Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Force-absorbing means incorporated into back
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-01-30
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Force-absorbing means incorporated into back
C297S216120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a safety seat, and in particular, relates to a safety seat intended for use in a motor vehicle, such as a motor car.
It has been appreciated that if a motor vehicle, such as a motor car, is involved in a rear end collision, that is to say a following vehicle runs into the back of the car, the occupants of the struck car often suffer from neck injuries. Such injuries are commonly called “whiplash” injuries.
It is to be understood that during the rear-end collision of this type, the vehicle that is struck is subjected to a forward acceleration. This imparts a forward acceleration to the seats of the vehicle. The squab and back of each occupied seat engage the posterior and torso of the occupant of the seat and impart a substantial acceleration to the posterior and torso of the occupant. However, no corresponding acceleration is immediately imparted to the head of the occupant, as the head is not normally in contact with the seat, or with the head-rest that may be provided on the seat. The head is a part of the body that has substantial mass, and consequently the head has substantial inertia.
Preferably the movement of the head-rest has an upward component and a forward component relative to the back of the seat.
Conveniently the rearward movement occurs in two stages, the movement of the head-rest being associated with the first stage only of the two-stage movement.
Preferably the seat is provided with a recliner mechanism operable to selectively adjust the inclination of the back of the seat, the arrangement being such that the position of the head-rest relative to the back of the seat does not alter on actuation of the recliner mechanism.
Conveniently the head-rest is associated with a linkage, the linkage incorporating a component which remains fixed relative to the squab of the seat when the back of the seat effects the pivotal rearward movement when subjected to the substantial force.
Preferably the component is associated with the recliner mechanism and is adapted to move, together with the back of the seat, when the recliner mechanism is actuated.
According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a safety seat for use in a motor vehicle, the safety seat comprising a squab, a back associated with the squab and a head-rest associated with the back; the back being pivotally connected to support means for pivotal movement relative to the support means, between predetermined limits; the support means being pivotally connected to the squab to permit movement of
Thus, whilst the posterior and torso of the occupant of the vehicle are accelerated forwardly as a result of the rear-end collision, the head of the occupant of the vehicle initially remains stationary. This may cause the neck initially to adopt an “S”-shaped configuration as the lower part of the neck moves forwardly, whilst remaining vertical, and the upper part of the neck remains in its initial position. Subsequently, the head begins to rotate and the neck then occupies a curved configuration. The head subsequently moves forwardly. Research has shown that “whiplash” injuries may occur when the neck changes from the “S”-shaped configuration to the curved configuration, at a substantial speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved vehicle seat in which the relative “whiplash” injuries occurring to the occupant of the seat during a rear-end collision are reduced.
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a safety seat for use in a motor vehicle, the safety seat comprising a squab, and a back associated with the squab and a head-rest associated with or formed integrally with the back, there being a pivotal connection between the back and the squab, the pivotal connection being such that the back will move pivotally rearwardly relative to the squab when subjected to a substantial force, means being provided associated with the head-rest adapted to move the head-rest with a movement that has at least a forward component relative to the back of the seat during at least part of the said rearward movement of the back-rest of the seat. the support means, and the back, relative to the squab, energy-absorbing means being provided to absorb energy when the support means pivot relative to the squab of the seat, there being a linkage between the head-rest and the support means, the arrangement being such that the head-rest will be caused to pivot forwardly, relative to the back of the seat, when the back of the seat executes a pivoting motion relative to the support means, but the head-rest will remain in a substantially fixed position, relative to the back of the seat, when the support means, together with the back, pivot relative to the squab.
Preferably the support means comprise at least one support plate provided on one side of the seat, the support plate being pivotally connected to the squab of the seat and the support plate being pivotally connected to an element associated with the back of the seat, the support plate carrying stop means adapted to engage the element to limit pivotal movement of the element relative to the support plate both forwardly and rearwardly.
Conveniently spring means are provided connected between the support means and the back of the seat to resist rearward pivotal movement of the back of the seat relative to the support plate.
Advantageously the energy-absorbing means comprise a yieldable element located between the support means and a stop.
Conveniently when a force is applied to the seat back the seat back may execute a first movement, moving pivotally relative to the support means, against a relatively low resisting force, and a second subsequent movement, with the support means moving pivotally relative to the squab, against a relatively high resisting force.
Preferably the head-rest is carried by at least one support arm, the support arm being associated with pivot means which mount the support arm to the back of the seat and each support arm having projecting means, projecting from the pivotal connection, the projecting means being associated with a link arm extending to the support means.
Advantageously means are provided which resist any tendency of the back of the seat to pivot forwardly from a rearward position with a pivoting movement relative to the support means.
Conveniently the resisting means comprise a hydraulic damper.
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Autoliv Development AB
Cuomo Peter M.
Kinberg Robert
Venable
White Rodney B.
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