Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Bottom and back movable as unit in response to force
Patent
1999-09-24
2000-12-26
Cuomo, Peter M.
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Bottom and back movable as unit in response to force
29737812, B60N 242
Patent
active
061647209
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seat back support mechanism and more particularly, relates to a seat back support mechanism for supporting the back of a seat intended to be mounted in a vehicle. A preferred seat back support mechanism in accordance with the invention may incorporate a recliner mechanism.
When a vehicle with a conventional seat is involved in a rear impact, the seat may be accelerated with a substantial forward acceleration since the seat is secured to the floor of the vehicle. The posterior and torso of an occupant of the vehicle sitting on the seat will consequently be accelerated, because of the intimate contact between the seat, and the back of the seat, and the posterior and torso of the occupant. The head of the occupant, however, is not in direct contact with the seat and, due to its inertia, will tend to remain stationary. Since the posterior and torso are being accelerated forwardly, this means that effectively the head of the occupant may move rearwardly relative to the torso, thus bending the neck of the occupant. This can cause injury to the occupant.
It is now believed that the risk of injury to an occupant of a vehicle can be diminished if the back of the seat is mounted in such a way that the top part of the seat back can move forwardly to support the head of the occupant and also in such a way that the seat back can subsequently "yield", at least to a predetermined extent, during a rear impact. In this way, the torso of the occupant can be caused to accelerate in a more gradual manner, and the head of the occupant can be supported thus reducing the risk of injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a seat back support mechanism which is adapted to permit the back of the seat to yield when subjected to a predetermined minimum force.
According to this invention there is provided a back support mechanism for supporting the back of a seat in a motor vehicle, the seat back support mechanism comprising at least one first component adapted to be connected to the squab of the seat or to a frame supporting the squab of the seat, and at least one further component adapted to be connected to the back of the seat, the mechanism comprising a connection between the components, the connection including means to permit the further component to move with a first pivotal action relative to the first component, and also with a second pivotal action relative to the first component, there being an element which resists second pivotal action, element being adapted to deform to permit the second pivotal action when subjected to a force in excess of a predetermined threshold.
Preferably the element is of arcuate form, each of the opposed ends of the element being connected to a respective one of components, the two ends being adapted to be moved towards one another, with a consequent collapsing of the arcuate element, as the further component effects the second pivotal movement relative to the first component.
Conveniently the arcuate element is provided with a notch on the interior of the arc to assist in the defortmation of element. The notch may be a "v"-shaped notch.
Advantageously a linkage is provided comprising two pivot link elements, the pivot link elements each being mounted to effect a pivotal movement relative to at least one first component, the pivot link elements directly or indirectly supporting further component, the pivot link elements permitting further component to effect an initial rearward pivotal movement which constitutes first pivotal action before effecting second pivotal action.
Conveniently one of the pivot link elements comprises the deformable element.
Preferably the deformable element is connected by a pivot pin to an integer supporting the further component, the pivot pin extending into a guide aperture which is fixed in position.
Advantageously the integer supporting the further component comprise a recliner support plate which supports a recliner mechanism, the recliner mechanism comprising a support a
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patent: 5697478 (1997-12-01), Di Stefano
patent: 5743592 (1998-04-01), Bedouch
patent: 6024406 (2000-02-01), Charras et al.
Autoliv Development AB
Cuomo Peter M.
Kinberg Robert
Spencer George H.
Vu Stephen
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