).
Shono Hajime
Yamaguchi Hiroyoshi
Jr. Milton Nelson
NHK Spring Co. Ltd.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
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