Roll bar for convertible motor vehicles

Details Roll bar for convertible motor vehicles Roll bar for convertible motor vehicles

1993-04-13

1995-10-17

Dorner, Kenneth J.

Chairs and seats

Crash seat

Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area

29721613, B60N 242

Patent

active

054583969

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD

The invention relates in general to an improved roll bar for use in convertible motor vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a seat having an extendable roll bar which forms part of the headrest of the seat during a rest position and can be moved automatically by an independent triggering device to an extended, work position. The triggering device is able to detect a dangerously unstable condition of the convertible motor vehicle, such as a violent roll or slow tipping of the vehicle.


BACKGROUND

Convertible motor vehicles require the use of roll bars to protect the occupants of the car should the car roll over. Traditional roll bars used in convertibles were typically unsightly and obtrusive tubular frameworks that were attached to the chassis of the vehicle in a manner which used valuable interior space of the passenger compartment and otherwise detracted from the aesthetic qualities associated with the "open air" aspect of the convertible. Therefore, it became desirable to have pop up-type roll bar members which remain hidden and out of the way during a rest position and pivot to the desired overhead work position when required.
A convertible motor vehicle which has a roll bar which can be moved independently from a control device from its rest position into its operating position is known for example, from German patent specification (DE-PS 37 32 562). The roll bar of this patent document has a rest position whereby the roll bar lies flat in the region of the hat shelf behind the backseat. In operation, the roll bar pivots about an axis from this rest position into its operating position. The convertible includes known means for detecting a dangerous body roll condition in order to trigger the pivotal release of the roll bar. A dangerous situation arises with this type of device when either the head or arm of a rear seated passenger is in the way of the pivot path of the roll bar at the time of its release from its rest position. Ironically, fatal injury to the rear seated passenger may occur during the operation of the very same safety device that is intended to save the passengers' life.
Accordingly, there is a great need in the art to provide a roll bar for use in convertible motor vehicles wherein the hazard of the above described injury to rear seated passengers will be avoided. In addition, there is a need in the art to provide a roll bar for use in combination with convertible-type motor vehicles, wherein the roll bar is mountable in a space-saving manner to the vehicle chassis without the need for separate mounting points so that valuable interior compartment space is not used when the roll bar is in its rest position.


THE INVENTION



OBJECTS

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a convertible seat having a retractable roll bar incorporated into the headrest thereof whereby the roll bar is moved to an extended working position upon the independent control of a device associated with the convertible motor vehicle;
It is another object of the invention to provide a spring-loaded roll bar which, when released from its rest position to its working position, does not create a hazard of striking an arm or head of any of the occupants of the vehicle;
It is another object of the invention to provide a retractable roll bar for use in convertible motor vehicles which is mounted in a space saving manner to the headrest portion of a reinforced seat so that separate mounting points for the roll bar are not required;
It is another object of the invention to provide a headrest retractable roll bar which is storable in the headrest portion of the seat and does not obstruct visibility while in its rest position;
Still other objects will be evident from the Summary, Drawings and Detailed Specification which follows.


DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front elevation view of a vehicle seat showing a retractable roll bar in the headrest portion thereof in its retracted position;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of FIG. 1 showing the roll bar extending from the headrest to its working positi

REFERENCES:
patent: 3397911 (1968-08-01), Brosius, Sr.
patent: 3420572 (1969-01-01), Bisland
patent: 3655241 (1972-04-01), Herzer et al.
patent: 3804435 (1974-04-01), See et al.
patent: 4199191 (1980-04-01), Schneider
patent: 4222608 (1980-09-01), Maeda
patent: 4350389 (1982-09-01), Parsson et al.
patent: 4668014 (1987-05-01), Boisset

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