Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-18
2004-08-31
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Force-absorbing means incorporated into headrest area
C297S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06783177
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automobile seat back and particularly to an automobile seat back structure for protecting cervical vertebrae of a passenger of a subject car when another car bumps into a rear of the subject car.
2. Description of Relevant Art
As an automobile seat back, there is a seat back including a lateral frame member having rotary hinges on front sides of upper end portions of side frames and a portion for receiving pressure when another car bumps into a rear of a subject car as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-119619, for example.
Therefore, when another car bumps into the rear of the subject car, a forward impact load (first collision) is first applied to the seat back. Then a rearward reaction load (secondary collision) of a passenger is applied. In other words, the load is applied to the pressure receiving portion. At this time, the pressure receiving portion moves rearward. As a result, the lateral frame pivots forward about the rotary hinges on the front sides and a headrest supported by the lateral frame moves to a position corresponding to a head portion of the passenger. Thus, the headrest moves nearer to the head portion of the passenger. Therefore, if the seatback is bent rearward by the reaction load of the passenger in the subject car when another car bumps into the rear of the subject car, the pressure receiving portion instantaneously moves the headrest nearer to the head portion of the passenger by the principle of a lever by the reaction load. As a result, the head portion of the passenger is reliably received by the headrest and the cervical vertebrae of the passenger are protected.
As described above, since a square shape is formed by the side frames and the upper cross member, strength of the seat back is remarkably increased and a problem of deformation of the supporting member body for supporting the pressure receiving portion for receiving pressure of the secondary collision does not occur.
In a state in which the headrest pivots toward the front side to protect the neck of the passenger as a result of the secondary collision, a pivotal motion angle of the headrest toward the front side can be restricted by the stopper face. Therefore, it is possible to avoid generation of a problem of abnormal pivotal motion of the headrest toward the front side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, in such relevant art, since the rotary hinges are provided on the front sides, the rotary hinges are recognized as foreign matters when the seat back is pressed from the front side. Since the lateral frame member inclines forward, the member is liable to interfere with shoulder portions of the passenger, the movement of the lateral frame member may be stopped by the shoulder portions, and an amount of the forward movement of the headrest needs improvement.
The present invention has been accomplished with the above relevant art in view and provides an automobile seat back in which a feeling that there is a foreign matter is not provided to the passenger by a position of a pivotal motion center in forward movement of the headrest and the headrest can move forward by an amount corresponding to an amount by which the pressure receiving portion is pushed.
To achieve the object, a first aspect of the invention provides a seatback for an automobile. The seatback has a headrest; a supporting member for supporting the headrest; a pressure receiving member attached to the supporting member, the pressure receiving member has a pressure receiving portion at a lower end thereof for a load to be applied to; and a frame member attached with the supporting member to be pivoted with the headrest.
Preferably, the frame member is a pair of side frames.
Preferably, the frame member is an upper-cross member.
Preferably, the supporting member has a holder fitted with the headrest; and a supporting member body fixed with the holder and the pressure receiving member.
Preferably, the pressure receiving member is configured in a substantially I-shape between a lower end and an upper end thereof.
Preferably, the seatback further has a biasing means for biasing the pressure receiving portion to a front side. The biasing means is to be expanded by a predetermined load.
Preferably, the pressure receiving portion is covered with a cover made of a synthetic resin. The cover has a lock portion. The biasing means is hooked with the lock portion.
Preferably, the upper-cross member has a first stopper face for stopping the supporting member from pivoting when pivoting the supporting member forward.
Preferably, the upper-cross member has a second stopper face for stopping the supporting member from pivoting when pivoting the supporting member rearward.
Preferably, the holder is integrated with the pressure receiving member.
Preferably, the holder and the pressure receiving member are configured together in a substantially L-shape.
Preferably, the holder and the pressure receiving member are configured together in a substantially U-shape.
Preferably, the holder has a straight portion positioned at a central portion of an upper-cross member corresponding to an inside of shoulder portions of a passenger. The straight portion allows a stay of the headrest to be vertically moved. The pressure receiving member is configured in a thin and flat shape and is bent to be placed away from a pad.
Preferably, the upper-cross member is bridged between upper ends of a pair of side frames to be fixed.
A second aspect of the invention provides a seatback for an automobile. The seat back has a headrest; a supporting member having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate part, the supporting member being attached with the headrest at the distal end thereof, the supporting member for a load by a pressurizing element to be applied to at the proximal end thereof; and a pivotal element attached to the intermediate part of the supporting member, the pivotal element for pivoting the supporting member thereon with the headrest thereon by the load.
Preferably, the seatback further has a frame disposed between the pivotal element and the headrest. The frame engages with the intermediate part of the supporting member.
Preferably, the frame has a stopper part for the supporting member to be abutted against for stopping the supporting member from pivoting.
Preferably, the stopper part extends toward the proximal end of the supporting member.
Preferably, the stopper part extends in a transverse direction relative to the supporting member.
Preferably, the seatback further has a resilient member biasing the supporting member to an original position with a predetermined force.
Preferably, the resilient member is a spring bridged between a pair of side frames.
Preferably, the seatback further has a cover for covering the proximal end of the supporting member.
Preferably, the cover is made of a synthetic resin.
Preferably, the cover has a lock part. A resilient member is hooked with the lock part for biasing the supporting member to an original position.
Preferably, the supporting member has a flat plate part extending from the proximal end.
Preferably, the supporting member has a collar part enclosing the pivotal element; and a pressure receiving part fixed to the collar, the pressure receiving part extending from the proximal end of the supporting member.
Preferably, supporting member has a pressure receiving part extending from the proximal end; and a supporting body part fixed to the pressure receiving part, the supporting body part supporting the pivotal element.
Preferably, the supporting member has a holder part fixed to the supporting body part and fitted with the headrest.
Preferably, the holder part is integrated with the pressure receiving part.
Preferably, the seatback further has a frame engaged with the supporting member, the frame supporting the pivotal element.
As described above, since a pressure receiving member pivots forward and rearward and a supporting member for supporting a headrest through the upper end pivots forw
Berkowitz Marvin C.
Edell Joseph
Ikeda Bussan Co. Ltd.
Nath & Associates PLLC
Richmond Derek
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