Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2001-06-26
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area
C297S216130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250714
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seatback for an automobile, and particularly to a seatback structure for an automobile protecting the cervical vertebrae of a vehicle occupant when his/her own automobile is collided with another vehicle.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
As disclosed in International Patent 98/09838 Official Gazette, a conventional seatback for an automobile comprises at least a seatback frame, supporting means supported rotatably in forward and rearward direction at an upper end portion of the seatback frame, a headrest supported movably in a vertical direction at an upper end portion of the supporting means via a stay, a pressure receiving member supported at a lower end portion of the supporting means and receiving pressure from the back of a vehicle occupant, operating link rotatably pivoted to the seatback frame and the pressure receiving member, and a pad disposed ahead of the pressure receiving member.
Then, since the headrest instantaneously approaches to the head of an occupant in his/her automobile even when the seatback is flexed rearwardly by reaction load of the occupant at a time when his/her automobile is collided with another vehicle, the head of the occupant is securely received on the headrest, thereby protecting the cervical portion of the occupant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In such a technique, however, there is a drawback that, when a horizontal portion of the supporting means positioned on the pressure receiving member is pivoted about a upper frame portion of the seatback frame as a pivoting fulcrum, the horizontal portion may interfere with a shoulder of the occupant. That is, as described above, there is a drawback that the supporting means is not rotated so that the headrest may be prevented from approaching to the head of the occupant.
Also, there is a drawback that since the pressure receiving member is made of cloth, it is flexed, so that a rearward load of the occupant may not be transmitted securely to the pressure receiving member, which results in delay of movement and reduction of an operation amount of the headrest. Such drawbacks are required to be improved.
Furthermore, in these conventional arts, there is a drawback that, since the pressure receiving member is made of cloth, rubbing noises may occur between the cloth and the pad, which is required to be improved for comfortability in the vehicle.
Also, there is a drawback that, as the pressure receiving member is made of cloth, a flexing amount thereof is increased so that rearward load of the occupant may not be securely transmitted to the pressure receiving member, which results in delay of movement and reduction of an operation amount of the headrest. Such drawbacks are required to be improved.
An object of the present invention is to provide a seatback for an automobile where a pad is prevented from biting a supporting member of a headrest, even when a rearward load from an occupant acts on a pressure receiving member, so that an operation amount of the headrest can be secured.
The present invention is to provide a seatback for an automobile where rubbing noises do not occur between the pressure receiving member and the pad, even when a rearward load from an occupant acts on the pressure receiving member, so that an operation amount of the headrest can securely be secured.
From a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a seatback for an automobile which comprises: a headrest; a seatback frame; a supporting member which was kept by the seatback frame, supports the headrest to be swung, and is arranged at least inside a shoulder point of AFO 5% tile mannequin from a front view thereof; and a pressure receiving member which is formed of a rigid body, is supported by the supporting member, and is to receive a predetermined pressure to swing the supporting member.
Preferably, a seatback further comprises an operation mechanism to move in a direction of the pressure the pressure receiving member to be restored in an original position.
Preferably, the operation mechanism comprises a operation link connected with the pressure receiving member and a elastic member to restore the pressure receiving member in the original position.
Preferably, the supporting member bends to the pressure receiving member.
Preferably, a seatback further comprises a holder which is fitted in the supporting member and keeps the headrest; and a lock mechanism which is opposed to the pressure receiving member and is to lock the headrest and the holder.
From a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a seatback for an automobile comprises: a headrest; a seatback frame; a supporting member which is kept by the seatback frame and supports the headrest to be swung; and a pressure receiving member which is formed of a rigid body, is supported by the supporting member, has a cross-sectional configuration formed in an almost U-shape, and is spaced from a back face of a pad arranged in front of the pressure receiving member.
Preferably, the pressure receiving member has a cross-sectional configuration formed not to interfere with a side portion of the seatback frame at a final position where the pressure receiving member has been moved by a predetermined pressure.
Preferably, the pressure receiving member has a cross-sectional configuration having a step portion in an inclined manner.
Preferably, the pressure receiving member is formed at an end opposed to the headrest with an inclination portion to slide a pad arranged on an occupant side.
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patent: 5378043 (1995-01-01), Viano et al.
patent: 5823619 (1998-10-01), Heilig et al.
patent: 5884968 (1999-03-01), Massara
patent: 5927804 (1999-07-01), Cuevas
patent: 5938279 (1999-08-01), Schubring et al.
patent: 6019424 (2000-02-01), Rückert et al.
patent: 6024406 (2000-02-01), Charras et al.
patent: 0 627 340 A1 (1994-12-01), None
patent: 2 318 045 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 98 09838 (1998-03-01), None
Hirabayashi Shigeki
Nakano Nobuyuki
Berkowitz Marvin C.
Brown Peter R.
Ikeda Bussan Co. Ltd.
Nath Gary M.
Nath & Associates PLLC
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